Defenseman Mats Lindgren was traded to the Red Deer Rebels on Monday (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

LINDGREN TRADE

‘There were conversations with the agent after the [NHL] draft’: Blazers GM addresses Lindgren trade

Aug 30, 2022 | 10:48 AM

KAMLOOPS — There was a time when the Blazers weren’t actually sure Mats Lindgren would even play for the team after committing to the University of Michigan.

Former Kamloops GM Matt Bardsley convinced him and fellow Michigan commit Connor Levis to come play for the Blazers.

However, after two seasons Lindgren is no longer a Blazer — traded to the Red Deer Rebels on Monday (Aug. 29).

“It’s a situation we had been discussing for a period of time. I think it was a scenario where both players were potentially available and there were discussions among GMs, and I just think it was good timing and a good fit for both parties,” said Blazers head coach and GM Shaun Clouston.

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Rumours have it Lindgren didn’t like falling to the fourth round of the NHL Draft last month and put some blame on the Blazers for dropping.

CFJC Today asked Clouston about the rumours, and while he didn’t spell it out, the team’s head coach and GM indicated Lindgren did want out.

“We had looked at things at different. We had discussed things and there were conversations with the agent after the [NHL] draft, indicating those things and that’s when we started to explore,” Clouston told CFJC Today.

Clouston, though, was very complimentary of Lindgren and his time in Kamloops.

“I’m not going to speak for their side. All I know is overall for two years Mats has been a real good player for us. I think his development has been great. He played at 16, 17 years old. He was drafted to the NHL, was part of a couple division teams,” said Clouston. “From our side, we needed to make sure that if we did something that it made sense moving forward. We didn’t want a younger player — we wanted an 18 or a 19 year old — and we were able to get that.”

The Blazers landed Kyle Masters, a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2021 and a player Clouston feels still has a lot of untapped potential.

“He’s a real good skater. He closes quickly on the puck. He’s got a nice stick defending. Red Deer used him on the [penalty] kill. They used him on the left side, they used him on the right side. He’s a right shot, but can play the left side, which is a real good asset, especially on our team where we’ve got some extra righties.”

The Blazers also got a first-round pick from the Rebels for 2025 — the piece that sealed the deal in Clouston’s mind.

Kamloops now has two first-round selections in 2023, one in 2024, two now in 2025, and another first-rounder for 2026. Clouston says with all the first-round picks, it will allow the team to make big trades this season.

“It really puts us in a situation to be competitive in the market, so when there are players we believe could potentially help our hockey club for a playoff run or a Memorial Cup season, we have assets to be competitive in the market.”