Youth Movement Continues Despite Success

During a 1-7 start to the season, Las Vegas began slashing salary left and right to start the 2011/2012 HB league year.  All in all over 20M$ was cut from the books and the kids were given the reigns to the season.  It seemed to work as the team has gone 7-4-2 since then and currently sit 1 point back of the lead in the America West Division.  Pekka Rinne appeared to find his groove and all was good in Las Vegas.

Or was it?

Despite the turnaround the rebuilding process remains a fluid one and two more moves were made Wednesday night.  With the recent addition of PK Subban and development of John Carlson, Brent Burns' days in the top 4 rotation became numbered. With an expiring 1B contract the organization felt it was the right time to give him the minutes he needs on a different club and let the young guys get more experience.  He was traded to the cup contending Edmonton Lumberjacks along with backup veteran Jose Theodore.

In return the Hitmen received Seymon Varlamov, Scott Gomez, Andy Sutton, and two late picks.  The key to the deal was Varly.  Good young goalies don't grow on trees in this league so you can never have too many.  He is set to battle youngster Johnas Enroth for the backup role going forward. 

Within hours of that move London made a pitch for former Werewolves member Sergei Kostitsyn and veteran center Saku Koivu. Neither player were actively on the block, but GM Mark Wendling was willing to part with some youth to make it happen. Las Vegas acquire former 1st round pick Mikkel Boedker and Andre Loktionov in the trade and move up to the top half of round 3 in a swap of picks.

The move is going to be felt in the current lineup, but it's hard to turn down two promising prospects at the wing position--especially when Koivu was entering the final year of his contract.  Kostitsyn was reacquired earlier in the season, but only managed 1 goal in 19 games playing alongside his brother.   He's been traded three times over the last year, but he should find some stability from the London organization.

All signs continue to point to the future in Nevada and with 10 picks in the upcoming draft there is going to be a lot of competition for roster spots. In the meantime it remains to be seen how the current cast of characters will deal with the latest trades. When reached for comment GM Bobby Brooks only had this to say, "Pekka Rinne might have to beef up the padding."