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A couple of familiar faces will be returning to the Saskatoon Blades lineup as they continue with the early part of their season.
On Monday the Blades announced the team would be getting back 2023 Nashville Predators first-round pick Tanner Molendyk and 2022 Toronto Maple Leafs seventh-round pick Brandon Lisowsky.
Both Molendyk and Lisowsky spent their entire junior hockey careers with the Blades, and were integral parts of their run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Championship series last spring.
Molendyk was already back in Saskatoon and on the ice for practice on Monday, while Lisowsky will rejoin the team on Tuesday.
While disappointed to be one of the last cuts the Predators had to make before announcing their opening night roster, Molendyk was happy with how he played in Nashville over the course of the last month.
“I wouldn’t say (I’m) surprised (to be back). I’m still young, still lots to learn kind of. I thought had a pretty good camp and I thought I might get a few games. They saw what they saw — obviously I need more development — but I’m happy to be back,” Molendyk said. “There’s still some stuff I got to do.”
He said the biggest thing he heard from Predators coaches and management when he left was the importance to work on his allround game.
“A lot of defensive aspects. Kind of getting stronger, your typical things, but they’re right — those guys are big boys and all the NHL guys are usually 190 plus and over six-foot,” he added.
With Molendyk being one of the final cuts at training camp, it meant that he got to skate and even play with NHL stars like Roman Josi, Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg.
He said it was a blast being able to play with those guys and also have the ability to poke their brains about what it takes to get to the NHL level.
“You obviously get to talk to them quite a bit. They’ve been where you have. They all played junior hockey and they were all your age,” he said.
“The biggest thing they kind of talked about is just being prepared and going in and doing your thing — playing your game and being confident is huge.”
Molendyk said there were a couple moments at camp where he was watching in awe of what some of the Predators’ stars were able to do with the puck.
“I was fanboying a little bit,” he said. “Just watching the stuff they do is crazy. Forsberg (does) stuff with the puck I’ve never seen before and Josi — same goes for him. It was really fun.”
Molendyk also said it was impressive to see what Stamkos could do.
“He can rip the bill. I stepped on the ice one day and he was already ripping one tees (one timers). Every shot was top right corner, top right corner and I just sat there with my jaw on the floor,” he chuckled. “I didn’t know what to do.”
Top ten in franchise history for wins (58) and shutouts (6)
Stone Cold will always be a Saskatoon Blade 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/NERo9NBoHY
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) October 7, 2024
Blades release Austin Elliott
The additions of Molendyk and Lisowsky weren’t the only roster moves the Blades made on Monday.
Because the Blades added Lisowsky, who is a 20-year-old, it meant the club had to get rid of one of their 20-year-old players because they were over the three person limit.
The Blades therefore decided to release “Stone Cold” Austin Elliott.
Elliott’s career as a Blade was nothing short of sensational, finishing his career with the team with a record of 58-14-5-1 and a .906 save percentage
Elliott was the starting goaltender for the Blades in Game 1 of the playoffs last year, but was later replaced by Evan Gardner, who held onto the starting goaltender job until the group lost in Game 7 of the conference final to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Cooper Williams didn't meet the @TheWHL, the @TheWHL met Cooper Williams 🔥
DETAILS 📰 | https://t.co/y19G8e5XgG pic.twitter.com/8bNIvCSakt
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) October 7, 2024
Williams named WHL Rookie of the Week
The WHL announced on Monday that 16-year-old Blades forward Cooper Williams as WHL Rookie of the Week.
Williams tallied three goals and an assist through three games last week to earn the honour.
In his first six career WHL games, Williams has nine points in six games and leads all rookies in points.
The Blades’ next game is Oct. 11 when they face Spokane Chiefs at SaskTel Centre.
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