Ottawa 67s send top scorer to Belleville
Posted Jan 5, 2013 09:51:59 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA- The Ottawa 67’s shipped their top scorer to the Belleville Bulls in a trade Saturday morning.
Tyler Graovac, 19, scored 21 goals and had 14 assists with Ottawa and was sent to the Bulls in exchange for right winger Sergey Kuptsov, two draft choices and a conditional pick.
Cogeco’s Belleville Bulls play-by-play commentator David Foot told 1310News, Belleville expected more when they got Kuptsov from Mississauga.
“He had 13 goals, 13 assists with Mississauga last year,” Foot said. “So far, he’s on pace to match his numbers from last season, but I guess Belleville just hasn’t seen the numbers that they were hoping from him to this point.”
Ottawa 67s Coach and General Manager Chris Byrne explained what they saw in the Russian winger.
“He’s a big body, skilled winner who we think can help out on our top two lines,” Byrne told 1310News. “I think an opportunity here with some of our centreman will be good for him and give him a chance to be a little bit more offensive.”
Kuptsov has scored six goals and added eight assists with the Bulls.
Byrne also told 1310News why they chose to move Graovac.
“It’s a trade where we moved a player who’s in his final year of eligibility,” Bryne said. “For a player who has this year and next year to play in our league and we also received two draft picks and a conditional draft pick.”
Kuptsov didn’t get a point in his debut with Ottawa Saturday night in Barrie when the Colts defeated the 67s 5-2. Graovac scored a goal and added three assists in his debut Saturday night in Belleville’s 6-2 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Earlier this season, Ottawa sent Jake Cardwell to Belleville.
Ottawa is in last place in the league and are now using trades to get more draft picks and build the team up for the future.
“We’re in a position right now where we’re not in a playoff spot,” Byrne told 1310News. “To move a player on that has three months more of eligibility in our league for a player with a year and a half and a second and a third round draft pick makes sense for our team right now.”
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