With the Jan. 10 trade deadline just a few short days away, the Flin Flon Bombers are making noise across the SJHL and appear to be gearing up for a long playoff run.
Head coach Mike Reagan has indicated that, unlike last season, the Bombers will be buyers and not sellers at the trade deadline.
The Bombers have three cards left to be filled, and Reagan hopes to use them all.
“We like our team, but we will be adding a couple players for sure,” he said after Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Humboldt Broncos. “We are looking at one D-man and two forwards.”
The Bombers found out this week that defenceman Tanner Lishchinsky will not likely be returning to the team, as he will be sticking with the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice for the remainder of the year.
Losing a number one defenceman like Lishchinsky is obviously a huge blow to the team, so replacing him will be the team’s number one priority. Don’t expect another Lishinsky to be available at the deadline for a price that the Bombers are willing to pay. It is more likely that the Bombers will pick up a number three or four defenceman and ask their entire d-corps to step up their game.
Second on the wishlist for the Bombers will be a top six forward, preferably a top-line centre, and Reagan says the final piece of the puzzle will be a role playing bumper and grinder.
With the addition of Boehm up front and the potential deals to be made before the January 10 trade deadline, there may be a few growing pains for the Bombers over the next couple of weeks.
One area that won’t need any retooling is between the pipes. Both Adam Beukeboom and Simon Hofley have been brilliant at times this year. Both have similar numbers in net although recently it has been Beukeboom with the hot hand. Connor Slipp will also stay with the team for the remainder of the season, giving the Bombers some added insurance should either netminder need a night off down the stretch.
The trade deadline is one of the most exciting days of the hockey season. If you want to keep up to date with all the trades from around the league, www.sjhl.ca will be updated with all the details from each deal completed. If you are Twitter literate, you can follow @thesjhl for up to the minute information. The Bombers also have a twitter feed, @FFBombers.
