BIG TRADE BEFORE DEADLINE

Three events sparked the huge trade occurring yesterday, Thursday, March 5^th. First, Kris Belan was promoted by his mother team the LA Kings to the AHL Manchester Monarchs. Second, the Bulls were swept by the Las Vegas Wranglers and Third, the ECHL trade deadline looms ahead on March 7^th.

Belan was like the Bulls superglue. He held the team’s offense together when he was on the ice, while never forgetting to check the defense. He had the most penalty minutes, but most of the time kept the thoughtless ones to a minimum. Belan is a smart player and this is what will take him to great places. When the Bulls lost him, a huge void in the team could not be filled by anyone present.

This was made painfully aware in the two Las Vegas games.  The offense was sluggish and penalties overtook everything else.

The window is closing quickly for trades to happen. Tomorrow is the last day. There are 13 games left in the regular season for the team. Add to this that San Francisco is only slightly ahead of Bakersfield by eight points, and it’s easy to see our eighth (and last) position in the playoffs is tenuous.

The Bulls traded four players yesterday to the Utah Grizzlies for three of their top players. One of the Bulls players traded, Jordan Clendenning, was very popular with the fans and he will be missed by many. Let me say that I do understand it’s very hard to lose a player that you like. The fans go see them play every home game. They get pictures taken with them; maybe talk to them a bit after the game or at a social event. And the players are cool people!  

However, something had to be done, and if you take a look at the numbers of the three new players, they are exciting. Kory Falite, Mark Isherwood and Ian Shultz should bring some good energy to the Bulls lines.

The upcoming series with Alaska starting tonight should make all Bulls fans aware that the team needs to play better than they did against the Wranglers.  Let’s hope this latest round of trades brings the Bulls success and leads us straight into the playoffs!

Tonight, Friday and Saturday the Bulls play the Alaska Aces at the Cow Palace. Sunday, the Bulls play Las Vegas at the Cow Palace.

Thursday is Bulls Weekly at Pedro’s Cantina at 6pm!

GO BULLS!