PR - Wheat Kings

THEY KEEP ON TRUCK'N

Well the Kings keep on winning after dumping much of their talent and going
with a patched together roster.

"In the end," Tyler Young commented yesterday, "that first team was a group of
pansy-ass wimps.  Being such a Flames fan, I decided to try the Darryl Sutter
formula: a bunch of third and fourth liners with grit and speed, a few reliable
snipers, a big, solid, mean d-core, and a goalie with speed, rebound control,
and endurance.  And its working!  Although I had kindof hoped to miss the
playoffs for the sake of the pick and development, I'm now curious to see how this
group will manage in the postseason.  Either way, this is just fun from now on -
there's no pressure because there are no longer any expectations for this
season, or next season for that matter."

The Wheat Kings completed one deal this week, although it turned out not to be
the block-buster which GM Young was rumoured to be working on.  The Kings
dispatched newly acquired Yuri Artemenkov and Dennis Seidenburg to the Saints for
Brian McConnell, John Adams, and Eric Nystrom.

"Adams was the key to the deal for us," Mr. Young stated, "he's a very smart
defensive defenseman and young.  He should be a solid #3 d-man for many years to
come.  We got McConnell because he is a skilled playermaker with size and we
think he might develop some chemistry with Kazionov.  Kazionov has never really
had much of a rapport with any of the centres he has played with and yet he is
still a goal machine - if we can find someone to play with him he could be
incredible - he's still in the hunt for the Rocket Richard this year, it would be
nice bonus to our season if would get it.  If it doesn't work out with Kaz,
McConnell has a great deal of grit and speed and will at least be another solid
depth player.  Nystrom is a bit of gamble: he can score and skate, but I'm not sure
he can do either well enough to make up for his other deficiencies."

The trade deadline is only ten days away so if the Kings are going to make any
more moves, they'll have to do it soon.