St. Paul product Locke Muller celebrated the new year on a new team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) after a trade from the Red Deer Rebels to the Saskatoon Blades, announced on Dec. 29.
“It was pretty surprising, but I had an idea I was going to go,” said Muller by phone interview last week.
Muller has settled in with the new team and is looking forward to more ice time and opportunities to advance his game.
“It’s a good group of guys and they’ve welcomed me in,” he said. “It’s been an easy process with a group of guys like this.”
The Rebels traded right wing Muller and defenseman Matthew Pufahl for defenseman Devan Fafard and a seventh round draft pick. Muller, at 6’2”, will help bulk up the Blades offence, said head coach Lorne Molleken.
“We were well aware of Locke from playing against him in Red Deer,” said Molleken in a phone interview last week. “We needed to add some size and grit to our lineup and we believe that he provides that.”
Muller is a power forward, good on the fore-check and is a physical player, something the Blades have been lacking on a consistent basis, added the coach.
While Molleken does not expect Muller to be a big goal scorer, “we expect him to chip in offensively and be real responsible on the defensive side of things. In the first two games, he’s done a real good job in that area.
“We needed to add some depth and some strength and that’s the reason we brought Locke over to Saskatoon. It will be a great opportunity for him. Sometimes players need fresh starts,” he said.
The coach placed Muller on a line with left winger Chris Collins and centre Ryan Olsen, a prospect for the NHL draft this year.
“They’re both good with the puck … They both work real hard, so we create a lot of offence,” said Muller. “I know if I get to open areas they’re going to find me.”
The Blades had a lot of success earlier in the season but stumbled in December, said Molleken. Since Christmas break, the team has come back with a renewed sense of energy and has played extremely well, he added.
The trades aim to improve the club for next year when the Blades host the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup, he said.
The Blades are ranked sixth of 22 teams in WHL standings.
