Blazers make moves to shore up power play

The Boston Blazers have made a series of deals this week to add some punch to their league-worst power play.

The team received league approval for two trades this afternoon, shipping backup goalie Mike Poulin to Calgary for a 2011 first round pick, and picking up right winger Jamie Rooney and a 2010 first round pick from Rochester for Boston's 2010 first rounder.

Rooney, who has only seen action in one game this season and was held scoreless, was sitting behind a logjam of scorers on Rochester.

Asked about Rochester's scoring depth, which he will have to face this weekend at the TD Garden, Coach Tom Ryan said, "If you look at their top five offensive guys, they’re all all-pro, all-star guys."

That made Rooney available for the taking, and only cost the Blazers a pick swap with the Nighthawks.

"He’s got great hands, he’s tough, and he knows how to finish the ball, and I think all three of those things are going to fit in with us," said Doug Reffue, Blazers president and GM. “I see him definitely contributing in the power play, and competing for an everyday spot in that first line.”

Reffue said he recognized that the team was thin at right wing, and was looking for ways to improve the team's power play scoring. Rooney's best season came in 2008 with the Philadelphia Wings, when he scored 20 goals and dished out 23 assists in 15 games. He also tallied 3 goals and an assist in the Wings' lone playoff game that year.

Reffue said pending immigration and league paperwork, Rooney may be in the lineup in time to face his old team this weekend.

In order to free up a spot for Rooney, the Blazers traded away Poulin, who had requested a chance to compete for a top goalie position elsewhere. Poulin, who was the Blazers' first pick in their expansion draft last year, had been stuck behind superstar goalie Anthony Cosmo.

"[Poulin] and I had been talking about this for a couple of weeks," Reffue said. “I would classify the move as difficult on both sides; I think he’s sad to leave, and I know we’re sad to see him go. I told him I was glad it wasn’t in the Eastern Conference."

Poulin joins a Calgary Roughnecks team that has been struggling between the pipes; starter Matt King has a goals against average of 12.32 a game, among the worst in the league.

Last week, the Blazers traded their 2009 first round pick Max Seibald to Philadelphia for a 2010 first round pick, and a player to be named later. Seibald was holding out in Boston, but was signed to the Wings' active roster today, and will play for them Saturday.

The recent wheeling and dealing has put the Blazers in prime position to continue to improve their team, whether in future drafts or heading into this year's trading deadline.

"We have two first rounders next year, and we have two first rounders in 2011, but that doesn’t mean were going to sit on those either," said Reffue. "That’s a nice place to be going into the trading deadline."

To see Rooney's career stats, click here.

To see Poulin's career stats, click here.