Winterhawks' News: Caller traded and Winterhawks at training camps

Let's catch up on yet some more Winterhawks related news.

I'd like to thank the @pdxwinterhawks organization, coaching staff, teammates and billets. Excited to get things going with @BladesHockey !

— Jackson Caller (@Jackson_Caller5) September 20, 2016

Caller traded to Saskatoon:
-Jackson Caller was one of four 1999-born d-men on the roster and something had to give. Jokiharju was the biggest lock of the quartet as a potential first-round NHL draft pick. Matt Quigley has been getting rave reviews from the coaching staff since getting signed off the protected list last year and they did not want to move him. That left a choice between Caller and Jake Hobson. In my opinion, Caller looked better at the Neely Cup and in the preseason game I saw, but as a right-shot d-man may've been determined to be more valuable.

Caller gets the benefit of joining a team with fewer 1999-born d-man and gives himself the chance to cement his spot in their present and future.

Coming back the other way for Caller is a fourth round bantam draft pick in 2018. Not a huge return, but then again Caller has only played in eight WHL games and thus hasn't proven himself that much.

This leaves eight d-men in camp for Portland and that number should stay the same, at least until Caleb Jones is returned from Edmonton Oilers camp.

Keegan Iverson with Minnesota Wild:
-The overage, Minnesota native was invited to Minnesota's development camp this summer and back again to represent them at the Traverse City tournament.  It had to be a little awkward when he played against the N.Y. Rangers, the team he represented the previous two years at the same tournament. The Wild went 0-3 in the main tournament, but saved face with a 3-2 win over Chicago to take seventh in the eight team tourney.

Iverson was impressive enough to be one of 60 players invited the main Wild camp. This begins Thursday and first cuts are not expected to be made until early next week. That would mean he will miss Saturdays' home opener vs. Seattle and Sunday's match vs. Tri-City.

Joachim Blichfeld invited to main San Jose camp;
-Also assuredly out for this weekend's games is new import forward Joachim Blichfeld. The Dane was taken in the seventh round by San Jose in June and the Sharks are taking a long, hard look at him. He recently played in the Inaugural Rookie Showcase vent in Westminster, Colorado for San Jose against prospects from Anaheim and Colorado. Blichfeld played on the fourth line with Kamloops' Jermaine Loewen and former Erie Otters' center Jake Marchment and was impressive. 

I would expect him to be sent home early next week.

Caleb Jones on top-pairing for Oilers' prospects:
-Caleb Jones was mostly paired with new-signee for the Oilers: Matt Benning at the Young Stars Classic in Penticton. The Oilers went 3-0 in the tournament, with Jones playing in the first two. He had one assist, which was when he made a nifty play to set up the empty-netter. He then got back on the ice Wednesday for the Oilers' annual exhibition vs. the University of Alberta.  They won that won too: 6-3. Jones now joins the Oilers' main camp and could end up seeing some preseason action as a signed prospect. Their first preseason game is Monday vs. Calgary.

Rodrigo Abols with the Vancouver Canucks:
-Abols also played in his team's first two games at the young Stars Classic and nearly had a goal several times. The Canucks went 2-1 overall at the tournament. Abols is not currently among those listed on the roster on Vancouver's website, but that does not necessarily mean he won't seem some training camp time.