KELLY: STICH WILL BE TRADED

Saint John Sea Dogs director of hockey operations Mike Kelly said before tonight's game on the News 88.9 pre-game show that David Stich will be traded.

Stich tried out for the Hartford Wolf pack of the American Hockey League but was sent back to his junior club after being cut. Saint John still his owns his junior rights but has not been added to the team's roster yet.

Mike Kelly said that Stich will be coming back to the QMJHL. He will be hard to trade because he is an overager and a European. Quebec league teams are only allowed to carry two European players and three overage players.

It is a surprise to see Stich returned to junior as most expected him to make the jump to professional hockey this season. Stich played in four games with the Wolf Pack (affiliate of the New York Rangers) after Saint John was eliminated from the 2009 playoffs.

In 174 games with Saint John, Stich has 14 goals and 60 points. He also has four goals and 13 points in 18 playoff games.

The native of the Czech Republic also served as captain of his national junior team in the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa. He captained the Sea Dogs following the holiday trade that sent Alex Grant to Shawinigan last season.

Stich has always been a physical specimen but his scoring ability has always been questioned after going a full year without scoring a goal. As News 88.9's Tim Rozsell said, trading Stich is like getting something for nothing with no chance of him suiting for the Sea Dogs.

Kelly has been taking and making phone calls about a future trade for the defenseman.