Greyhounds add defenceman in deal with Kingston

For Soo Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis, it was a deal that made perfect sense for multiple reasons.

The team acquired defenceman Billy Constantinou from the Kingston Frontenacs on Tuesday afternoon in a deal that sent three draft picks to the Eastern Conference club.

Constantinou joins the Greyhounds on the heels of a solid offensive start with the Frontenacs after posting a goal and six points in eight games before the deal.

“I love the way he moves pucks,” Raftis said. “He’s got great skill. He’s a great skater. He’s always been a very gifted and talented defenceman on that side of things.

At 18, Constantinou’s age was also an appealing factor for the Greyhounds.

“Some of the things on top of (his skill) that were really intriguing was that he’s a right-hand shot and he’s at an age that it wasn’t somebody that’s coming in for just half the season,” Raftis said. “He’s someone that’s going to be here for the year and for next season. It builds the group of players that we’re trying to build here.”

With eight defencemen on the roster, the move has the ability to create some internal competition among the group for playing time.

“It wasn’t something that we were actively looking to add a defenceman, but this was the right fit and we didn’t want to wait on it and see how things go,” Raftis said. “It’s going to add some internal competition. There were some nights where each defenceman has played well. We need a level of consistency from the group as a whole and that’s something that, with Billy taking some of those minutes, we can see where everyone is at internally.”

In exchange for Constantinou, the Greyhounds sent a pair of fourth round picks (2020 and 2021) and a third round pick in 2024.

Constantinou was dealt to the Frontenacs last season in a blockbuster deal with the Niagara IceDogs. Constantinou was one of two players and 11 draft picks the IceDogs sent to Kingston in exchange for Jason Robertson and Jacob Paquette.

In 66 games last season split between two clubs, Constantinou posted 10 goals and 33 points.

In 119 career games, Constantinou has 14 goals and 51 points.