Greyhounds GM hopes deal is 'a shot in the arm'

In a day, the overage and goaltending situations for the Soo Greyhounds changed pretty quickly.

The team announced Tuesday evening that goaltender Christian Propp, one of two overage players on the roster, had been dealt to the Kingston Frontenacs along with a 13th round draft pick in 2023.

In return, the Greyhounds acquired overage goaltender Bailey Brkin, who had been claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Frontenacs.

Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis said Tuesday evening that he hoped the deal would “give us a shot in the arm in terms of our goaltending.”

“Bailey is someone who is going to come in and battle and push Ethan (Taylor),” Raftis added. “For the last few weeks, Christian is a talented goaltender, but for whatever reason, it just wasn’t clicking. This is a chance for a low-risk chance to shake it up.”

Brkin spent last season with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, where he picked up 27 wins while posting a 2.75 goals against average and a 0.914 save percentage.

He also started 15 playoff games for the Chiefs last season, posting a 2.55 goals against average and a 0.922 save percentage.

“He’s excited for the opportunity,” Raftis said. “He’s a confident kid. He’s coming off a great year with Spokane last year. (In Moose Jaw) he got caught in a situation where a goaltender that was supposed to be out a little bit longer healed up really quickly and they went with different players for their OA position.

“He’s got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder,” Raftis added. “He’s a big, athletic goaltender. We’re excited to get him in there and see what he can do. It’s going to take some time, like with any player, to get used to things but at the same time, it’s a good opportunity to get a new face in the room.”

A crowded overage situation meant the end of Brkin’s time with the Chiefs. The team announced in early August the release of the veteran netminder.

Spokane general manager Scott Carter said at the time that it wasn’t an easy decision as the team also released 20-year-old forward Kaden Hanas at the time.

“This is one of those difficult situations where we have to look ahead to our overage limit and make a tough decision,” Carter said in a prepared statement at the time.

In early September, ahead of the WHL regular season, Brkin joined the Warriors while the team awaited the return of veteran netminder Adam Evanoff.

“We were looking to add some experience to start the season here,” Warriors general manager Alan Millar said in an interview on the Warriors website at the time. “He was a big part of Spokane going to the Western Conference final.”

In 13 games with the Warriors, Brkin posted a 6-6-1-0 record with a 3.81 goals against average and 0.889 save percentage.

Raftis said Brkin’s playoff experience from last season is a plus.

“It was a good opportunity to add someone who has been on a playoff run, been a starting goalie and has that chip on his shoulder,” Raftis said. “He’s somebody that’s confident in what he can do, and he still has a lot to prove at the same time.”

In 89 career games in the WHL that included stops in Swift Current and Kootenay, Brkin posted a career record of 44-32-4-2 with a 3.40 goals against average and 0.898 save percentage.

In 14 games with the Greyhounds, Propp posted a 4-7-1-0 record, a 4.79 goals against average, and a save percentage of 0.853. The Greyhounds acquired Propp from the North Bay Battalion on June 12 in exchange for a conditional 15th round draft pick in 2022.

Raftis said he expects Brkin to join the team on Wednesday.