Coventry Blaze retroactively assigned standout defenceman Jakob Stridsberg to the Elite League’s long-term injury-reserve list on Friday [14 February], in a move that allowed the West Midlands outfit to sign former Fife Flyers blueliner Brady Pouteau for the remainder of the season.
Pouteau arrives in Coventry from the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush, for whom he recorded 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) and led the team in plus/minus (+10) through 45 appearances in the third tier of North American hockey.
“Brady is someone who brings hard defending, a good stick, and experience playing a lot of minutes in our league,” said Blaze head coach Kevin Moore. “We feel that in our structure and culture Brady will thrive and we are excited to add another good person and hockey player to our mix.”
Pouteau, who posted 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 49 appearances for the Fife Flyers last season, will make his Blaze debut versus the Nottingham Panthers this weekend, subject to international clearance.
Coventry Blaze Analysis – Brady Pouteau is not a like-for-like replacement for Jakob Stridsberg
Jakob Stridsberg was a key factor in Coventry’s impressive start to the season, with the Swedish defender registering 23 points (four goals, 19 assists) in 42 Elite League and Challenge Cup appearances, before suffering a season-ending injury in a 3-2 win over the Dundee Stars last month.
“Losing Jakob is definitely a blow, he has been as consistent as any defenceman in our league,” said Moore. “He is a special person and as he rehabs, we will keep him involved with our group so that he can continue to bring us energy and be a part of this phase of the season.”
It will be difficult for Pouteau to step directly into Stridsberg’s skates – and the Blaze shouldn’t expect him to.
While the Canadian provides some offensive upside, he is far more useful in his own end, with his penchant for physical play set to benefit the Blaze in feistier affairs.
Coventry Blaze: Brady Pouteau, then of the Regina Pats (Image: WHL)
Pouteau, in the midst of his age-27 season, is a product of the Western Hockey League, in which he produced 48 points (nine goals, 39 assists) in 201 appearances for the Regina Pats and Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Undrafted, the Oak Bluff-born defender spent the next four seasons (including one lost to the pandemic) in USports, recording 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 66 appearances for the universities of Manitoba and Regina.
Pouteau entered the professional ranks last season, spending one unspectacular year with the Fife Flyers before returning to North America with the Rapid City Rush.
The 6-foot-3 blueliner has never been a sparkling offensive contributor, but he plays with grit and physicality – both of which will benefit the Blaze down the stretch.
Valentine’s Weekend Fireworks – Brady Pouteau set for Coventry Blaze debut versus Nottingham Panthers
With their place in the playoffs all-but-mathematically assured, Coventry approach the final weeks of the campaign in a strong position – 21-14-3 on the season, just one point behind the fourth-placed Cardiff Devils.
While the Blaze are deeper into their schedule than the teams above them in the standings (Cardiff have three games in hand), Moore’s team could cause an upset or two in the playoffs – especially if they finish ‘best-of-the-rest’ in fifth.
They face the Nottingham Panthers back-to-back this weekend and former head coach turned arch rival Danny Stewart has provided all the motivation they need.
“It’s not over,” Stewart said after the Belfast Giants inflicted a 3-0 loss on the Panthers in the first-leg of their Challenge Cup semi-final.
“I just said in an interview that I was on a team last year that didn’t have half the talent this team does and we scored four to come back in twelve minutes. There’s definitely a lot of hockey left.”
Ouch.
With Stewart’s comments in mind, Pouteau’s arrival adds extra intensity to an already heated Valentine’s Weekend head-to-head between the Blaze and Panthers.
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