COVENTRY BLAZE have announced the departure of 32-year-old winger Neil Trimm in return for 29-year-old forward Chris Bruton.
The move comes on the back of a purple patch for the Blaze after back-to-back wins against northern rivals Sheffield.
Bruton, from Canada, arrives from Elite League rivals Braehead Clan – where so far this season he has posted 18 goals and 22 assists in 42 games.
The trade sees Trimm – who’s played 44 games, scoring seven goals and totalling 28 assists – return to Glasgow.
Bruton will add some much needed physicality to the Blaze side after the forward previously clocked over 400 penalty minutes in 200 AHL games.
In his latest AHL season, Bruton helped the Grand Rapid Griffins reach the Conference Finals.
Before that, the Calgary native also captained the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers as part of the New York Islander’s organisation whom he played three NHL exhibition games for to start the 2013 season.
In advance of turning pro with the Alaska Aces (ECHL) and then Peoria Rivermen (AHL), Bruton’s leadership qualities had already shone through lifting the WHL Championship and CHL Memorial Cup as captain of the Spokane Chiefs.
Bruton also spent three years in the CIS studying for a Bachelors degree at Acadia University where he was voted a rookie All-Star.
The 5’10” forward is expected to make his Blaze debut away against Cardiff on Saturday night before appearing at the Skydome vs Sheffield Steelers on Sunday.
Blaze head coach Chuck Weber said: “We are excited to get Chris Bruton into the mix here.
“His physicality along with his skill set will fit well into our group.
“He is another forward that plays direct and in between the dots.
“Neil (Trimm) is a great person and everyone at the Coventry Blaze organisation wish him the all the best in Scotland.”
