Ron Luniw is hoping his latest trade Wednesday proves to be a real Steel.
The Port Moody Black Panthers general manager shipped disgruntled goalie Nick Taylor to the Grandview Steelers in exchange for Serbia-born power forward Mico Dragutinovic, a first cousin of the NHL Boston Bruins' Milan Lucic who toiled for the Cats at the start of last Pacific International Jr. 'B' hockey league season.
The swap was one of four deals Luniw made in the week to try to improve his slumping squad, which has just three wins in its last 12 games.
Luniw also acquired goalie Mark Menicucci and six-foot-three forward Coleman Foisy from the Aldergrove Kodiaks, along with forward Brendan Gulka from the North Vancouver Wolf Pack, in separate cash deals.
"We've got lots of speed but we lack some size and grit," Luniw said, adding the six-foot-two, 200-pound Dragutinovic should help shore up that specific area.
Dragutinovic, 19, had 10 points, including six goals, in 12 outings with Grandview prior to the deal. A former prospect of the WHL Vancouver Giants, he has failed to find a secure home in the PIJHL, having played with four different teams -- PoMo, Squamish (North Van), Mission and the Steelers.
