The Kamloops Blazers have pulled off a second significant trade in as many weeks to upgrade their 20 year-old position.

The Blazers have landed 20 year-old defenceman Max Martin from the Prince Albert Raiders for a second and sixth round WHL bantam pick in 2020.

GM Matt Bardsley expects Martin – a Winnipeg native – to be a top defenceman with the club.

“You’re getting a defenceman that certainly knows the league, and has been around the league a long time,” Bardsley said. “You know, he’s an offensive guy. He also obviously was on a strong team last year, but even his plus-minus, he was a plus-45 last year, and so i think he’s a guy that can take care of his own end as well.”

“Certainly, he’s going to look to create some offence from the back end.”

Martin is in his fifth season in the WHL. Last year he scored six goals and added 35 assists for 41 points in 59 regular season games. He then played in 21 playoff games last spring, chipping in with eight assists while going plus-14, as the Raiders won the WHL title.

Martin is expected to make his Blazers debut tomorrow night against the Everett Silvertips at the Sandman Centre.

“I know, there’s a lot of people that said you know, maybe we should be looking at a defenceman, but you can’t make a deal if a player is not available,” added Bardsley.

The Blazers are trading their own second round pick in 2020, but still hold the Regina Pats second round selection. They also have two other sixth round picks in next year’s draft.

The acquisition leaves the Blazers with four 20 year-old players – Zane Franklin, Ryan Hughes, and Kobe Mohr being the others. They have six days to get down to the limit of three.