Pionk still miffed about being traded in summer league

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This article was published 29/09/2021 (1489 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEAL Pionk made it clear Tuesday he’s still rather miffed about The Trade.

Not the deal that landed him in Winnipeg about 27 months ago, with Jacob Trouba bound for Broadway. That one has worked out nicely for the Jets and the 26-year-old defenceman, who signed a new four-year contract in August, with an average annual value of US$5.875 million.

Nope, he’s still crabby about getting shuffled off a summer-league squad a few years back, and he hasn’t forgotten the identity of the individual he firmly believes was responsible for orchestrating the swap.

The architect of Da Beauty League blockbuster? None other than newest Jets defenceman Nate Schmidt.

“I’ve gotten to know him a little bit. I knew him a bit before. I played in Da Beauty League) with him one summer, he actually got me traded. I want that on the record. He’ll actually deny that,” Pionk said Tuesday, generating a chorus of laughs from reporters. “Probably (for) a bag of pucks.”

Do personnel moves occur often in the renowned Minnesota league, which features pros and top amateurs from the area?

“Very rare and he made it happen, but I won the championship, so… I’m not holding a grudge but I did bring it up this year,” Pionk said.

Minutes later, Schmidt stepped up to the podium and offered a rebuttal.

“I’d like to first say I did not trade Neal Pionk in Da Beauty League,” he stated, grinning widely. “Our team was waxing and we were like 3-0 and they decided to move some guys around. I don’t know what he was feeding you. I was coming in here all excited to plug him today and (I) walk back in there and it was an assassination of character.”

Next up, third-line centre Adam Lowry chose the high road, refusing to take sides.

“I don’t even know what’s going on, sorry,” he said, with a look of a deer in headlights.

Indeed, the mood was jovial following on-ice workouts during Day 6 of Jets training camp at the Iceplex. The squad split into two groups, as per usual, and then re-jigged again just prior to a scrimmage, with Team Blue prevailing 2-1 on goals by centres David Gustafsson and Cole Perfetti.

While Schmidt could easily fill a half-hour slot every Friday night at Rumors Comedy Club, Lowry actually provided the boffo take of the day after being queried on beginning camp without frequent linemate Andrew Copp.

“Usually it’s whoever I played with ends up on a different team, so at least he’s still here, right? We’ve lost (Joel) Armia, we’ve lost (Brandon) Tanev, so I’m glad he’s still a Winnipeg Jet. We lost (Mason) Appleton. To see (Copp) still here and at least getting to go against him in the scrimmages, it’s fantastic,” he said.

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The Jets host the Edmonton Oilers on tonight at 7 p.m. (TSN3).

Winnipeg’s top forward trio of centre Mark Scheifele and wingers Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor should make their pre-season debuts, while Connor Hellebuyck is expected to get the start between the pipes. Schmidt and his defensive partner, Josh Morrissey, will also play.

The Oilers hosted the Kraken on Tuesday, and star forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and talented defenceman Darnell Nurse were expected to play. There’s a good chance the trio will skip the trip to Winnipeg.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell