Pistons add defenseman and goalie via trade

The Steinbach Pistons have bolstered their depth via an in-league trade.

The Dauphin Kings announced July 19 they were sending 2007-born defensesman Gavin Haslam to Steinbach in exchange for a player development fee.

Haslam is a 2007-born defender from Etobicoke, Ont. who scored 14 points across 39 regular season appearances for the Kings last season.

“Gavin is someone we had watched prior to last season and considered recruiting at that point,” Pistons head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said.

“We like the experience he will bring to our back end. He is highly competitive, moves pucks up ice and defends with an intensity.”

Steinbach stayed busy, adding a goaltender with European experience the same day the Haslam trade was finalized. Lincoln Molind played in Finland’s fifth division in the 2024/2025 season, appearing in six playoff games for Laser HT Akatemia and posting a 0.946 save percentage.

The Middleborough, Mass. product played academy hockey in the States before moving overseas. He returned to North America in the 2025/2026 season to play for Rockland in the Central Canda Hockey League before moving to the non-Hockey Canada affiliated Brooks Bandits in the B.C. Hockey League.

Molind posted a 17-2-3 record across the two leagues last season. To get his Hockey Canada junior A rights, Steinbach had to send a PDF to Rockland.

Dauphin hired Bryan Kromm as their new head coach and general manager July 10. In the time since, the Kings have made four trades.

In addition to the Steinbach trade, they’ve sent out forward Matthew O’Sullivan to Northern Manitoba for future considerations and a player development fee, forward Ash Mitchelmore to Valley Junior of the Maritimes Hockey League for a PDF and defenseman Daniel Helary to Fort McMurray of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for a PDF.

It’s been a busy summer in the MJHL so far, with 19 trades since June 1 as of July 21.