Thunder deals pair for defensive help

Tim Graham

Tuesday, March 24, 1998 | 8:37 a.m.

Size matters.

The Las Vegas Thunder proved as much Monday when it traded one of its top players and a promising rookie for some defensive-minded giants.

"We're giving up a little defense to build the Great Wall of China," said Thunder general manager Bob Strumm.

Las Vegas traded defensemen Steve Bancroft and Justin Kurtz to the Calgary Flames for defensemen Sami Helenius and Keith McCambridge and left winger Paxton Schulte.

The Thunder also signed veteran NHL defenseman Brian Curran from Monroe of the Western Professional Hockey League, three days after obtaining defenseman Dave Mansoff from the Detroit Vipers for future considerations.

The Thunder's new quartet will be in uniform against the Michigan K-Wings tonight at 7:05 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Bancroft and Kurtz will report to the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate in Saint John. Bancroft is expected to play only two games there before being called up to Calgary.

"We're in the winning business, but we're in the business of developing players for the NHL, too," Thunder head coach Clint Malarchuk said. "It's great, especially during a season like this, to see a couple guys advance."

Bancroft was the Thunder's third-highest scorer this season, recording 15 goals and 44 assists in 70 games. Kurtz netted 11 goals and 11 assists in 50 games.

"It's tough for us to lose a guy like that," Strumm said of Bancroft, "but with our mix here through the first 72 games, we gave up a lot of goals."

The Thunder's theory is that increased size will make the difference. It has allowed 260 goals this season for a 3.63 goals-against average, the second most in the IHL. It also faces a league-high average of 33.47 shots a game.

"We're going to build a fortress around the goaltender," Malarchuk said. "We're going to move people from in front of our net."

Bancroft's trade and David Shaw's sudden departure last week for personal reasons leaves second-year player Sergei Yerkovich as the Thunder's blue-line anchor.

But now Yerkovich will have sizable help on the blue line. Helenius is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. McCambridge is 6-2, 205. Curran is 6-5, 220. Mansoff is 6-1, 200.

"We're going to get real big and nasty back there," Strumm said. "It's going to be Bob Barker hockey: Come on down!"

Helenius and McCambridge helped Saint John become the stingiest defense in the AHL, allowing just 165 goals in 71 games for a 2.32 goals-against average.

Helenius recorded a goal, two assists and 185 penalty minutes in 63 games with Saint John. McCambridge tallied four goals, four assists and 118 penalty minutes in 56 games.

Curran -- called "a real agitator" by Strumm -- played in 381 NHL games between 1983-94, recording seven goals, 33 assists and 1,461 penalty minutes for the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals. In 68 games with Monroe this season he recorded seven goals, 17 assists and 239 penalty minutes.

Schulte registered eight goals and 17 assists with 133 penalty minutes in 59 games. He also brings mass at 6-2, 217 pounds.

"Everyone is looking for size up front," Malarchuk said. "Size is hard to find at this level."

Thunderbolts

* SHAW UPDATE: Las Vegas Thunder defenseman David Shaw still is in Florida tending to family matters, and it remains uncertain if he will return. Thunder general manager Bob Strumm, however, is optimistic Shaw will come back. "We haven't given up the ghost," Strumm said. "I talked to his agent (Monday), but I don't think there's anything really definite to say." Shaw will be placed on the Thunder's postseason roster. Shaw played 26 games with the Thunder after being dispatched by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He recorded six goals, 13 assists and 28 penalty minutes.

* VIVA LEGACE: Despite the Thunder's woes, goaltender Manny Legace has excelled recently. "He's found it," head coach Clint Malarchuk said. "He's dead on." Legace is 1-1-1 in his last three games, but easily could be undefeated. He stopped 31 of 32 shots to beat Houston March 15, registered a team-record 50 saves on a team-record 56 shots in a 6-4 loss to Long Beach Friday and turned away 32 of 33 attempts in a 2-1 shootout loss to San Antonio Sunday.

* LEFEBVRE FEVER: All-time Thunder scoring leader Patrice Lefebvre over the weekend became the first IHL player to break the 100-point barrier this season, despite missing Sunday's game to serve a suspension for an accumulation of misconduct penalties. Lefebvre now paces the league with 81 assists and 103 points.