Wranglers look to future, trade goalie for all-star

Nick Christensen

Monday, March 21, 2005 | 9 a.m.

As the Las Vegas Wranglers began the last of this year's three seemingly endless roadtrips, team management began what figures to be a busy week dismantling this year's team to prepare for the next.

Friday, it was goaltender Sebastien Centomo who was sent packing, traded to Long Beach for all-star goalie Chris Madden and a player to be named later. Madden, already playing well in Providence in the AHL, will likely have his ECHL rights shipped back out from Las Vegas by the time Tuesday's ECHL trade deadline rolls around.

In 31 games this year for Las Vegas, Centomo was 16-15 with a .923 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average.

It was the second time this year that the Wranglers made a deal for future considerations. Last month, Doug Wright and Regan Darby were traded to Augusta for futures. Darby was traded this weekend from Augusta.

"I could take (the futures) now and I may take them now but that's not been released yet," said Wranglers coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan. "But I may move those rights as well."

Gulutzan said any trades completed before Tuesday's deadline will be for future considerations who aren't likely to play with Las Vegas this year. The Wranglers will have to sign all future considerations to new contracts this offseason, as ECHL contracts are all one-year deals.

As for the goaltending situation, the Wranglers will apparently be content to play with Marc Magliarditi in net for the remaining nine games of the season. Equipment manager Jason Rivera will dress as the emergency backup.

"We may look for (another goaltender) if the right guy becomes available," Gulutzan said. "I asked Marc Magliarditi if he could carry the load until the end and he said yes."

The Wranglers also signed two University of Minnesota-Duluth seniors following the end of the Bulldogs' season last week.

Defenseman Tim Hambly led the Bulldogs with five goals and 15 assists in 34 games this year, and left winger Marco Peluso had 38 points and a team-high 75 penalty minutes in 35 games.

The two will return to finish their senior years at school after the season ends, but Gulutzan promises to keep them busy while they're in Las Vegas.

"It's no use bringing in a kid and having him make a sacrifice and sitting him," Gulutzan said. "These guys want to play in the AHL. This gives them an opportunity to play, it gives them that experience."

Peluso already has one goal and one assist for Las Vegas, both in Saturday's 4-2 win at San Diego.

"This is a good way to get some experience in a pro league," Peluso said. "I was kind of nervous at first, but after I got a few shifts in, I adapted. It gives me more of a chance to see what I need to expect."

The Wranglers, now 27-28-8 this year, will play three games at Alaska this week before returning home to host Fresno on March 29. April home games against Victoria and Bakersfield and three home games against Alaska close out the 2005 season.