Mora IK has bolstered its roster by signing Canadian forward Brayden Tracey to a contract through the end of the season. The move comes amid four straight losses and the ongoing absence of key center Connor MacEachern due to injury. Sportchef Andreas Hägglund cited the need to improve the team's offensive output after 15 games, where Mora sits 10th in the Hockeyallsvenskan standings.
Mora IK, struggling with a mixed start to the Hockeyallsvenskan season, has made a key addition to its forward lines. The club announced the signing of 24-year-old Brayden Tracey, who brings NHL experience from one game with the Anaheim Ducks during the 2021-22 season. Drafted 29th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2019 NHL Draft, Tracey has played 188 AHL games, accumulating 84 points across various teams.
Last season, he began with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL before moving to Jukurit in Finland's Liiga and then Slovan Bratislava in the Slovak league. The versatile forward can play center or wing, and the club highlighted his offensive skills and character. "Brayden är en offensivt skicklig spelare som kan användas både som center och ytterforward. Vi uppskattar hans karaktär och tror att han kan bli en viktig pusselbit i vårt offensiva spel," the team stated on its website.
The signing addresses offensive challenges exacerbated by injuries, particularly the absence of Connor MacEachern, who has missed the last nine games. MacEachern, a vital motor in his line and power play, remains sidelined with an unclear return timeline. Sportchef Andreas Hägglund explained the urgency: "Vi har haft lite problem offensivt och vi har haft Connor skadad under en längre tid. Vi kände därför att vi behövde göra någonting, och då fick vi tag i Brayden Tracey. Han är en väldigt skillad hockeyspelare, så rent spontant känns det som en väldigt bra rekrytering."
Tracey is expected to arrive in Sweden this week and could be ready to play when the league resumes after the international break, pending paperwork. Hägglund noted that while the power play has been adequate, the team has become "a bit blunt" without MacEachern, prompting the adjustment to spark the offense.