Steelers close to sealing defensive unit

An offer is on the table for an American defenceman with recent European experience and is someone Finnerty has had his eye on for the past couple of months.

If successful, it would mean Finnerty has settled on his cluster of blue-liners, having sealed the signature of AHL defenceman Matt Stephenson on Thursday.

Both will join long-serving D-men Rod Sarich and Mark Thomas, along with first-year professional Chad Huttel, who signed last month.

The capture of Stephenson – who has played more than 120 games in North America’s second tier – is particularly impressive, especially as he will arrive in South Yorkshire on the back of two successful seasons with the Texas Stars, feeder team to the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

Although regarded as a stay-at-home defenceman, Finnerty said he will be encouraging the 27-year-old Canadian to explore the offensive side of his game.

“This is a guy who has been used to shutting down the top lines of the best in the AHL – world class players in some cases,” said Finnerty.

“But when he’s dropped down his stats show that he can also contribute offensively and we are going to allow him to showcase that side of his game, which he is excited about.”

FORMER Hull Stingrays defenceman Drew Bannister has been unveiled as the new player-coach of Braehead Clan.

Bannister came two months into the 2010-11 season for Hull and is considered by many as having been the main catalyst for helping turn Hull’s campaign around, leading to a seventh-place regular season finish.

Hull player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who handed a player/assistant-coach role to Bannister when he arrived last October – had hoped to persuade Bannister back for a second spell in East Yorkshire but, the 37-year-old former NHL star had always made it clear he wished to prgoress into coaching in his own right if the right offer came along.

“I understand the expectations for the team in this coming season,” said Bannister.

“I would like to thank Braehead for giving me this opportunity as well as Hull, and especially Sylvain, for giving me the chance to work and learn from him last season. I’m looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead,”