The big trade winds started blowing today and they're packin quite a whallop.
Trader Bob Tory furthered his reputation even more with the acquisition of 19-year-old Carter Ashton (Tampa Bay - 1st round, 29th overall 2009) along with a 3rd round pick in 2012 from the Regina Pats. Going the other way are forwards Nils Moser, 17, and Tanner Olstad, 18, along with the Ams 1st round Bantam pick this year and a 2nd and 5th round pick in 2012.
Moser, a 2nd round pick from Canmore in 2008, and Olstad, an 8th round pick from 07 have a combined two goals between them and played mostly 3rd and 4th line minutes for the Ams this season. The 1st round pick replaces the one the Pats traded to the Hurricanes last season to acquire Ashton during last season's trading deadline flurry.
Essentially the price has been set for a front-line forward, though Ashton could be the cheapest of the bunch. A bit of a scary thought but Ashton is now on his third team, a rarity for a 1st round NHL pick. The two possibles left - Schenn out of Brandon and Eakin out of Swift - are going to command an unbelievable price. Even with that I wonder if Eakin will even be made available as the Broncos have won two straight and seem to be on the uptick. The rest of the colossal 14-game road trip will likely make the decision if they're buyers or sellers.
Are the Pats done? Probably as Weal isn't likely on the block as he's only 18. The Hitmen will certainly get in the act and I suspect that Schenn and Ashton's old Bantam linemate Jimmy Bubnick could be had somewhat cheaper.
The demand is plenty and the market's drying up for impact goal-scorers. The clock is ticking.....
On that note Kootenay drops a 6-4 decision to the underated Moose Jaw Warriors in Saskatchewan tonight. Pearce notches a hat-trick and Magnus gets three helpers. Lieuwen was chase from the nets after a first period 4-1 deficit. Ice leading scorer Kevin King is out with bone chips in the elbow that will likely keep him out at least the weekend. D Luke Paulsen dressed tonight but play only a few shifts and then left the bench and was reportedly taken to hospital. His status is unknown.
10 comments:
I'm starting to get a strange suspision that the Ice are going to stand pat in the trade front this year.
When does the no trade blackout for World Juniors start.
The Blackout begins Dec 15 until the 27 for the WHL Christmas moratorium but any players away at the WJC there is a blackout of at least announcing any deals until the tournament is over or they're retuned to their junior teams.
Handy that the Ice are in Brandon tonight. Hint hint....
Inconsistent play kind of makes me think that the Ice require more than one player to bolster the squad. I personally am not sold on the goaltending as it has been kind of hot and cold. My opinion is we require a big, strong defensemen in front of the net to clear players out of the way and a big, strong winger to play on the boards. Wishful, thinking, probably.
Love the ice.... I agree with you 100%
Firstly, it would be a shame if they stood pat as the talk at the start of the season was that "if the ICE showed as well as was expected then we would be looking for the right player(s) to build a contender" [to paraphrase]. The players have proven themselves and it is up to the GM and coaches to step up and do their part. The segway into the second point is that the ICE need a big strong D man like Cowan or Davison out of Regina. On forward they have the guys that are strong on the wall they need a true play maker - like Eakin or one of the 3 top goal scorers from Everret (who are all '91's). Nathan is proving to be the number one goaltender we need but I am concerned about Teskey as the back up at this time. Maybe he will come along but he has had same shaky moments to date (some nice saves too I will admit but he is inconsistent).
I said it last year, the year before and the year before that; the biggest problem the Ice have is seeing the big picture...Too content with just making the playoffs. I said, they would have an early exit in the playoff last year and if they do not trade for help or use everybody, the end result will be the same.
They play nine forwards; night in- night out, really doesn't matter if they are up by a bunch or down by a bunch-that's great on most nights but you have to realize the wear and tear. The problem with playing the same nine players for even strength, PP and PK; again, it usually works well for a while but over the long haul and especially by playoff's you have burnt out your horses, they have nothing left to give and preventable injury occurs. The grueling travel schedule takes an enormous toll. The power-play looks tired and I'm sure when it is comes to the 3rd period most nights it is; you can use a big guy off the 3rd or 4th line to stand in front of the net to take the beating, it couldn't be any worst-we can't afford to have Boomer standing there-one hard cross check and we lose him.
If the Ice Brass is unhappy with the bottom 3 or 4 players, then replace them. If you look at the successful model's over recent years "Windsor" strong from top to bottom and they used them-creating an atmosphere where everybody worked hard, competed and felt like they were contributing. Essentially, an extremely motivated team.
Some how, you have to fit everyone in-becaue a tired, banged up and unmotivated team will have an early exit again this year.
PA was a prime example, the team looked like a powerhouse-showing the great depth we have and used it. We need a big strong forward or at least use the one's we have when we go head to head with the bigger teams of the league-our smaller forwards really struggled against MJ-we should have matched their big player's with size not the more skilled small players.
I hate coming on here to rant but I am so tired of watching the same outcome evolve year after year.
Pick up the phone and go after Schenn, Eakin, Glennie, Bubnick, Howse, Ranford or anyone else that may be available.
Jeff C or someone in the Ice office... I hope you are reading this.
Word around town or at least the folks I speak with are ready to see a huge move made with this team here regardless of loyalty to players ect. they want a shake up on the forward lineup with the addition of a sniper or two.
If this team is not deemed competitive enough to make a move and go for a run with a couple additions then we will never see a team go anywhere here again. Jeff it is time to stop twiddling your damn thumbs and make the move already! People are losng interest here and losing faith in you as a GM....prove us wrong and do something drastic to improve the club. You wont have a deeper roster for another 4 or 5 years! so do it now!
It is very obvious that this team can go deep, but need to be bolstered a bit to do so. DO NOT STAND PAT and accept what we have and try and work with it, It will not work out.
If you dont at least try and make it seem like youre interested in that team being succesfull come playoffs I and may others will not be renewing our seasons tickets. I wll not pay $800 a year to be a constant medicore team anymore.
Please get a spine and make the moves needed to take this team to the 3rd or 4th round at least.
an Ice fan
I agree, he's done a good job puting this team together as a core for a contender. But it needs to be topped off with some big help in the scoring department to be the team that can contend.
A big D man with skill would be a welcome additon along side McNabb as well. This would take pressure off the forwards and exsiting D men to overacheive once again.
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