Two of the biggest targets for the Jan 10 WHL trade deadline made Team Canada's junior team today as Cody Eakin (Swift Current) and Brayden Schenn (Brandon) were included on the club. Schenn was a given and I thought Eakin would make it on the club that features nine WHL'ers, seven OHL'ers and four from the QMJHL. Two NCAA's in D Dylan Olsen and forward Jaden Schwartz from Saskatchewan also made the team.
Nugent-Hopkins (RD), Vey (MH), Pickard (SEA), Murray (SEA), Pysyk (EDM), Gallagher (VAN), Howse (CWK), Ross (Port) and McNabb (KTN) all got tickets home from Hockey Canada back to their WHL clubs. All of the above are eligible to come back next year except McNabb, Vey and Howse.
Canada's full roster for Buffalo is here.
There was also a trade in the WHL today between Regina and Kamloops. Headed to the Blazers is 20-year-old forward Thomas Frazee (13g 24a - 37 pts and minus 12) in exchange for Shayne Neigum, 20, Linden Martel, 17, a native of Prince George who made the Blazers at the beginning of the season but was then sent back to the PG Spruce Kings of the BCHL, and a 3rd round pick in 2012.
So the Blazers beef up their offence with a much travelled 20-year-old. (Frazee, you might remember, was the subject of a CBC documentary on the WHL Bantam Draft - and junior hockey in general - six years ago when Frazee was a second-year Bantam in North Vancouver. His parents actually split up and moved into seperate homes because residency rules in minor hockey and to live in North Shore Winter Club's 'catchment' area for players.)
If Frazee, who has much of the tools to play pro but is now with his 5th team in the WHL (Portland, Medicine Hat, Moose Jaw, Regina and now Kamloops), is commanding that kind of price you can imagine what the price is for an impact player such as Eakin or Schenn. If I'm the Ice I'm hedging my bet by seriously inquiring about a guy such as Jimmy Bubnick who is in town with the Hitmen tonight (7PM Rec Plex). He's a 19-year-old that can put the puck in the net on the pp and give you depth and he might not cost you the farm, right arm and first born, as the prices seem to be this season. Some others that might be of interest:
Jonathan Parker out of PA (20 goals) or Burke Gallimore out of Seattle might be targets but the price for a Schenn or Eakin - if they're even available - might almost be out of the realm of reality. The question has to be asked if a player like Sam Reinhart is the asking price (along with one of the first round picks from this year), is that too high? From what I've seen of Reinhart, I'm not parting with him. With Skapski, Hoflin and Myland in the goaltending wings, along with D Matt Benning, 16, D Mike King, 17 - both of which seem to be exploring their NCAA options - Forwards Jared Iron, who is headed to the U-17 tournament this Christmas or Colby Cave both 16, 15-year-old's Luke Philip or Jaedon Descheneau - my point is what kind of package along with one of the first round picks, prospect(s) and/or roster player is it going to take.
Scanning down the deals that have already taken place, it's going to be expensive.
Oh and just a reminder - yes, most have an opinion on the Ice's uncanny ability not to make the big deal over the past few seasons, I get it. And this forum is there to express that opinion but again, no need to name-call, curse or hold your breath until you turn blue type of comments. I write this stuff to encourage debate, express opinion (somewhat respectfully) and get the talk going. Come up with an idea or two. If you just want to threaten to pull your support, fine, but the idea of the trade talk is to analyze it three ways from Sunday, not just complain. That gets old fast.
5 comments:
You sure need to be quite confident that you can make the WHL finals in order to trade two top players you would have had for at least three years for a three month rental. As exciting as it would be to have Schenn I don't believe it is worth the price of a Sam Reinhart plus a first rounder.
Here is one persons opinion...The ICE have been in the CHL top ten this year how many times? I don't know exactly but it is substantial...in the last 5 years I don't believe that they have been there near as much as they have been this year (I could be wrong but I don't think so). And they have been number 1, 2 or 3 in the conference most of the year, so I believe they should make a trade and not keep saying "oh look what we have coming up". In those years when they weren't in the top ten they had great talent - Maxwell, Russel, Busto, Dakers, Sylvester, DaSilva, Arno J, etc. and they did not make it very far in the playoffs. Now with a lot of heart and good (maybe not great but certainly darn good)talent they are having an excellent year. Why? Likely because (a) they have many very good players, (b) no "superstars" that have to be fed, and (c) team chemistry. I agree on paper and with some there is "potential" but you never know how it will unfold - injuries, college vs W, trades, no chemistry, etc., etc. - it is the unknown. Whereas you now know you have a very good team based on known successes. My opinion is go for it. Not guts no glory. The ICE have a lot of very good draft choices they can give up so I don't believe they have to sell the good looking prospects to too great of extent. MAKE IT HAPPEN - 1 top 5 D man - Cowan, Davidson, Mackenzie, there's more I just can't recall right now and one top 6 forward - Eakin, Ferraro, Tochken (sp), MacDonald (one that will help the pp as we have great power forwards). Could you imagine if our PP was in the top 12? But having said that the coaches have to take some responsibilty as they are pretty conservative in their systems and they really, on many occasions, just roll lines vs having a PP. WHY??????? This is Major Junior not Community hockey. Bottom line we are close so please, please Jeff make a substantive trade or two...please!
Who said anything about trading Sam Reinhart?
I agree wholeheartedly with the first anonymous poster, we are almost there, but need the additon of two players as suggested to put us over the top.
We wont have a team this deep for a long time so it would be a shame to see these kids hardwork go down the drain because "the price is too high for a player".
Do you think calgary gives a crap about how high the prices are when they want a certain player? I think not.
Does Vancouver twiddle their thumbs when they need a player or two to bolster their line up? Not a chance, the perenial powerhouse teams just go out and do it. Take the plunge and get the guy you want.
They are succesfull nearly every single year and its not because of high draft picks I can tell you that. These teams succeed on trades every year. We need to follow that model. The ICE managment runs a very "boring" (for lack of better terms)team when it come to generating any excitment around them.
I agree with Mike...go for it...no guts no glory! Mr. C you heve lots to work with please do something that adds value.
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