Kootenay made a big splash today in a staggering 5-for-1 deal that lands the club one of the big fish in the WHL sea as Washington Capital 3rd round NHL pick (85th overall in 2009) Cody Eakin heads to the Kootenays prior to the deadline from the Swift Current Broncos.
Going the other way is Kootenay's 1st round pick (via Vancouver, I presume, or at least at Swift's call), 2nd round pick in 2011 and a 3rd round pick in 2012; F Christian Magnus, 18, F Jarett Zentner, 17, F Ryan Bloom, 17, F Colby Cave, G Steve Myland, both 16.
On it's surface, the deal looks to be an expensive one, and it is but dig a little deeper and the depth Chynoweth parted with he could easily afford.
In Magnus Kootenay gives up a third line pivot that had yet to live up to his first round bantam pick potential. Magnus was the centre piece of the deal that sent John Negrin to the Broncos two years ago, which also included Micheal Stickland and coming back was James Martin and a 2nd (Tanner Faith) and a 4th(Cole Depape) in 2010. Martin now looks to be the steal of the deal and is, ironically enough, best friends with the fellow Winnipegger, Cody Eakin.
In Zentner, Bloom and Cave, all three stuck for a spell after training camp but in my opinion were numbers 4,5 and 6 on the forward depth charts on the prospect list behind Reinhart, Philp and Deschaneau, and likely in the same spot as Jared Iron and Levi Cable. In other words, if your were to take three names out of the eight mentioned, those would be the ones.
Myland, though he's having a solid season in the BCMML with the Valley West Hawks and is 11-2 with a GAA under 2, was the third ranked goaltender in the system behind Skapski and Hoflin. Looking forward the club still has another year of eligibility from Lieuwen; a solid 17-year-old in Teskey and two up and comers that will push both next season.
The picks are/could be expensive but really Kootenay only looses a second-rounder in 2011 and 3rd in 2012. There's still depth to acquire those picks back from somewhere else if needed. And really, the first round pick Kootenay got in the David Musil deal to Vancouver came without a cost. They won the lottery for Musil's services and didn't give up anything in return.
Hands down, right now, Kootenay wins this deal. They acquire much-needed firepower on the PP and five-on-five and a forward who is arguably better than Schenn defensively, if you're comparing.
Only a few questions remain: is it enough to tackle the likes of Red Deer and Medicine Hat in the Central and possibly the Blades with a Schenn and/or Glennie in their lineup (assuming that happens as is the rummour de jour);
And, is he done?
Here's the release:
______________________________________________________________
Cranbrook, BC -- Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club, today announced the club has acquired 19-year-old Forward Cody Eakin from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for 18-year-old Forward Christian Magnus and prospects Ryan Bloom (1993 Forward- Drumheller Dragons – AJHL), Jarett Zentner (1993 Forward - Calgary Mustangs – AJHL), Colby Cave (1994 Forward - Battleford Stars – SMAAAHL) and Steven Myland (1994 Goaltender - Valley West Hawks – BCMMHL) along with a first and second round draft pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft and a third round pick in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.
“This was not an overnight decision and as an organization we have had ongoing discussions on how to improve our Hockey Club to challenge for a WHL Championship this season. We have acquired one of the WHL’s premier offensive players which will add offense to an already balanced team. To get a player the caliber of Cody Eakin you have to give up a lot and we feel we definitely stepped up to the plate and parted with very good players and very high draft picks. We appreciate the quality of the people and players going to Swift Current and we wish them all the best in the future,” added Chynoweth.
Cody Eakin suffered a minor hand injury playing for Team Canada at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo, NY and is expected to be out of action one to two weeks.
CODY EAKIN
May 25, 1991 * Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Centre * Shoots: Left * 6’0”, 189 lbs
2009 NHL Draft: 3rd Round, 85th Overall Washington Capitals
YEAR TEAM GP G A TP PIM
2006-07 Swift Current Broncos 3 0
0 0 0
2007-08 Swift Current Broncos 55 11 6 17 52
2008-09 Swift Current Broncos 54 24 24 48 42
2009-10 Swift Current Broncos 70 47 44 91 71
2010-11 Swift Current Broncos 30 18 21 39 24
8 comments:
Seems like a good trade to me...With all the depth we have why not go for it...Been awhile since a trade from JC got me excited.....Hope hes not done yet...A depth D-man and another depth forward would be nice for the long run for sure...Go Ice GO
I love this trade. He has given a couple of 17 year olds a chance to play elsewhere, when they would not have made out team next year. And Magnus also finally had a breakout half season which will allow him to get lots of future minutes. Well done Jeff
So now do we make a move now that Sask got schenn?
Jeff what's your e-mail? I just had a question.
jeffbromley_@hotmail.com
ELL, that's true-they will get a chance elsewhere and do well. Kootenay is famous for poor development, that's why young player's don't want to come here-by the time they get a chance, the motivation and desire is gone.
You could say that about all hockey teams then. It's a pretty generalized statement. What players never got a chance to develop? And what of those players, or any players that 'never developed' could've made the team this year or in years past? Which roster players would you have not made the club or traded for player development?
Well said Jeff, great perspective.
Post a Comment