The more things change....

The more they stay the same...

Using the 24-hour rule to assess the damage as the dust settled on deadline day, I thought I'd wade in on who won, who lost;

I've already discussed Kootenay's position. Clearly, what they gave up in the 8 (picks and players)-for-1 deal to land Cody Eakin isn't as expensive as some might think. Nextyearland is clearly going to be at least semi-rebuild time with at least three 16-year-olds, maybe four, along with at least two 17's making the roster to replace the three 20's; two 19's who are signed and will be gone (Eakin and McNabb) and two of the five 91's left (Lieuwen, Antilla, Ismond, Martin and Rintoul) to get to the three 20-year-old limit. But the future is not now...

Kootenay is clearly making a run with the acquisition but also just as crystal clear is the fact so is Saskatoon and Medicine Hat with their acquisitions. Red Deer and Moose Jaw remained relatively quiet on D-Day.

The Blades, who have never won a Memorial Cup and actually never been WHL Champs in their 44 seasons in the WHL (they were host in 89 when Swift Current beat them in the Memorial Cup final), stated that they were going for all the marbles with the acquisition of Schenn for a price that was arguably much higher than for what Kootenay got Eakin for. The Blades gave up 1st round bantam picks in 2011 and 2012, and a second-round selection in 2011, as well as a 1st round pick in the CHL’s 2012 import draft. As well as two, 15-year-old prospects, F Tim McGauley and D Ayrton Nikkel out of Kelowna, both were selected in the 2010 Bantam Draft in the first and second rounds, respectively, by the Blades.

Let's put it in perspective; if you're Kootenay making that deal that would have you giving up F Sam Reinhart(1st round) and G Wyatt Hoflin (second round) from the 2010 Bantam Draft. If you want to substitute a forward for Hoflin (like Brandon wanted) you have to go to the third rounder Luke Philp. As you know Reinhart is second is BCMML scoring and Philp is first in AMML scoring. Now throw in the picks and compare the deals. Schenn was pricey to get him to come home (Saskatoon).

So the Blades get that much better and are right now the odds-on favourites to come out of the East in the WHL. Kootenay's right there with their deals but quietly I think that Medicine Hat did well on trade day getting Vancouver Canuck signed forward out of Everett, Kellan Tochkin, 19, and D Alex Theriau, 18, for Forward Ryan Harrison. It's a curious deal as Everett gives up a point-a-game player in Tochkin for Harrison only, I presume, to get a year younger. Theriau, a former first rounder in 2007 for Lethbridge (6th overall) is now with his third team in three years after being a part of the Kyle Beach deal two years ago that sent the wild one to the Hurricanes. The Tigers get older but not necessarily better but get deeper on the blueline.

Red Deer and Moose Jaw, rounding out the top five in the conference, stood pat for the most part Monday. In doing so I think they'll still compete for top spots in the conference but on paper look to be out of the top three at this point.

I'd argue that the only change 1-5 in terms of ranking was that Medicine Hat might've leap-frogged the Rebels. Blades, Ice, Tigers, Rebels and Warriors.

The NHL's Central Scouting Mid-term rankings were released this week and there's no Ice players on it but a list player, F Colten St. Clair out of Phoenix who plays for the USHL's Fargo Force is 83rd overall. St. Clair was taken on a flyer in the 2007 Draft, in the 10th round, 218th overall with the low expectation of ever coming here. He didn't. He's got a late November birthday and as such was eligible for the 2011 NHL Draft. He's 18.

Cranbrook product Sam Mellor, another late-birthday 18-year-old who now plays for the Trail Smoke Eaters is ranked 147th. Mellor played with the Kimberley Dynamiters before moving to Trail where he's currently 11th in league scoring with 53 points in 30 games. The 5'10" forward will play NCAA next season with Alaska-Anchorage.