Published: Monday, January 4, 2010
WHL NOTEBOOK: Parity, economy, injuries make for different trade deadline
Trade deadline week has arrived.
The WHL trade deadline happens Sunday, and as happens every year expect there to be a flurry of activity as teams attempt to load up for a playoff run. It’s always an anxious time, for players and fans alike.
However, circumstances may make this year’s trade deadline a little less active than seasons past. The scuttlebutt around the league is that there will be fewer deals made at the deadline this season, meaning teams may have to forge ahead with what they’ve got.
There are a number of factors causing such speculation:
* The lack of sellers: As of now there appear to be just three teams that are lost causes when it comes to the playoffs, those being Prince George, Edmonton and Lethbridge. Edmonton and Lethbridge have already sold off many of their top assets, so there isn’t much talent left to mine from those teams.
Also, declining attendance league wide means teams are more dependent upon playoff revenue to turn a profit. Therefore, it’s possible mid-level teams that would have been willing to give up an impact player for the right deal will be less inclined to do so this season.
*High prices: Recent trades suggest the price for top players is sky high this season. Not only is there a scarcity of available talent, the Brandon Wheat Kings have propped up the prices. Brandon is hosting the Memorial Cup and has shown the willingness to meet any price to build a team capable of winning it. Those prices may be too high for anyone else.
*International injuries: The most-coveted position on the market is defense, and the two best defensemen who are thought to be available are Lethbridge’s Luca Sbisa and Moose Jaw’s Travis Hamonic. However, both suffered injuries at the World Junior Hockey Championships that will sideline them for a substantial period, Sbisa to his hip and Hamonic to his shoulder. In addition, Sbisa was also named to Switzerland’s team for the Olympics, making him unavailable for most of February. Will teams be willing to deal for players whose availability will be limited?
Despite those issues, there’s still expected to be some activity which will shift the balance of power in the league. Just perhaps not as much as in seasons past.
Around the WHL
Brandon snapped up yet another of the available impact forwards, acquiring 19-year-old Brent Raedeke from Edmonton in exchange for 16-year-old forward Klarc Wilson. Wilson was Brandon’s first-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft. ... The Regina Pats snapped a nine-game losing streak when they won 4-2 at Lethbridge on Saturday. The skid was the second-longest losing streak in the league this season. ... The Pats, facing an injury crisis in goal, acquired 18-year-old Brett Martyniuk from Tri-City in exchange for a conditional bantam draft pick. ... Kelowna forward Curt Gogol, who ranks second in the league in penalty minutes, has left the team. The 18-year-old reportedly had a falling out with the coaching staff. ... Vancouver’s Kevin Connauton was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 19-year-old defenseman had four goals and six assists as the Giants went 3-2.
League leaders (through Sunday)
Points — Brandon Kozun (Calgary), Craig Cunningham (Vancouver) 63; goals — Ryan Howse (Chilliwack) 30; assists — Kozun 44; penalty minutes — Kyle Beach (Spokane) 123; wins — Drew Owsley (Tri-City) 27; goals against average — Steven Stanford (Saskatoon) 2.30; save percentage — James Reid (Spokane), Kent Simpson (Everett) .922.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
The WHL trade deadline happens Sunday, and as happens every year expect there to be a flurry of activity as teams attempt to load up for a playoff run. It’s always an anxious time, for players and fans alike.
However, circumstances may make this year’s trade deadline a little less active than seasons past. The scuttlebutt around the league is that there will be fewer deals made at the deadline this season, meaning teams may have to forge ahead with what they’ve got.
There are a number of factors causing such speculation:
* The lack of sellers: As of now there appear to be just three teams that are lost causes when it comes to the playoffs, those being Prince George, Edmonton and Lethbridge. Edmonton and Lethbridge have already sold off many of their top assets, so there isn’t much talent left to mine from those teams.
Also, declining attendance league wide means teams are more dependent upon playoff revenue to turn a profit. Therefore, it’s possible mid-level teams that would have been willing to give up an impact player for the right deal will be less inclined to do so this season.
*High prices: Recent trades suggest the price for top players is sky high this season. Not only is there a scarcity of available talent, the Brandon Wheat Kings have propped up the prices. Brandon is hosting the Memorial Cup and has shown the willingness to meet any price to build a team capable of winning it. Those prices may be too high for anyone else.
*International injuries: The most-coveted position on the market is defense, and the two best defensemen who are thought to be available are Lethbridge’s Luca Sbisa and Moose Jaw’s Travis Hamonic. However, both suffered injuries at the World Junior Hockey Championships that will sideline them for a substantial period, Sbisa to his hip and Hamonic to his shoulder. In addition, Sbisa was also named to Switzerland’s team for the Olympics, making him unavailable for most of February. Will teams be willing to deal for players whose availability will be limited?
Despite those issues, there’s still expected to be some activity which will shift the balance of power in the league. Just perhaps not as much as in seasons past.
Around the WHL
Brandon snapped up yet another of the available impact forwards, acquiring 19-year-old Brent Raedeke from Edmonton in exchange for 16-year-old forward Klarc Wilson. Wilson was Brandon’s first-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft. ... The Regina Pats snapped a nine-game losing streak when they won 4-2 at Lethbridge on Saturday. The skid was the second-longest losing streak in the league this season. ... The Pats, facing an injury crisis in goal, acquired 18-year-old Brett Martyniuk from Tri-City in exchange for a conditional bantam draft pick. ... Kelowna forward Curt Gogol, who ranks second in the league in penalty minutes, has left the team. The 18-year-old reportedly had a falling out with the coaching staff. ... Vancouver’s Kevin Connauton was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 19-year-old defenseman had four goals and six assists as the Giants went 3-2.
League leaders (through Sunday)
Points — Brandon Kozun (Calgary), Craig Cunningham (Vancouver) 63; goals — Ryan Howse (Chilliwack) 30; assists — Kozun 44; penalty minutes — Kyle Beach (Spokane) 123; wins — Drew Owsley (Tri-City) 27; goals against average — Steven Stanford (Saskatoon) 2.30; save percentage — James Reid (Spokane), Kent Simpson (Everett) .922.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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