Big trade in the WHL, and what it may mean for everyone else
Published 6:06 pm Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A huge deal in the WHL today as the Regina Pats acquire sniper Carter Ashton from Lethbridge in a deal that included four players and four high bantam draft picks. Not listed in this press release is that the Pats also apparently picked up a third rounder in 2010.
So Regina fires the first big blow, picking up one of the league’s top available forwards a month before the trade deadline. But what are the implications beyond the trade itself?
First, this takes Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert off the table for all the other contenders. Regina’s two stars were the most-coveted names who were viewed as being potentially available at the trade deadline. This trade signals Regina is a buyer rather than a seller, meaning Eberle and Teubert aren’t going anywhere.
How about down the line? Well, Regina gave up a ton to get Ashton, surrendering a 17-year-old who was a second-round pick, a 15-year-old who was a second-round pick, a 2010 second rounder and a 2011 first rounder. Even with the player and pick headed the other way, one could easily argue that Lethbridge received more in return for Ashton than the Hurricanes gave up to Everett for Kyle Beach. Both Ashton and Beach were in similar situations as 18-year-old power forwards who have/had a chance to make the NHL at 19.
That tells me we’ve got inflation this season. I think the prices contenders are going to be quoted for impact players is going to be higher this season than in the recent past. I thought that was already going to be the case, given the Brandon is hosting the Memorial Cup and probably still has some work to do on its roster to create a true contender. Now the stakes are even higher, with Regina announcing itself as a buyer and likely still in the market for some help on defense. With most teams still in good position for the playoffs (only Prince George, Lethbridge and Edmonton seem out of it), options are going to be scarce. And still no team has pulled away from the pack, meaning need remains great.
If I’m running a team on the bubble about whether to go for it this season or cash in some assets, I think I might have just been tipped over into the seller category.
