Silvertips nearly pulled off a blockbuster trade

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 23, 2019

The Western Hockey League trade deadline came and went Jan. 10 with a whimper instead of a bang.

But that’s not how it was supposed to happen — at least not for the Everett Silvertips.

Team sources told The Herald the Silvertips agreed to a deal to acquire top-flight Brandon forward Stelio Mattheos, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect, at the Western Hockey League trade deadline, but the trade fell apart at the last minute.

Silvertips general manager Garry Davidson confirmed the Silvertips were working on a deal with Brandon but “it didn’t work out.” He declined further comment.

Brandon general manager Grant Armstrong and the WHL both declined official comment.

A Silvertips player and draft picks were headed to Brandon in return for the 19-year-old Mattheos, sources said.

Both of the players involved had been informed of the trade and were getting ready to leave for their new teams when the deal collapsed, sources said.

The Silvertips weren’t completely silent at the trade deadline, adding Regina forward Robbie Holmes, but a deal for Mattheos would have been one of the biggest trades of the 2018-2019 WHL season. Mattheos was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2014 bantam draft and was selected in the third round of the 2017 NHL draft by Carolina.

Mattheos has scored 61 points (30 goals and 31 assists) in 40 games with the Wheat Kings this season and is the team’s captain. Going into Wednesday night’s WHL games, he ranked eighth in the league in points and was fifth in goals. He also can play center, a position where Everett is thin.