The trade deadline has passed. Nevertheless, the Vancouver Giants managed to add a big piece for the stretch run.
The Giants received a big boost when forward James Wright, who spent the first half of the season with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, was reassigned to Vancouver last week.
Wright, a 19-year-old who was Tampa Bay’s fourth-round pick in the 2008 NHL draft, returned home to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, for a week and was expected to rejoin the Giants on Wednesday.
“As a hockey player, you try to stay as even-keeled as you can,” Wright told the Vancouver Province. “You try to flat-line on the emotional scale, but I took a dip there. Any hockey player is disappointed when he doesn’t make a team. But I’m going to try to keep a good head on my shoulders and play hard. I think the Giants are going to expect a lot out of me and I expect a lot out of myself.”
Wright was originally expected to be a key cog in Vancouver’s plans this season. A first-round pick in the 2005 bantam draft, the tall and skilled centerman was always considered a top talent who never quite reached his full potential — last season with the Giants he had 21 goals and 26 assists in 71 games, and in his WHL career he has 95 points in 181 games. Vancouver hoped this would be his breakout season.
It was, only moreso than anyone imagined. Wright so impressed during training camp with the Lightning that he made the team, and for the first couple months of the season saw regular role-player minutes. However, his ice time dwindled as the season progressed, and when the Lightning decided to claim forward Nate Thompson off waivers, Wright was the player who was forced to make way. Wright finished with two goals and three assists in 48 games with Tampa Bay.
Because Wright is under the age of 20 and was drafted out of the Canadian Hockey League, he is ineligible to play professionally in the minors. That meant a return to the WHL and the Giants.
And the Giants will gladly accept the gift. Vancouver was already comfortably in front in the B.C. Division. Wright’s arrival only increases the Giants’ prospects in the postseason.
“Without a doubt, he’ll bring their team up one or two notches,” an unnamed general manager told the Province. “Vancouver gets a top-three forward back and he comes back a better player than when he left. It’s a gift that you don’t get this time of year. It’s special.”
Around the WHL
The Prince George Cougars, subjects of constant relocation speculation, are staying put for the long term. The Cougars reached an agreement with the city on a 10-year lease for CN Centre. The lease, retroactive to 2008, runs through 2018. … The Kootenay Ice finally saw their winning streak end. Kootenay’s franchise-record 14-game streak was snapped by a 5-2 loss at Prince Albert on Saturday. The streak was the longest in the WHL this season. … Kootenay’s scheduled game Sunday at Regina was postponed as difficult weather conditions prevented the Ice from making the trip from Saskatoon, where the team was staying, to Regina. It will be replayed at a later date. … Brandon’s Scott Glennie was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 18-year-old forward had two goals and five assists as the Wheat Kings went 2-1.
League leaders
Points — Craig Cunningham (Vancouver) 75; goals — Jordan Eberle (Regina), Ryan Howse (Chilliwack) 35; assists — Brandon Kozun (Calgary) 51; penalty minutes — Kyle Beach (Spokane) 137; wins — Drew Owsley (Tri-City) 29; goals against average — Kent Simpson (Everett) 2.36; save percentage — Simpson .923.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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