2026 Memorial Cup Awarded to Kelowna

[TheAppleCorps]

A: Trade cristall for a younger star like Parascak and Catton

I'm having a hard time imagining why Spokane would make this trade. Catton is already the centerpiece of their offense and it wouldn't make any sense to trade a center for a winger (if anything you'd want to pair these two players together.

A PG trade with Parascak might not be a bad idea, I was initially writing a response to you that it might not make sense, but I can't think of anyone else on PG that approaches being part of a trade to Kelowna. I don't think Lajoie or Shurgot are gonna cut it.

I'm trying to figure out a trade that makes sense from the Tips perspective. The player that keeps popping up in my head is Jesse Heslop. And that's of course with at least 2 first rounders, at least another roster player (Kaplan?), and a good prospect thrown on top (Lima/Jamieson?) + maybe more.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I don't think any team hoping to contend is going to give up a big time contributor in a deadline deal. Just doesn't make sense for them.

But if the Yager return is anything to go by I expect the Rockets should be able to get a Zellweger-type return for Cristall (4 1st rounders +), especially considering Cristall is having the best WHL season production-wise in the 21st century.

Add in a couple more 1sts and a collection of lesser assets for Price, Stancl, Graham and Cizek...and they should have an absolute warchest of assets available to load up the team in the summer and early in the 2025/26 season.

 

[hockeykid87]

I don't think any team hoping to contend is going to give up a big time contributor in a deadline deal. Just doesn't make sense for them.

But if the Yager return is anything to go by I expect the Rockets should be able to get a Zellweger-type return for Cristall (4 1st rounders +), especially considering Cristall is having the best WHL season production-wise in the 21st century.

Add in a couple more 1sts and a collection of lesser assets for Price, Stancl, Graham and Cizek...and they should have an absolute warchest of assets available to load up the team in the summer and early in the 2025/26 season.

I don't think Kelowna will get four 1sts for Cristall. Kamloops was paying the "Memorial Cup hosts" tax on that deal, and they got bent over the barrel.

Two firsts? I could see that for sure. Price should be able to fetch a first as well. Stancl is harder to get a huge return for due to the import factor. Graham same deal but with the 20-year-old factor.

If Bruce wants to go full fire sale he could get a boat load of picks to use either at the draft to acquire new players, or use them during next season to acquire talent. He certainly has his work cut out for himself though. It's hard to put together an entirely new team through trades. I'm very curious to see how it all plays out.

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

I don't think Kelowna will get four 1sts for Cristall. Kamloops was paying the "Memorial Cup hosts" tax on that deal, and they got bent over the barrel.

Two firsts? I could see that for sure. Price should be able to fetch a first as well. Stancl is harder to get a huge return for due to the import factor. Graham same deal but with the 20-year-old factor.

If Bruce wants to go full fire sale he could get a boat load of picks to use either at the draft to acquire new players, or use them during next season to acquire talent. He certainly has his work cut out for himself though. It's hard to put together an entirely new team through trades. I'm very curious to see how it all plays out.

How did Kamloops get "bent over"? They recouped those picks and then some.

 

[hockeykid87]

How did Kamloops get "bent over"? They recouped those picks and then some.

Because they traded four (4) first-round draft picks. That's insanity in the junior hockey world. You hardly ever see three first-rounders get moved at once, let alone four. The only other deal I can think of that saw three first-rounders go in recent memory was Zack Ostapchuk to Winnipeg from Vancouver.

Yea, they got two great players, but FOUR first-round picks. Including the one that turned into Landon Dupont. All for a third-round exit and a 1-2 showing at the Memorial Cup. They were fleeced.

And yes, they recouped draft picks, but none of those will be the 1st overall pick for an exceptional status player. That pick alone is worth more than what they got out of Zellweger and Hofer.

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

Because they traded four (4) first-round draft picks. That's insanity in the junior hockey world. You hardly ever see three first-rounders get moved at once, let alone four. The only other deal I can think of that saw three first-rounders go in recent memory was Zack Ostapchuk to Winnipeg from Vancouver.

Yea, they got two great players, but FOUR first-round picks. Including the one that turned into Landon Dupont. All for a third-round exit and a 1-2 showing at the Memorial Cup. They were fleeced.

And yes, they recouped draft picks, but none of those will be the 1st overall pick for an exceptional status player. That pick alone is worth more than what they got out of Zellweger and Hofer.

Well they weren't focused on that. I say oh well.