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.

 

[hockeykid87]

As if Kelowna needed any more reason to sell the farm, Iginla done for the year with hip surgery.

 

[TheAppleCorps]

oooooooooof. That team needs a lot for next year.

Goalie? Likely.
Defense? Even if Price comes back, is Rocak going to be a 2-spotter? Need at least a couple more top-4 dmen here.
Forwards? Tij will we back. So will the Gojsic brothers and Kaiden Varga. But lots more top-6 talent is needed for this team to be competitive in the LEAGUE next year, let alone the Mem Cup. Do you want a 2-spotter on Stancl here?

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

oooooooooof. That team needs a lot for next year.

Goalie? Likely.
Defense? Even if Price comes back, is Rocak going to be a 2-spotter? Need at least a couple more top-4 dmen here.
Forwards? Tij will we back. So will the Gojsic brothers and Kaiden Varga. But lots more top-6 talent is needed for this team to be competitive in the LEAGUE next year, let alone the Mem Cup. Do you want a 2-spotter on Stancl here?

This goes to show how unprepared the Rockets are. Kamloops did it the right way.

 

[hockeykid87]

oooooooooof. That team needs a lot for next year.

Goalie? Likely.
Defense? Even if Price comes back, is Rocak going to be a 2-spotter? Need at least a couple more top-4 dmen here.
Forwards? Tij will we back. So will the Gojsic brothers and Kaiden Varga. But lots more top-6 talent is needed for this team to be competitive in the LEAGUE next year, let alone the Mem Cup. Do you want a 2-spotter on Stancl here?

There's a chance they could get three first-round picks for Andrew Cristall. Will also get at least one for Caden Price, if that's what they're focusing on. If they're able to add four first-rounders through trades this year, they'll essentially have eight to work with to trade for players. Every first-round pick can get you an effective player.

But they do need a lot. They need a goalie for sure, maybe Chase Wutzke or Evan Gardner?

The Import Draft is all politics. They could probably get two good Euro's since they're hosting the Memorial Cup now. Guys who have either been drafted or who are top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft.

Could find good 20 year olds for less than first-round picks since team's can't generally get a lot for overagers due to roster crunches.

Bruce has a tall task ahead of him. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all shakes out between now and Jan 10, 2026.

 

[tendyguy]

So Bottom Line: The overwhelming volume of chatter in this thread that has focused on Kelowna's woes re. on-ice talent was simply spawned by the usual tendencies of chat board denizens to veer off-topic. Got it, thanks to you both for your helpful replies.

Focus on the on-ice product over the revenue generation isn't off topic. The on-ice product is still directly related to the revenue generation opportunity. Significant revenue depends on the host team having a chance, as this isn't the Frozen Four where thousands of fans travel to see their team play live - locals need to want to be there, and the most successful Memorial Cups are when the host team is in the final. Furthermore, the competitiveness of the team (or projected competitiveness) is literally part of the selection criteria.

Kelowna needs to be a top team in the WHL next season to fulfill their implied obligation to the CHL.

 

[JMCx4]

Focus on the on-ice product over the revenue generation isn't off topic. The on-ice product is still directly related to the revenue generation opportunity. Significant revenue depends on the host team having a chance, as this isn't the Frozen Four where thousands of fans travel to see their team play live - locals need to want to be there, and the most successful Memorial Cups are when the host team is in the final. Furthermore, the competitiveness of the team (or projected competitiveness) is literally part of the selection criteria.

Kelowna needs to be a top team in the WHL next season to fulfill their implied obligation to the CHL.

Thanks for that perspective.

 

[hockeykid87]

Take this with a grain of salt, but I've heard Lethbridge is making a serious push for both Andrew Cristall and Caden Price. Hurricanes didn't get the Mem Cup and I guess their GM is pushing all his chips into the middle for this year instead.

 

[FourQuarters]

Take this with a grain of salt, but I've heard Lethbridge is making a serious push for both Andrew Cristall and Caden Price. Hurricanes didn't get the Mem Cup and I guess their GM is pushing all his chips into the middle for this year instead.

Wow what could they pay tho? Even only one of them won't be cheap

 

[hockeykid87]

Wow what could they pay tho? Even only one of them won't be cheap

They've still got their 2026 and 2027 first rounders. Kelowna needs 06's for next season, perhaps Miguel Marques?

 

[Hurricanes72279]

Take this with a grain of salt, but I've heard Lethbridge is making a serious push for both Andrew Cristall and Caden Price. Hurricanes didn't get the Mem Cup and I guess their GM is pushing all his chips into the middle for this year instead.

Any updates on this? Where did you hear this rumour?