Which real good players will be traded this year?

[TheAppleCorps]

Pretty decent list.

PG needs another top-4 defenseman badly.

Could see the Tips getting a gamebreaker like Cristall.

A Cristall trade is a tough need to thread, I could imagine Kelowna would rather have solid roster players for next year rather than draft picks and prospects that they have to package next year to get solid roster players. Getting a contender to part with multiple solid roster players is a tougher ask tho. (Cristall is likely worth it, can't imagine any team in the league would be unhappy to have him.)

I've heard from league sources (on podcasts and other public news sources, I am no insider in any way) that Saskatoon is willing to deal despite their record. Which blows my mind.

Wonder if any team is willing (or even able) to trade a 2-spotter to nab Isogai, or overagers to nab Hauser. Too bad for the Wild's sake their most interesting assets take up limited spots.

You have to remember all the experience Emmitt brings. Played behind Stankoven, Minten etc.

With all due respect, I think this is kind of a specious argument. It's analogous to all the NHL teams that overpay for bottom-six free agents from the Stanley Cup Champion every year.

(Finnie is a quality player and should interest a lot of contenders. I just think there are more compelling reasons than the one you mention.)

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

Pretty decent list.

PG needs another top-4 defenseman badly.

Could see the Tips getting a gamebreaker like Cristall.

A Cristall trade is a tough need to thread, I could imagine Kelowna would rather have solid roster players for next year rather than draft picks and prospects that they have to package next year to get solid roster players. Getting a contender to part with multiple solid roster players is a tougher ask tho. (Cristall is likely worth it, can't imagine any team in the league would be unhappy to have him.)

I've heard from league sources (on podcasts and other public news sources, I am no insider in any way) that Saskatoon is willing to deal despite their record. Which blows my mind.

Wonder if any team is willing (or even able) to trade a 2-spotter to nab Isogai, or overagers to nab Hauser. Too bad for the Wild's sake their most interesting assets take up limited spots.


With all due respect, I think this is kind of a specious argument. It's analogous to all the NHL teams that overpay for bottom-six free agents from the Stanley Cup Champion every year.

(Finnie is a quality player and should interest a lot of contenders. I just think there are more compelling reasons than the one you mention.)

That's weird you don't understand the Blades logic. They've given away heaps of assets the last few years. They need to re-stock or spend another 5-6 years at the bottom again.

 

[TheAppleCorps]

That's weird you don't understand the Blades logic. They've given away heaps of assets the last few years. They need to re-stock or spend another 5-6 years at the bottom again.

Oh, I understand it plenty. I don't think even the Wild were division leaders halfway thru the season tho.

Re-looking at the standings, I ALSO didn't realize 6 points separate 1st and 9th in the East. That's pretty tight.

 

[hockeykid87]

Oh, I understand it plenty. I don't think even the Wild were division leaders halfway thru the season tho.

Re-looking at the standings, I ALSO didn't realize 6 points separate 1st and 9th in the East. That's pretty tight.

There's a good chance Saskatoon will make the playoffs even after trading Molendyk/Lisowsky. They've got one of the best goalies in the league in Evan Gardner, who I think they will likely trade next season. Kelowna, anyone?

Very, very excited and curious to see how the dust all settles on January 9. I hope Tri-City makes a move or two. They've surprised I think everyone with their first half. You look around the division and wonder is this their time to try and go for it? Everett won't take much of a step back in the next two years as long as Dupont is there. Is this Tri's chance to make a push?

 

[tendyguy]

It is interesting that some teams have so much soon to expire draft capital. MH currently has 19 picks in the 2025 draft (plus likely their US picks). There isn't room to fit that many 2010 players on their list. SPO and CGY each have 16 picks, also a lot to fit in. Teams that need picks to restock the cupboard - SAS, POR, LET each only have 9 picks, BRA, SEA, VAN, WEN are all with 10 picks. With the 3 who have excess all seemingly wanting to take a run, it is hard not to see a few of these 7 teams as the most likely dance partners. So a few weeks out I am going to take a swing and say that MH, SPO, CGY will be working hard on SAS, POR, SEA, WEN to drag some top talent and give up as little as possible. The East is so tight right now that anyone in the top 9 could miss the playoffs.

SPO trades a 1st and 3rd in 2025 plus a future pick and a bottom 2 D to SAS for Molendyk
MH needs to do something to create separation between them and other teams, maybe can pull someone like Mynio from SEA with a mix of picks and 1 roster D.

Something that none of the WHL pundits are talking about is how Edmonton currently holds 2/3 picks that would give them a shot at 1st overall this year (SEA and MJ picks). SEA and MJ don't have a reason to throw the season for the draft at this point, but someone might pay dearly to get 1 of those lotto tickets. Does Edmonton bite?

 

[TheAppleCorps]

(plus likely their US picks)

Have any US draft picks been traded yet since the draft got instituted?

Aside from the top couple of picks, nothing above replacement-level players have really signed thru this draft yet so they haven't seemed very valuable. But maybe that calculus changes and these picks are more valuable with the CHL <-> NCAA announcement.

 

[hockeykid87]

Have any US draft picks been traded yet since the draft got instituted?

Aside from the top couple of picks, nothing above replacement-level players have really signed thru this draft yet so they haven't seemed very valuable. But maybe that calculus changes and these picks are more valuable with the CHL <-> NCAA announcement.

I don't think teams are allowed to trade the US Priority Draft picks, just like import draft selections.

 

[Strummer53]

I don't think teams are allowed to trade the US Priority Draft picks, just like import draft selections.

You would be correct.

 

[TheAppleCorps]

Cool, thanks y'all. Is there an "official" source saying US and import draft picks aren't tradeable? Transparency is not exactly a strong suit of the WHL so would not be surprised if there weren't.