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scamperdog
10-03-2006, 07:28 AM
All signs point to WHL trade market heating up

www.princegeorgecitizen.com
Column by JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor

Sit down, settle in, do up your seatbelt. The Western Hockey League is about to get interesting.

Not that it’s been a total snooze-fest before, though all the penalties have sure changed the game. But there is a buzz, a murmur. It’s an anticipation that the winds of change are about to start moving players around the league, and that the swapping is due to start at any moment.

Maybe even, in fact, before this column hits the streets.

There are a few factors at work here. First and foremost is the reality that two WHL teams, the Vancouver Giants and one other, will be in the Memorial Cup in May at Pacific Coliseum.

Twice as many spots usually equates to twice as much trade traffic. At the very least, twice as many rumours.

The name that will be tossed around most in the next week, and likely not more than that, is Devin Setoguchi of the Saskatoon Blades. The 19-year-old first-round NHL draft choice was returned to junior by the San Jose Sharks on Monday, and his name hit the rumour mill before he was handed his boarding pass.

Among the teams mentioned immediately were the Giants, Seattle Thunderbirds and — yes — your Prince George Cougars, who have some trade pieces to work with, and who could definitely use arguably the league’s top forward to bolster a forward unit shy on proven scoring depth.

It’s flattering for the Cougars to be linked to a name like Setoguchi. Only those believed to be a threat to snag that other Memorial Cup berth will be mentioned as logical destinations.

Interested clubs could be scared off by one of three things: 1. The price tag; 2. The likelihood he’ll be gone for 10 games mid-season to play for Canada at the world juniors, or; 3. An ankle injury Setoguchi suffered in NHL training camp.

Then again, those last two items could lower the price tag, making him more attractive once again.

Do you see how this stuff works? Point, counterpoint. Challenge, opportunity, turned back to roadblock.

What else is stirring the WHL’s pot? The overage deadline of Oct. 12 is nine days away, and there is a curious mix of empty spots with some teams, and extra players — like here in Prince George — with others.

Something’s gotta give there. WHL general managers, a collectivity not known for its patience, is biding its time while quality extra bodies rot on healthy-scrath lists.

There’s also a debilitating dearth of talent at the 19-year-old level this season. Next year, any 20-year-old with a pulse will be in demand, thanks in part to Edmonton joining the fray and another five overage openings materializing. For those counting, that means room for a total of 68 players at that age in the WHL.

The league’s overage dilemma got more crowded with the return of goaltender Matt Keetley to the Medicine Hat Tigers, news that caused the Tigers to trade unproven netminder Blaine Neufeld, 19, to Saskatoon for an undisclosed draft pick, and in turn led the Blades to cut Trevor Peeters, a journeyman 19-year-old.

The Red Deer Rebels then surprised many by adding AJHL scoring sensation Dustin Moore, 20, to the roster, filling that team’s quota and essentially ending the chance that one of the extra Cougars overagers would land there. Moore had 19 points in nine games for the Olds Grizzlies before being lured up.

Spokane was sitting in overage limbo waiting for winger Corey Courchene, acquired from Brandon, to decide whether he wanted to report. Courchene was miffed to be dealt from the only WHL team he’d ever known. Barring a roster-busting deal, don’t count the Chiefs as a spot where the Cougars could send a 20-year-old.

Then on Monday, as if there wasn’t enough news to keep scribes busy, the Prince Albert Raiders found out defenceman A.J. Thelen, 20, was heading back to junior, giving that club four, including two defencemen who likely have better trade value than Curtis Cooper, who the Cougars appear ready to send elsewhere. Then again, if the Raiders decide Jesse Deckert isn’t the answer in goal, Prince Albert might want to make a concerted push for Prince George goalie Real Cyr, who played his midget hockey in that Saskatchewan outpost.

The Everett Silvertips might’ve jumped into the Setoguchi market, but got word Monday that Peter Mueller is returning from the Phoenix Coyotes. That’s akin to the Giants having Gilbert Brule drop out of the sky last January.

Not all is rosy, mind you.

There’s also the issue of the Kelowna Rockets scoring a measley five goals in four losses, the first time ever that franchise has started so poorly. Don’t expect Bruce Hamilton to sit idly by and smile while absorbing loss after loss — even if Kelowna is icing the youngest team in the league. The Rockets are getting no respect, ranked dead-last in the weekly WHL writers poll, one spot back of the four-games-old Chilidog Bruins.

“Sorta stunned,” is how Hamilton, the Rockets’ president and GM, summed up his reaction to his club’s start in the Kelowna Daily Courier.

“But, in reality, everybody wants to give it to us. And we kinda expected that, considering the way it’s been the last five years. And, no, we don’t expect any sympathy... not that we’ll get it.”

The Rockets are hardly the only languishing team. The offences of both Portland and Kamloops are so anemic that on Sunday it took a WHL-record 24 shooters to break a tie before the Winter Hawks accepted a 3-2 victory. The GMs of those two teams have been known to make significant changes in mid-stream, and the early results are pointing in that direction.

The overage tango, the bottom-feeder response, and the Setoguchi sweepstakes — the WHL is about to be more than just a schedule and standings. It’s about to be names in the news.

KBF
10-03-2006, 12:22 PM
Jim Swanson really comes off as a pompous *******. Almost every article I've read of his, he always takes digs at the Blazers. He and a few Cougar fans are the reason some people hope the Cougars tank.

Sput
10-03-2006, 02:47 PM
Jim Swanson really comes off as a pompous *******. Almost every article I've read of his, he always takes digs at the Blazers. He and a few Cougar fans are the reason some people hope the Cougars tank.

Wow....you seem touchy today KBF. Out of the entire artical the only mention of the Blazers was the shootout game against Portland, that went to the 24th shooter before a winner was declaired. Even you can't deny that was not a stelar offensive game, by either side. Swanson is normally hard on the Cougars in his editorials. From what I've read so far this year from your sports editor, Greg Drinnon(sp), he hasn't exacty been easy on the Blazers either. I guess its only acceptable of it comes from within your own organization/fan base.

KBF
10-03-2006, 04:10 PM
Sput come on....I'm touchy everyday.'

In all seriousness, I think it just irked me because of all the **** some Cougar fans have been talking.

So far the Blazers haven't given much reason for anyone to rip them, they've busted their asses the first 4 games and have the offensive punch to do some things, the youngsters have been tremendous and a couple vets as well, but still a couple passengers along for the ride that need to be set free.


Cougars have a very nice team on paper, they have many times and right now with the division so wide open, its obvious the Cougars and Blazers will be battling for 2nd and 3rd.