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WHL Report: Trade deadline impacts junior league

sullydraftgeek

 

 

January 10th marked the trade deadline in the WHL. With a few big-name players getting moved around and many serviceable WHLers seeing themselves in new locations. Here is a list of all the trade that happened during the leadup to the deadline:

 

*= Conditional **= Option

 

January 4th

 

January 5th

 

January 6th

 

January 8th

 

January 9th

 

January 10th

 

A few players who have an impactful month for their team:

 

Morgan Geekie (Tri City Americans)

The sophomore WHLer is finding his groove this year with Tri City. Currently sits 10th in WHL scoring with 24 goals and 30 assists in 46 games, already more than doubling last season's point totals. The 6-2 winger has been finding himself in the Americans' top six this year and earned himself more special-teams icetime. At the pace he is at, the big scoring playmaker he could be in the talks as a possible overager draft pick this year.

 

Brett Kemp (Edmonton Oil Kings)

One of the newest Oil Kings is making his name known around Edmonton since being acquired Jan. 4. With four assists in just three games, the 2000-born forward has been finding himself as a top player on his new squad and has taken on a much bigger role with the team and makes the trade a lot easier to swallow for fans. The playmaking forward is a player to watch for the 2018 draft and has become someone I personally will watch to see if he can crack a roster spot for Canada's Ivan Hlinka roster.

 

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big trade by Oil Kings today. Send 20-year-old captain Aaron Irving to Everett for 16-year-old prospect Brett Kemp and first round pick/1</p>&mdash; Terry Jones (@sunterryjones) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunterryjones/status/816805011518869509">January 5, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

Jordy Bellerive (Lethbridge Hurricanes)

The Lethbridge Hurricanes' top NHL draft pick has been on the upswing as of late. With 22 of his 38 points coming since Dec. 2. He's a dynamic forward who possess a powerful stride that helps him beat defenders wide and create scoring chances from the outside. He isn’t seen as a top-60 player in the NHL draft but is certainly on the right path to getting there. Last I saw him he was on a line with Zborosky and Bowen, which seemed to fit him very well.

 

Zach Fischer (Medicine Hat Tigers)

When looking at which of the '97s is poised to dominate the WHL as overagers, Fischer’s name is at the top of the list. The combination of speed and tenacity, coupled with his cerebral goal-scoring abilities has shown that he is well on his way to earning an NHL contract. With his 23 goals in 37 games, the Tigers will need Fischer to continue scoring down the stretch and into playoffs as they look to capture the WHL title.

 

David Quenneville (Medicine Hat Tigers)

Prior to going down with a broken tibia, Quenneville was a dominant force on the backend for the Tigers. Through only 38 games the Islanders' draft pick put up 48 points, including 20 goals. He is out for approximately six weeks, with the possibility of returning for playoffs.

 

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">David Quenneville: 20g, 28a, 14 ppg, in 38 games. Leads all d-men in scoring and is tied for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WHL?src=hash">#WHL</a> lead in PPG.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Isles?src=hash">#Isles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tigershockey">@tigershockey</a></p>&mdash; NHL Prospects Watch (@Prospects_Watch) <a href="https://twitter.com/Prospects_Watch/status/820344992359186432">January 14, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings)

The consensus top-ranked NHL draft eligible is finally returning to WHL action. Due to an upper-body injury he suffered early in the season that cost him a world junior appearance, he has only six games played this season and has managed nine points. The Ryan Getzlaf comparable isn’t quite at the calibre of the past few year's No. 1 picks but still has the potential to be a top-line center in the NHL.

 

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Patrick eager to make return: <a href="https://t.co/XKmydL18vU">https://t.co/XKmydL18vU</a> <a href="https://t.co/saT93be18q">pic.twitter.com/saT93be18q</a></p>&mdash; The Brandon Sun (@thebrandonsun) <a href="https://twitter.com/thebrandonsun/status/819959863581274113">January 13, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Spokane Chiefs)

Anderson-Dolan has really upped his draft stock lately. Playing on a line with Kailer Yamamoto, he has been able to put up 38 points in 43 games. The 5-11 center is seen as a top-60 prospect and has even made people think he could go late first round. His game transitions well to NHL. His foot speed and edgework are key components in his game thathe has  elevated this season.

 

DraftGeek top-10-ranked WHLers (NHL draft-eligible)

 

  1. Nolan Patrick
  2. Michael Rasmussen
  3. Kailer Yamamoto
  4. Juuso Valimaki
  5. Callan Foote
  6. Nikita Popugaev
  7. Cody Glass
  8. Stelio Mattheos
  9. Artyom Minulin
  10. Henri Jokiharju

 

Power Rankings:

 

  1. Regina Pats
  2. Prince George Cougars
  3. Everett Silvertips
  4. Lethbridge Hurricanes
  5. Medicine Hat Tigers
  6. Victoria Royals
  7. Tri-City Americans
  8. Moose Jaw Warriors
  9. Kamloops Blazers
  10. Swift Current Broncos

 

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