Rik Fedyck

Giants ship Watts to defending champions

The Vancouver Giants made another tough, yet necessary, move on Tuesday.

The club traded overage forward Brayden Watts to their 2019 WHL Final counterpart, the Prince Albert Raiders, in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2021.

“Brayden has been a first-class teammate, leader, and ambassador for the Vancouver Giants,” said General Manager Barclay Parneta. “He is truly leaving the Giants in a better place than when he arrived.”

A victim of the numbers game, the native of Bakersfield, California was originally drafted in the third round (62nd overall) by the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2014 and skated in 157 games with the Giants since being acquired at the 2017 trade deadline. In 57 games during 2018-19, he recorded 38 points (12G, 26A).

photo – Brian Liesse

Watts is on pace to reach the 300 game plateau in the WHL, needing just 46 more games to reach it. Overall, he has produced 100 points (39G, 61A) in those 254 games split between the Giants and Warriors.

“Brayden is a fantastic person that we were fortunate to be around and we wish him the very best as he continues his WHL career with the Prince Albert Raiders.” Parneta added about Watts.

It will surely be strange for the skilled veteran to enter that Raiders dressing room after just a short four months ago they knocked off the Giants in a dramatic Game 7 of the WHL Final that saw the game go to overtime.

Despite losing a lot of their main core from their championship team, the Raiders still have 12 returning players that Watts will be somewhat familiar with from their seven-game battle.

Watts had two goals and an assist in that series, which clearly put him on Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt’s radar going into the offseason.

photo-Chris Relke

This is the second time in ten days that Parneta has sent one of their 1999-born players to the East Division after trading Jadon Joseph to Moose Jaw for a pair of draft picks.

Vancouver still has one more decision to make on their overage group after the Watts deal, still having Owen HardyDavid TendeckMilos Roman, and Dylan Plouffe.

They have until October 10th to make their final decision but can only dress three of the four at any given time.

Brayden Watts had a few last words as a member of the Giants:

“I just want to say thank you to the Vancouver Giants, the city and all of the great fans. It’s been great playing here and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Giant Thoughts…The Giants opened their season with two victories in two nights against the Prince George Cougars with 5-3 and 4-1 wins….Defenceman Seth Bafaro was named to the inaugural CHL Team of the Week after putting up five points (2G, 3A) last weekend….The Giants return to the Langley Events Centre on Friday for their home opener against the Portland Winterhawks where fans will see both the 2018-19 BC Division and Western Conference championship banners go to the rafters….