It ended up being a very busy Western Hockey League trade deadline and the teams in the East Division were amongst the most active as they prepared for a playoff dog fight.
Here we will look at all the new faces and departed players from the trades that occurred in the East Division after Christmas.
Regina Pats
In: C Wyatt Sloboshan (97); D Josh Mahura (98); C Jeff de Wit (98); D Dawson Davidson (98); 3rd round pick 2017; 7th round pick 2018; 3rd round pick 2019.
Out: RW Rykr Cole (97); RW Lane Zablocki (98); D Brady Poteau (98); LW Riley Woods (98); C Luc Smith (98); D Dawson Barteaux (2000); 1st round pick 2017; 1st round pick 2018 or 2019; conditional 3rd round pick 2020.
The Regina Pats were the best team in the CHL heading into the deadline and they only got better in the last two weeks. The Pats added much-needed defensive depth with Mahura and Davidson to go along with the addition of Jonathan Smart earlier in the season from Kelowna.
Mahura, a third round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2016, will take some of the pressure off of the big three on the Pats blue line in particular and offer needed depth and cover in case of injury.
Up front the Pats moved Zablocki, but overhauled some of their depth positions by bringing in veterans like former Blades captain Sloboshan and de Wit who has Memorial Cup experience with Red Deer. Their forward group is arguably stronger over three lines, while losing a little of their depth with four forwards departing. Down to only 12 forwards, the Pats called up 16-year-old Duncan Pierce from the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers.
Moose Jaw Warriors
In: C Thomas Foster (96); RW Spencer Bast (97); LW Branden Klatt (98); RW Yan Khomenko (98); C Justin Almeida (99); 5th round 2017; 2nd round 2018.
Out: LW Nikita Popugaev (98); RW Brayden Watts (99); 2nd round pick 2018; 4th round pick 2018; 8th round pick 2018; 5th round pick 2017; conditional 6th round pick 2019.
The Warriors were both buyers and sellers at the deadline. While they still seem better positioned for a deep run next year, they definitely did what they could to bolster their chances this post-season.
Foster from Vancouver was an upgrade at the 20-year-old spot and he and Bast are moves for the here and now, while Klatt, Khomenko and Almeida add depth moving forward. The Warriors are likely to have 12 returning forwards next season and could have 13 if they decided to keep three overage forwards, though that seems unlikely.
Popugaev was a big loss, but the Warriors felt the return of two forwards and two draft picks was too good to turn down.
With the addition of Foster, the Warriors released Dakota Odgers.
Swift Current Broncos
In: G Jordan Papirny (96); C Ryley Lindgren (96); D Jake Hobson (99); 7th round pick 2017; 9th round pick 2017; 4th round pick 2018; 5th round pick 2018; 6th round pick 2018.
Out: RW Calvin Spencer (96); D Kade Jensen (97); G Travis Child (97); LW Cole Johnson (98); F Carson Dyck (01); 3rd round pick 2018; 5th round pick 2018; 5th round pick 2018; 2nd round pick 2019.
After splitting Travis Child and Taz Burman in goal all season, the Swift Current Broncos swung a surprising inter-division deal to upgrade their goaltending.
The Broncos acquired 20-year-old Jordan Papirny from Brandon to give themselves a definitive No. 1 tender for the rest of the season.
Child (13-3-0-3) went to Brandon after having played 1,365 minutes this season. Burman (11-9-3-1) had played 1,303 minutes as the duo nearly shared the load.
In addition to Papirny, the Broncos also added 20-year-old Ryley Lindgren from Lethbridge. They added five draft picks, but also move four of their own including a second and third rounder. They also dealt Carson Dyck, the 25th overall pick in the last draft.
Brandon Wheat Kings
In: D Dmitry Osipov (96); D Kade Jensen (97); G Travis Child (97); 5th round pick 2018; 2nd round pick 2019.
Out: G Jordan Papirny (96); D Jordan Wharrie (97); 4th round pick 2018; 2nd round pick 2019.
The Brandon Wheat Kings didn’t make any major deadline deals, but may make one of the biggest additions of the second half when captain Nolan Patrick finally returns from injury Friday night.
Not that Brandon stood pat by any means. They got younger in goal and added Kade Jensen in the bargain and bagged two picks, but they also got older on defence and traded away a second round pick to add Osipov. The Wheat Kings are hoping that Jensen and Osipov add stability to the defence while Child is able to fill the crease vacated by Papirny.
Saskatoon Blades
In: LW Cole Johnson (98); LW Arjun Atwal (99); 5th round pick 2017.
Out: D Jordan Henderson (97); D K’Andre Miller (2000); 7th round pick 2017; 5th round pick 2018; 6th round pick 2019
After trading Wyatt Sloboshan before Christmas, the Blades made some minor deals, trading Henderson after 20 games with the club and dealing big American defenceman Miller who is committed to the Univ. of Wisconsin. The Blades were able to add a pair of young forwards as they continue to try to build towards the future.
Prince Albert Raiders
In: C Jordy Stallard (97); C Curtis Miske (97); D Brayden Pachal (99); C D-Jay Jerome (99); 3rd round pick 2017; 5th round pick 2017; 6th round pick 2017; 7th round pick 2017; 1st round pick 2018 or 2019; conditional 5th round pick 2019.
Out: RW Reid Gardiner (96); C Austin Glover (96); D Loch Morrison (97); LW Luke Coleman (98); 4th round pick 2017; 4th round pick 2018; 4th round pick 2018.
If the Prince Albert Raiders had seen Reid Gardiner make his way back to them at the start of the season they might not be languishing in the basement of the league. As it stands, at least they were able to deal their former leading scorer and add assets in what has been a dead season.
The Raiders added a first rounder from Kelowna and a third rounder from Red Deer. All told the Raiders added four picks for this year’s draft, but they also traded away three of their own fourth round picks and four veteran players. They got younger across the board, but didn’t accumulate the amount of assets one might have expected under the circumstances.
On the ice the Warriors (25-10-6-1) went to Regina and handed the Pats (27-4-6-1) their fourth regulation loss of the season by a 4-1 score.
The Warriors are off on their B.C. Division road trip, a trip that has traditionally been unkind to Moose Jaw.
The Pats will host Tri-City who has won the first four games of their East Division trip.
Swift Current (24-12-3-4) won a pair of games to sit two points behind Moose Jaw.
Brandon (20-17-4-0) also won twice before losing to Tri-City. The Wheat Kings continue to solidify their playoff spot. They have a six point lead and three games in hand over Saskatoon.
Saskatoon (16-22-5-1) remains in ninth place after beating Calgary in overtime after a pair of shutout losses.
Prince Albert (8-31-2-2) has lost seven straight games, but for the second week in a row picked up a point after losing in overtime.
