Not unlike Wall Street, the Western Hockey League trade deadline finds teams either in bull or bear markets.
Those clubs loaded with 19-year-olds and who feel on the verge, are looking to buy even more in order to enhance their championship hopes. Those teams with younger rosters are often willing to trade for the future by unloading older stars.
鈥淚鈥檓 kind of in the middle,鈥� said Victoria Royals GM Cam Hope, as next Thursday鈥檚 trade deadline nears. 鈥淚鈥檓 not excited to move anyone because I feel we have a good group here. But I鈥檓 always listening.鈥�
Hope, however, got a head start on the proceedings Thursday by moving the rights to goalie Jared Rathjen to the Vancouver Giants in trade for an eighth-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft. It was pretty much a paper move for the Royals since the club had already decided on the crease tandem of Czech import Patrik Polivka and rookie Coleman Vollrath by re-assigning the veteran Rathjen to the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior League in November.
The biggest name likely to be moved before the trade deadline is disgruntled Prince George forward Alex Forsberg, who did not return to the Cougars following the Christmas break. The fact Forsberg is only 17 years old makes him all the more appealing, even though he has been underachieving this season with 19 points. Perhaps all he needs is a change of scenery from Prince George鈥檚 hockey landscape, which has become dreary having missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons.
鈥淗e is a very good hockey player,鈥� Hope said.
But Hope did not sound like a GM looking at making a serious run after Forsberg.
鈥淲e have a group here we hope to move forward with,鈥� said the Victoria boss.
鈥淚鈥檓 doing more listening than talking,鈥�
That鈥檚 a stark difference from last year at the trade deadline under former Royals GM and head coach Marc Habscheid.
The Royals were in a dealing-away mode last year. Victoria sent leading scorer and exciting 19-year-old forward Kevin Sundher to the Brandon Wheat Kings for a first-round 2012 bantam draft pick and a couple of day-to-day players in Jordan Fransoo and Dakota Conroy who had time remaining in the WHL.
