Armstrong applauds WHL trade rule changes

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This article was published 26/07/2018 (2835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon Wheat Kings general manager Grant Armstrong is welcoming new measures that will restrict trades involving younger players and signed prospects.

After a Western Hockey League trade period that veteran WHL reporter Gregg Drinnan said featured 58 trades involving 110 players, 77 bantam draft picks and 12 conditional bantam draft picks between Nov. 13 and Jan. 10, the general managers decided to clamp down on deals involving signed 15- and 16-year-old prospects. In addition, 17-year-olds can only be dealt if they request the trade.

The league’s general managers discussed the move for the first time shortly after the deadline.

“We have to recognize that all of our players are student-athletes,” Armstrong said. “For me, it’s very important that our players have the ability through their high school years to stay in the school that they’re at and be available to graduate or finish their studies in an environment that they become used to through their Western Hockey League career.”

After a frenzied 2018 deadline that saw the Memorial Cup host Regina Pats bidding against the eventual league champion Swift Current Broncos, league finalist Everett Silvertips, Moose Jaw Warriors, Portland Winterhawks and Tri-City Americans for players, the fact that the national championship is elsewhere should also reduce prices.

“I think that this year was an anomaly, based on the fact that one team was playing in May in Regina and they were hosting the Memorial Cup, and another team wanted to play in May,” Armstrong said. “I don’t think there’s going to be a major shift. I think it’s just something that from a stability standpoint, making sure that we do things the right way as a league is important that we take this value approach to contracts and how they’re specifically laid out.”

Brandon was a seller at the deadline, dispatching Kale Clague and captain Tanner Kaspick in their 19-year-old seasons to the Moose Jaw Warriors and Victoria Royals, respectively, for a total of four first-round picks, a high second-round pick, prospects Jonny Lambos and Ty Thorpe, plus roster players Luka Burzan and Chase Hartje.

Lambos and Thorpe were both unsigned and could have been included in the deal under the new rules, but Burzan was 17 and ineligible since he didn’t ask for a trade.

There is another reason for the WHL’s move as well.

In an environment in which American colleges are actively recruiting Canadian players and parents are being cagier about their sons’ intentions prior to the bantam draft, the measure is important.

“Any time you have stability in your process and the way you do things, it’s going to add to the strength of your league in general,” Armstrong said. “I still believe that it’s the best league for young hockey players in the world and it just helps them understand that this is the process that will help their sons get to the next level.”

The 2018-19 campaign begins for the Wheat Kings when rookie camp opens on Wednesday, Aug. 29, with main camp starting on Friday, Aug. 31.

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