THUNDERBIRDS

Prince George’s trade for Guhle sets precedent for other contenders

Nov 21, 2016, 8:22 AM

Brendan Guhle was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft, 51st overall (WHL photo)...

Brendan Guhle was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft, 51st overall (WHL photo)

(WHL photo)

We’re not even two months into the WHL’s regular season but the contenders are already beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. A week and a half ago the Lethbridge Hurricanes traded last year’s WHL assists leader Brayden Burke to the Moose Jaw Warriors after Burke was described as a “distraction to (the Hurricanes) in a lot of ways” by Hurricanes GM Peter Anholt.

The Warriors currently sit third in the Eastern Conference and adding a player of Burke’s caliber will certainly ensure that they continue to give Regina and Medicine Hat a run for their money in the East.

Over in British Columbia, the Prince George Cougars made a statement on Friday night by acquiring one of the league’s best defensemen in Brendan Guhle. Moments after the Cougars’ 4-2 victory over Prince Albert, the trade was announced and Guhle joined forces with the team he had just lined up across from.

The Raiders have struggled this year, currently sitting last in the Eastern Conference, but the haul that they got in return for Guhle was substantial and could provide the pieces they need to begin rebuilding. Headed to Prince Albert are 1999-born d-man Max Martin, 1998-born forward Kolby Johnson, a first-round pick in the 2018 Bantam Draft and a third-round pick in the 2019 Bantam Draft.

For the Cougars, it shows that the Western Conference’s first-place team is all-in this season. Guhle becomes their tenth 19-year-old, reminiscent of the 2013-14 T-Birds team that featured 11 19-year-olds. Of Prince George’s ten 1997-born players, five, including Guhle, have been drafted by NHL clubs and could be in the AHL next year.

There was some thought Guhle may be a good fit for the T-Birds as a solid defensive defenseman who can also chip in points from the blue line. The former third overall pick in the 2012 Bantam Draft would have been welcomed by most clubs, as just about everyone with the exception of Everett is likely looking to improve their defensive group.

The price paid was steep and one that the T-Birds probably wouldn’t have wanted to match. Seattle is in line for some big changes following this season with the likely departures of Mathew Barzal, Ryan Gropp, Keegan Kolesar, Ethan Bear, Scott Eansor and Rylan Toth. Giving up so many young assets for a rental could handcuff them for multiple seasons.

That’s not to say that Seattle won’t continue looking at options to improve their defensive corps. The T-Birds possess possibly the league’s deepest group of forwards and appear to be set in net, giving them a shot to make another long playoff run. With that kind of potential, there’s no doubt that they’ll add pieces to help out wherever they can, but the precedent set by Prince George in acquiring Guhle sends a message to the rest of the league that if you want to add an elite piece, you’re going to have to pay for it.

Someone like Calgary’s Jake Bean may be on the trade block, but the price tag for him would be far higher than even Guhle’s. For starters, Bean was a first-round NHL draftee who can put up points in bunches, finishing sixth in the league among defensemen last year with 64 points in 68 games. Second, he likely has both this season and next in the WHL, so he’s not the same short-term rental that Guhle is.

This situation means it’s even more crucial for Seattle’s young defensemen to take the next step as adding from outside the organization would be costly. Jarret Tyszka and Reece Harsch have taken significant steps already this year and will need to continue that progress as the season wears on. Brandon Schuldhaus and Bryan Allbee need to do the same.

The first dominoes have fallen well in advance of the trade deadline and will surely make the next couple of months very interesting as teams look to make significant moves of their own.

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Prince George’s trade for Guhle sets precedent for other contenders