T-Birds trade for a forward and defenseman
Jan 4, 2016, 2:38 PM | Updated: 3:05 pm
In one of two moves made Monday, the T-Birds shipped Sahvan Kharia to Swift Current. (Thunderbirds photo)
(Thunderbirds photo)
BY
Seattle Sports
The T-Birds didn’t wait until Sunday’s noon trade deadline to make things happen, making two separate deals Monday afternoon to acquire a forward and defenseman.
Seattle sent Sahvan Khaira to the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for forward Cavin Leth then sent a 2017 fifth-round bantam pick to the Kootenay Ice in exchange for defenseman Bryan Allbee.
Leth is a 19 year old who has mostly played center but does have experience playing on the wing. With Seattle already stocked with four centers someone is going to have to make a change. He was in his third season with Swift Current and had tied his career-best numbers with six goals and 13 points over 39 games.
He will become the third former Bronco on the Seattle roster as the T-Birds have previously added Andreas Schumacher and Owen Seidel from Swift Current this season.
Allbee is an 18-year-old who was in his second season with the Kootenay Ice. Described as a puck-moving defenseman who could see some power-play time, the 6 foot, 180 pounder from Prince George has picked up 10 points with the Ice in 40 games this season.
Leaving the T-Birds is 17-year-old defenseman Sahvan Khaira, who had been showing some strong signs of promise lately. He was becoming a more consistent player for Seattle and had recently been counted on to log some power-play minutes. He registered four assists in 34 games for the T-Birds this season.
Is Seattle done?
The addition of Leth gives them a glut of forwards now that Mathew Barzal, Scott Eansor and Alexander True will be returning from the World Junior Championships. Most teams will carry 13 or 14 guys up front and Leth gives Seattle 15, so another move may be on the way.
There is still plenty of time for the team to make another deal and it will be interesting to see who lines up for Seattle on Friday when it takes on the Portland Winterhawks.
We will have further analysis along with reaction from team officials as the trade deadline approaches.
Follow Andy Eide on Twitter @andyeide.
