Wheat Kings busy at trade deadline

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This article was published 09/01/2023 (618 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Wheat Kings were active at the Western Hockey League trade deadline on Tuesday, making three deals to ship out a veteran and acquire a pair of promising replacements.

The biggest trade sent 19-year-old forward Jake Chiasson to the Saskatoon Blades for a first-round pick in 2023, a second-round pick in 2025 and a conditional second-round pick in 2026 if he plays as an overager next season. The Blades have more than one first-rounder in 2023 but it’s their own pick that is changing hands.

In addition, Brandon moved 17-year-old Wheat Kings forward Trae Johnson, a third-round pick in 2023 and a fifth-round pick in 2024 to the Kelowna Rockets for 18-year-old forward Nolan Flamand, and sent the rights to 16-year-old forward Colin Frank, a second-round pick in 2026 and a sixth-round pick in 2025 to the Portland Winterhawks for 19-year-old forward Dawson Pasternak of Winnipeg and a conditional fourth-round pick.

Wheat Kings head coach and general manager Marty Murray said the team went into the trade deadline with some ideas, but their direction was ultimately dictated by who was available.

“A couple of players came our way in Pasternak and Flamand who we thought could add some speed and skill to our lineup for multiple years and we jumped on it,” Murray said. “At that point, we made the decision that maybe allowed us to bring in a little more offence and opened up some options for Chiasson to bring back some assets that we probably need.

“That was how the day shook out.”

Murray said his first WHL trade deadline was hectic, although it’s not fundamentally different than the ones he experienced as a GM in the USHL and NAHL, other than the high prices paid for top players. He was in the team’s boardroom with director of player personnel Chris Moulton and head scout Mark Johnston.

“There are a number of teams that have a real legitimate shot this year, and when they see one team make a big trade and load up, that kind of ignites a few other teams that are trying to get things going. That was the momentum that was created,” Murray said.

As a result, prices shot up, which is common in a year when a WHL team is serving as Memorial Cup host, like the Kamloops Blazers are this year. They sent a package of four players and 10 picks to the Everett Silvertips on Sunday for 19-year-old defenceman Olen Zellweger and overage forward Ryan Hofer.

“Everybody can agree there were some trades that maybe aren’t as broad as the assets brought in but that’s kind of the marketplace,” Murray said. “I’m still learning here, but in the year the Western league hosts the Memorial Cup, things seem to be a little inflated.”

Murray said the Brandon group worked from 7 o’clock in the morning until midnight on Monday, and sometimes had two or three calls going at the same time.

He said his last call was around 2 o’clock this afternoon with a good friend, Swift Current Broncos GM Chad Leslie, comparing notes on the deadline.

The two did business on Monday, with Brandon sending overage defenceman Mason Ward to Swift Current for 19-year-old defenceman Kayden Sadhra-Kang.

The biggest impact on Brandon’s dressing room will be the loss of Chiasson, who served as an alternate captain and was touted for his leadership ability since Brandon picked him in 2018.

“Obviously I’m sad with a lot of things,” an emotional Chiasson said from his vehicle as he drove to Saskatoon. “The memories I’ve made in Brandon have been some that I can’t even put words on to describe. There are so many different guys I became close with and friendships I’ll have forever.

“Fans maybe can’t appreciate what goes on behind the scenes with guys leaving their families and coming together and becoming one. That’s what’s going through my head right now. Obviously I’m excited to get going with a playoff team but I’m going to miss so many parts of Brandon.”

Chiasson, who was sidelined for much of his 18-year-old season with a shoulder injury, has 30 goals, 51 assists and 32 penalty minutes in 141 career games with the Wheat Kings, with 28 points in 37 games this season. A product of Abbotsford, B.C., Chiasson was Brandon’s top pick in the 2018 draft, going 15th overall.

Chiasson expects that his versatility and willingness to pitch in wherever he has to will make him a good fit for the Blades.

“You look at their record and what they’ve done, and you can only think that they’re going up,” Chiasson said. “At this time of year, everybody’s dialled in and guys know what they’re playing for and guys have found their roles. I’m super excited. I think my game style is one to complement that team.”

Murray admitted it’s hard not to wonder if Chiasson might have brought in an even larger haul of picks if he had been traded earlier, but is satisfied with the return and his potential replacements in the lineup.

“Those are always really tough,” Murray said of trading a veteran. “Jake is a wonderful kid who started with the Wheat Kings when he was 16. He’s a really good hockey player and he’s a big part of our team on and off the ice. I think Jake’s production wasn’t as high as both he and the club thought, but he did a lot of good things and brought a lot of intangibles to our team every day.

“He’s an outstanding citizen but we felt with getting Pasternak and Flamand that maybe helped bring in some scoring that allowed us to explore the options.”

The Wheat Kings also lost another good teammate in Johnson, a product of Martensville, Sask., who was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2020 draft.

The six-foot, 170-pound Johnson played 100 games with the Wheat Kings, contributing five goals, eight assists and 64 penalty minutes.

“I’m really excited for the new opportunity but it was hard to say goodbye to everyone here in Brandon,” said Johnson, who admitted he was surprised by the deal. “I was treated really good when I was here. My billets were amazing, all my teammates were amazing and all the staff were amazing. I have nothing but good things to say about Brandon but I’m looking forward to my new opportunity.”

Flamand, a five-foot-nine, 181-pound Saskatoon product, has four goals, 16 assists and 10 penalty minutes in 35 games this season and has won 48.8 per cent of his 588 draws.

He has 63 points in 114 career games in the league with 20 penalty minutes.

“Today was definitely a surprise to me,” Flamand said. “I didn’t see this trade coming. I thought I was sticking where I was sticking but obviously the GM (Bruce Hamilton) and the coach (Kris Mallette) of the Rockets had different plans.

“It should be better in Brandon. I’m excited to get a new start in my hockey career and put on the yellow and black.”

Flamand, who was chosen 27th overall in the 2019 WHL draft, chuckled when asked if it would be nice to play more often in front of family in the East Division.

“Unfortunately my parents made the decision to move to Kelowna last year,” Flamand said. “My parents are now 19 hours away from me sadly but they’ll still make the trek up there for the first game I play so I’m excited for that.”

Flamand was scheduled to fly out this morning and potentially be at practice in Brandon on Thursday. The Wheat Kings host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday and the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday.

“Flamand was a player we talked to Kelowna about and they obviously came back with a player, and that was the player they talked about,” Murray said. “I think it’s good for Trae. Trae is a good, hard-working player and he’s young and still trying to find his way a little bit but I think this will be an opportunity for him to go and get some more ice and an expanded role.

“I think it’s one of those trades that works out for both sides.”

Frank, who Brandon picked in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, has 40 goals and 43 assists in 53 games with the Anaheim Jr. Ducks 16U AAA team but was unlikely to ever be a Wheat King.

Pasternak, who Johnston delivered to Brandon from Saskatoon around 4:30 p.m., was surprised by the deal but delighted with the destination.

“At the trade deadline, anything can happen,” Pasternak said. “I got told this morning eating breakfast that I was traded and coming to Brandon. I’m happy it’s Brandon. I’m excited because I’m close to home now. I’m looking forward to being here, closer to home and family, which I haven’t been in four or five years now. That’s always exciting.”

“I just don’t get away from the U.S. Division,” he added with a chuckle prior to meeting the Seattle Thunderbirds in his Brandon debut.

He has 17 points in 28 games this season, and 31 points in 62 career games.

“Pasternak is a quick offensive guy,” Murray said. “He’s not overly big but he’s really competitive on the puck and he can hunt pucks and finish plays. We think he can fit in with our top six group, and then Flamand is a kid who had an exceptional 17-year-old year last year, I think he had 40 points. He’s been up and down a little bit this year with point production but we like what he brings to the table as a (2004-born player) so he has lots of junior eligibility left.

“We think he’ll be a real good player for us not only now but down the road.”

Since the WHL trading freeze was lifted on Dec. 27, there were 14 deals around the league prior to Tuesday, and 12 more on deadline day.

Murray said that with an open overage spot, he looked at his options but decided to stand pat with the Brandon duo of Nolan Ritchie and Calder Anderson.

“We kind of weighed out the value of bringing in a 20-year-old,” Murray said. “We thought if we could bring somebody in who could have an impact on our lineup we would, but we didn’t quite find that guy. We felt there was more value in having guys like (Ben) Thornton and (Caleb) Hadland coming off injuries to give them quality ice time to continue on with their development. That’s why we stood pat.”

The last time Brandon made at least three deals on deadline day was in 2013 when Michael Ferland was dispatched to Saskatoon for a first-round pick, Alessio Bertaggia was dealt to the Spokane Chiefs for Marek Kalus, Rhett Gardner and two draft picks and Ayrton Nikkel and a conditional draft pick went to the Everett Silvertips for Nick Walters and Taylor Sanheim.

Murray is hopeful his wheeling and dealing over the last couple of days has a positive long-term impact.

“The three players who are coming in are going to give us five-plus years with their age, and with the assets we’ve acquired from the Chiasson deal, those first and second-round picks hopefully will turn out to be something really good,” he said.

OTHER TRADES ACROSS THE WHL

• The Everett Silvertips acquired 17-year-old goaltender Donovan Bodnar and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2024 from the Portland Winterhawks for a fourth-round pick in 2024.

• The Lethbridge Hurricanes reacquired 19-year-old goalie Jared Picklyk from the Tri-City Americans for a 10th-round pick in 2025. He was originally traded to Lethbridge on Nov. 17 for a sixth-round pick in 2024.

• The Kelowna Rockets acquired unsigned 16-year-old defence prospect Landon Cowper from the Prince Albert Raiders for a fifth-round pick in 2025.

• The Red Deer Rebels acquired 18-year-old defenceman Nicholas Andrusiak from the Portland Winterhawks for a seventh-round pick in 2024. Andrusiak is currently playing in the SJHL.

• The Vancouver Giants acquired 18-year-old defenceman Ben Feenan from Tri-City for a seventh-round pick in 2026.

• The Prince George Cougars acquired 19-year-old forward Zac Funk from the Calgary Hitmen for 18-year-old born forward Carter MacAdams, plus second-round picks in 2023 and 2024 and a fourth-round pick in 2024.

• The Portland Winterhawks acquired the rights to 20-year-old forward Ozzy Wiesblatt from the Prince Albert Raiders for a conditional first-round pick in 2025 and a pair of conditional second-round picks in 2026.

• The Seattle Thunderbirds acquired the rights to 19-year-old forward Dylan Guenther, the rights to 15-year-old forward Jordan Ramsay and an eighth-round pick in 2023 from the Edmonton Oil Kings for the rights to 15-year-old forward Koji Gibson, a fourth-round pick in 2024, a conditional first-round pick in 2026, a conditional second-round pick in 2023, conditional fourth-round picks in 2025 and 2026, a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026 and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2024.

• The Regina Pats acquired 19-year-old Steel Quiring from the Everett Silvertips for a fourth-round pick in 2026.

• In another transaction, the Edmonton Oil Kings have claimed 2002-born forward Loick Daigle off Canadian Hockey League waivers from the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and have signed him. Daigle, 20, has 50 points in 108 career QMJHL games.

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