2012-13 WHL Season Thread (Hitmen, Rebels, Canes, Tigers, et al) - Page 11 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Matty81 · 01-07-2013, 11:03 PM

Wow just saw that trade the Canes made tonight... what were they thinking? Traded Merkley for a 19 year old grinder and a 3rd rounder to a team they're jockeying for playoff position with. I think they managed to trade a 17 year old for a 19 year old and actually still get worse. I imagine they were desperate for toughness but just a couple weeks after Kamloops picked up Kessy for pennies on the dollar.... that one is going to sting for a few years. Even though they don't need another centre wish Kelowna would have gotten in on Merkley at that price.

moon · 01-07-2013, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty81

Wow just saw that trade the Canes made tonight... what were they thinking? Traded Merkley for a 19 year old grinder and a 3rd rounder to a team they're jockeying for playoff position with. I think they managed to trade a 17 year old for a 19 year old and actually still get worse. I imagine they were desperate for toughness but just a couple weeks after Kamloops picked up Kessy for pennies on the dollar.... that one is going to sting for a few years. Even though they don't need another centre wish Kelowna would have gotten in on Merkley at that price.

I love to criticize Preston at any chance and to be honest it has been easy based on his decisions lately but Merkley has been crap for the Hurricanes with little evidence of changing.

This seems like not a bad move but not a good move either. The Canes get not much back but likely don't give up anything that will bite them in the ass either. The fact is that Preston has mismanaged this team so badly that he needs to make sure they make the play-offs and if that means giving up a guy with 10% chance of turning into something good then so be it.

Trust me you are better off with Merkley not being on your team at this point in his career.

Matty81 · 01-08-2013, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

I love to criticize Preston at any chance and to be honest it has been easy based on his decisions lately but Merkley has been crap for the Hurricanes with little evidence of changing.

This seems like not a bad move but not a good move either. The Canes get not much back but likely don't give up anything that will bite them in the ass either. The fact is that Preston has mismanaged this team so badly that he needs to make sure they make the play-offs and if that means giving up a guy with 10% chance of turning into something good then so be it.

Trust me you are better off with Merkley not being on your team at this point in his career.

I'm sure you watch them more than I do, but a 17 year old probable 20 goal scorer who was drafted 3rd overall... even if you decide you are going to move him it just seems like they sold low - his reputation around the league is still decent. But maybe you're right and he's plateaued or is a dressing room cancer or something.

I don't know that he's going to be a world beater but I'd bet as an 18/19 year old he'll produce a couple more 20 goal seasons at least for the Broncs.

moon · 01-08-2013, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty81

I'm sure you watch them more than I do, but a 17 year old probable 20 goal scorer who was drafted 3rd overall... even if you decide you are going to move him it just seems like they sold low - his reputation around the league is still decent. But maybe you're right and he's plateaued or is a dressing room cancer or something.

I don't know that he's going to be a world beater but I'd bet as an 18/19 year old he'll produce a couple more 20 goal seasons at least for the Broncs.

Oh I think they sold low, I just think that the probable 20 goal guy is just that a probable 20 goal guy. He offers very little other than probable, very little other than some goals.

As mentioned I think this is the rare lose/lose deal where the Canes don't get enough back and the Broncos get a talent back that seems to have no desire/ability to reach that talent.

I don't know enough about the team to know if he was a cancer but seeing him on the ice you saw a guy that could not care if he tried or not.

We will see. Merkley is still young enough to change his WHL career around but after seeing Klimchuk ranked in the top 30 in almost every draft ranking this year it is a tough pill to swallow for a team that has been mismanaged from day 1 of Prestons reign.

Flickered Flame · 01-09-2013, 09:40 PM

Trade deadline is tomorrow. Not many big trades yet. Vancouver sent Trevor Cheek (former Hitmen) to Edmonton. The Hurricanes picked up defenseman Mike Simpson from Kootenay.

Nothing yet from the Hitmen but I've heard a couple of different rumblings, not sure anything major gets done though.

Flickered Flame · 01-09-2013, 09:41 PM

Ignore.

Flickered Flame · 01-09-2013, 09:42 PM

Nm

Flickered Flame · 01-09-2013, 09:42 PM

Posted the samething, 3 times in row.

evman150 · 01-11-2013, 11:02 PM

Saskatoon is so f'd for the next stretch of years.

How the hell did Duncan Siemens get drafted 11th overall?

A 1st round pick for Collin Valcourt? What??

Worst trade they made was the one for Shane McColgan last year. Guy screams cancer.

Red John · 01-11-2013, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evman150

Saskatoon is so f'd for the next stretch of years.

How the hell did Duncan Siemens get drafted 11th overall?

A 1st round pick for Collin Valcourt? What??

Worst trade they made was the one for Shane McColgan last year. Guy screams cancer.

He is a cancer. Kelowna couldn't get rid of him quick enough. They made out really well in that deal with Ryan Olsen. He's been great.

Matty81 · 01-12-2013, 01:44 AM

I really like Olsen. He skates well and has pretty solid puckhandling skills for such a big guy and real good heavy shot, maybe could be a little more aggressive but he's a full year younger than McColgan and they also got 2nd and 5th round picks in that deal (though they included Jessey Astles as well), was a great trade for Kelowna. I think Winnipeg has got to be pleased having drafted him in the 6th round.

McColgan always seemed very likeable and there's no denying the talent but I got the impression that he's "fun loving" and the commitment level wasn't really that high.

I went to see the Rockets pound Tri-City 6-3 tonight and every time I go I am more impressed with the team this year, seeming to get better and better as the season is going on, skilled, tough and well organized. I thought they were too young to contend this year and this hot streak is bound to end (probably at the wrong time) but 17 wins in a row at home now and on a 19-2 run, it has been fun.

Flickered Flame · 01-12-2013, 12:58 PM

I'm interested to see how the west plays out. Kelowna, Portland and Kamloops all really good. In the east, it just looks like Edmonton and Calgary are on a collision course for the conference championship.

Drake · 01-14-2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evman150

Saskatoon is so f'd for the next stretch of years.

How the hell did Duncan Siemens get drafted 11th overall?

A 1st round pick for Collin Valcourt? What??

Worst trade they made was the one for Shane McColgan last year. Guy screams cancer.

I heard a rumor that could have screwed the Blades even more for years to come for a player they tried to acquire this year at the deadline. The rumor was Lorne Molleken pushed really hard to acquire Hunter Shinkaruk. I guess it is not shocking that Shaun Clouston didn't bite on that one.

evman150 · 01-15-2013, 05:28 PM

Going to the Victoria/Kamloops game tonight. Kamloops has really slowed down. 4-5-1 in their last ten, and coming off a very uninspiring weekend set against PG where they scored a grand total of two goals.

Royals usually play Kamloops tough in Victoria, I wouldn't be surprised if the Royals win at least one of the back to back games. Would be nice if we had Ben Walker and Logan Nelson back, but I'm not holding my breath.

evman150 · 01-17-2013, 01:58 AM

And...the Royals sweep the Blazers in back to back third period comebacks. Missing three of their top five scorers too. Kamloops is really struggling.

evman150 · 01-22-2013, 06:44 PM

Alex Gogolev the CHL player of the week.

3+9=12 in four games.

http://www.whl.ca/article/royals-gog...er-of-the-week

Matty81 · 02-03-2013, 12:04 PM

Wishing I was able to make the games next weekend... Kelowna hosts Portland for two games with a 23 game winning streak at home on the line. Portland is the only better team in the dub right now so those are going to be epic games. Franchise record is 24 wins in a row so they will have to try and earn it the hard way.

Not really sure what to expect - the Rockets have not so much been winning as blowing everybody out... in the last 13 games of the streak they have scored 76 goals, only scored less than 5 goals in a game once (and that was 4).

Portland aren't as balanced but they have a better top couple lines. Should be interesting.

Matty81 · 02-10-2013, 01:52 PM

Ha glad I missed those in the end, Portland thumped Kelowna for both games. Western conference champs in waiting I think.

Flickered Flame · 02-10-2013, 09:39 PM

After watching 3/4 of the season either in person, online or via shaw/snet, my top 5 teams are:
1. Portland and its not even close
2. Edmonton
3. Kelowna
4. Calgary/Kamloops

Unfortunately in the West, the way things are playing out is that Kelowna and Kamloops would be a 2nd round series.

Matty81 · 02-10-2013, 10:23 PM

Totally agree on Portland and Edmonton. The blazers are so jekyl and hyde this year, since the crazy 17-1 start they haven't been a great team the rest of the season and I don't think the royals/amerks/Chiefs are going to be a pushover for them in the first round.

Nice to see them picking it up again lately though, who knows maybe they can even get hot and make up the 7 points in the last 14 games to win the bc division and get pg/seattle/everett in round 1.