The ICE have created a buzz in what has turned out to be an 8-for-1 trade to acquire Cody Eakin.
As we have talked about in our recent broadcasts, the ICE had the chips to play to make a deal like this and not hurt the club in the near or long future.
With 18 returning players they had room for only 4 rookies this season (1 18-year-old and 3 17-year-olds).
Usually the ICE have 6-8 rookies and this year there were 4-5 players who looked good enough to earn a spot in the WHL.
The ICE had 11 picks in the 1st 7 rounds of the 2010 Bantam Draft and there are many solid prospects.
Even after yesterday's trade the ICE have 8 picks in the 1st 6 rounds of the 2011 Bantam Draft.
Having watched everyday of training camp, following the Prospects stats and talking with ICE scouts throughout the year, there are lots of solid prospects on the ICE list.
They still have their top 2 goalie prospects (Skapski and Hoflin).
No defenseman prospects were traded. Top prospects include Faith, Hubic and Simpson.
They still have most of their top 10 forward prospects, 5 of which should seriously challenge for a roster spot next season. (Cable, Descheneau, Reinhart, Iron, Philp)
Plus the ICE can also select 1-2 Import players.
That's a total of 10-12 potenial new players ready to play in the WHL.
As of now the ICE have 3 over-agers and 7 19 year-olds so there will be at least 7 roster openings next year.
The ICE gave a great package of players to the Broncos and that will help them be a solid franchise for years to come.
Too much? Probably, but their recent history of stock piling picks gave them the luxury of going forward with the deal.
Imagine how hard it was for Swift Current to make the trade. It's like if the ICE traded Nigel Dawes in 2005.
2 years ago when the ICE traded Negrin and Stickland to the Broncos they received Magnus, Martin, 2nd round pick (Tanner Faith) and 4th round pick (Cole DePape). At the time many though the Broncos gave up too much.
Yes the ICE gave up a lot but Eakin is a world class player who wants to play for Kootenay and wants to win a WHL Championship.