Cougars Announce Enormous Trade
Prince George, B.C. – Prince George Cougars General Manager Todd Harkins announced today that the Cougars have acquired 1997-born defenceman Brendan Guhle (Sherwood Park, AB) from the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for 1999-born defenceman Max Martin (Winnipeg, MB), 1998-born forward Kolby Johnson (Kerrobert, SK), along with a first round WHL Bantam Draft pick in 2018 and a third round pick in 2019.
“This is a huge day for the Prince George Cougars franchise and we are very excited to add one of the very best defenceman in the Western Hockey League to our organization,” said Cougars General Manager, Harkins. Guhle is a game changer who instantly makes us a tougher team to play against. He’s a phenomenal skater with great instincts at both ends of the ice and he brings a wealth of leadership and experience to our team. We have no doubt that Brendan will fit in seamlessly with our group and we look forward to welcoming him and his family to the Prince George Cougars organization.”
The 6’3”, 194 pound Guhle was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round (51st overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft and inked an entry-level contract with the Sabres a month later in July, 2015. In 201 career WHL games (all with Prince Albert) he has registered 17 goals, 57 assists and 128 penalty minutes. He’s also added a goal and four assists in 10 career playoff games. This season he’s scored two goals, and two assists in 14 games. Last season he finished second in scoring among Raiders defencemen with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points. At the conclusion of the 2015-16 season Guhle suited up in six games with the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans (Buffalo’s AHL affiliate) and scored a goal and added three assists. In five career NHL preseason Games, Guhle has recorded two assists.
Originally selected by Raiders third overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, Guhle has twice represented the Western Hockey League in the Canada Russia Series (in both 2015 and 2016). In 2013 Guhle helped lead Team Pacific to a Silver Medal at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he was teammates with Jansen Harkins, Brad Morrison and Nick McBride.
Harkins adds, “This trade helps both teams. Max and Kolby are great young players and they are going to play a big part in the future successes of the Prince Albert Raiders. But when we evaluated our own overall depth, we felt we were able to make a trade of this magnitude to bring in a player like Brendan Guhle who can help us without jeopardizing our future.”
Guhle is expected to arrive in Prince George in time for Monday morning’s practice and will make his Cougars debut on Tuesday, November 22nd when the Western Conference leading Prince George Cougars welcome the Eastern Conference leading Regina Pats to town for their first and only regular season meeting of the 2016-17 season. Tickets for that came can be purchased HERE: http://bit.ly/1CUY3aF.
Comments
Wow, two players and two draft picks is quite a price. Looks like the Cougars are going all in this year!
It’s been a lot of fun watching the games so far this year. If you haven’t been to a game yet I would definitely recommend it as it’s only going to keep getting better and better!
Can’t wait to see the game on Tuesday with two of the top 5 ranked teams in the CHL going head to head.
GO CATS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are stacked with 19-20 year olds. It is going to be like watching a Brodsky like team next year. Take a look at their roster. Nothing proven in the cupboard for the next few years.
3-20 year olds
10-19 year olds
6-18 year olds
4-17 year olds
3-16 year olds
19 year old goalie that you can’t keep because you need 3 20 year old forwards
3 16 year olds you are not playing
2 17 year olds that don’t get any time
Not real strong 18 year olds other than McDonald
20 year olds gone
Hope they have a better plan or can get some young guys for a couple of their 20 year olds next year. But when you trade a 20 year old, you are not in the drivers seat
Instead of forecasting about how bare the cupboard is going to be why not embrace how good this current version of the team is. We have a top five team in the entire country. It’s time to get that sour taste of Brodski out this this community’s mouth as this is a team that has a chance to do something this city hasn’t ever seen. Let’s worry about winning a championship this year and leave next year for next year. Go support this group of kids. They deserve it..
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