With half of the Eastern Conference improving their team in the last two days the question is what are the Broncos going to do, if anything.
Saskatoon has welcomed back 20 year-olds Milan Kytnar and Sam Klassen. They acquired 19 year-old Jeremy Boyer from Seattle. They are better on paper than just a few days ago.
The Regina Pats get Jordan Eberle back and went out and acquired F Killian Hutt from Portland. Hutt had a decent rookie season last year collecting 35 points in 57 games.
The Brandon Wheat Kings get Brayden Schenn back from L.A. and will add two impact European players into their line-up this week.
Prince Albert hasn't made a recent move but picked up F Justin Maylan from Prince George and F Craig Macallum from Edmonton.
Calgary gets F Joel Broda back - the only 50 goal scorer in the WHL last season.
Lethbridge adds 20 year-old Linden Rowat, D Mike Reddington, Mitch Maxwell and F Radim Valchar after struggling out of the gates.
So does the next move belong to the Broncos? Or do they take their time assessing what they need before pulling the trigger on something .
Maybe it's just instinct of expecting something this time of year. Afterall, former Head Coach/GM Dean Chynoweth always seemed to make a major move at about this time. Postma and Bortis to Calgary for Dansereau and Felde. Schultz to Spokane for Ned Lukacevic. Leavitt and Annesley to Everett for Desloges and Horman, etc.
With the re-assignment of D Andrew Hewett to the MJHL, the Broncos are shaping up to be one of the younger teams in the Conference. With only four 19 year-olds (Wudrick, Dowling, Brown, Clark), the team has some room to manoeuvre.
In comparison, Moose Jaw has eight 19 year-olds, Brandon seven, Prince Albert has six, Saskatoon five and Regina four.
For now, the Broncos are young on the back-end and so far the guys are holding their own. Goaltending has been a pleasant surprise in the early goings and the forwards have enough experience and depth to put up some goals.
If the Broncos do make a move in the coming days or weeks don't expect it to be a major one. Although if GM/Head Coach Mark Lamb gets an opportunity to improve his team for a reasonable price I think he'll jump at it.
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3 comments:
I think eventually they are going to have to make a move towards the defence of the 2010-11 broncos. Claffey and Doyle will be gone and that leaves Rogers as the most experienced behind a bunch of rookies.
Good right up Keen. I was thinking something similar. I feel we need to match up with the transactions. The fact that we have a relativly young team would suspect that perhaps some veteran help could be beneficial. We have three 19 year old forwards, zero 19 year old dmen and a 19 year old goalie. Perhaps adding to that age group could be something we look at to help improve but at what cost? Picks or young talent?
We have a very good 20 year old available. I would move either Claffey or possibly Doyle in a package to get a good 19 and 18 year old D man. They have not addressed the 1990 D man in 4 years, Hewitt was not the answer.
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