Players On The Move

Trades in sport is essential to the success of the franchise or organization and when it happens many question the reason why and one such trade that goes back to August 9th, 1988 saw Wayne Gretzky traded to the LA Kings.

It involved Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski headed to LA for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas plus $15 million in cash and the Kings first-round draft picks in 89, 91 and 1993.

In WHL news we are hearing that the Hitmen and the Broncos have made a significant trade that will have an impact on both clubs which involves seven player changing sweaters.

Players heading to Swift Current are 20-year-old Matteo Gennaro (Center) and Washington draft pick Beck Malenstyn and in return, the Broncos moved five players to the Hitmen, which include Conner Chaulk, Riley Stotts and Dom Schmiemann.

Calgary also gets a pair of prospects (Forward) Josh Prokop as well as Goaltender Ethan Hein.

The deal also involves a pair of draft picks, with the Hitmen receiving a second-round selection in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft and the Broncos receiving a fifth-round selection in the same draft.

Bronco’s Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Manny Viveiros mentioned “We feel we really added to our hockey club and this trade is a good fit for both teams and both Gennaro and Malenstyn are established players and we are excited about getting these kids here.”

Gennaro (6’ 3”) forward is from St. Albert has been a consistent scorer in the league since being drafted by the Raiders in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.

“We would first like to thank Matteo and Beck for their excellent contributions to our organization both on and off the ice,” said Jeff Chynoweth, GM of the Hitmen.  “This trade provides us with a number of key elements to build around moving forward, including a pair of former first-round draft picks, while at the same time allowing us to continue to push for a playoff spot this season.”

In 293 WHL games split between Prince Albert and Calgary, Gennaro has scored 194 points (96G-98A).

He has 25 power play goals, five shorthanded goals and 10 game-winners.

This season, Gennaro is on pace to challenge his career-high totals from last season with 25 points (14G-11A) in 22 games.

The Broncos have dominated the scoring charts early in the season with a trio of top scorers in Tyler Steenbergen (Arizona Coyotes), Aleksi Heponiemi (Florida Panthers) and Glenn Gawdin (Calgary Flames).

The addition of Gennaro will add substantial depth to a Broncos team in their push to remain at the forefront of the East Division.

Malenstyn (6’2” – 202 lb) Winger calls Delta home and is currently listed as out for two-to-four weeks with an upper-body injury.

At the 2016 NHL Draft, Malenstyn was selected in the fifth round, 145th overall, by the Washington Capitals.

He was drafted by the Hitmen in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft and in 200 career games, all with the Hitmen, he (Malenstyn) has tallied 99 points (48G-51A).

A huge piece to the puzzle is 20-year-old forward Chaulk. A 6-foot-1, 194-pound product of Regina, Sask., Chaulk was originally listed by the Broncos and made his debut in September 2015 with the club.

Since then, he’s played in 140 WHL games, notching 38 points (17 Goals/21 Assists).

He’s also added four power play goals and two game-winners.

Stotts is another important piece to the deal for the Hitmen.

Stotts (6′ 171 lb) calls Winnipeg home and was a first round selection, 10th overall, by the Broncos in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft.

In 74 games with the Broncos, he has 19 points (11 Goals/8 Assists) and is expected to grow into a star with the Hitmen.

The move see’s the Hitmen gain Dom Schmiemann (6” 4” – 188 lb) is a first round selection by the Broncos, 12th overall in 2014 and the “D-man” is expected to provide help the Hitmen and in 92 career games (WHL) he has 12 points (2 Goals/10 Assists).

Wishing all the players nothing but success with the new clubs.