TRADE ALERT PRG/CGY

[Erik Summers 451]

 

Trade Details

 

To: Prague

 

Brick Wahl

 

To: Calgary

 

Owen May

S70 PRG 1st

 

 

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Analysis

Looking to be the first on the latest expansion teams to make the playoffs, Prague fills a major need with the acquisition of Brick Wahl. With a young, developing blue-line, the Phantoms need a presence in net like Wahl. Now with no first or second-round picks in the upcoming draft, and considering the relatively light S70 draft class, it looks like Prague believe they can put a competitive team on the ice with the pieces they have plus enough cap space to still make big moves in free agency. With a goal-tender with top-five potential, the other challenges Prague faces this off-season seem much more manageable.
 
For Calgary, after a season filled with more drama than the VHL has seen in some time, they suddenly find themselves with three of the first four picks in the draft. This team that, on paper, looked like they should compete last season but instead tanked, might actually reap significant rewards for their actions. Shipping off one of the players most dissatisfied with the team's performance in Wahl, the Wranglers are definitely taking a downgrade in net with the slightly older JB Rift, who they acquired from Toronto. With their abundance of picks, expect Calgary to sure up their blue line and possibly reach for a goalie who could potentially become the starter when Rift retires.

 

 

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Get-to-Know the Players

 

Brick Wahl

Drafted 12th overall in S64, Brick Wahl has spent his entire career with Calgary up until now. Despite never reaching playoff success, Wahl has consistently been one of the best players on the Wranglers' roster. Sporting a career SV% of .919 and a 2.56 GAA, Brick likely has just two seasons left to win the hardware he's been after for so long. Prague is an interesting choice and a big gamble to make a legacy in the league, but after threatening to retire in Calgary, it isn't clear how many other teams were interested in the ageing star.

 

Owen May

Drafted 11th overall in S66, that was also the only season May was a full-time starter. Bouncing between starter and backup for Moscow, Owen finally saw the lion's share of the workload this season in Prague. With a career SV% of .907 and a 3.2 GAA, May has never found much success in the VHL, having never played in a playoff game and being frequently benched for other options in net.

 

 

 

VSN Writer Erik Summers

Edited January 9, 2020 by Erik Summers

[Bushito 1,945]

Pretty sure Wahl and Rift are the same age. Good article though