TRADE ALERT: RIG/VAN

[Doomsday 4,143]

 

 Riga Reign Receive:

 

G Greg Eagles

 

 Vancouver Wolves Receive:

 

G Finn Davison

RW Pat Svoboda

S72 RIG 1st

 

 

Analysis

 

Vancouver's early-season shake-up continues, as another long-time member of the Wolves is on the move. This time, unsurprisingly, it's Greg Eagles, the reigning Greg Clegane and Aidan Shaw Trophy winner. With the selection of Jimmy Spyro in Season 69 (nice), it was only a matter of time before he eventually took over as the starter in Vancouver… but he'll still have to wait another season, as Finn Davison comes over in the transaction, looking to keep Vancouver in the mix for the Continental Cup in his final season. Winger Pat Svoboda also joins the Wolfpack for his final season as a cap dump, but the real prize for General Manager Keaton Louth is Riga's first-round pick next season. After acquiring New York's Season 73 first-round pick in the Micheal Gary Scott trade, Vancouver now has four first-round selections in the next two drafts. Being able to remain in contention with Davison this season is nice, but the excellent shape that Louth has the Wolves in to retool was the real aim of this deal.

 

Riga Reign General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs did have to part with his first-round pick next season, but he solves a long-standing problem for Riga by finding consistency in the crease. Zeptenbergs has had trouble finding a goalie that would solve Riga's long-term needs at goalie, and while Finn Davison is a quality goalie, he only fills that need for Riga for the rest of this season. With the acquisition of Greg Eagles, the Reign not only acquire arguably the best netminder in the game right now, but they now have their man in net for the next four seasons, as Eagles is under contract for the rest of his career. Riga's roster is starting to come together, with time really the only thing they need now with Eagles on board. Season 72's draft class looks to be deep, but the Reign can survive without it thanks to the stability in the net that it bought them. 

 

Overall, I think this is a really even trade. There's not much of a market for goalies right now, so it's a big win for Keaton Louth and the Wolves to get a first-round pick. At the same time, the Reign have finally secured quality goaltending for the foreseeable future with Greg Eagles. Both teams got their primary need fulfilled with this deal, and it's dead-even in my eyes. 

 

 

Get-to-Know the Players

 

Greg Eagles

 

Greg Eagles is the key player of this trade, and it's easy to see why. Season 70's Greg Clegane and Aidan Shaw Trophy winner is among the best goalies in the VHL right now. He's also won the Continental Cup, albeit as a back-up, but now his quest to lift the Cup as the starting netminder takes him to the European Conference. Eagles has gotten consistently better as a starter every season, and he's as good as ever so far this season. Riga's journey to contention has gotten a huge boost with Greg Eagles on their side for the rest of his career. But despite doing a great job as a mentor for Jimmy Spyro, the crease now firmly belongs to Eagles in Riga. 

 

Finn Davison

 

Don't let the fact that he's being swapped for Greg Eagles fool you, because Finn Davison has had a very solid career himself. After spending five seasons with the HC Davos Dynamo, including winning the Greg Clegane and Aidan Shaw trophies in Season 68, he has become a bit of a journeyman, to say the least. Acquired by the Moscow Menace in Season 69 (nice) for their playoff run, Davison started all 72 games that season. After being moved to Riga last season, he now finds himself with Vancouver for his swan song. Can Davison go out on top with a Cup win with the Wolves?

 

Pat Svoboda

 

A crafty veteran on the verge of scoring his 400th career point in the VHL, Pat Svoboda is a bit of a throw-in with this deal for cap purposes, but he could still be a factor for the Wolves. Carving out a career with long tenures with the HC Davos Dynamo and the Riga Reign, including two 70 point seasons, he'll finish his career in the North American Conference. Svoboda's work ethic has dramatically dropped off, and regression has robbed him of the skills he once had, but even if he winds up as a bottom-line player, you'd be hard-pressed to find one as experienced as Svoboda. 

 

Players Mentioned: @Greg_Di, @Poptart, @StamkosFan, @DarkSpyro, @Beaviss, @Motzaburger, @hedgehog337