Head Scratcher....

I tend to stick with the professional sports on this blog, but today was the WHL trade deadline and was left scratching my head and wondering....

Why did the Regina Pats do what they did? They not only chose to keep Jordan Weal but at the same time were what you would refer to as 'buyers'. They picked up Martin Marincin from the Prince George Cougars. In return they sent a forward to the Cougars as well as some bantam picks, a 1st, a 2nd and a 4th. So here are my questions:

Do the Regina Pats really think they are going to make a run at the WHL Title this year? Next year? I don't see them being anywhere close to an elite team in this league. So WHY give up the future (the picks to PG along with the kids and picks they would have gotten for Weal) for this? Seriously this could truly backfire on GM Chad Lang.

Secondly, the Pats know have 8 defencemen on their roster, 9 if you include Tyler Bortsmayer who is playing in the SJHL and could be called up at anytime. Not only that but their back end was pretty good to start and probably didn't need to be tinkered with. If they are going to make a run, what they needed was some front line scoring to take some of the pressure off of Jordan Weal. That never happened, and come play - off time, stick one of those diggers out there to make Weal's life miserable and who is going to put the puck in the net for the Pats? I mean honestly, I thought the bad decisons of this organization would have disappeared as quickly as Brent Parker stepped down as GM. Oh well...if I were a Regina Pats season ticket holder..I would not by happy. While it is okay to be optimistic, far too often the Pats think they are on thr brink of greatness...only when the definition of greatness is a fifth place finish at best and with any luck possibly a second round of play - off's.

One more note about the trade deadline...Brett Connolly who played with Team Canada at the WJHC and up to that point played the entire season in Tampa Bay had his rights dealt from Prince George to Tri - City for get this....three draft picks including a first and a second. Is it just me but is that basically like Tri - City just giving up picks for nothing. Look...if Brett Connolly was going to play in the WHL this year Tampa would have sent him down before he played ten games at which point they are not required to pay the entire year of his NHL salary. Do you honestly think Steve Yzerman and the Lightning want to pay this guy $900, 000 to play in the WHL the remainder of the year? I would think not.

Surprisingly enough, really the only team I see as a contender who made a substantial move was the Brandon....doesn't change my pick to win the league. I will take the Kamloops Blazers to host the Ed Chynoweth trophy this season. Go Blazers!!!!