One To Watch: Winnipeg Jets

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I don't think I would suggest Winnipeg has the best crop of prospects but they might have my favourite group of young players. That opinion is largely influenced because of the number of WHL veterans the Jets have drafted and therefore, the number I have seen and dealt with the most. 

I really like the drafting by the Jets the last few years even though I wasn't sure they picked the best player available when they took Mark Scheifele, even that selection is panning out well. 

Eric Comrie, Josh Morrissey, Brendan Kichton, Nic Petan, Jimmy Lodge, JC Lipon - and that's just the class of 2013! Add to that mix Jacob Trouba, Scott Kosmachuk, Juho Olkinuora... there is a ton of talent in the system. 

2012 Choice: Jacob Trouba - Anyone who has heard The Pipeline Show probably knows I'm a massive Trouba booster. I said it before the 2012 draft that he was my top D-man of the class and I hold to that now. I thought he was terrific at the 2012 WJC in Edmonton as an underage player but he was on a completely different level in Russia last year. At Michigan he nearly led the team in scoring as a freshman and this year with the Jets he's already playing nearly 22 minutes a night. S-T-U-D.

My selection for One To Watch for 2013-14 with the Jets comes after the jump.

Warriors helping to Stick It To Cancer Tonight

If you're in the Moose Jaw area tonight then you should check out the Warriors-Swift Current Broncos tilt. Not only will you watch a talented Warriors club play in one of the nicest facilities in the league, but you can also help 'Stick it to Cancer' by snapping up some Stylish head gear.

TPS is happy to spread the word about the fund raiser that will leave you looking cool at the rink this year. All the details can be found here.

You'll be able to pick up your Stickhead lid at the Warriors home tilt with Speedy Creek tonight.

Broncos and Oil Kings Swap

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Swift Current and Edmonton have completed a one-for-one trade of 20-year-olds that sees netminder Jon Groenheyde join the Broncos with forward Jordan Peddle coming to the Alberta Capital.

My thoughts after the click.

Saturday Morning Special - July 23rd

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Back from the 3rd annual TPS Invitational Golf Tournament in Jasper, we were happy to be joined by three live guests but also selected 3 highlight interviews from the first 6 seasons of The Pipeline Show. We spoke with a top prospect who was recently involved in a major NHL trade, we chatted with the voice of another CHL team and also heard from a new media contact south of the border about the ramifications of the NCHC.

We opened our vault and picked a trio of must-listen conversations we had in the past, two with Hall of Famers looking back at their junior days and another spotlighting an infamous moment during the 1987 World Junior Championship.

Regina To Chilliwack Rumours Very Premature

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A report surfaced this weekend - citing an anonymous source - that the Regina Pats could be on the move to Chilliwack and replacing the Bruins who will end up in Victoria next year. The tale gets even wilder when it says the Manitoba Moose would take up shop in Regina when the NHL returns to Winnipeg.

We spoke to a credible source on this today and here's what Regina Pats President Brent Parker told us...

WHL Trade Frenzy

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A number of deals over the last few days in the WHL as the October 10th deadline for teams to get down to three 20-year-olds draws closer. The Prince George Cougars have been front and center this week having been involved in a number of deals. A summary of the transactions follows...

Seen & Heard at Oil Kings Camp

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It sure was great to get back to the rink over the weekend. Not only did the Edmonton Oil Kings tournament provide onlookers with an opportunity to watch several high profile prospects, new Oiler properties and get a feel for how the local WHL is shaping up, but it also let me get back in face-to-face contact with the WHL community.

And there was lots of talking going around between WHL executives and scouts as well as the plethora of NHL scouts who were in St. Alberta as well.

Broncos Find Their Voice

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Just a quick note of congratulations to Shawn Mullin, the new play-by-play guy for the Swift Current Broncos.

I've gotten to know Shawn a little bit over the last few years starting when he was still in OHL circles working around the Owen Sound Attack. From there he moved out to Trail BC where he became the voice of the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL. Now it's on to the WHL and the Broncos.

One note for GM Mark Lamb and everyone in Swift: Keep Mullin behind the microphone and don't consider him for a front office position. Dude was in my keeper fantasy league for 2 or 3 years and was continually fleeced in trades and was renowned for poor free agent signings.

Fortunately for him, (and for you), he's a terrific play-by-play guy.

Good Luck Shawn.

Is Brent Parker Stepping Down?

The Regina Pats have called a news conference for today, and speculation is that G.M. Brent Parker will step down and former Moose Jaw Warrior G.M. Chad Lang will be his replacement.

Swift Decisions?

One of my WHL sources passed this along to me last night while we were on the air during The Pipeline Show. I mentioned it on the air and thought I would jot it down here as well.

Word is Swift Current is close to filling it's vacant Head Coach/G.M. position after Dean Chynoweth took as assistant coaching job with the New York Islanders. Speedy creek is apparently down to 2 scenarios. One would have former Oilers forward Mark Lamb coming in and pulling double duty. Lamb was most recently in the Dallas Stars organization, but I can't find his name anywhere on the Stars website so he might have a been a casualty of the new regime. Speaking of Dallas, nice to see former Red Deer Rebel Jeff Woywitka sign there for 2 years. There were nights when Woywitka's skating reminded me of Ray Bourque. Then again there were nights when his decision making made me think of Homer Simpson.

The Other scenario that Swift I'm told is looking at is moving Sheldon Ferguson up from Assistant G.M. to the main position with John Becanic as the bench boss. Becanic was last a head coach with Everett until being let go last April. He was the 'tips head coach for 2 years and was with the team for a total of 6.