Trade deadline day revisited

We really won't know for some time how the Raiders fared on trade deadline day although the early analysis is positive given strong performances by newly acquired Charles Wells and Michal Hlinka in the 8-4 Wednesday night win over Brandon. The 19-year-old Wells as advertised, can skate like the wind and has some skill to go along with it. Hlinka, a 17-year-old import shows promise to go along with his size. However, first games after such deals are usually good ones.

The argument over whether the Raiders should have traded all veterans with value, to get youth for the future would hold more weight if the Raiders were out of the playoff picture. They currently sit in the final playoff spot and for a team that has been out of the post season dance for three years, making the playoffs is the first priority and rightfully so. Coach and G.M. Bruno Campese says there was interest in top end forwards like Brandon Herrod and Jonathan Parker but despite the huge returns for the likes of Brayden Schenn and Cody Eakin, Campese says there were no “knock your socks off” types of offers. Nothing less would have pried either from their stalls in the Raider dressing room.

But the Raiders didn't go entirely in the opposite direction by just adding pieces for a playoff push. There is an element of the future in the Wells for Ryan Button deal (the Raiders also get Seattle's first round import pick this June and a conditional Bantam pick in the 2012 draft). Button is a decent bet to sign with the Boston Bruins organization and start his pro career next season, while Wells is a shoe-in for an overage spot with the Raiders. Wells wanted out of Seattle and has enjoyed playing in the Art Hauser Centre since he was a bantam. Being in the spotlight instead of being virtually invisible in the Seattle sports landscape is also to the liking of the Edmonton native.

Campese says they weren't looking to move Sebastian Svensen, but got an offer they couldn't refuse from the Moose Jaw Warriors (the Warriors were also apparently in the running for Wells). 17-year-old rookie import Michal Hlinka was intriguing because of his size and raw ability. The Warriors 3rd and 6th round picks in the next bantam lottery made this deal too good to pass up. Hlinka admits adapting to the North American style while living thousands of miles from home is culture shock, but is enthusiastic about the opportunity to get more ice time in Prince Albert.

Although Mark McNeill, Harrison Ruopp, Todd Fiddler, Eric Williams, Mike Winther and Shane Danyluk provide a solid and youthful base to build on, remember this is a team battling for its playoff life with eight, 19 year olds so making the playoffs is crucial for this program moving forward. Next year's team is poised to have at least eight new players including defenseman Josh Morrissey who 10th in Alberta Midget AAA scoring. The 15 year old also plays with an edge making the Calgary product a bona fide potential franchise player.

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The Svendsen deal also means the Raiders have seven picks in the first four rounds of the next bantam draft in addition to an additional first rounder in the import draft. Assuming Hlinka will be back next season (if one game is any indication) Campese will trade one of his first round import picks. He also has the option of moving one or more of their bantam picks on their own or as part of package deals to address needs in the off season.

Regardless of the final scenario, the pressure is on (Campese prefers to call it a challenge) to draft or trade well and move this franchise up the ladder toward contention and fulfill the five year plan. The alternative could have negative consequences for a franchise struggling to return to the post season in front of pleasantly improving crowds at the Art Hauser Centre.

dwilson@rawlco.com