By Jeff D'Andrea

‘Draisaitl deal’ rumours gaining heat

Dec 30, 2014 | 5:49 PM

The ‘Draisaitl deal’ is still speculation as of now, but is gaining a lot more legs.

Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson and Kelowna Daily Courier’s Larry Fisher and others have reported that the Prince Albert Raiders have traded Leon Draisaitl’s WHL rights to the Kelowna Rockets.

“I’m hearing Leon Draisaitl’s junior rights have been traded from Prince Albert to Kelowna. Up to parties to announce it…,” tweeted Matheson Monday night.

Raiders general manager Bruno Campese did confirm that the Raiders have been in the process of trading Draisaitl’s rights, but would not confirm if a deal had been agreed upon, or with whom.

“Right now, we’re looking to move his rights and talking to teams,” said Campese. “(Talks) have been on-going since we knew we weren’t getting him back. For us, if we can acquire some assets for his rights, that’s what we’re going to do.”

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Up until this point, Draisaitl has spent the season with the Edmonton Oilers, posting seven points in 35 games and is -18. The Oilers have until the 40-game threshold to make a decision on whether to keep him in the NHL, or send him back to major junior. If they keep him, Draisaitl will be an unrestricted free-agent in seven seasons, or eight if he goes back to the WHL.

Familiar partners

The Raiders and Rockets have already made two deals together this month.

Both teams worked out a blockbuster deal on Dec. 11 with Josh Morrissey and Gage Quinney Kelowna-bound, with Jesse Lees, Austin Glover a second and a third round pick heading P.A.’s way.

On Dec. 2, the Raiders also acquired overager Colton Heffley for a fourth rounder in 2016.

Last year, the Raiders acquired overage defenceman MacKenzie Johnston from the Rockets last October for a conditional pick.

More speculation

There are also a number of reports swirling, including some from Western Elite Hockey Prospects, that the alleged Draisaitl deal will be announced only after the World Junior Championships, due to players involved in the WJC.

Sportsnet’s Mark Spector also suggested that Draisaitl will be sent to the WHL as soon as Saturday.

The only three Rockets playing in the World Juniors are Morrissey, Rockets captain Madison Bowey of  Team Canada and 18-year-old Swiss forward Kris Schmidli.

The Rockets far and away the best record in the WHL with a 29-5-3 and are gearing up for a WHL championship and possibly a Memorial Cup run, so it’s very unlikely they’d trade away their captain and key piece in Bowey, or Morrissey who they just acquired for the Raiders.

That leaves Schmidli as the only real possibility.  If Schmidli does indeed come to the Raiders as part of the deal, that could cause a domino effect as it would give the Raiders three Europeans, Schmidli and a pair of Czechs in 17-year-old forward Simon Stransky and 19-year-old defenceman Tomas Andrlik, who will be a two-spotter next year.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea