Yowza....when was the last time you saw an overage player traded for a first round bantam pick, let alone a first AND a second round pick? Well, it happened today.
Portland trades overage forward Spencer Bennett and 18 year old forward Teal Burns, plus a 2011 first round pick and a 2012 2nd round pick, to Vancouver for overage forward Craig Cunningham and a 2011 6th round pick.
So Cunningham just netted the Giants two players and two very high picks in return - and as an overager, Cunningham is definitely only a half-season player. Huge price paid by the Hawks but clearly they believe this is their year to go for it. Interesting also that they included Bennett in the deal even though they did not have to move an overager to add Cunningham. They still have an overage spot open now and can still add another overage player before the deadline.
For Vancouver, the deal recoups the first round pick they gave up to get David Musil, so they are back in the first round and they have a number of 2nd round picks in 2011 too, so this could be a draft that sets them up for years to come if they hit on all these picks.
4 comments:
Very high draft picks may be sensationalizing it a little. I suspect that Portland will still be a force in 2011-12, and that 1st round pick and 2nd round pick will likely end up being practically a 2nd and 3rd round pick.
They're still very high picks. Regardless of where Portland finishes overall, that first rounder is in the top 22 picks and the 2nd rounder is in the top 44 picks.
I guess that would be a matter of opinion. For me, a very high draft pick would be a top 5 selection. Still a pretty good return for a few months of renting a player, and definitely better than that recent trade in the QMJHL.
That gives the Giants a very late 2011 first round pick and three early 2011 second round picks (Kamloops, Prince Albert and their own) plu a late 2011 second round pick (Tri City) on top of their own 2012 first round pick and second round picks which should be really early in both rounds plus a late 2012 second round pick from Portland.
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