Couple bits and pieces today...
First, there was a trade this morning between Prince Albert and Spokane. The Raiders have sent 18 year old rookie goaltender Luke Lee-Knight and a 2012 5th round bantam pick to the Chiefs, in return for 19 year old defenceman Tyler Vanscourt.
The Chiefs promptly released 19 year old goaltender Jacob Edwards, who was trying out for the backup spot. 18 year old Zach Rakochny also remains in the Spokane net situation behind incumbent Mac Engel, but since the team just gave up a veteran defenceman for Lee-Knight, it seems likely that Rakochny will suffer the same fate as Edwards eventually.
The other bit of news is some more developments with the Steffan Soberg situation in Swift Current. Whereas is was reported earlier in the week that Soberg had returned home to Norway due to "personal problems" and was likely to return, it now appears that Soberg simply doesn't want to play in North America this year and is very unlikely to return. You can find an excellent English translation of comments Soberg made to a Norwegian newspaper on this Swedish hockey blog. It seems pretty clear that he doesn't want to move so far away from home quite yet.
So, the Broncos have a decision to make now. They own Soberg's playing rights, having paid the transfer fee to his previous club. So they are within their rights to force him to come back to the WHL or else sit out. But at the same time, do you want a guy on your team who doesn't want to be there, poisoning the atmosphere?
It's a tough blow to the Broncos, essentially losing the #6 overall import pick without a thing to show for it. But I think in the end they'll have to cut their losses and transfer Soberg back to a European club.
6 comments:
Would you know aprox what it cost the bronco's to bring him over ? with a team that lost money last year and hasn't sold many tickets this year, financially this must be a hit.
Alan would the Broncos receive money back in the form of a transfer fee if they transfer Soberg back to a European club?
I don't know the details of the amounts, but I would think the Broncos would be entitled to a transfer fee if they transfer his rights to a European club, yes. Probably a similar amount to what they paid to get him in the first place.
But I have no idea what those amounts typically are.
Its Rakochy, not Rakochny.
Probably in the best interest of everyone to transfer his rights back to Europe. If the Broncos did that does Soberg remain a list player/property of the Broncos as far as the CHL goes or can Soberg be drafted again in the CHL Euro draft in 2012.
The Broncos will still own Soberg's CHL rights as long as they kept him on their protected list. Only if they drop him from their list would he become eligible for the import draft again.
It is quite possible that the Broncos could allow him to play in Europe again this year and then have him come to the WHL next season if he's ready for it then. So if they're interested in that then obviously it's best to tread carefully and not burn all the bridges here.
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