Vancouver Giants add scoring punch forward of Wednesday's WHL commerce deadline

GM Barclay Parneta tags Tyson Zimmer, who got here to Vancouver from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in alternate for Colton Langkow, two draft picks and a prospect, as a “one-shot scorer”

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The Vancouver Giants traded for the current and the long run Monday.

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The Giants (15-21-2-0), who maintain down the eighth and remaining playoff spot within the WHL’s Western Convention, had been patrons forward of Wednesday’s commerce deadline, buying 19-year-old centre Tyson Zimmer from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in alternate for 19-year-old winger Colton Langkow, a 2024 WHL Draft second-round draft choose, a 2025 third-round draft choose and unsigned ahead prospect Kai Anderson, 15.

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Zimmer ought to add to Vancouver’s top-six ahead group and needs to be within the combine to be one in every of their three 20-year-old gamers subsequent season.

He has 12 purpose and 23 factors by 37 video games this season. He had 19 objectives and 48 factors final season for Lethbridge. He comes with a pedigree, too. Zimmer, who’s from Russell, Man., was the sixth total choose within the 2019 WHL Draft by the Brandon Wheat Kings, one in every of spot after Brandon chosen Nate Danielson, a ahead who’s simply again to the Wheat Kings from the Canadian world junior staff.

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“He’s a one-shot scorer,” Parneta mentioned of Zimmer, who was traded by Brandon to Lethbridge in September 2022 for a 2023 third rounder and a 2024 fifth rounder. “He’s a superb finisher. We would have liked one other centre. He provides scoring depth and makes us extra harmful off the frenzy.

‘We imagine he’s going to be a professional participant. And we’re going to do what we are able to to assist him get there.”

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The commerce deadline is at 2 p.m. Wednesday and Parneta says that he’ll proceed take a look at different offers.  Vancouver is one level up on the Spoken Chiefs (14-18-3-0), and Spokane has three video games in hand. The Giants are three behind the seventh-place Tri-Metropolis Individuals (16-17-2-1), and Tri-Metropolis has two video games in hand.

The Giants had been already getting ahead Samuel Honzek, who’s their staff captain and greatest participant, again someday subsequent week after his stint with the Slovaks on the world juniors in Sweden. Honzek, 19, hasn’t been within the Vancouver line-up since Dec. 9 and has performed simply 5 video games this season with the Giants. He missed an prolonged stretch attributable to an stomach damage he acquired throughout a pre-season contest with the Calgary Flames, the staff that picked him No. 16 total in final summer season’s NHL Draft.

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Parneta has repeatedly mentioned that the Giants entering into the playoffs was paramount this season. They’ve made the postseason the previous two years, however the’ve been sellers each instances on the deadline, delivery out their staff captains in every occasion. In 2022, Parneta despatched Justin Sourdif to the Edmonton Oil Kings and final spring it was Zack Ostapchuk going to the Winnipeg Ice.

Being sellers once more would have been irritating for the staff’s younger gamers and its fan base alike. Parneta additionally believes playoff expertise can be invaluable transferring ahead for Vancouver’s up-and-coming group — the Giants are taking part in 4 16 12 months olds repeatedly in forwards Cameron Schmidt, Aaron Obobaifo and Jakob Oreskovic and defenceman Colton Alain, and people aforementioned trades have allowed him to already stockpile draft picks.

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Winnipeg moved to Washington State final summer season, turning into the Wenatchee Wild. The Giants have the Wenatchee’s first rounder for this 12 months’s draft in addition to their very own, though the later of the 2 picks will go to the Moose Jaw Warriors as a part of the commerce bundle final summer season that introduced defenceman Marek Howell, 17, to Vancouver.

The Giants have three firsts in 2025, with each Wenatchee’s and Edmonton’s in addition to their very own. In addition they personal Wenatchee’s 2026 first.

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Langkow was taking part in largely third-line minutes with Vancouver and he was a fan favorite for this tough and tumble fashion. He had 4 objectives and 6 factors in 25 video games this season. He had eight objectives and 21 factors in 128 profession common season video games with Vancouver, to go together with 215 minutes in penalties.

Parneta mentioned of Langkow: “I like the child rather a lot. He gave us every thing he had. He was such a superb teammate, such an trustworthy child. That makes this tough.”

Lethbridge (18-16-3-0) is seventh within the East, one level up on the eighth-place Prince Albert Raiders (18-18-0-2) and three up on the ninth-place Calgary Hitmen (15-17-5-1). Lethbridge has a recreation in hand on each groups.

The Hurricanes had been patrons as properly on Monday, getting ahead Dylan Sydor, 20, from the Kamloops Blazers for ahead Blake Swetlikoff, 20, in addition to a 2024 third rounder and a 2025 second rounder. Lethbridge additionally landed ahead Sean Tschigerl, 20, from the Hitmen for each a second rounder and a third rounder in 2025. Tschigerl was second on Calgary in scoring with 43 factors, together with 19 objectives. Sydor was the highest scorer for Kamloops, with 19 objectives and 30 factors in 34 video games.

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