Parker Jumps The Gun

The WHL trade deadline isn't for a few weeks, but Brent Parker has started the ball rolling. The Pats GM has let it be known his team won't be selling at the trade deadline which means Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert will be sticking around all year.
Its a deal that doesn't mean this team is going to win the Eastern Conference, but its a deal that should get this team into the playoffs and perhaps win a round and maybe two if the hockey gods shine on them.
Parker pulls off a deal with Lethbridge that sees Tampa's first round draft pick in 09--Carter Ashton and Craig Orfino come for Graham Hood, prospect Taylor Balog and some high picks in the 2010 and 2011 bantam draft. On the surface that is a little steep, but I think this is a great trade for the Pats. Why is that?
1)It gives the team another goal scorer--one that will be needed with Eberle at the World Juniors for the next month
2)It gives Jordan Weal someone to play with next year meaning he won't have the task of providing the offence by himself
3)Ashton should be here for the rest of this year and all of next
4)Orfino gives them some grit and some depth. He should be a solid third line player
5)Orfino is good on faceoffs and is good in his own zone. He also brings some added character.
6)Getting Ashton means Brandon and Saskatoon don't and he was someone coveted by both teams.

Bottom line is this is a great trade for Regina. Depending on what this team does over the next month while Eberle and Teubert are at the World Juniors will determine what course of action Parker takes. There could be another move or two made or else he might be done and see how the other teams react. There shouldn't be many criticizing Parker for this move. He should be commended for it if you ask me. Yes, he is giving up quite a bit, but he feels the future is now.
-----
On the ice, the team played its last home game until after the World Juniors on Wednesday as the defending WHL champs from Kelowna came in. They gave it to the Pats--at least in the first half of the game--as they won 9-5. The Rockets led it 6-0 at one point before Regina finally decided to play in a game that was eerily similar to what happened against Brandon on Saturday. At one point, Regina cut the deficit to 7-5, but that was as close as they got. If it weren't for a couple of posts that Teubert hit in the 2nd and a crossbar that Eberle hit in the 3rd, it might have been a different story and one that would be told for a long time. It only begs the question as to why the Pats have to spot their opponents six before starting to play.
-----
One of the nicest guys you will ever meet has left the Eskimos. Jim Daley is resigning as defensive co-ordinator of the team after just one year citing personal reasons. I hope those reasons aren't anything of the serious variety. As I said, Daley is one of the nicest men I have come across during my years of covering the CFL. I always thought he was better off as an assistant than a head coach, but he did something that not many coaches have done in Saskatchewan and that is get them to a Grey Cup. Of course, they got hammered that year by Doug Flutie and the Argos. It was one of those Grey Cups where I wasn't that disappointed that the Riders lost. Barry Davies and I had Daley in the studio at CKCK at the start of that 97 season. I didn't think the Riders would be that good that season and I told Jim rather light-heartedly that if the Riders won the Grey Cup, I would shave my head. I had forgotten about that statement, so had Barry, so had many others. It was before the Western final when Jim came back into the studio and reminded us all what I had said and he was going to make sure that I live up to my statement if they won. Davies was all over this. He had it set up that once the Riders got back and the celebrations were over that Daley would come in and assist the two extremely lovely ladies Barry had found to clip my locks. Alas, it all went for not as Toronto won that year meaning there was no bald Mitch-----and that wasn't a bad thing! No matter what team Jim worked for after his days here, he always came back with a smile and he always took time out to find me if he saw me to see how things were going and vice-versa. We even had a good chat in 2008 about his officials and what was needed to straighten them out and to straighten fans out who question calls. He didn't like something I had said during an interview with him on the sports show one night and he wanted some clarification when he was here. All was good in the end. I don't think I agreed with his stance and I know he didn't like mine but we left the conversation on good terms. As I said, I hope the personal reasons are nothing serious and that perhaps he has just decided its time to hang up the whistle.
-----
Cheryl Bernard appears to be unstoppable at the Roar of the Rings in Edmonton. I don't think a lot of people were giving her much of a chance with the likes of Jones, Kleibrink, Scott and Lawton there, but she is showing her Calgary rink is more than capable of representing Canada in Vancouver. By the way, if you watch Two and a Half men, do you think Bernard looks like Charlie's fiancee Chelsea. I do!
-----
Its getting to that point where I have to stay out of Wal-Mart and the malls or risk killing someone. If I don't have my Xmas shopping done by the 15th, and I have to do some shopping at the malls, I can get to be a little on the cranky side. Of course, the fact Wal-Mart does stay open 24 hours a day helps. I've often wondered how many people are guilty of having a little too much after a Christmas party and decides to do his shopping at Wal-Mart after said party and what he or she ends up coming home with.
-----
Enjoy your Thursday!