Giant deals that shaped the franchise
A look back at the five biggest trades, all of which came under the watch of former GM Bonner
With the Western Hockey League deadline arriving Jan. 10, here’s our take on the five most significant trades in Vancouver Giants’ history.
All the deals happened under the watch of Scott Bonner, the Giants’ general manager from their 200102 inception until he resigned at the end of last season:
1 Jan. 10, 2002
Giants acquire defenceman Rory Rawlyk, right-winger Eric Clark and centre Adam Courchaine, plus forward prospects Mitch Bartley and Mitch McGillivary as well as the Medicine Hat Tigers’ first-round pick in the 2002 bantam draft for left-winger Warren McCutcheon, defenceman Phil Cote and right-winger Andrew Davidson.
The skinny: That was the trade deadline in Vancouver’s inaugural season and still stands as the best return for Bonner.
Courchaine, who was 17 at the time, and Bartley, who was 16, went on to play a combined 521 regular-season games in Vancouver colours. Courchaine (273 points) is second on Vancouver’s all-time scoring list, behind only Brendan Gallagher (280), while Bartley (214) is fourth, trailing Craig Cunningham (222).
Courchaine scored 43 goals in 2002-03 and that was the Giants’ single-season record until Evander Kane bagged 48 in 2008-09.
The most startling thing about the deal is that it could have been even better for Vancouver. The Giants and Former GM Scott Bonner snapped up goalie Dustin Slade on May 5, 2005, after he wore out his welcome in Regina. The then-19-year-old helped backstop the Giants to a championship. Tigers both ended up in the draft lottery and the Giants were awarded the second and third picks overall. Bonner then flipped the Tigers’ selection, along with a third rounder, to the Prince Albert Raiders for the top pick.
Vancouver selected forwards Gilbert Brule and Dan Bertram with the first two choices. Brule will go down as one of the best players ever with the Giants, while Bertram opted for the NCAA route and never played a game for Vancouver.
2 Jan. 6, 2005
Giants acquire defenceman Brett Festerling and centre Ryan Costanzo from the Tri-City Americans for centre Shaun Vey and defenceman Mike McDonald.
The skinny: Vey was Vancouver’s second-round pick in that 2002 bantam draft. He didn’t like playing behind Courchaine and Brule and asked for a deal. Bonner sent him to Tri-City and Festerling, then 18, was part of the return.
Festerling, a smooth-skating, stayat-home type, was a key to Vancouver’s 2006 WHL championship and their 2007 Memorial Cup win on home ice. He was captain of that national championship team. He played 169 regular-season games in Vancouver colours.
Vey did go on to play 200 regular-season games with Tri-City.
3 May 5, 2005
Giants acquire goaltender Dustin Slade from the Regina Pats for winger Matt Robinson on May 5, 2005.
The skinny: Bonner made several key moves to set up the 2006 and 2007 playoff runs, including bringing in the likes of left-winger Kenndal McArdle, centre Wacey Rabbit and defenceman A.J. Thelen.
The off-season move to bring in the 19-year-old Slade, who had worn out his welcome in Regina, gave them a legit No. 1 netminder.
People forget that Vancouver wasn’t expected to contend initially in the 2005-06 season and they were 7-6-0-1 by Nov. 1 that campaign. With Slade leading the way, they went on a 19-2-0-3 run that turned them into a front-runner and led to those other trades.
He had a 36-13-0-5 record in the regular season to go with a 1.90 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. He was 16-2 with a 1.31 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in the playoffs. He left the team midway through the following year, apparently miffed at having to share time in net with Tyson Sexsmith, but that shouldn’t take away what he meant to the franchise.
4 Nov. 20, 2004
Giants acquire defenceman Paul Albers from Regina for defenceman Andy Schenn.
The skinny: Albers, 19 at the time of the trade, had 81 points in his first 259 regular-season games in the WHL, including the 48 that he played with Vancouver to end that 2004-05 campaign. In his final season that next year, he led all WHL defenceman in scoring, producing 62 points, including 17 goals. He added 19 points in 18 WHL playoff games that spring.
5 Jan. 10, 2010
Giants acquire right-winger Tomas Vincour and centre Brett Breitkreuz from the Edmonton Oil Kings for forwards Mike Piluso, Garry Nunn and Sebastian Svendsen, a 2010 fifth-rounder and a 2011 third-rounder.
The skinny: That was the last Vancouver team to win a playoff round, making it to the Western Conference final.
Vincour and Breitkreuz added some depth and some grit to a lineup that featured Gallagher, Cunningham and Lance Bouma.