Fresh off a strong showing for Canada at the World Juniors, McBride’s Tanner Molendyk is on the move ahead of Thursday’s WHL Trade Deadline.
On Monday, the Saskatoon Blades dealt the 19-year-old top-prospect of the Nashville Predators to the Medicine Hat Tigers along with forward Misha Volotovskii in exchange for 17-year-old forward Hayden Harsanyi, 17-year-old blueliner Jack Kachowski along with a 1st and 2nd Round picks in 2025, 3rd and 4th round selections in 2026 and a fifth-rounder in 2028.
This season, Molendyk has four goals (including two game-winners) and 17 assists for 21 points in 21 contests, ranking ninth among all WHL defencemen in points per game.
“This is one of the hardest deals we’ve ever had to make,” said Blades general manager and president, Colin Priestner,
“Tanner is one of the greatest Blades to ever put on the jersey, bar none,” said Priestner, “His brilliance for five seasons on the ice goes without saying, but it is how he treated every single person he came into contact with, from his teammates to his coaches and our fans that I want everyone to know. His 40 playoff games playing huge minutes and dominating both sides of the ice with his incredible skating stride and warrior mentality will be etched into the minds of young Blades fans for years to come.”
“No player will be wearing the number 24 ever again for this club. Tanner set the standard that all future Blades defencemen should aspire to both on and off the ice.”
You always left us saying, “Holy Moly!”
Thank you for all the great moments and giving everything you had each and every night, Tanner 💙 💛 pic.twitter.com/7xAvBlyezU
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) January 7, 2025
A few hours later, the Central Division arms race took another turn as the Kelowna Rockets traded blueliner Caden Price to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
In return, the Rockets receive 2007-born defenceman Will Sharpe, the WHL playing rights 17-year-old goaltender Harrison Boettiger, a first-round draft pick in 2026, a fourth-round pick in 2025, a fifth-round draft pick in 2027, a sixth-round draft pick in 2025 as well as a conditional fourth-round draft pick this year.
Price has skated in 26 regular-season games this year with Kelowna collecting 32 points (6g-26a) along with 22 penalty minutes and a plus-11 rating.
You exemplified the true meaning of being a Rocket, both on and off the ice, serving as a role model for your teammates and demonstrating professionalism in every aspect.
Thank you for creating four years of unforgettable memories, Pricer ❤️ Best of luck in Lethbridge!… pic.twitter.com/idTIITZnGr
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 7, 2025
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