Tuesday 26 September 2017

TRADE TREE: The Unfinished Story of Corbin Boes

Goalies are a weird bunch. But as it turns out, when it comes to the Lethbridge Hurricanes, moves they make involving goaltenders seem to have a weird trajectory.

It might be an unintended finale to my last post from last season about the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, but I've uncovered a bit of a new wrinkle to it.


As you'll recall, the Hurricanes made a few moves surrounding that draft that altered the club with ramifications still being felt today.  In particular, goaltending was the centrepiece, with connections to Liam Liston, Brandon Anderson and Ty Rimmer.  There was also the massive deal before the draft that saw the Hurricanes pick up Corbin Boes from Brandon along with the 17th overall selection for the 6th overall pick. 

The Wheat Kings turned around and used that pick on defenseman Kale Clague, while the Hurricanes would grab Stuart Skinner with their new pick.  So yeah, in retrospect, a blockbuster deal that would change the face of both organizations.




But the saga wasn't really over for the forgotten man in all of that.  The Hurricanes needed the goaltending help right away, so they went after Boes.

"Boes is an experienced goalie, he's a big strong kid and had two strong years with Brandon before being limited by injury last season, but he's bounced back and he'll be ready to go," then-GM Brad Robson said after the trade. 

Boes would go on to play 35 games for the Hurricanes in 2013-2014, but just before the trade deadline, the Hurricanes would pull the trigger on another deal, sending Boes to Portland for Steven Alldridge, the rights to Shane McColgan and a 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft.  

Portland needed some veteran influence to help Brendan Burke, and they were rewarded with a lengthy playoff run, ending in seven-game marathon WHL championship loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings.

As for the Hurricanes, the fruit of that trade hasn't really been fully realized yet. 

You see, Alldridge only played 15 games with the Hurricanes before retiring from hockey, while McColgan didn't report to Lethbridge at all.  

But all wasn't lost on this trade, as that 2nd rounder turned into Zane Franklin, who was taken 43rd overall.  He had a solid year as a 17-year-old last season, picking up five goals, nine assists and 103 penalty minutes in 64 games.  Chances are, he'll be leaned on to be a bigger piece to the puzzle this season.

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