A key player in the Prince George Cougars banner season three years ago is moving to the west coast for his professional career.
Defenceman Brendan Guhle was dealt from the Buffalo Sabres to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday (Feb. 24) ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, which is today (Feb. 25) at Noon Pacific time.
Guhle played 32 games with the Cougars in the 2016-17 season, the year Prince George won their first B.C. Division pennant, while accumulating 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) and appearing in six playoff games.
The 21-year-old came to B.C.’s northern capital in a trade with the Prince Albert Raiders in November 2016 to help boost the Cougars blue line on their quest for the top spot in the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Western Conference.
The Edmonton, Alberta product was named the Cougars’ season MVP at the year-end awards banquet in March 2017.
He has recorded five assists in 20 games in his short NHL career and has spent all of this year (50 games) with the Rochester Americans in the AHL.
"Brendan Guhle is an excellent skater who is ready to take the next step in his career," said Ducks’ General Manager & Interim Head Coach Bob Murray in a news release. "Adding Guhle is an important step as we retool our team moving forward."
In exchange, Brandon Montour was sent east, while the Ducks also obtained a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
OFFICIAL: We've acquired defenseman Brendan Guhle and a first-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Brandon Montour.
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) February 25, 2019
Read more about the acquisition, including which BUF first-round pick we receive: https://t.co/Bd5lObcnDE pic.twitter.com/BHdZKAZiPz
