Chiefs Gm: Why Trade Rossiter?

With the earliest trade deadline in Western Hockey League history less than a week away, rumors of impending moves are rampant.

One of the persistent scenarios involves Spokane Chiefs defenseman Kyle Rossiter.

Rossiter is due back tonight after helping Canada win the bronze medal at the World Junior Tournament in Sweden. He won’t play tonight in the Arena against Portland but could suit up for Friday night’s game at Portland.

When he celebrates his homecoming Saturday night in the Arena against the Tri-City Americans will it be with the thought that he may be on the way out?

Is Kyle Rossiter on the trading block?

There is precedent for such a move.

Five years ago, another standout defenseman, Bryan McCabe, had been back from a triumphant World Junior Tournament less than a month when the Chiefs traded him to Brandon.

Few saw it coming.

Now, it’s Rossiter who’s the D-man back from the international spotlight. He’s believed to be closer to agreeing to contract terms with the Florida Panthers.

This is probably the 19-year-old’s last season of junior hockey. And as good as they are this year, the Chiefs could be even stronger next season.

S-o-o-o-o, would they move a star in the final months of his junior career, say to Calgary, for futures? Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz answers that question with a pair of questions.

“Why would we trade our best player, arguably the best defenseman in our division, when we’ve established what we have in the first half of the season?

“We’re at the top of the standings. Why trade our top player?”

Success, or the lack of it, dictates the approach to the trade deadline, Speltz said. Although they lead the WHL West, the Chiefs may be only nearing their peak.

That’s not to say Speltz and coach Mike Babcock don’t have a shopping list. Should an all-star caliber player become available, Speltz said the Chiefs would look and listen.

Portland goaltender Jason LaBarbera is of all-star caliber. Portland - although usually reluctant to trade a popular talent - will probably finish last with or without him. So, you would expect LaBarbera to be relocated.

Here?

Speltz and Babcock have sprung bigger surprises.

But any talk involving Rossiter was closed by November, Speltz said, when the Chiefs were proving themselves for real. Picked in many quarters to finish last, they are contending for their second division title since 1996.

“The talk about trading Rossiter I think stems from last year, when we were looking ahead,” Speltz said.

When the future arrived in Spokane a year ahead of schedule, Rossiter’s place was secure.

Notes

The Chiefs lost some highly visible support over the past week. Former trainer John Hern died on Friday. The Chiefs observed a moment of silence in his honor prior to Saturday night’s game in the Arena… . L.A. “Mac” McKay, a familiar face at the Arena, and the old Coliseum, died Sunday night. A player in the old Elm Street Arena, McKay later held season tickets through four decades of change, from the Spokane Jets to the Comets and the Flyers. There will be no service or memorial at his request.