CHL Trade Deadline recap: Beck, Geekie, Savoie, Luneau among top NHL prospects moved

Last year’s Canadian Hockey League trade deadline has set a precedent for how this year’s installment would unfold, with an incredible number of draft picks getting moved.

This year? It was no different.

With NHL prospects like Conor Geekie, Matt Savoie, Tristan Luneau and Owen Beck moving on to new squads, let’s look at some of the biggest trades involving NHL prospects this time around:

QMJHL:

It’s not uncommon for the defending Memorial Cup champions to clean house, and that’s what Quebec did by sending out Jeremy Langlois, Quentin Miller and Vseveold Komarov. Victoriaville acquired hometown boy and Anaheim Ducks prospect Luneau for a series of draft picks, with Luneau’s NHL experience coming in handy for an already dangerous Tigres defense. L.A. Kings prospect Angus Booth will be a big boost for Baie Comeau, the No.1 team in the entire CHL.

Jeremy Langlois (ARI): Quebec to Drummondville
Angus Booth (LAK): Shawinigan to Baie Comeau
Tyler Peddle (CBJ): Drummondville to Saint John
Tristan Luneau (ANA): Gatineau to Victoriaville
Sam Savoie (CHI): Gatineau to Rouyn Noranda 
Quentin Miller (MTL): Quebec to Rimouski
Vsevelold Komarov (BUF): Quebec to Drummondville

OHL:

All eyes were on Owen Beck for a couple of weeks, and the upcoming Memorial Cup hosts from Saginaw won the sweepstakes. Beck had three points in five games at last year’s tournament and brings tons of experience, including an NHL game with Montreal and a recent outing with Canada’s world junior squad.

Saginaw kept busy, adding another world junior alum in Jorian Donovan from Brantford. Peterborough also moved Ducks’ defense prospect Konnor Smith to Owen Sound and captain Donovan McCoy jetted off to Sudbury. World junior gold medalist Gavin Hayes will help bolster the Soo Greyhounds, while Sarnia moved Florida Panthers prospect and Latvian world junior forward Sandis Vilamanis to North Bay.

Barrie traded the rights to Arizona Coyotes draft pick Anson Thornton to Niagara before sending Seattle Kraken prospect Eduard Sale to Kitchener for a slew of draft picks to cap off the frenzy.

Gavin Hayes (CHI): Flint to Soo
Sandis Vilamanis (FLA): Sarnia to North Bay
Konnor Smith (ANA): Peterborough to Owen Sound
Roman Schmidt (TBL): Kitchener to Kingston
Kaleb Lawrence (LAK): Ottawa to London
Owen Beck (MTL): Peterborough to Saginaw
Jorian Donovan (OTT): Brantford to Saginaw
Djbril Toure (OTT): Sudbury to Windsor
Anson Thornton (ARI): Barrie to Niagara
Daniil Sobolev (MTL): Niagara to Brantford
Eduard Sale (SEA): Barrie to Kitchener

WHL:

The Wenatchee Wild once had one of the most exciting offensive units in the WHL. Now, Conor Geekie is off to Swift Current, while Matthew Savoie is joining Jagger Firkus and Co. in Moose Jaw. Between them, the Wild recouped 10 draft picks, capitalizing on a chance to rebuild quickly.

Back in early November, the Kamloops Blazers dealt Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten to the Saskatoon Blades, setting the tone for another pricey trade deadline. The Seattle Thunderbirds moved Florida Panthers’ prospect Gracyn Sawchyn to the Edmonton Oil Kings for a slew of picks, while Saskatoon continued to add by acquiring Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Suzdalev from Regina. Kamloops continued to recoup draft picks after paying a high price for Olen Zellweger last year, they moved Winnipeg Jets prospect Connor Levis to his hometown Vancouver Giants for three draft picks.

To cap off the 2023-24 trade deadline, the Portland Winterhawks made a splash acquiring Detroit Red Wings 2023 first-round pick Nate Danielson from the Brandon Wheat Kings. Given he nearly stuck with the Wings out of camp, this might pay off big time for a Portland team with high expectations.

Matthew Savoie (BUF): Wenatchee to Moose Jaw
Conor Geekie (ARI): Wenatchee to Swift Current
Fraser Minten (TOR): Kamloops to Saskatoon
Alexander Suzdalev (WSH): Regina to Saskatoon
Gracyn Sawchyn (FLA): Seattle to Edmonton
Sean Tschigerl (ANA): Calgary to Lethbridge
Connor Levis (WPG): Kamloops to Vancouver
Nate Danielson (DET): Brandon to Portland