Unlike previous Januarys, there will be no major tinkering with the Prince George Cougars' roster, just some minor tailoring.
Dallas Thompson as much as guaranteed that.
So don't expect the likes of superstar forward Brayden Schenn to turn in his Brandon Wheat Kings jersey to join the Cougars before today's 2 p.m. WHL trade deadline.
The Cougars drafted wisely to get import defenceman Martin Marincin and made their trades early this season to pick up defenceman Sena Acolatse and Cody Carlson, and forward Charles Inglis, key contributors in their climb into first place in the B.C. Division.
Thompson, the Cats' general manager, is not willing to give up any of the younger members of this year's team, nor will he sacrifice a high draft pick to attract a gamebreaker like he did a few seasons ago to get Devin Setoguchi.
"We're going to try to make our team better here, but if you look back to last year the prices were very steep, and certainly we're not interested in doing any of that," said Thompson. "We worked very hard at getting our young guys and getting them signed and committed so those guys will be here, and it's tough to give away draft picks."
The Cougars are in the market for another defenceman, someone to add depth to a position now stocked by a staff of seven.
"We've gone the whole year with seven and it's worked out very well, but the reality is it's grind the last half and we can get very skinny in a hurry, so I'd like to get some depth," said Thompson.
In one blockbuster move made Sunday, the Swift Current Broncos sent Team Canada forward Cody Eakin to the Kootenay Ice for forward Christian Magnus, list players Ryan Bloom, Jarett Zentner, Colby Cave and Steven Myland, along with a first- and second -round pick in the 2011 bantam draft, and a third-round pick in 2012.
