Wheat Kings - PR

WHEAT KINGS KEEP BUSY MID-SEASON

The Wheat Kings have been quite active on the trade market this season,
remarkable (but considering the GM not suprising) after they vowed at the beginning of
the year to keep their roster in tact for the season.  After the Forsberg
mega-deal, GM Tyler Young began to re-examine his roster:

"The radical imbalance of the league really hit-home when we stood at .530 and
were still in ninth place in our conference - with that record alone we would
have home ice in the East.  Right now we have a better goal differential than
the first place team in the East and yet we sit two spots out of the playoffs. 
In such a situation it seemed worthwhile to reacquire the team's first rounder."

"We dealt the pick because we expected it to be about 12-18th overall and since
that kindof prospect would take three to four years to be pro-ready, well
behind the developmental curve of our roster, it was better to get a potential #1
goalie in Daren Machesney with it and get him developing now.  But the competive
nature of the West made it clear that it might be in our best interest to miss
the playoffs, get a decent top eight prospect, get rid of veterans and give ice
time to further the development of our young players - hence we are in the
process of doing so."

"We've had several year of cheaply achieved success, but the nascence of teams
like the Sioux, Raiders, and Blades after they developed a good young core over
several years, has made it clear that such success is no longer easily gotten
in the West.  So we decided enough fooling around, let's just get serious."

One of the longest serving members of the Kings and their captain, Daymond
Langkow, was sent to the Misconduct along with Jay McKee and Matt Nickerson for the
Wheaties first rounder, Kyle Chipchura, and Shane Willis.  With the development
of Josh Hennessy, Langkow was no longer needed and his value was still high.

"The other issue we have been trying to figure out is why, although we are
statistically strong, are we losing? In the end we decided that our team lacked a
competitive edge and a strong enough defensive awareness.  So we sent talented
but soft Masi Marjamaki and Matt Jones, along with Willis, to the Bobcats for
the more gritty combo of Duncan Keith and Yuri Artemenkov. Keith and Artemenkov
bring certain intangibles to the table which will in the long run make our team
better." 

Jones was long heralded as the Kings primo d-man, but despite strong offensive
showings, he never quite piloted the unit and was being overshadowed by Mark
Stuart this year.

"In reality we're in year four of a five year building plan and besides a
couple snags - the inability yet to develop a #1 goalie and a #1 center - we are
more or less on track.  We have a strong supporting cast in place which is proving
itself quite strong offensively even in this immature state, as far as the
coming year we will likely be looking to add another d-man or two, and give our
small but talented group of prospects time to develop.  Bergfors and Machesney
look especially good, they just need some more time."