Regina Pats consider options ahead of WHL trade deadline

Staying pat might be the right move for the Regina Pats.

Ahead of Thursday’s Western Hockey League trade deadline, Pats general manager Dale Derkatch said while he is open to offers for some of his players, he also doesn’t want to take away from the current roster battling for a playoff spot.

“I don’t think we’re just looking at getting some picks for players, or something like that,” Derkatch said this week ahead of Thursday’s deadline, which is set for 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time. “We’d like to add a player if we could, or two, but again, not going to go crazy and sell the farm.”

Since being promoted to general manager last June, replacing Alan Millar who accepted a position with Hockey Canada, Derkatch has made 12 separate trades. Some of those transactions have improved the team this season while others have been made with the future in mind as the Pats hope to be in the final stages of a rebuild with their championship window not open quite yet.

“We’ve been working the lines and trying to improve the team in any way possible,” said Derkatch. “I’ll try to improve our team, but I also do like the group, and I don’t want to take away from the group.

“I don’t want to move players out. I really want to try and let this group make the playoffs and get that experience.”

The biggest move made this season was the trade of 18-year-old forward Julien Maze to the Calgary Hitmen for two third-round picks in December.

Prior to the trade, Maze was leading the Pats with 31 points in 30 games after also finishing at the Pats’ top scorer last year. He’s gone on to put up 10 points in his first six games with the Hitmen who sit in sixth place in the conference.

“I don’t want to get too much into it, but the player was not happy here,” said Derkatch. “And so, if you’re not happy here, he was looking to be moved.

“He was putting up some numbers. But you know, the name of the game is to win games, not just a player put up numbers. I want players who want to be here and want to play for the Regina Pats and he was unhappy. So that’s how that all came about.

“You try to do the best you can in those situations,” continued Derkatch. “They’re not always very good when a player does that.

“But again, I want to try to do what’s best for the organization. Some people can look at it that aren’t involved, and say whatever they want, but there’s lots going on … I’ll take some criticism probably for some things, but I know what we want and where we’re going and we want people that want to be there with us.”

Entering this week’s action, the Pats currently hold down the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with an 11-20-5 record with the Red Deer Rebels (one point back), Lethbridge Hurricanes (two points back) and Swift Current Broncos (seven points back) closing in. Regina is five points back of the Moose Jaw Warriors for seventh place.

After back-to-back losses to the East division-leading Prince Albert Raiders to open the new year, the Pats will host Red Deer in a pivotal game on Friday night (7 p.m., Brandt Centre) before visiting the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday.

Does Derkatch expect more trades coming before Thursday evening?

“It’s always hard to know,” he said. “Things seem to be quiet, and then all of a sudden, things do happen, and they happen quickly.

“I’m open to listen to some things, and I’ve also put a few offers out there on some players that we have interest in. But right now, it’s been quiet.”

Regina Pats 2025-26 trade list:

– Dec. 15 – Traded forward Julien Maze to Calgary for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick

– Nov. 14 – Acquired defenceman Rylan Pearce from Everett for a 2028 fifth-round pick

– Nov. 1 – Acquired goalie Matthew Hutchison from Moose Jaw for a 2028 sixth-round pick

– Oct. 17 – Traded defenceman Brayden Smith to Lethbridge for a 2028 fifth-round pick and a 2027 eighth-round pick

– Oct. 16 – *Acquired defenceman Carter Kowalyk from Seattle for a 2027 seventh-round pick. *This trade is considered void after Kowalyk didn’t report to Regina.

“Once he didn’t report, they gave us back our pick,” said Derkatch. “He had some prior injuries (and) he thought he was going to be able to play through them, but they were just too bad that he felt it was best he would get some surgery.”

– Oct. 16 – Traded goalie Kelton Pyne to Vancouver for a 2028 sixth-round pick

– Sept. 17 – Traded forward Zach Pantelakis to Swift Current for a 2028 fourth-round pick

– Sept. 17 – Acquired goalie Marek Schlenker from Penticton for a 2027 ninth-round pick

– Sept. 16 – Acquired forward Dayce Derkatch from Prince Albert for a 2026 third-round pick

– Sept. 11 – Traded forward Ashton Brown to Victoria for a 2029 seventh-round pick

– July 24 – Traded forward Cameron Kuzma to Seattle for a 2027 third-round pick

– June 30 – Traded rights to forward Brock Souch to Prince George for a 2029 fifth-round pick

“I think we’ve done some good things,” said Derkatch. “I think the goaltending area is one area I think we did pretty well; Marek Schlenker has been a real pleasant surprise.

“I don’t think we’ve made any real big, big moves. I think we’ve generally stuck with the guys that are here.

“If you look at last year, I would say this is a step in the right direction of where we’re sitting right now. And of course, the goal would be where we started was to try to get into the playoffs this year … And even though we’re sitting in a playoff spot, we’re not assured of that. We’re going to have to play well down the stretch to get one of the two spots I think that are open to the five teams fighting for those spots.”

tshire@postmedia.com

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