Saddle up: Wild star Geekie traded to Swift Current in blockbuster deal
Swift Current, Sask.- The ransom is high, but the chance to acquire a towering talent like Conor Geekie would tempt any contending team.
The Arizona Coyotes prospect is heading east to join the Swift Current Broncos in a blockbuster deal that sees the Wenatchee Wild gain forward Maddix McCagherty, defensemen Josh Fluker and Sam Ward, and four selections in the WHL Prospects Draft.
“We’re very excited to add a player like Connor Geekie to our group,” Broncos General Manager Chad Leslie said. “His combination of size, skill, hockey sense, and compete make him one of the most impactful players in the WHL. His experience in the post-season, paired with his experience at the World Juniors will be beneficial for our group as we push to the playoffs.”
Geekie scored a team-leading 20 goals while adding 29 assists for 49 points in 26 games this season.
The Strathclair, Man. product was selected by the then-Winnipeg ICE second overall in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. He suited up for 186 games for Winnipeg/Wenatchee, tallying 88 goals and 131 assists.
The 6-foot-4, 197-pound forward led the ICE to the 2022-23 WHL Championship, rattling off six goals and adding 11 assists in 19 contests. He represented Canada for the first time at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, where he put up a pair of goals and an assist.
Geekie was selected by the Arizona Coyotes 11th overall at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and signed his Entry-Level Contract just weeks later.
“We sincerely thank Conor for the work that he put in and the success that he brought to both the Winnipeg ICE and to the Wenatchee Wild,” said Wenatchee general manager Bliss Littler. “Conor was instrumental in giving our fans an exciting introduction to the Western Hockey League this season, and we look forward to seeing him take his skills to the National Hockey League soon.”
“We wish we could have added some pieces to make a run at a championship this season,” said Littler. “However, this was a move we needed to make for a sustainable future for our organization.”
Going the other way, the Wild gain some experience on the blueline with the addition of 18-year-old Josh Fluker. The Boissevain, Man. has played more than 100 games since being selected seventh overall by the Broncos in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
17-year-old Maddix McCagherty is in the midst of his first full WHL season, tallying five goals and six assists in 21 games with Swift Current this season.
The Kelowna, B.C. product was selected by Swift Current in the second round, 25th overall at the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
Kamloops, B.C.-born defenceman Sam Ward has five assists to his name in the 2022-23 campaign.
In addition to McCagherty, Fluker and Ward, the Wild receive first and second-round picks in 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, a first-round pick in 2026 and a seventh-round selection in 2027.
Swift Current (18-15-2-2) kicks off a three-game homestand against Spokane (14-16-3-0) on January 5.
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