Red, white and Blue (Jackets): Americans add Columbus prospect Elick in major swap
Kennewick, Wash.- The Tri-City Americans have entered the chat.
Tri-City has added Columbus Blue Jackets defensive prospect Charlie Elick in a massive trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The deal sees the Americans pick up Elick and a third-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, while the Wheat Kings acquire 2025 NHL Draft-eligible Jordan Gavin and towering defenceman Merrek Arpin.
“We’re excited to add a player like Charlie to our defense corps,” Americans General Manager Bob Tory said. “He adds another level of physicality to our lineup and solidifies our top four defensemen. He has the pedigree of being a high NHL draft pick and gives us one of the best defensive groups in the WHL.”
Elick, 18, has seven assists and 35 PIMs in 33 contests with Brandon this season and has been serving as alternate captain.
The 6-foot-4, 203-pound blueliner was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 36th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft last June.
Charlie Elick's booming presence is coming to Columbus!@BlueJacketsNHL | @bdnwheatkings | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/1VlIV9hSX3
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 29, 2024
Elick’s punishing, physical style of play has put opponents on notice since he entered the league in 2021-22.
The Calgary, Alta. product was selected by the Wheat Kings with the third overall pick in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
He’s totaled eight goals and 39 assists for 47 points in 163 regular-season contests in addition to three assists in four playoff games.
Elick was born in and started playing minor hockey in Austria, where his dad, Mickey Elick, was playing in the then-Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
He’s represented Canada on the international stage on several occasions, including a pair of gold-medal finishes at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Czechia and the 2024 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in Finland.
Elick netted five assists in 12 games between the two tournaments.
Brandon is getting some important players in return.
Gavin, 18, was an alternate captain for the Americans and has been a key offensive driver in the team’s bounce-back season.
The 5-foot-11,179-pound centreman has 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points in 35 games, highlighted by eight multipoint performances.
“We’re thrilled to add Jordan and Merrek to our team,” Wheat Kings General Manager and Head Coach Marty Murray said. “Both players have a lot of upside and will complement the style of play we’re looking to build. This trade strengthens our roster as we focus on the rest of this season and beyond.”
Gavin ranked third on Tri-City in goals and tied for second in game-winning tallies (two).
Beautiful passing ➡️ Beautiful finish for Jordan Gavin@TCAmericans | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/opyMKOGCZC
— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 21, 2024
NHL Central Scouting listed Gavin as a ‘C’ prospect, or potential fourth-to-fifth-round pick, in the agency’s Preliminary Player List ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Gavin also won gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he was teammates with Elick.
Joining Gavin is Mantiban Merrek Arpin, who has three assists in 31 games.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound blueliner has been with Tri-City since the Ams drafted him in the third round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
He has 12 career points (1G-11A) and is sitting on a career milestone with 99 regular-season games played.
Tri-City (20-12-2-1) was one of the most dominant teams in the first half of the WHL season and sits fourth in the highly competitive U.S. Division.
They’re back in action on Friday, January 10 as they host the Seattle Thunderbirds (12-23-2-1) at 7:05 p.m. PST.
Brandon (19-11-3-2) was won two straight games to sit second in the East Division and within striking distance of the Division lead.
The Wheat Kings will host the Portland Winterhawks (21-14-2-1) at Westoba Place on Friday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. ST.