The Warriors Just Scored the Best D Man in the WHL

Chad Pimlott 

In a barnburner of a deal, your Moose Jaw Warriors just acquired the best damn defenceman (arguably) in the WHL.

The Warriors sent Chase Hartje, Luka Burzan, first round picks in both 2019 and 2021, as well as a second round pick in 2018 to the Brandon Wheat Kings for star defenceman/team Canada Gold medalist Kale Clague.

What you need to know about Kale Clague:

- He twice represented Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championships. Winning silver in 2017 and gold in 2018.

- He was a sixth overall pick by Brandon in 2013.

- He has played in the CIBC Canada/Russia series three times.

- He played in the 2015 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

- He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 2016 (51st overall)

- He was a WHL Eastern Conference All-Star

- He won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as a member of the 2016 Brandon Wheat Kings. Which means that he has played in the Memorial Cup before.

- He has more points than any defenceman in the WHL right now,  with the exception of Medicine Hat's David Quenneville, who he is tied with, at 47. But it would be handy to point out that Clague has played in 12 less games than Quenneville. 

No matter how you slice it; Moose Jaw just picked up one the biggest stars in the league; and the kid has a history of playing at some of the highest levels of hockey a kid can possibly imagine playing at. Experience like that goes a long way.

This has all been a part of what seems to be a pre-playoff, defensive restructuring that saw them add the 6'4" Brandon Schuldhaus from the Red Deer Rebels last week. 

There is no doubt that Moose Jaw are serious contenders to win the WHL championship and compete in the Memorial Cup. They are currently in first place in the WHL, with a sizeable lead on the closest competition.