Photo by: Steve Hiscock / Saskatoon Blades

The Saskatoon Blades and the Vancouver Giants announced a trade on Thursday that will send Washington Capitals forward prospect Eric Florchuk to the Vancouver Giants. Florchuk joins Capitals defensive prospect Alex Kannok-Leipert in Vancouver.

Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta announced today that the Vancouver Giants have acquired 2000-born forward Eric Florchuk (Fort Saskatchewan, AB) and a seventh-round pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft from the Saskatoon Blades. In return the Giants have traded 2001-born forward Evan Patrician, a 2020 first-round draft pick and a 2021 second-round draft pick to the Blades.

Originally selected by the Victoria Royals with the 13^th overall pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Eric Florchuk has suited up in 223 career WHL games (Victoria/Saskatoon). The 6’2”, 182-pound center has registered 51 career goals along with 82 assists for 133 points. He’s added 100 penalty minutes and a +11 rating.

Florchuk has appeared in 12 additional playoff games, notching two goals and two assists in that span. So far this season with Saskatoon, Florchuk had posted 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 33 games. In June 2018, Florchuk was selected by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round (217^th overall).

“We are very excited to welcome Eric Florchuk to the Vancouver Giants,” said Barclay Parneta. “He’s an experienced, versatile, natural center that has taken a lot of faceoffs in his career, which is invaluable. And he adds a scoring touch.”

Eric Florchuk will join the Giants ahead of tomorrow night’s game in Spokane. Florchuk and the Giants return to action at home on Saturday, January 11^th against the same Spokane Chiefs. The puck drops at 7:00 PM.

By Jon Sorensen