Red Wings prospect traded to Whalers

The Plymouth Whalers today announced the acquisition of import forward Tomas Tatar and several future draft choices from the Kitchener Rangers in exchange for import forward Gabriel Landeskog and the Whalers' second-round choice in the 2010 CHL Import Draft.

Plymouth also acquires Windsor’s second-round draft pick in the 2011 Ontario Hockey League draft, Kitchener’s fourth-round draft choice in the 2013 draft and the Rangers' first pick in the 2010 CHL Import Draft. The Whalers also acquire a conditional choice – Kitchener’s second-round pick in the 2012 OHL draft – in the deal.

Landeskog and Tatar were both selected in last June's Import Draft and are considered two of the more high-profile players taken in the draft. Plymouth coach-GM Mike Vellucci made a pair of trades to move up in the CHL Import Draft to take Landeskog, 16, with the third overall pick.

Tatar – 18 years old and from Slovakia – was selected by Kitchener with the sixth overall pick.

Tatar was taken in the second round (60th overall) of the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He scored seven goals with eight assists for 15 points in 48 games for Zvolen the Slovak ExtraLiga, but played very well for the Slovakia in the 2009 World Junior Championship. Tatar tied for fourth in the tournament with seven goals and four assists for 11 points in seven games, leading Slovakia to a fourth-place finish.

“Tatar’s an obvious talent and we hope he reports,” Vellucci said. “But what makes the deal attractive is the draft choices included as part of the package. Our scouting staff can use those assets or we can utilize them to make other trades.”

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