Vancouver Giants Trade Three Players, Acquire Two in Major Shakeup

UPDATE: The Vancouver Giants have made significant roster changes, sending off three players and acquiring two, along with multiple draft picks, in a series of urgent trades announced on January 5, 2025. This bold move comes as the team struggles in the WHL, currently ranked 10th in the 12-team Western Conference, with a record of 16 wins and 24 losses.

The Giants have traded forward Cameron Schmidt to the Seattle Thunderbirds, receiving 2007-born defenceman Kaleb Hartmann, a Langley native, along with a treasure trove of draft picks: a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a conditional 2027 second-round pick, a conditional 2028 fourth-round pick, and a 2027 fifth-round pick.

In another strategic move, the Giants traded Aaron Obobaifo to the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for 2008-born forward Joe Iginla, alongside a conditional 2028 third-round pick. Lastly, they sent defenceman Colton Alain to the Swift Current Broncos for a 2026 second-round pick.

Giants Assistant General Manager Peter Toigo expressed gratitude for the departing players, stating, “The Vancouver Giants thank Aaron, Cameron, and Colton for all their contributions to the Giants since being drafted in 2022. We’re very excited to add Joe and Kaleb, and look forward to what they’ll bring to our organization.”

Hartmann, selected 37th overall in the 2022 WHL Draft, has made an impact this season with two goals and six points across 33 games, plus 54 penalty minutes. Over his career, he has played 153 games, scoring 27 points.

Iginla, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, was picked 12th overall in the 2023 WHL Draft. He has already scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists for 21 points this season, following a rookie campaign where he netted nine goals and seven assists in 61 games. Notably, he has been rated a ‘C’ skater by NHL Central Scouting for the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft.

This urgent reshuffling reflects the Giants’ commitment to rebuilding and improving their standings as the season progresses. Fans and analysts will be closely watching how these new players integrate into the team dynamics and what further changes may be on the horizon as the Giants aim for a turnaround in their performance.