"Anytime you make a change, there's a bit of excitement around."

That's what 91大黄鸭 Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton told the media after the team's 6-3 win against Prince George on Friday night.

Making changes is a bit of an understatement as Hamilton made five trades in four days ahead of the WHL Trade Deadline, which was at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9. 

"It's been busy," added Hamilton.

As the Rockets sit on the border of a playoff spot, and also looking ahead to hosting the Memorial Cup in 2026, Hamilton had to make the tough decisions to trade some of the veterans and leaders on the team as its most likely their last season in the WHL.

In total, the Rockets traded four players and a draft pick, in exchange for five players and 12 draft picks:

• Jan. 6 - Rockets trades defenceman Caden Price to Lethbridge Hurricanes for 2007-born defenceman William Sharpe, the rights to 2007-born goaltender Harrison Boettiger; a first round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, a conditional fourth round pick in 2025, a fourth round pick in 2026; a fifth round pick in 2027, and sixth round pick in 2025.
• Jan. 7 - Rockets trade Marek Rocak to Swift Current Broncos for 2006-born forward Dawson Gerwing and a fourth round pick in the 2025 draft;
• Jan. 8 - Rockets trade Andrew Cristall to Spokane Chiefs for 2007-born forward Hayden Paupanekis, two first round picks in 2025 and 2027, a second round pick in 2026, a third round pick in 2025, and a six round pick in 2026;
• Jan. 8 - Rockets trade Landon Cowper to Everett Silvertips for a seventh round pick in 2026;
• Jan. 9 - Rockets trade a ninth pick in 2025 to Everett Silvertips for 2005-born forward Andrew Petruk.

鈥淗e鈥檚 going to go on and have a great career," Hamilton said about Cristall in a press release on Jan. 8. "He sadly didn鈥檛 get the chance for the World Junior team and unfortunately, he鈥檚 going to come up a little short for the all-time points record for our organization, but he was a solid, solid player for us and more importantly, just a wonderful young man that we were lucky to have here for four years. He鈥檚 drafted and signed by Washington, so he鈥檒l be playing professionally next year so it was an opportunity for us to acquire a lot of assets.鈥�

During Friday night's media availability, Hamilton said the Cristall trade took longer than he wanted but they got what they wanted in the return that come back to 91大黄鸭.

"It鈥檚 a loss for our team but he gets the chance to play for the Memorial Cup this year with Spokane and he gives them a big offensive boost," said Hamilton.

Cristall is second in scoring in Rockets franchise history with 340 points (135 goals, 205 assists). He played 219 games for the team averaging 1.55 points per game. He was the Rockets' first selection (eighth overall) in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.

"We got a great young player coming back,鈥� said Hamilton about Paupanekis, who added he's a player the Rockets had targeted and are really excited about. 

The Price trade came on the heels of playing for Canada at the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championships.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not an easy situation with Caden," said Hamilton. "The opportunity for us to host the Memorial Cup forced our hand in moving one of our top players on our team and a member of the World Junior team."

In 201 career games for the Rockets, Price scored 26 goals and added 122 assists for 148 points. His assists and points totals put him fifth all-time in Rockets history for assists by a defenceman and seventh all-time for points by a defenceman.

In the trade, it was Hamitlon's goal to get a defenceman back, which he did in Sharpe.

"I think he's going to be an outstanding player," said Hamilton.

On top of all the new pieces to the team, the Rockets now have two first-round picks in each of the next three drafts - 2025, 2026, 2027, something that Hamilton said is "really important."

After the deadline, the team also released 20-year-old forward Brett Calhoon.

Rumours swirl

A couple days ahead of the trade deadline, it was rumoured on social media that the Rockets were close to trading forward Jakub Stancl to the Calgary Hitman. When asked about it, Hamilton shut the rumours down quickly.

"It was all rumours," said Hamilton. "There was never a deal in place... Of all the guys, he's the guy that deserved to stay here. He wanted to stay here so he stayed here."

Stancl returned to the Rockets lineup on Friday night with a five-point night, including a hat trick. He was away from the team, representing Czechia at the World Juniors, where he scored seven goals and added three assists in seven games played, and won the bronze medal.

He returned to the team in the midst of a wild week with many changes to the team.

"It was a lot of emotions for us," said Stancl after Friday's win. 

With Cristall and Price gone from the team, Stancl, a St. Louis Blues prospect, is now one of the more veteran players, despite it being his first season with the team. However, he has a ton of experience from playing overseas and in two World Junior Championships.

"I just want to lead by example," added Stancl.

With Stancl turning 20 years old in April, Hamilton believes he's be playing in the Blues organization for the 2025-26 season.

"He keeps playing the way he is, he might be with [the NHL team]," said Hamitlon.

Instant Impact

On Friday night, the newest Rockets all made an impact and good first impression.

Paupanekis collected his first point as a Rocket when he assisted in Max Graham's first period goal. In the second period, Gerwing also collected an assist to a goal by Stancl to get on the scoresheet. And in the third period, Sharpe and Gerwing scored nine seconds apart from each other in the first 46 seconds of the frame to give the Rockets a 5-3 lead. Later in the period, Paupanekis added a second assist on Stancl's hat-trick goal.

The new guys combined for five points in the game.

"They brought some new life to our team," said Hamilton.

On Saturday against Vancouver, 91大黄鸭 lost 6-4 but Sharpe added two more assists. 

Despite the roster shake-up, the Rockets are still on the edge of a playoff spot as they sit ninth in the Western Conference with a record of 15-19-2-1. Hamilton wants to see his team motivated a make a push to the postseason.

"We better make the playoffs," said Hamilton.