David Henley has been granted his wish.
The Charlottetown Islanders traded the 18-year-old defenceman to the Val-d'Or Foreurs Sunday for a first- and two second-round draft picks.
Henley requested a trade to be home with his father, who has cancer, and to support his mother.
"I'm glad to be home, but I'm going to miss P.E.I. a lot," Henley said. "I think both teams found a way to make a deal to make both teams happy."
Henley said he was fortunate to play for an organization that cared about him, not just as a hockey player, but as a person.
Islanders general manger Grant Sonier said the trade was much different than the normal hockey trade.
"We're moving a piece we really didn't want to," he said.
"You can't win by trading David Henley unless you're getting David Henley back. There's only a few guys that can play the way David Henley plays."
In 32 games this season, the rugged, left-shot defenceman had a goal and nine assists with 66 penalty minutes.
The return is Val-d'Or's first-round pick in 2018, their second in 2016 and Baie-Comeau's second in 2017.
"That's a huge haul for any player," Sonier said.
"Those draft picks right now aren't going to help us win hockey games. That's where the real challenge lies for us; to go out and try to replace David's minutes."
Sonier said he is actively pursuing defencemen. He tried to acquire players off the Foreurs roster, but it wasn't going to happen, leaving the Isles with the possibility of Henley staying home after the Christmas break and them receiving nothing in return.
Charlottetown now has Val-d'Or's first- and second-round picks in 2016, a first and two seconds in 2017 and two first and a second in 2018.
"We wish he and his family all the best as they go through this tough time," Sonier said.
David Henley has been granted his wish.
The Charlottetown Islanders traded the 18-year-old defenceman to the Val-d'Or Foreurs Sunday for a first- and two second-round draft picks.
Henley requested a trade to be home with his father, who has cancer, and to support his mother.
"I'm glad to be home, but I'm going to miss P.E.I. a lot," Henley said. "I think both teams found a way to make a deal to make both teams happy."
Henley said he was fortunate to play for an organization that cared about him, not just as a hockey player, but as a person.
Islanders general manger Grant Sonier said the trade was much different than the normal hockey trade.
"We're moving a piece we really didn't want to," he said.
"You can't win by trading David Henley unless you're getting David Henley back. There's only a few guys that can play the way David Henley plays."
In 32 games this season, the rugged, left-shot defenceman had a goal and nine assists with 66 penalty minutes.
The return is Val-d'Or's first-round pick in 2018, their second in 2016 and Baie-Comeau's second in 2017.
"That's a huge haul for any player," Sonier said.
"Those draft picks right now aren't going to help us win hockey games. That's where the real challenge lies for us; to go out and try to replace David's minutes."
Sonier said he is actively pursuing defencemen. He tried to acquire players off the Foreurs roster, but it wasn't going to happen, leaving the Isles with the possibility of Henley staying home after the Christmas break and them receiving nothing in return.
Charlottetown now has Val-d'Or's first- and second-round picks in 2016, a first and two seconds in 2017 and two first and a second in 2018.
"We wish he and his family all the best as they go through this tough time," Sonier said.
