Rockets acquire veteran forward

Jadon Joseph - Shoot the Breeze Photo

This deal makes a lot of sense. The Kelowna Rockets are better today with the acquisition of 20 year-old forward Jadon Joseph. Why? Joseph is an upgrade in one of three 20 year-old spots because of a higher skill set.  While Kolby Mohr was a solid character player, Joseph will bring more offensive punch to the lineup. Splitting time with three teams last season (Lethbridge/Regina and then Vancouver), Joseph scored a career high 22 goals. Not bad for a player who had to deal with new teammates on numerous occasions before helping the Giants to an appearance in the WHL final.

Joseph is a right handed centreman the team was looking for. How valuable is the right handed centreman? The team only has one when Ethan Ernst, a fourth line player, is used in that spot. Kyle Topping, Liam Kindree and Alex Swetlikoff all shoot left. Plus, Joseph is penciled into your top 6 forwards, taking significant heat off of Kindree and Swetlikoff to be point producers.

Some will suggest the price to acquire Joseph was steep. James Porter wasn't even with the team after he lost out in a bid for the backup goaltending duties to Cole Schwebius. Kyle Crosbie was often a health scratch while Kolby Mohr was more of a checking forward than a point producer. The third round pick is something the team will be able to recoup over the next two years.

Joseph also has bushels of playoff experience. The Sherwood Park Alberta product has 58 playoff games of experience under his belt, after going to the conference finals with Lethbridge and then as previously mentioned, helping the G-Men to last year’s WHL finals before losing in seven games to the Prince Albert Raiders. That's the most playoff games played of anyone on the Rockets roster.

Joseph will make his Kelowna Rockets debut Tuesday against the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings.