The Prince Albert Raiders have traded defenceman Ryan Button to the Seattle Thunderbirds for centre Charles Wells.
The WHL trade deadline is today at 4 p.m. CST.
After trading Button, the Raiders swapped European centres with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Headed to Moose Jaw is 19-year-old Sebastian Svendsen. The Warriors mark Svendsen's fourth team in two seasons in the WHL, having played for the Vancouver Giants and Edmonton Oil Kings in the past.
In exchange, the Raiders receive 17-year-old Michal Hlinka from the Warriors. In his first year in the WHL, Hlinka has four goals in 22 games for the Warriors.
Button played 240 games for Prince Albert, notching 14 goals and 87 assists and was named the most conditioned player the last two seasons.
The 19-year-old was drafted by the NHL's Boston Bruins in 2009.
In addition to the 19-year-old Wells, the Raiders also receive the T-Birds first-round pick in the CHL European Draft this season and a conditional selection in the 2012 WHL bantam draft.
Wells, like Button is an Edmonton product, and is in his fourth season with Seattle, having potted 40 goals for 104 points in 212 games.
For more see Tuesday's Daily Herald.
