An already scary Prince George Cougars team just got a lot more frightening.

Friday night, the Cougars announced the acquisition of defenceman Brendan Guhle from the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for defenceman Max Martin, forward Kolby Johnson, a first round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft and a third round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.

“This is a huge day for the Prince George Cougars franchise and we are very excited to add one of the very best defencemen in the Western Hockey League to our organization,” said Todd Harkins, general manager of the Cougars, in a team release. “Brendan Guhle is a game-changer who instantly makes us a tougher team to play against. He’s a phenomenal skater with great instincts at both ends of the ice and he brings a wealth of leadership and experience to our team.

“We have no doubt that Brendan will fit in seamlessly with our group and we look forward to welcoming him and his family to the Prince George Cougars organization.”

Guhle, a 19-year-old product of Edmonton and a second round pick (51st) of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, had spent his entire WHL career with the Raiders after being drafted third overall at the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. Over parts of four seasons, the 6-foot-3, 194-pound blueliner has registered 74 points (17G-57A) in 201 career WHL regular season games. In 10 career WHL post-season contests, the rearguard has five points (1G-4A) to his credit. He also represented Team WHL on two occasions, including this year, at the CIBC Canada Russia Series.

“We want to thank Brendan Guhle for his contributions in the community and on the ice,” said Curtis Hunt, general manager of the Raiders, in a team release. “He was a fantastic Raider. We wish him luck through the playoffs and his professional career.”

Unbelievably excited to have @Guhle_7 on the squad! Such a talent! Going to miss @maxmartin29 and Johnny. Good luck with @PARaidersHockey! pic.twitter.com/T2d4fhOTES — Brett Cullen (@BrettCullen_) November 19, 2016

Interestingly enough, the Raiders were in Prince George to take on the Cougars Friday night. Guhle suited up for Prince Albert and was even named the game’s third star. The deal was announced shortly after the Cougars claimed a 4-2 win.

At 17-4-2-0 and with 36 points, the Cougars are the top team in the WHL and lead the BC Division with a nine-point cushion on the Kamloops Blazers. The addition of Guhle gives the Cougars a top-tier defenceman who can play at both ends of the rink. He joins the likes of Josh Anderson and Sam Ruopp on what is a formidable back end that also includes the rising Tate Olson.

The acquisition of Guhle didn’t come without cost and a key piece to the trade exists in the form of the 17-year-old Martin.

A 6-foot, 188-pound product of Winnipeg, the rookie WHL defenceman has seven points (3G-4A) to his credit in 19 games this season. Drafted 27th overall in the second round of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, Martin brings big potential to a Raiders team that has struggled to a record of 5-16-1-0 thus far in the 2016-17 campaign.

“We’re very excited to add Max Martin,” Hunt said. “He’s a puck-moving defenceman that can support the offense from the back end.”

Joining Martin with the Raiders is the 18-year-old Johnson, a product of Kerrobert, Sask., which is located approximately 50km north of Kindersley in the West Central region of the province. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 212 pounds, the second-year forward brings a physical presence to Prince Albert.

“We’ve added a tough, hard-nosed winger that fits the mould of players that hockey fans in Prince Albert enjoy watching,” Hunt said of Johnson. “We look forward to getting [Martin and Johnson] to Prince Albert and acclimating them to our environment as soon as possible.”

Johnson was originally a third round pick (52nd) of the Cougars at the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft. In 47 career WHL games, he has four points (1G-3A) to his name, along with 81 penalty minutes.

“This trade helps both teams,” Harkins said. “Max and Kolby are great young players and they are going to play a big part in the future successes of the Prince Albert Raiders. But when we evaluated our overall depth, we felt we were able to make a trade of this magnitude to bring in a player like Brendan Guhle who can help us without jeopardizing our future.”

It’s hard to find the words to describe the class of these two young men. Good luck @maxmartin29 + Kolby! Thank you for your contributions!! pic.twitter.com/cxmaij5SGR — PG Cougars (@PGCougars) November 19, 2016

Not to be overlooked in the deal is Prince Albert’s acquisition of a first round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

First round picks can be a tough squeeze on the trade market. In fact, to find the last time a first round pick was shipped out, one has to go back to Dec. 27, 2015, when the Red Deer Rebels acquired forward Jake DeBrusk from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for Lane Pederson, a 2017 first round pick and a 2016 third round pick. That deal was also the only transaction in 2015-16 that saw a first round pick moved.

Technically, the Calgary Hitmen exchanged a first round pick and a third round pick for the rights to defenceman Jonathan Tychonick earlier this season, but there are conditions on the first round pick tied to the young blueliner decommitting from the University of North Dakota, so it isn’t a certainty that first will move.

The move of Guhle comes as the second blockbuster deal in the past 10 days after the Lethbridge Hurricanes traded Brayden Burke, the team’s leading scorer in 2015-16, to the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for Ryan Bowen, a 2017 second round pick and a conditional third round pick in 2019.

Guhle is expected to join the Cougars in time to debut with his new team on Tuesday, Nov. 22, when the Regina Pats visit Prince George.