Driedger Getting Looks

Right after goalie Chris Driegder is traded to Calgary for a 3rd round pick, he gets NHL attention:

One day after being acquired by the Calgary Hitmen in a trade with the Tri-City Americans, 17-year-old goaltender Chris Driedger (DREE-ger) has received a National Hockey League invite.

Driedger is one of 36 top rated prospects for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft who have accepted invitations to participate in the 2011 NHL Research, Development and Orientation Camp.

The camp will be held August 17 and 18 at MasterCard Centre in Toronto. (Hockey Prospect, NHL)

First off, huge ass-pat to Aeris for passing this info along, much appreciated.

Secondly, what the heck?  Bob gives up a wildly talented goalie for a 3rd rounder.  I saw an interesting tidbit on the WHL message board (it's painful "research" I do for you guys) from poster "Alan" who I'm 95% sure is Alan Caldwell based on the information and professionalism with which he posts.  Anyways, he says:

The 3rd round pick the Americans get from Calgary for Driedger could actually just be the Ams getting their own 3rd round pick back from the Hitmen.

The Ams owe Calgary their 2012 3rd rounder if Matt Mackenzie plays in the WHL as an overager this year, so if he does then it is possible that Calgary is just returning that pick to the Americans for Driedger. That would mean the Mackenzie deal, in essence, was Driedger, Macek, and Humphries for Mackenzie.

There's no doubt that Matt MacKenzie has been very valuable. And if he returns this season he will continue to be valuable and possibly part of the leadership group (captain? alternate captain?). Macek and Humphries are decent enough players, Ams have plenty of decent--or better--players on the protected player list, have drafted/traded well over the years to stockpile talent so losing Mace and Humps not as huge as losing Driedger.

So it begs the question is Drew 100% staying as a 20 to split time with Eric Comrie? I can't imagine there's enough confidence, no matter how talented he is, to throw Comrie in as the starter at 16 and look for a backup for him. Or is there some other goalie in the league that Bob knows will be available to take Drew's place to tandem with Eric? There's two 19-year-olds on the PPL, Cam Gorchynski and Zane Gothberg. Gorchynski got a few games in with the Americans last season and actually I thought he played pretty well. Well enough to make the lineup this season if Drew's gone? No idea.

Regardless of the questions still surrounding the lineup for this upcoming season, I wish the best of luck to Chris, it's fantastic he's getting notice from scouts and NHL teams.