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Martin Reway to Moncton? So you’re saying there’s a chance…

Mike Sanderson
·Mike Sanderson
Slovakia captain Martin Reway could be making his way back to the QMJHL, potentially inking a deal with the Moncton Wildcats. He had nine points in seven games at the 2015 WJC. (CP / Graham Hughes)
Slovakia captain Martin Reway could be making his way back to the QMJHL, potentially inking a deal with the Moncton Wildcats. He had nine points in seven games at the 2015 WJC. (CP / Graham Hughes)

The QMJHL-leading Moncton Wildcats may not be done making moves, even if the mid-season trading period has ended. They may need to seek the help of the Montreal Canadiens to do it, though.

The latest out of the rumour mill is the Wildcats will sign 19-year-old Slovak star Martin Reway from HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga. Reway has 21 points in 23 games playing for the pro squad, after spending two years in the QMJHL with the Gatineau Olympiques, grabbing 112 points in 90 games.

Sparta sits in first place in the Tipsport extraliga standings, with a 34-1-0-6 record, and Reway is a big part of that. He sits fourth in team scoring as a 19 year old, one of two under-20 players on the team, though the other one, Jiri Cernoch, is pointless in six games.

The Olympiques let him go in the summer, when he decided to play pro in Europe instead of reporting to Gatineau for a third go-round. The Wildcats have confirmed they are in talks to bring the swift 19-year-old back to Canada.

The numbers of the deal make sense, in that the Wildcats need more scoring punch and have a European spot open. Can the Wildcats convince the shifty forward to come back to North America, or more importantly, convince his team to release him?

That seems to be the issue, as Stephane Leroux reported on twitter. Reway wants to join the Wildcats, but Slavia Praha isn’t as turned on by the idea.

According to Leroux, the Czech squad only has to let Reway go if he’s joining the Canadiens, his NHL team, and unless the Habs make a push for Reway to join the Wildcats, he won’t likely be hopping on a plane to Moncton anytime soon.

Reway had nine points in seven games for bronze-medal winning Slovakia in the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championships. The Slovaks won the bronze on the backs of a great team effort, and Herculean performances from captain Reway (no other player had more than three points in the tourney) and netminder Denis Godla.

The Wildcats acquired forwards Noah Zilbert and Bronson Beaton in separate deals to strengthen their forward core, but the addition of Reway, especially without giving up an asset, could push them over the top.

All things considered, though, it’s very unlikely Reway will join the Wildcats, but it’s a fun rumour. Leroux puts it at 10%. So you’re telling me there’s a chance…