Vancouver Giants trade captain Zack Ostapchuk to Winnipeg for huge haul

“Bittersweet.”

That was the first word Vancouver Giants general manager Barclay Parneta used when asked about his feelings after confirming Sunday that he had traded team captain and first-line forward Zack Ostapchuk to the Winnipeg Ice in exchange for four players and four WHL Draft selections, including three first-round picks.

It’s one of the largest returns for a single player in recent WHL history. And it’s strictly a four or five-month rental for the Ice, considering the 19-year-old Ostapchuk is a signed Ottawa Senators prospect who’s a lock to be playing somewhere in their system next fall rather than returning to WHL as an over-age.

Winnipeg (29-5-0-0) has the WHL’s best record and is first in the Eastern Conference.