Inside the OHL rumour mill
A blockbuster trade in which the Niagara IceDogs acquired goalie Alex Nedeljkovic and defenseman Josh Wesley from the Flint Firebirds in exchange for goalie Brent Moran, three second-round draft picks and two third-round draft picks has fueled the Ontario Hockey League rumour mill.
All three players involved in the trade have 1996 birth dates and all are National Hockey League draft picks — Nedeljkovic and Wesley by the Carolina Hurricanes and Moran by the Dallas Stars.
With the OHL trade deadline still about a month away but with an embargo on transactions over the Christmas holiday period looming, there is talk aplenty about a flurry of deals involving contenders and builders.
From the higher end, Kitchener Rangers, Windsor Spitfires and Kingston Frontenacs are among the teams looking to add veteran players while from the lower level, Soo Greyhounds, Saginaw Spirit, Sudbury Wolves and Guelph Storm are among those who could move experienced assets for younger players and future draft picks.
For example, the Greyhounds, having won three straight games and in possession of the eighth-and-final playoff spot in the Western Conference, have veteran talent such as 19-year old goalie Brandon Halverson, overage forward Gabe Guertler and overage defenseman Tyler Hore who could be exchanged for younger players and future considerations.
From the other end, should an Eastern Conference contender such as Kingston want to add more scoring and another seasoned defender, the Frontenacs might be asked to part with young talent such as 1998 birth year forwards Zack Dorval and Sam Field.
Regardless of who goes and who stays and which teams add and which ones subtract, the OHL rumour mill is churning.
PHOTO: Should the contending Kingston Frontenacs add more veteran talent to their roster they might have to part with a younger player such as 1998 birth-year forward Zack Dorval.(Photo by Ali Pearson.)
It puzzles me why the Battalion have a 1995 and a 1996 as there 2 Goalies. Why not devellop a younger Goalie???
…If you ask me The Wolves might just as well trade their OA’s and get younger kids in return. Murphy would fetch a nice return I think.
Personally I would love to see the Hounds get Dorval. I watched him when he played for the Soo Thunder Midgets and this kid can be a star in the O if given the chance. Kingston are ruining this kid by not playing him . . . just my opinion.
This just in:
Bill Stewart has stepped down as head coach of the Guelph Storm…and the Sudbury Wolves have acquired 1997 F Ryan Valentini from the London Knights for a future 2nd-round pick.
Kingston Frontenacs Press Release
Kingston Frontenacs have acquired defenseman Liam Murray from the Windsor Spitfires for a 3rd round selection at the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.
Murray adds size and depth on the blue line as a 6’2, 210 lbs left defenseman from Orleans, Ontario with three years and 115 games of OHL experience. In 29 games played this season with the Spitfires, Murray has registered 4 points and 45 penalty minutes.
“Liam strengthens our defensive group bringing in size, skill, and veteren experience. We’re excited to have him in Kingston,’ said General Manager, Doug Gilmour.