OHL trade rumours


By
November 6, 2014

It’s early November and trade winds are blowing through the Ontario Hockey League.

A main subject of relocation is Saginaw Spirit overage goalie Jake Paterson, who is a National Hockey League prospect of the Detroit Red Wings.

Brad Coccimiglio, a sportswriter-sportscaster sidekick of mine from Sault Ste. Marie, recently reported that Saginaw has said it plans on dealing Paterson — who backstopped the Soo Eagles to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship as a 16-year old in 2010-2011 — to an OHL contender.

Where Paterson ends up has been cause for debate, with the Guelph Storm having shown interest in the seasoned puckstopper dating back to the 2013-2014 trade deadline.

I wonder if the Erie Otters may be planning on making a pitch for Paterson.

Erie has the best record in the OHL and while Otters starter Devin Williams is unbeaten, he has a save percentage that is south of .900.

Williams could be attractive to the Spirit for reasons that include the fact that he is from Saginaw and as a 19-year old, is a likely overage candidate for next season.

Paterson from Saginaw to Erie for Williams and a couple of draft picks just might make sense.

So do a number of other scenarios hold merit including Paterson headed to the Soo Greyhounds or out of the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, Sudbury Wolves, with the worst record in the OHL, have been rumoured to be on the verge of a trade with the Soo. While that may yet happen, Wolves general manager Blaine Smith told me on Wednesday that he has not talked to anyone from the Greyhounds.

To be sure, the Wolves have a number of veteran skaters who are attractive to contending OHL teams including overage forwards Nathan Pancel and Brody Silk.

A team such as the Kingston Frontenacs could potentially have interest in Pancel, especially with scoring leader Sam Bennett sidelined with a major shoulder injury.

Besides Kingston in the Eastern Conference, other contenders who might want to add a proven veteran who could take them closer to the top are the Belleville Bulls and North Bay Battalion.

As they say in the radio business: stay tuned.

PHOTO: Saginaw Spirit goalie Jake Paterson could be on the move to an OHL contender.


What you think about “OHL trade rumours”

  1. I would love to see Nathan Pancell in a Frontenacs’ uniform as long as we dont have to give up Dorval or Fields to get him.

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