Saginaw has net worth
Saginaw Spirit may be languishing in the cellar of the Western Conference but mid Michigan’s Ontario Hockey League team has a valuable trade chip in its possession in the person of goalie Evan Cormier.
And as Saginaw is struggling with 7 points in 14 games from a league-worst record of 2-9-3, Spirit general manager Dave Drinkill at some point may opt to cash in on Cormier’s net worth.
There are no less than six legitimate contenders in the 10-team Western Conference with not much to choose from among Erie Otters, Kitchener Rangers, Soo Greyhounds, Windsor Spitfires, London Knights and Sarnia Sting. Amazingly, just two points separate the top six teams in what is a Western sandwich.
In fact, the seventh-place Flint Firebirds are only four points out of first and the eighth-seeded Owen Sound Attack is a mere five points out of top spot.
Once again this season, the Western Conference is noticeably stronger than the Eastern Conference. As of this writing, eight teams in the Western are above the .500 mark while only four in the Eastern have winning records.
But back to lowly Saginaw and what the Spirit holds in its hands in Cormier who would, arguably, provide a trade upgrade over who the no. 1 goalies are on at least three Western Conference contenders.
Cormier, who turns 19 in early November, is a National Hockey League prospect of the New Jersey Devils after being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.
A possible trade partner for Saginaw is Windsor — which has automatic entry into the 2017 Memorial Cup tournament as the host team.
And the Spitfires just may have interest in Cormier, the former Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League goalie who hails from Bowmanville, Ont. What Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel must decide between now and the mid-January OHL trade deadline is whether he is comfortable with 17-year old Michael DiPietro and 19-year old Mario Culina as his Memorial Cup goalies.
Cormer’s numbers in Saginaw thus far this season have been anything but eye-popping, though he does have both of the Spirit wins as part of a 2-5-2 record, .878 save percentage and 4.02 goals against average.
Saginaw does have two young goalies as potential future starters in Brendan Bonello, who has a 1999 birth date and Cameron Lamour, a northern Ontario kid who was born in 2000.
And while Bonello has not played well this season with an 0-2-1 record, .828 save percentage and 5.83 GAA, Lamour has shown some promise with an .896 save percentage and 2.31 GAA which overshadows an 0-2-0 record.
As for Cormier, does he stay in Saginaw or does he go?
PHOTO: Saginaw Spirit goalie Evan Cormier holds potential trade value for the last-place OHL team.
Its unfortunate in hindsight that the Battalion traded Cormier to Saginaw because between Cormier and Moran they would be sitting pretty in goal today. On the other hand, coach Butler needed additional scoring power at the time and Saginaw’s Zach Bratina provided that, even though his career was cut short due to concussions. Should have had a good working crystal ball for that one.
If the Troops didn’t trade Cormier, he would have been the number 1 goalie this year with Woroniuk as back-up and there wouldn’t have been a need for the Battalion to make a trade for Moran.
Zach Bratina may have been the most skilled player the Battalion have had in North Bay….bad luck that carreer cut short….at the time a good trade but who knew?????? McMaster could be next Batt star…..
Nick Moutrey was who Saginaw sent to North Bay for Cormier… Bratina was acquired for Blake Clarke…
Cormier is a goalie on a really bad team, the spirit have tons of fire power but are so bad defensively the quality scoring chances givin up are mind blowing.
Expect to see Cormier in net for Canada at the U20 he was the bet at the summer camp, also look for overage Bennett from Saginaw to fetch some return for Saginaw, I would love to see Bennett in north Bay.