London Knights GM Rob Simpson and coach Dale Hunter added three high-end players at the trade deadline while parting with one core contributor.
The OHL trade deadline contains an element – fun – that the hockey industry tends to smother. On the more serious level, it’s a reminder of why certain teams stay on top. On Monday, the Knights acquired two-time Team Canada contributor Mitchell Stephens from the Saginaw Spirit, getting one of the two best 19-year-old centres available. London also upgraded on the backend by getting skilled defenceman Mitchell Vande Sompel from the Oshawa Generals, while getting a right-shooting overage goal scorer, Dante Salituro, from the ECHL by way of the Ottawa 67’s. Only the Salituro deal entailed giving up a frontline player, with overage defenceman Chris Martenet going the other way.
The ante for Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Stephens consisted of seven high OHL priority-selection picks and zero physical beings, but the value of those are entirely contingent on the recruiting and scouting ability of the franchise that holds them. With the way the OHL is structured, it’s hard to fault any final-year standout for wanting to land in London. In this instance, Stephens, who’s been heralded as an excellent leader, only experienced 13 post-season games in three seasons with Saginaw.
In contrast, the Erie Otters sacrificed one of the OHL’s best true freshmen during their loading up, sending first-round choice Allan McShane to Oshawa in order to land Anthony Cirelli, the other plays-all-roles pivot with a Team Canada imprimatur who was available. McShane was the only 16-year-old player changing addresses. Erie shouldn’t be criticized for the calculated risk, but the difference is noteworthy.
Similarly, the MasterCard Memorial Cup host Windsor Spitfires had to part with two serviceable forwards in order to get the Kitchener Rangers to send over playmaker Jeremy Bracco, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and world junior championship gold medallist with Team USA. One narrative, incidentally, that has come up is that Windsor did not do enough, but the reality is the Spitfires already have two of the OHL’s best on defence – the league’s thinnest position – with Mikhail Sergachev (Montreal) and Sean Day (New York Rangers).
As busy as the deadline was, with 45 players and 74 priority selection choices (13 conditional) changing hands, the balance of power in the OHL was probably unaltered. Erie, London and Windsor got that much better.
With 30 games left, London is two points ahead of Erie for first in the Midwest Division. The teams have four head-to-head meetings left.
The other takeaway, of course, is that the OHL could be in the first of back-to-back years with the Memorial Cup being held in the league, since Oshawa and the Hamilton Bulldogs are finalists, along with the WHL’s Regina Pats. The 2018 deadline might be even wilder.
Popugaev lands in P.G.
Ballyhooed NHL draft prospect Nikita Popugaev moving west to the Prince George Cougars overshadowed practically all other trade activity in the WHL. It is rare to see a star player moved during his draft season, especially since Popugaev was coming from the Moose Jaw Warriors, who are second in the East Division.
However, the Cougars are more likely to play more than two playoff rounds, which might give Popugaev, a top-10 scorer, a greater showcase in the spring. Moose Jaw also gained some long-term benefit in the trade by adding another 18-year-old Russian, Yan Khomenko, and a 17-year-old forward, Justin Almeida.
Prince George had also gone through the entire first half of the season without having a right-shooting forward on their power play, which is 18th in the 22-team WHL. Popugaev ought to fill that void nicely.
Sprong back as Charlottetown goes for it
It will be intriguing to see how much Daniel Sprong can lift up the contending Charlottetown Islanders after returning from shoulder surgery.
Sprong, who spent the first half of last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins before returning to the QMJHL, eased back into junior last weekend. While the 19-year-old came away with only one assist from his first two games since the AHL playoffs last spring, he was engaged with 12 shots on goal.
Charlottetown coach-GM Jim Hulton made eight deals during the trade period, fortifying an already potent lineup by adding the likes of overage defenceman Carl Neill (Vancouver) and two-way centre Alex Dostie (Anaheim). Having a scorer such as Sprong who has already experienced the NHL come back is like adding a free agent.
With the Saint John Sea Dogs adding a third member of Team Canada with their trade with Val-d’Or for Julien Gauthier, the Maritimes Division is stacked.
Canadian NHL team prospect of the week: Michael McNiven, G, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
The Montreal Canadiens signing has returned from being a Team Canada cut full of vim and vigour, leading Owen Sound on a six-win streak to start the second half. Over that stretch, the 19-year-old goalie has an 0.85 average and .966 save percentage.
It is refreshing that the Attack resisted overtures to deal McNiven to a higher-placed team at the deadline, giving him a chance to have a complete body of work with one franchise.
New name to know: Jake McGrath, G, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
The rookie goaltender marked his 18th birthday by starting all three games on a weekend for the first time, helping the improving Wolves go .500 on a swing through southwestern Ontario. That included a 25-save effort during a win against Guelph in the last leg of the trip, which surely was a nice birthday gift for a goalie who turned 18.
McGrath, whom the Wolves chose No. 142 in the 2015 OHL priority selection draft, has a 2.89 average and 9.15 save percentage in five games since the holiday break.
