Montreal Canadiens prospect Nick Suzuki has been traded from the Owen Sound Attack to the Guelph Storm in an OHL blockbuster.
The Storm are sending Suzuki, as well as winger Zachary Roberts and overage defenceman Sean Durzi, to Guelph for forwards Zachary Poirier and Barret Kirwin, defenceman Mark Woolley and the following four draft picks:
• Guelph’s fourth-round pick in 2019
• Guelph’s third-round pick in 2021
• Guelph’s second-round pick in 2022
• Guelph’s third-round pick in 2022 (conditional).
Suzuki, 19, just competed for Team Canada at the world juniors in Vancouver, where he had three assists in five games. A centre, he was a first-round pick by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, and was a key piece sent to Montreal in the Max Pacioretty trade.
The London, Ont., native has 22 goals and 45 points in 30 OHL games this season. Over parts of four seasons with the Attack, Suzuki has 129 goals and 279 points in 222 regular season games, including a 96-point campaign in his draft year and a 100-point season last year.
“Nick is one of the premier players in the CHL and possesses elite offensive tools,” Storm GM and head coach George Burnett said in a press release. “His world class, game-breaking skill is a very exciting thing to add to our lineup.”
This is the second major trade between these two teams in the lead-up to the OHL’s Jan. 10 trade deadline.
On Jan. 5 the Storm acquired defenceman Markus Phillips, who also played for Team Canada at the world juniors, from the Attack for six draft picks.
Also on Jan. 5, Guelph acquired Hamilton Bulldogs captain Mackenzie Entwistle and Flint Firebirds defenceman Fedor Gordeev.
In all, Guelph has added six players and sent out three players and 19 draft picks in a push to win the club’s first J. Robertson Cup since the 2013-14 season. The Storm currently sit in fourth in the Western Conference with a 20-12-7 record and 47 points.
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