As we alluded to a while ago here on the blog, the Ottawa 67’s finally pulled the trigger on moving Philadelphia Flyers prospect Travis Konecny, sending him to the Sarnia Sting on Wednesday along with Sam Studnicka and a third-round pick in exchange for Sasha Chmelevski, Chase Campbell and 10 picks.
Blockbuster.
It wasn’t exactly a secret that the player and organization weren’t seeing eye-to-eye and they had talks about moving him going back to last spring. I know that Windsor had conversations, but when you’re dealing with a quality player like Konecny there are always more teams interested. And despite numerous claims by the 67’s that they were not going to move Konecny, it grew more and more obvious that as teams in the OHL’s Eastern Conference (Niagara, Kingston) loaded up while Ottawa sputtered, this relationship was headed to a conscious uncoupling.
It’ll be a good move for Konecny, a fresh start for a player who continues to blossom and a chance at an OHL championship, while the 67’s get a healthy opportunity to rebuild the program with a mix of young players and picks.
Jeff Marek hosts Sportsnet’s weekly CHL podcast, a one-stop shop for news, analysis, opinion and interviews covering the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.
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As for Sarnia you have to hand it to the new ownership group led by former NHLer Derian Hatcher. They’ve had some attendance challenges this season and the team itself has an awful track record in the playoffs despite graduating some high-end talent into the NHL. But this group understands they have a legit shot at it this year with players such as Pavel Zacha (NJ), Jacob Chychrun (2016), Matt Mistele (LA), Nikita Korestelev (TOR) and Jordan Kyrou (2016). They paid a steep price to land Konecny and the Western Conference is stacked with heavyweights Erie, London and Kitchener, but the move puts the Sting very much in that mix and creates a buzz (sorry) that Sarnia hasn’t enjoyed in quite some time.
With the concentration of talent now residing in the West and considering how much of a dog fight it will be to get to the Robertson Cup final, what will be left of the team who makes it? We saw Erie empty the tank to get out of the West last season only to be cannon fodder at the hands of the Oshawa Generals.
WHL
The Red Deer Rebels are loading up as they get set to host the Memorial Cup bringing in former 40-goal scorer Adam Helewka (SJ) from the Spokane Chiefs and overage forward Luke Philp from the Kootenay Ice. Tough for the team sending away captain Wyatt Johnson in the Helewka deal considering everything he’s given to the team, but that’s the nature of the game at this level.
Quick analysis of the deals
• Luke Philp for Preston Kopeck, Ryan Pouliot, Tanner Sideaway along with picks in the second and third round this season
This was a deal long in the works and probably would have happened sooner had Philp not gotten injured. The return is high for Kootenay as Red Deer probably gave up too much surrendering Ryan Pouliot and two picks. One pick would have been more palatable but everyone knows the Rebels are under the gun to perform as memories of the Saskatoon Blades in 2013 still burn in every Memorial Cup host team’s mind.
• Adam Helewka for Wyatt Johnson, Eli Zummack, along with a second and fifth round draft pick
Made on the heels of the deal that brought in Jake DeBrusk from Swift Current, the Helewka deal helps to remake the Rebels offence. And considering all teams are having a hard time finding defencemen, perhaps Red Deer feels they need to simply outscore their opponents.
Where do Rebels stand?
A couple of questions still to answer about the Rebels: Are they done? And who gets the C?
To the first question the answer is no. Brent Sutter would still like to improve his back end, but with the scarcity of defencemen available (in all three CHL leagues, actually) this will be a tough one to address. Many wonder if Brandon Hickey will leave Boston University to join the Rebels on their Memorial Cup run. I keep getting conflicting thoughts on this one.
It’s believed the Calgary Flames, who own his rights, would prefer he played in Red Deer and they could end the situation by signing him to a contract. But perhaps the fact they haven’t should tell us something. My guess is he stays at Boston University. So, barring a trade, all eyes turn to Josh Mahura when he’s eligible to return from a knee injury that’s kept him out of the lineup for all but two of Red Deer’s games this season. Getting him back is like adding a high-end D-man at the deadline anyway.
There’s been much chatter about the Rebels’ netminding situation, but it seemsRyan Toth is playing a lot better since Brent Sutter made all his moves. Perhaps they don’t go shopping before deadline and stick with the 19-year-old Saskatoon native. Sounds like they’ll ride him through the weekend before making a final decision.
To the second query, with Wyatt Johnson now in Spokane, who should wear the captaincy in a Memorial Cup season? They took the “C” away from Conner Bleackley at the beginning of the season, but given his improved play and dedication, do they give it back to him?
Price for Point
Andy Eide of Sportsnet.ca with an interesting scoop about the future of Brayden Point of the Moose Jaw Warriors—if a team wants him the price is steep: two first-round picks and two players.
That’s high. But even though he’s coming off a disappointing world junior tournament and, before that, an injury, when he’s healthy, the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect is one of if not the best player in the CHL t. No guarantee the Warriors move Point considering they are finally in a playoff position after being on the outside for three seasons.
OHL
Very last Day?
Sean Day played his last game with the Mississauga Steelheads Dec. 17 in North Bay against the Battalion and one wonders if it’s the last game he’ll ever play with the team. Day is back home and looking for a change of scenery. Already the most controversial player in the draft this year, Day can’t much afford another drama to dominate his draft year story.
It’s a tough situation for Mississauga GM James Boyd here: How do you get value back considering the player has been a chronic underachiever but could dominate the league in a flash if he finally got it all together. The skill set is there, no doubt, but there’s more to the game than we all know. From what I hear the Guelph Storm are very interested but they don’t have what it would take to get him. Flint makes a lot of sense since it’s closer to home for the defenceman and there was once a belief the Firebirds were asking for Day in exchange for Ryan McLeod, their first-rounder who didn’t report to camp. But after what that teams have been through this season already can they afford another sideshow? Peterborough is also said to be interested.
Knights watch
London Knights are still in the trade hunt, as they believe they are just a couple of pieces away from a championship. The back end is an issue so they went out and picked up OA Jacob Graves from Oshawa and the whispers around the league have Max Jones’s brother Mitch joining as another over-age defenceman (he’s played a handful of games with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL this season). Flint has his rights and it wouldn’t surprise any to see Firebirds GM John Gruden make a deal to reunite the brothers. The two families are said to be very close.
Otters’ Knoblauch coach of the year?
Considering how well the Erie Otters have performed with players such as Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat, Travis Dermott and Erik Cernak all away at the WJC (one loss through December and early January) a couple of things come to mind: Maybe the Otters don’t have to make any moves at deadline (not that they’d have a choice considering how they emptied the cupboard the last two seasons in the hopes of an OHL championship) and how does Kris Knoblauch not win OHL coach of the year? He’s had the Otters at or near the top of the CHL standings all season with or without his star players and ask any team who’s played against them this season – the Otters are relentless.
There was some talk Knoblauch would leave the OHL and take a job at the pro level at the end of last season and if this continues, look for that to get fired up again. Not sure how long Knoblauch is made for junior hockey.
QMJHL
Small market rules in the Q
Interesting time in the QMJHL with Shawinigan, Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d’Or and Gatineau all loading up for long playoff runs while squads like Halifax and Quebec are the prime sellers. We’re used to the large-market teams buying at deadline time but this year, more than anything, is the triumph of the small market in the Quebec League.
Jonathan Briggins has a good recap of all the Q transactions here.
Scouts Honour
In this week’s edition of Scouts Honour I asked an Eastern Conference NHL scout, “Which players raised or lowered their value in your eyes at the world junior hockey championship this year?”
Raised
Jesse Puljujarvi “He showed me he is above Patrik Laine. I like the combination of size, speed, skill and desire to step up/make a difference. Laine has those attributes as well, but for me I like the all around game and he can rush/carry pucks up the ice.”
Ollie Juolevi “Solidified his smarts, passing and offensive game. Eliminated any doubts about his ability to defend.”
Lowered
Alex DeBrincat “He had a chance to take a step forward and show his game on an international stage. Injury, suspension and limited ice held him back from being able to do that.”
Jacob Chychrun “Not being there, I feel he took a back seat in the current conversation to being in the top 3.”