OHL 21: Dissecting the trade deadline deals

The swap-a-thon is over.

The Ontario Hockey League’s trade deadline ended Wednesday at noon and it was an eventful run to the buzzer.

Every team made at least one deal once the trade freeze was lifted on Dec. 28. Since then, there were 28 total exchanges involving 47 players and 87 draft picks.

Let’s dive in.

1 Barrie was set to be the only OHL team not to make a move before sneaking one in right before the deadline. The Colts swapped Russians with Sudbury but got the higher-scoring one in Dmitry Sokolov. The Wolves only win if Alexey Lipanov, who went the other way, returns next season. But he has American Hockey League options.

2. There were no surprises in Erie. The team traded forward Taylor Raddysh and defenceman Jordan Sambrook for what it needed most — draft picks, and lots of them. But they also added two good, young players in Luke Beamish and Hayden Fowler.

3. The Flint Firebirds netted three seconds, three thirds, a fifth and prospect Connor Roberts by trading veterans Kole Sherwood, Nicholas Caamano and Ryan Moore earlier in the season. But, with prices high at the deadline, they may have received more had they waited.

4. Count the Guelph Storm as players next season along with Oshawa, Niagara and Saginaw. This year they kept it tame but did make rivals the Kitchener Rangers pay a handsome price — three seconds — for Detroit Red Wings prospect Givani Smith.

5. The Hamilton Bulldogs went from offensively challenged to one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Adding Robert Thomas was massive and keeps the Pups at the top of the pack in the East. But fans better hope it works out because the club dished out tons of draft picks for the chance at a title.

6. The Kingston Frontenacs were the surprise player and maybe the biggest winner. Cliff Pu, Sean Day, Max Jones and Gabriel Vilardi are quite the haul. And they managed to keep coveted keeper Jeremy Helvig. It came at a cost, though, one that should be easier to swallow with an East banner hanging in the rafters.

7. It was an effective deadline for the Kitchener Rangers as they crossed four needs off their checklist — elite centre, veteran rearguard, grit and some help in net. They have the depth to challenge in the West but will it be enough to take out Sault Ste. Marie and Sarnia? That’s the question.

8. Rebuild and London are two words you don’t often see in the same sentence. But the Knights are certainly looking to the future after dealing Cliff Pu, Robert Thomas, Max Jones and Sam Miletic. London got a good return for its stars so the turnaround won’t take long, though it may still be two years away.

9. They kind of sold. They kind of bought. But, this season, I’m not sure what the Mississauga Steelheads are. The Fish are hoping a secondhalf surge erases a dreadful start. They made a late move last year and have some horses yet again but failing to keep pace with other East contenders is going to hurt down the stretch.

10. At last check, I was told Niagara was happy to sit back and watch its East competition empty the bank so it could pounce next season. Then it gives three second-round draft picks to London for overage forward Sam Miletic. Advantage Knights on that one.

11. North Bay trades Brett McKenzie and then replaces him with ex-Rangers F Jake Henderson. Hendo doesn’t have the offensive upside of Mac but he’s a smart player that will thrive for the Troops in all sorts of ways. Meanwhile, North Bay gets paid handsomely in the McKenzie and Cam Dineen swaps.

12. Oshawa didn’t add any players but did get a fistful of picks for Peterborough native rearguard Riley Stillman, who went to Hamilton. The Gens will be more active in the next two years as they surround their 19992000- born blossoming core with pieces to put them over the top.

13. The Peter Stratis trade to Sudbury was a bit confusing. I get that Ottawa had excess rearguards and needed to make a move. But the 67’s essentially got the same return that London did for Miletic, who has half a season left. Stratis, a 2016 firstround pick, could play for another 3½ years.

14. Owen Sound added a nice piece in overager centre Brett McKenzie but injuries are killing the Attack right now. In hindsight, maybe it should have kept goalie Christian Propp instead of flipping him to North Bay. Regardless, when healthy, I still wouldn’t want to play the Attack in the opening round of the playoffs.

15. Maybe trading Jonathan Ang for Brady Hinz will help fire up the struggling Petes. But Peterborough’s deadline stance — was it a buyer or seller? — has to be confusing for fans. In the end, the Petes are pretty much the same team, not better or worse.

16. I like Saginaw’s move to get Detroit Red Wings prospect Reilly Webb from Hamilton. The Spirit is young, talented, well coached and will likely leapfrog London and Windsor in the West standings. Webb will be an anchor on the club’s blue line next season when the Spirit make a real push.

17. Sarnia was busy. And the Sting addressed some glaring needs in adding a veteran defenceman (Cam Dineen), scoring depth (Jonathan Ang) and extra leadership (former Wolves captain Michael Pezzetta). Half the team could be gone next season so this is the year.

18. What to say about the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds? The Canadian Hockey League’s top team only got better with the addition of Raddysh and Sambrook from the defending OHL champion Erie Otters. The Soo loaded up three years back and it didn’t work out. This time it feels different.

19. Sudbury is doing its best to win the first-overall pick in this year’s OHL draft. Captain dealt. Leading scorer dealt. Starting goalie dealt. Yeah, there was an extra OA that needed to go but it’s shaping up to be an ugly second half for the Wolves. At least they got Stratis from Ottawa for the right price.

20. That empty draft-pick cupboard in Windsor is now full and the Spits have some really nice pieces to build around after dismantling last year’s Memorial Cup-winning roster. And the bounty will only increase if they opt to trade goalie Michael DiPietro next season.

21. There will be no shortage of trade bait at next year’s deadline especially up front. Some names that could be out there include forwards Morgan Frost, Matthew Strome, MacKenzie Entwistle, Ryan McLeod, Ivan Lodnia, Nick Suzuki and Jason Robertson.