Four out, five in as OHL trade deadline passes. GM Steve Staios happy with deals

Build for the future, that was the plan. And Steve Staios stuck to it.

By the time the OHL trade deadline elapsed at noon Thursday, the Hamilton Bulldogs president and general manager had acquired five players, including three 17-yearolds, as well as 10 second- or third-round picks between now and 2024.

He said he accomplished everything he set out to. He was happy.

But sticking to the plan came at a price.

Over the past few days, Staios also traded away MacKenzie Entwistle, Brandon Saigeon, Nic Mattinen and Ben Garagan — and with them much of the team’s scoring power.

Together, the four veterans were responsible for roughly 40 per cent of Hamilton’s production this season, along with half of its power play goals.

Is there a way to make up for the lost offence?

Staios said he isn’t sure. “You really don’t know where you’re at until you give these guys an opportunity,” he added.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the early signs aren’t promising.

On the road against Saginaw Wednesday, they were outshot dramatically in a 3-1 loss that would have been more lopsided

had goalie Nick Donofrio not played so well and the Spirit found its groove. With the man advantage they were 0-for-3 and didn’t register a single shot.

Still, Staios said he expects the team — which went into Thursday’s games in a tie for seventh place in its conference — to be competitive every night. Whether that means making the playoffs or otherwise, he wouldn’t say.

“I think we’ll look at it more just on a day-to-day basis,” he added.

Jan Jenik, a Czech-born centre who Staios picked up Monday, made his debut against the Spirit, while defenceman Cameron Supryka and winger Eric Henderson are expected to be in the lineup against the host Flint Firebirds Friday.

Blueliners Payton Vescio and Daniel Nardi will join the team Saturday when it returns home to host the Kingston Frontenacs.

The exits of Saigeon and Entwistle leave Matt Strome as the only player remaining from the team’s inaugural season in Hamilton. Staios said he will be counting on the him, along with other veterans such as Kade Landry, Isaac Nurse and Zack Jackson, to take on larger leadership roles.

“I think we’ve been able to execute a plan and now it will be up to us and the scouting staff to go and continue to add to this group, up to our coaches to continue to develop these young athletes and up to the players to continue to buy in and commit and develop,” Staios added.

Between Dec. 28, when the holiday trade freeze was lifted, and the deadline Thursday, 61 players and 96 draft picks (18 conditional) changed hands in 43 transactions leaguewide. The Bulldogs were involved in eight of them.