Petes acquire veteran blueliner
The Peterborough Petes have added experience to the undermanned defensive corps.
The Petes acquired Buffalo Sabres’ draft pick Austin Osmanski from the Mississauga Steelheads in exchange for Peterborough’s fourth round pick in 2018 and fourth round pick in 2020, the OHL club announced on Sunday night.
Osmanski, a 19 year old rearguard from East Aurora, N.Y., is in his third OHL season. He was selected by the Sabres in the seventh round, 189th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He was originally selected by the Steelheads in the sixth round, 105th overall in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.
The six-foot-four, 210-pound defenceman has played in 125 OHL games, all with the Steelheads, and has recorded four goals, 15 assists, 19 points and 133 penalty minutes with a plus-minus rating of +4.
Osmanski debuted with the Petes when they visited the North Bay Battalion Monday afternoon.
The Petes lost veteran defenceman Matt Timms for three-to-six weeks one game into the season. They’ve been dressing three rookie blue-liners and on Friday lost another veteran, Cole Fraser, to a lower body injury. Petes’ GM Mike Oke said he doesn’t think Fraser’s injury will be long-term and was already searching for some veteran help on defence.
The Petes got a close look at Osmanski during last year’s Eastern Conference final
“If you can’t beat them, get them to join you,” said Oke, with a chuckle.
Oke identified Mississauga as a team with a depth on the blue-line that might be able to afford to give up a veteran defender and targeted Osmanski.
“We felt coming in it was important to start with our group (of defencemen) for the first couple of weeks,” Oke said. “I think our young guys have done a nice job coming in and adjusting to the OHL but when you have an opportunity to add a player with extensive playing experience at this level I thought it would provide stability to our defence.”
Osmanski is a big body who plays a defence-first style.
“He brings experience not only from a regular season standpoint but also last year they had a really good playoff run, as we know,” said Oke. “He’s a hard-working player who has good size and good reach which helps make him an ideal defender. He’s an NHL draft pick so he’s got his sites set on an NHL career. I’ve spoken to the people in Buffalo and they’re excited about him having this opportunity to come to our club. In speaking to Austin, he’s extremely excited about beginning a new phase of his hokey career.”
We felt coming in it was important to start with our group (of defencemen) for the first couple of weeks. I think our young guys have done a nice job coming in and adjusting to the OHL but when you have an opportunity to add a player with extensive playing experience at this level I thought it would provide stability to our defence.” Petes’ GM Mike Oke