Petes acquire third-year centre from Spirit
Max Grondin expected to ease burden at centre since captain Zach Gallant’s injury
Max Grondin is expected to ease the burden Peterborough Petes centres have felt since losing
Zach Gallant to injury. The Petes acquired the six-foot-four, 200-pound third-year centre from the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday.
The Hearst, Ont., native was a second-round pick of the Spirit in the 2016 OHL draft who is off to a slow start this season with one goal and one assist in 13 games. He had 11 goals and 27 points last season with 70 penalty minutes.
The Petes gave up a 2024 second-round pick and 2020 thirdround pick to acquire Grondin.
Losing Gallant, their top faceoff guy, for 10 to 12 weeks left a void at centre.
“Max’s faceoff percentage is over 50 per cent,” said Petes head coach Rob Wilson.
“We’ve been really missing Gally, he’s such a good faceoff guy for us, and Max is a guy who is only 18 years old who maybe hasn’t reached his full potential for where he was drafted. We’re not looking for him to be our No. power play guy. He’s a support guy who is going to help us not maybe play other guys so many minutes. Especially when we have another stretch where we’re playing six games in eight nights or three in three. You can’t have certain guys playing 19 minutes after two periods or we’re going to end up with more injuries.”
Grondin’s ice-time fell this season to a fourth-line role in Saginaw.
“It’s hard to leave a place where you’ve been for 2 1/2 years,” said Grondin, “but I’ve been playing on the fourth line so I haven’t really got my chance this year. I think it’s a good thing to move on and start a new chapter.”
He hopes to show the Petes what he can do.
“I can play hard and grind teams down and put the puck the net, get some shots on net and be a leader,” he said.
Grondin played minor hockey in North Bay until jumping to the GTHL’s Vaughan Kings. He was the 37th overall pick in the 2016 draft. He has recorded 18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points and 130 penalty minutes in 147 games with Saginaw. He attended the Carolina Hurricanes 2018 development camp as a free agent and took part in the 2018 Traverse City Prospect Tournament.
“He’s a big kid,” said Petes GM Mike Oke. “He’s good on faceoffs and can be a heavy player who is physical. This year he hasn’t put up the offensive stats he has previously but we think he’ll be a good addition to our group. He’ll complement the group we have at centre and he’s proven to be pretty adept at faceoffs which will help us to start to play with the puck as opposed to chasing the puck. It will take the pressure off some other guys who have had to do a little more of the heavy lifting in that area since Zach has been gone.”
Wilson’s initial thoughts were to pair Grondin with veterans Nick Isaacson and Brady Hinz. Grondin will wear number 28 and is expected to be in the lineup when the Petes host the Oshawa Generals at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at the PMC.
NOTE: Thursday’s game is the United Way’s second annual
Plaid Night. The Petes will wear special plaid jerseys to be auctioned online with proceeds benefitting the United Way. There will also be a silent auction and a second intermission chuck-apuck. Prizes include a Toronto Marlies ticket package and table tennis game. Game sponsor Mark’s will give fans the chance to win clothing in a first intermission Get Outfitted race.