A slow week in suspensions which is a good thing but there were 3 more trades as a few Western Conference contenders tinker with their OA set up. World Junior time is almost upon us as well as the Christmas Trade Freeze. Which teams will get aggressive before this happens?
Suspensions
Andrew Mangiapane -8 Games - Cross Check
Somewhat surprising length given that Mangiapane is a first time offender and that he was only given a double minor on the play. Whatever happened to the OHL releasing video explaining their questionable logic in suspension length? I guess at the end of the day the dart board was not in Mangiapanes favour.
Brendan Lemieux - 1 game - Spearing
Lemieux received a 5 minute major for spearing at the end of Fridays game vs Kitchener. He served his suspension the following night vs Niagara here the Colts ultimatly fell 5-2
Special Note:
I was at last nights Mississauga/Niagara game and expect Sean Day to get hit hard with a suspension. Late in the first period he rocked Vince Dunn from behind sending him rocketing head first towards the boards. The Ref instantly threw him out of the game. While it is hard to judge the OHLs thinking it looked like a 10-15 gamer compared to others I have seen live this year (the Goetz 12 gamer). The only problem is that Day can be considered a marquee player and the league seems to take even dangerous hits from behind less seriously than head checks. Regardless I dont think we will see Day play at all this weekend.
Trades
North Bay
Miles Liberati
to
Kitcheber
Oshawas 2nd 2017
Oshawas 2nd 2018
Kitcheners 3rd 2019
Ottawas 8th 2017
Breakdown
A hefty price for half a season but it is similar to what Kingston paid for Desrocher. Some point to the fact that Desrocher could be back next year and while that is true there are also 2 extra conditional picks attached to that transaction in the event that happens. In Liberati the Rangers get a veteran D man they covet with 198 career OHL games under his belt. On a young Battalion team he has averaged .67 points per game which would be tops among Rangers defencemen. With 6 2nds still availible to be traded over the next 4 years the Rangers are primed to make more moves.
For the Battalion they get a much needed infusion of draft assets. After a competitive push the last two seasons the draft pick cupboard was looking pretty bare. This trade now gives them 4 2nds and 6 3rds over the next 5 seasons. With arguably the top 19 year old center availible in Mike Amadio you could see them not only add more picks but potentially a young player as well.
Oshawa
Matt Mistele
to
Sarnia
Niagara's 2nd 2016
SSM's 3rd 2017
Sarnia's 3rd 2018
Breakdown
Since June the Oshawa Generals have acquired 4 2nds, 3 3rds 1 4th and 2 5th round draft picks. This boost to there draft pick stockpile has allowed them to be patient with Michael Del Colle as they wait for the 2015 1st round draft pick trade window to open in January. As for Mistele, he cost the Generals 1 2nd 1 3rd 2 4ths 1 6th and Ryan Moore. In return they get 1 2nd 2 3rds and 21 goals in 44 games played (plus 13 in the playoffs last year). You cant argue with that type of return.
One way to look at this trade for Sarnia is Nikandorov and picks for Mistele and picks. A minor cost to upgrade the OA position and they still have another spot open in case they want to upgrade the goalie position or add more depth upfront.
Windsor
Brendan Johnston
to
Flint
Flint 6th Round 2017
Breakdown
After playing in 37 games last season Johnston was pushed out of the crowded Windsor Crease and has been playing for Chatham in the GOJHL.
For Flint you have to imagine that this signals a Nedeljkovic trade is close. In the meantime Johnston will bear the load in the Firebirds net while Nedelkovic most likely takes off for the USA World Junior team in the event a trade doesnt happen right away.
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