OHL Tradedeadline Buyer Overview

With the OHL Christmas Trade Freeze lifted I thought I would post an overview on the draft picks contenders have to trade. Out in the East I have profiled Kingston, Ottawa, Peterborough, Barrie, Mississauga and Niagara. Out west I have profiled Kitchener, London, Erie, Windsor and Sarnia. While I dont believe all these teams will be buyers they are the ones in the best position to atleast advance into the 2nd round of the playoffs.

One thing that you will notices is that there is a definite disparity in draft picks that each team has to deal. This is the result of some teams being contenders for multiple years and are at the end of their contending cycles while others are just hitting their stride or have done a great job in trading surplus assets to build up their reserve.

For a more in depth Trade Deadline preview on some of the names out there I highly suggest checking out Brock Ottens (@BrockOtten) Preview on the OHLProspect Blog.

With out further delay here is a list of the 2nd and 3rds each team has over the next 6 seasons

Western Conference Contenders

Kitchener Rangers

2nds

6 2nds over the next 6 seasons (all within the next 4 seasons)

Own 2nds '17 '19. SSM '16 '18 Sag '18 Sar '16

3rds

4 3rds over the next 6 seasons

Own '20 '21 OSH '16 SSM '17

Notes:

Kitchener has already dipped into their reserve when they acquired OA deferenceman Miles Liberarti from North Bay. Still with 6 2nds over the next 4 years they have plenty of assets to pull of some big trades.

London Knights

2nds

7 2^nd round picks over the next 6 seasons

Own in '17 '20 and 21. ERI '16 MISS '17 OTT '18 SBY '19

3rds

8 3^rd round picks over the next 6 seasons

Own '16-'17 '19-21. ERI '16 OSH '18 OS '19

Notes:

London has done a fantastic job so far this season in maximizing the return of surplus parts at they build a large cache of draft picks.

Erie Otters

2nds

2 2nds over the next 6 seasons

LDNs '16 and Own in 2021

3rds

6 over next 6 seasons

Own + SBY + SAR in '16

Own 19-21

Notes:

After 2 seasons of buying the Erie Otters are left with the smallest draft cupboard of all Western Conference Contenders. The top team in the OHL will have to get creative and look for value buys if they look to improve at the deadline.

Windsor Spitefires

2nds

4 2nds over next 6 seasons ( must forfeit a 2^nd round pick in '17)

Guelph '16 '17 Niagara '18 Oshawa '21

3rds

4 3rds over the next 6 seasons

Own '20 '21 KGN + BAR '17

Notes:

Primed to make a run at hosting the Memorial Cup in the near future you have to wonder how keen the Spitfires brass is at moving future assets. Windsor also must forfeit their 1^st round pick this year and a 2^nd round pick in '17 for their violation of recruitment and benefits policy.

Sarnia Sting

2nds

6 2nds over the next 6 seasons

OS '16, SSM '17 Own '18-'21

3rds

5 3rds over the next

PTB '17, Own '17 '19-'21

Notes:

With an open OA spot you'd have to imagine some moves are coming Sarnia's way. One spot could be between the pipes but they team could opt to improve that spot with 19 year old goalie Brandon Halverson and use their open OA spot to fill another hole in their lineup.

Eastern Conference Contenders

Kingston Frontenacs

2nds

4 over next 6 seasons

Own '16 '19 '20 FLI '17

3rds

5 3rds over the next 6 seasons

Own '16-'18 '20-'21

Notes: First Eastern Conference contender to put their chips in the middle when they picked up Stephen Derochers from Oshawa. Only a matter of time till they make another move.

Ottawa 67's

2nds

6 2nds over the next 6 seasons

Own '16 '17 '19-'21 OS '18

3rds

7 3rds over next 6 seasonsw

Own '16-'21 OS '17

Notes: Will Konecny be around next year or will he jump to the NHL? The size of Ottawas contending window depend on this.

Peterborough Petes

2nds

11 over the next 6 seasons

Own '17 '18 '20 '21\SSM '19 '20 Ham MISS KIT '16 ERI '17 WSR '20

3rds

6 over the next 6 years

Own '16 '18-'21 SSM '17

Notes: No contending team has more assets to move than Peterborough. With such a plethora of picks do they go for a 19 year old or pay big for an 18 year old where the East may be more winnable.

Barrie Colts

2nds

5 2nds over next 6 seasons

Own '16 '19-'21 WSR '21

3rds

7 over the next 6 seasons

Own 17-'21 KIT '16 WSR '19

Notes: Have already moved Brendan Lemieux for Anthony Stefano so there are questions about how keen they are at buying. But the East is winnible especially when they have the top goalie. The teams strong record without Lemieux makes you wonder if he will be missed at all. The Colts also have 3 conditional 2nds from 20-22 from the Kitchener Rangers in the event Jake Tortora commits to the Rangers.

Mississauga Steelheads

2nds

5 over next 6 seasons

Own '18-'21 OSH '16

3rds

2 over next 6 seasons

Own '20 '21

Notes: For a team that hasnt contended in a while the Steelheads have a rather thin about of tradeable picks. With McLeod and Nylander this is the strongest group they have had in a while. If both return next year they should be favorites in the East (especially if they find a goalie) but will either be back as 19 year olds? This team has a small but strong championship window so managing their assets and extracting the best return possible is a must.

Niagara Icedogs

2nds

2 2nds over the next 6 seasons

WSR '17 Own '20

3rds

5 3rds over the next 6 seasons

WSR '16 '18 Own '20 '21 SAG '17

Notes: With Perline and Ho-Sang and co playing as 19 year olds their time is now. Marty Williamson expressed that to the fans the only way he could by picking Alex Nedeljkovic and Josh Wesley from Flint. With an open OA spot you have to wonder which forward he targets to fill that spot.