Toronto Maple Leafs prospects recap: TRADES!

The World Juniors wrapped up last week, and that means trade deadlines are happening in all three CHL leagues. The Leafs lone QMJHL prospect, Martins Dzierkals, isn’t going anywhere as the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies sit near the top of the QMJHL standings, and look to try and become back to back QMJHL champions and get another shot at the Memorial Cup.

In the WHL Adam Brooks is safe in Regina, rare for the top team to trade away it’s best players - Oshawa in the OHL is doing so, but they want to host the Memorial Cup next year, so they are selling off assets to ensure they have a good team next year.

Regina could do the same, but they have such a good shot at winning the WHL, where Oshawa would have had a rough time with the OHL Western Conference champion, that they’re all in.

Jack Walker and Vladimir Bobylyov in Victoria haven’t been moved yet and odds are they’ll stay put as well.

In the OHL yesterday Jeremy Bracco was moved to the Memorial Cup host Windsor Spitfires, so this is the last week he’ll show up as a Kitchener Ranger, though he didn’t play at all. Nikita Korostelev is fitting in well with the Peterborough Petes and I’ll have a short piece on that transition up this week. Let’s get into it.

Ontario Hockey League

JJ Piccinich (F) / Nicolas Mattinen (D)
0G, 1A, -2 / 0G, 0A, -1
London Knights - 26-7-2-3

January 3rd: @ Windsor Spitfires
L 5-1 - 0G, 1A, -2 / 0G, 0A, -1
January 6th: vs Sudbury Wolves
W 5-4 OT - No Points / No Points
January 8th: @ Mississauga Steelheads
L 4-1 - No Points / No Points

The Knights are looking to win back to back OHL titles/Memorial Cups for the first time in franchise history. They acquired Mitchell Stephens (F - Saginaw), Mitch Vande Sompell (D - Oshawa), and the OHL rights to ECHLer Dante Salituro (F - Ottawa) who will return to the OHL for the rest of the season. The Knights gave up 14 draft picks and 3 players in those deals.

Mattinen and Piccinich may find themselves bumped down the depth chart after these moves, which is especially frustrating for Mattinen as he was the 8th defence man for the Knights in the playoffs last year.

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Stephen Desrocher (D) - 1G, 0A, -1
Kingston Frontenacs - 17-16-5-1

January 3rd: @ Peterborough Pets
L 3-1 - 0G, 0A, -1
January 6th: vs North Bay Battalion
W 3-2 - No Points
January 7th: @ Ottawa 67’s
L 6-2 - 1G, 0, +1
January 8th: @ Oshawa Generals
L 4-1 - 0G, 0A, -1

Desrocher was rumoured to be on the move, but the overage deadline came and went without a move. Frontenacs GM Doug Gilmour said Desrocher would finish his career with Kingston, and he will do that. If you missed Scott’s article on Desrocher from this weekend, you can read it here.

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Jeremy Bracco (F) - Did Not Play
Kitchener Rangers - 22-13-2-1

January 3rd: @ Guelph Storm
W 5-2 - At World Juniors
January 6th: vs Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
L 6-5 OT - Did Not Play
January 8th: @ Owen Sound Attack
L 5-2 - Did Not Play

Bracco will now have the chance to try and win another championship this year, following his World Juniors gold medal. With the Memorial Cup happening in May, he’s ruled out for joining the Marlies once the CHL season ends.

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Nikita Korostelev (F) - 2G, 3A, +5
Peterborough Petes - 22-13-1-3

January 3rd: vs Kingston Frontenacs
W 3-1 - 1G, 1A, +2
January 6th: @ Niagara IceDogs
L 4-3 - 0G, 1A
January 7th: vs North Bay Battalion
W 5-2 - 1G, 1A, +2

The Petes want to win another OHL championship eleven years after their last in 2006. Yesterday they added IceDogs alternate captain Chris Paquette to help bolster their forward depth.

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Keaton Middleton (D) - No Points
Saginaw Spirit - 15-16-5-2

January 6th: vs Sarnia Sting
W 3-2 SO - No Points
January 7th: vs Erie Otters
W 4-2 - No Points

The Spirit sent their captain Mitchell Stephens to London, and they currently sit four points out of the playoffs. The loss of Stephens won’t help matters, so it’s safe to say it’s over for the Spirit.

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Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Martins Dzierkals (F)
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies - 24-10-1-5

January 4th: vs Quebec Remparts
W 5-2 - Did Not Play
January 6th: vs Quebec Remparts
W 8-2 - Did Not Play
January 8th: @ Gatineau Olympiques
W 4-3 - Did Not Play

The Huskies gave Dzierkals extra time to rest up after the World Juniors, but look to his offensive help to battle the Saint John Sea Dogs and Shawinigan Cataractes for top spot in the Q.

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Western Hockey League

Adam Brooks (F) - 1G, 3A, +1
Regina Pats - 27-4-6-1

January 3rd: @ Medicine Hat Tiger
W 6-2 - 0G, 2A, +1
January 6th: vs Calgary Hitmen
W 6-2 - 1G, 1A, +2
January 7th: vs Moose Jaw Warriors
L 4-1 - 0G, 0A, -2

The Pats are four points ahead for the East Division lead. They should be a lock for the playoffs at this point.

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Jack Walker (F) / Vladimir Bobylyov (F)
0G, 2A / 1G, 0A
Victoria Royals - 22-16-4-0

January 6th: @ Prince George Cougars
W 2-1 - 0G, 1A, +1 / 1G, 0A
January 7th: @ Prince George Cougars
L 4-2 - 0G, 1A, -1 / No Points

The Royals have secured a wild card playoff spot barring any major losing streaks.

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NCAA

Joseph Woll (G) - 27sv, 28sh, 0.964sv%
Boston College Eagles
Overall: 14-7-2 / Conference: 9-1-1

January 8th: vs Providence (Frozen Fenway Game)
W 3-1 - 27sv, 28sh, 0.964sv%

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JD Greenway (D) - 0G, 0A, -1
Wisconsin Badgers - 10-7-1

January 6th: vs Michigan State
W 5-1 - 0G, 0A, +1
January 7th: vs Michigan State
W 5-1 - Did Not Play

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Dominic Toninato (F) - 0G, 0A, +1
U-Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
Overall: 12-4-4 / Conference: 8-3-1

January 6th: vs Colorado College
T 2-2 - 0G, 0A, +1
January 7th: vs Colorado College
L 2-1 - No Points

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Dakota Joshua (F)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Overall: 10-3-4 / Conference: 2-1-0

January 6th: vs Penn State
W 3-0 - Did Not Play
January 7th: vs Penn State
L 4-2 - Did Not Play

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Nolan Vesey (F)
Maine Black Bears
Overall: 7-10-3 / Conference: 1-6-1

January 6th: vs USNTDP
L 6-2 - Did Not Play

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