OHL teams LOAD UP for Memorial Cup runs....

[jammer2]

 There were 3 HUGE trades completed at this years deadline, that will have far reaching effects on the coming OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup Tourny to be held in Windsor this year. 3 Western Conference teams in particular really upped the ante in the annual race to load up in the OHL.

 

 Windsor Spitfires....added World Jr Gold Medalist Jeremy Bracco from the Kitchener Rangers. The Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick was away for weeks at the World Jrs and STILL has 51 pts in 27 games this year. Spits gave Burns, a respectable 19 yr old d man, Cole Carter a young stud 17 year old winger and 4 second round picks...in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Basically the kids that will be drafted with those picks are about 6 years old right now....lmao.

 

 London Knights got the big prize, Canada's Mitchell Stephens, they gave up a TON of draft picks, I think 8 in total. This will be tough to deal with, the current Knights roster.

 

 The Erie Otters got the other big deadline prize, Team Canada's Anthony Cirelli. The former Oshawa Generals has played in the Mem cup before, and actually one the entire tourny for the Generals by scoring in OT to win the title. They paid 7 picks and players for the right to roster Cirelli, a high price indeed.

 

 http://windsorstar.com/sports/hockey/time-will-tell-if-deadline-deals-will-help-spitfires-secure-memorial-cup-title

[jammer2]

  Just by chance the Spitfires will host the Kitchener Rangers on Thursday night, the team they just made the big deal with. Unfortunatly, Bracco is still out with a bruised ankle, which he hurt blocking a wicked slap shot during the Gold Medal game. Spits will have a new dman dressing, acquired in another deal, and our new center, part of the 3rd and final deal Rychel made.

 

 Flyers 5th round pick Bunnerman will be playing for the Rangers, he was out with the flu the last time these two teams locked up, 2 weeks ago....gonna watch him close and give a big scouting report on him.

[jammer2]

  This article gives the specifics in the London, Erie and Windsor moves for the available elite forwards....

 

http://windsorstar.com/sports/hockey/spitfires-get-bracco-from-rangers-for-carter-burns-and-picks

[AlaskaFlyerFan]

11 hours ago, jammer2 said:

 Flyers 5th round pick Bunnerman will be playing for the Rangers, he was out with the flu the last time these two teams locked up, 2 weeks ago....gonna watch him close and give a big scouting report on him.

 

I remember your last scouting report...

 

Those trades are crazy with the amount of picks given up, and how many years out.  That would get an NHL G M fired by the end of the day

[jammer2]

 OK...Spitfires 3  Rangers 2 in a shoot out. Bunnaman scored both Ranger goals, his 20th and 21st of the season. Both goals came on goal mouth scrambles. The Flyers drafted him as a center, but for the first two periods, he played RW. For some reason, the Rangers switched him to center for the 3rd period. He is a real big kid, tall but not lanky, filled out rather nicely. His skating is slightly above average for the OHL, he has to work on his first stride, it's kinda slow. He won 2 out of 5 draws. I liked him better on the wing than at center, that may be where the Flyers like him also. Easier path to the NHL as a winger I"m thinking.

 

Supported the puck nicely, and seemed to care about defense in his own zone. Has a real nose for the net and knows where he has to be to score. Nice instincts, laid a few nice hits, does not have lift you out of the seat skills, but his skills are respectable. I see a bottom six forward at best, unless he can improve his slow first step. He should get a nice long look on the Phantoms and see where he goes from there. He will be back in the OHL next season, so lot's of time to improve the skating, he's not all that far off, but does have some work to do in that area.