The 2007 OHL trade deadline was sheer lunacy.
In the past, teams have always paid a hefty price to land
talent at the deadline, but this year took the cake and the
platter it was served on and the knife that cut it up.
Owen Sound GM Mike Futa raised the bar Wednesday on overpaying for late season talent.
He sent defender Dalyn Flatt, forward Thomas Stajan, a 2008 third round pick, 2009 fourth round pick, 2009 fifth round pick, 2010 third round pick and first round import picks in 2008 and 2009 to Brampton for defenceman Phil Oreskovic and forward Howie Martin.
The trade goes down as one of the biggest in the history of the CHL, not just the OHL.Futa has given up basically everything for a shot at the title this year.
He has given up an unprecedented number of draft picks over the course of this season and last in order to grab glory in 2007.
Since it will take the Attack probably five to seven years
to recover from this craziness, Futa and Owen Sound fans better
say their prayers every night the Hockey Gods bring them the
Memorial Cup.
Brampton coach and director of hockey operations Stan Butler
came away from the deadline as the biggest winner as he was
able to solidify the future of his club with one move and he
didn't give up that much.
With the players he got back, the Battalion are no worse off
and with the six high draft picks over the next the next three
seasons, he has potentially set up Brampton to be a powerhouse
for seasons to come.
That's really good news for Sudbury Wolves fans, since they play in the same division.
Coming in second place as far as winners go at the trade
deadline is Peterborough GM Jeff Twohey.
He truly maximized his return on Daniel Ryder (to Plymouth)
and Steve Downie (to Kitchener). By dishing them separately,
Twohey acquired two quality young players in John Armstrong
(from Plymouth) and Yves Bastien, (from Kitchener) and four
second round draft picks over the next two years and a third
and sixth round selections this season.
With Peterborough's excellent track record when it comes to
drafting, and more importantly, developing players, the Petes
are going to be a juggernaut in a few short seasons.
Plymouth and Owen Sound weren't the only teams tossing away the
future with little regard at the deadline.
Barrie went equally as nuts. Colts' GM Howie Campbell, in two
separate moves, sent second round picks in 2008 and 2010 and
Blake Parlett to Windsor for Mike Weber, Thomas Battani and a
fifth round pick in 2007. He also sent another second round
pick in 2009 and a ninth round selection in 2010 to Windsor for
Sudbury boy Corey McGillis and Chris Purves.
The Wolves even joined the frenzy by picking up Justin Donati
from Toronto for Jesse Messier, two draft picks and a prospect.
They dumped goalie Kevin Beech to Erie for a 14th round pick in
2007 and picked up a new goalie in Sebastian Dahm from Sarnia
for a 2007 fourth round pick.
Needless to say, the 2007 OHL playoffs are going to be
memorable.
Barrie and Sudbury have flexed their muscles in the Eastern
Conference, and could end up battling to see who moves on to
play for the OHL championship.
The Western Conference is absurd. Two really good teams will
lose in the first round. London sits in first place, right now,
with Plymouth, Kitchener, Sarnia, Saginaw, Guelph, Owen Sound
and Sault Ste. Marie rounding out the top eight teams.
If the playoffs started right now, Plymouth and Owen Sound
would meet in the first round. Both these teams mortgaged their
future for a shot at all the marbles this year and one would
say goodbye right off the bat. That is the definition of
bizarre.
Sit back OHL fans, buckle up as they say, and prepare for a
wild ride until the end of May.
