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Five trades were approved by the Ontario Hockey League on the "opening day" of trading. Seven teams (the Oshawa Generals, Sarnia Sting, Saginaw Spirit, Windsor Spitfires, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Kitchener Rangers, and Owen Sound Attack) were involved.
In the first trade, Oshawa sent 18-year old defenseman Chris Mifflen to Sarnia in exchange for winger Kody Musselman. Musselman (6'1", 191) has played 2 years in the OHL (after being Sarnia's first round, 16th overall priority selection in 2004), and in 2005-06 filled the role of tough guy. He tallied 6 points in 56 games, and accumulated 106 PIM, many of them for fighting. Unfortunately, his plus/minus for the season was -22, so he needs to really focus on his defensive play while at Oshawa this coming season. Mifflen (6'3", 195) is also 18 years old, and just completed his first OHL season; he was the General's fifth round selection in the 2004 priority draft. In 28 2005-06 regular season games, the defenseman registered 4 points while maintaining a -3 plus/minus rating. His season was cut short by a broken leg sustained last December, but it appears that he will be ready to play at full strength in the fall. This trade could work out well for both teams, as Oshawa needs some grit and the Sting could use a solid defenseman. Mifflen needs some time to develop, but over the next 2 years, he could prove to be the better player in the deal.
Oshawa's second trade of the day involved rights previously obtained from Windsor. Prior to the priority draft, the Generals had obtained Windsor's 5th round selection in 2007 and 2nd round pick in 2008. Yesterday, Oshawa conditionally returned the 2008 pick to Windsor in exchange for the rights to defenseman Peter Aston. Aston will be eligible to play an overage year for the Generals in 2006-07, and the trade will take effect if he decides to play for the Generals (rather than sign a professional hockey contract). Aston (6Â'1Â",205) registered 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) 65 games for the Peterborough Petes and the Spitfires in 2005-06. This trade is a very good one for Oshawa, in that, if Aston does not sign a professional contract, the team gets an excellent experienced offensive defenseman to anchor their blueline and help the team next year, in exchange for a pick that is 2 years off. If Aston moves to the pros, Oshawa loses nothing. With a young excellent defensive corps, Windsor can afford to lose Aston, so this is a good deal for them too.
Saginaw and Windsor completed a trade yesterday sending Ryan Garlock and Mitch Maunu (and Sudbury's 2nd round pick in the 2007 priority draft) to the Spirit in exchange for forward Anthony Soboczynski and Saginaw's 15th round pick in 2007. The deal is conditioned upon both Garlock and Maunu, who are unsigned 2004 draft picks of the Chicago Blackhawks, each playing an overage year with the Spirit.
Twenty-year old Garlock is center, who began his OHL career with the Guelph Storm in 2002. Traded to the Spitfires in 2003-04, Garlock (6'0", 200) completed the 2005-2006 regular season with 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 62 games, while maintaining a plus/minus of +6. Defenseman Maunu (6'2", 210) played in Windsor for 4 seasons. In 2005-06, the 19-year old Thunder Bay, ON native tallied 36 points (9 goals, 27 assists) in 58 games, while maintaining a plus/minus of +24. Soboczynski is a 16-year old winger who spent his rookie year with Saginaw in 2005-06, garnering 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 44 games. The 6'1", 181 lb forward was the Spirit's second round 2005 priority draft selection. Saginaw is obviously trading a young rather undeveloped player with a high-upside for one year of high level play from 2 overage players. For Saginaw, which is looking to win next year, this is a good deal. For Windsor, it is an even better deal; the team must be overjoyed at the opportunity to get a player with such high potential.
In a trade that involved strictly draft picks, the Greyhounds traded their 2006 first round import draft pick to Kitchener in exchange for the London Knights' fourth round 2007 priority draft selection.
The final league-approved trade was between Owen Sound and Sault Ste. Marie, in which the Attack exchanged the rights to winger Payton Liske for the return of Owen Sound's third round 2008 priority draft selection. The 17-year old Liske (6'5", 206) was Owen Sound's first round (12th overall) priority draft selection in 2004. He just completed his second OHL season with the Attack, tallying 10 points in 58 games, and 44 PIM. Liske's -14 plus/minus and his inability to win a fight may have a great deal to do with why he was traded. Hopefully, he will improve his defensive play with the Greyhounds next season. Liske clearly did not fit into Owen Sound's future plans, as he had no real role with the team. A change will be good for Liske, and the Greyhounds may be able to turn him into a valuable player, so this may wind up being a good deal for both teams.
The Windsor Spitfires also announced that it traded the rights to Robert Bortuzzo to Kitchener for a conditional 2nd Round pick in 2007, however, that trade has not as yet been approved by the OHL.
In other news, eight CHLers signed NHL contracts yesterday (the last day for North American 2004 draft picks to come to terms with NHL teams). Four players from the WHL, 3 from the OHL and one from the QMJHL all inked deals.
Red Deer's Kris Versteeg signed a 3-year deal with the Boston Bruins yesterday. The 20-year old winger was Boston’s 5th round (134th overall) selection in the 2004 NHL entry draft. The 5’10”, 173 lb. native of Lethbridge, Alberta played for both the Kamloops Blazers and Red Deer Rebels in 2005-06. He produced 48 points in 71 games for the 2 teams. Versteeg signed with an amateur try-out agreement with the AHL Providence Bruins at the conclusion of his junior 2005-06 season and played 13 regular season and 3 playoff games with the Bruins. He tallied 2 goals and 4 assists, with 13 PIM in the regular AHL season.
Aki Seitsonen, the Calgary Flames' fourth round (118 overall) 2004 draft selection, was also signed to a 3-year contract. The 6'2", 190, center, has played for the WHL Prince Albert Raiders fro his entire 3 year WHL career. During the 2005-06 season, Seitsonen posted 35 points on 20 goals and 15 assists in 66 games. Seitsonen also made his professional debut this past season, appearing in seven games with the Flames AHL affiliate, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.
Dan LaCosta, the OHL Barrie Colts star goaltender, signed a 3-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. One of 3 CHL prospects to sign with the NHL club yesterday, LaCosta, a third round selection (93 overall) in 2004, posted a 36-17-1 record with a 2.55 GAA, .915 save percentage and six shutouts in 59 2005-06 regular season games. The 6'1", 186 20-year old netminder ranked among the top five in the OHL in wins, GAA, save percentage and shutouts. LaCosta also performed well in the playoffs, registering a 5-2-3 record with a 3.12 GAA and .896 save percentage.
Czech-born Petr Pohl, Columbus' fifth round (133 overall) 2004 pick, also signed an NHL contract with the team yesterday. The 19-year old , a winger for the QMJHL's Acadie Bathurst Titans in 2005-06, registered 27 goals and 43 assists with 44 PIM and a +12 plus/minus rating in 62 regular season games. Pohl also played in 17 post-season games and tallied 16 points and 12 PIM.
The last player that the Blue Jackets signed yesterday was the team's second round pick (59 overall) in the same year, Kyle Wharton. The 20-year old winger spent the 2005-06 season with both the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Guelph Storm of the OHL. Wharton (6'3", 190), 38 points in 58 games during the regular 2005-06 season. He also accumulated 96 PIM and a +5 plus/minus rating during that time. Wharton then added 4 goals and 8 assists in 15 playoff games.
The Los Angeles Kings signed 2 of their 2004 draft selections to entry level contracts yesterday. Twenty-year old Ned Lukacevic was a winger for the WHL's Swift Current Bronco's in the 2005-06 season, after playing in Spokane for 3 years. In 63 regular season games this past season, Lukacevic recorded 53 points (25 goals, 28 assists) and accumulated 71 PIM. In addition, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound native of Podgorica, Serbia, also appeared in four post-season games with the Broncos and seven post-season games with the AHL Manchester Monarchs, where he registered 1 goal and 4 PIM). Lukacevic was selected by the Kings in the fourth-round (110th overall) in the 2004 NHL entry draft.
Goaltender Danny Taylor, 20, was the Kings seventh round (221 overall) draft pick in the same draft. He played for the Kingston Frontenacs this past season, where he posted a 32-15-6 record, with three shutouts, a 3.11 GAA, and a .911 save percentage in 57 appearances. In addition, the 5'11", 186-pound native of Plymouth, England, compiled a record of 2-3, with one shutout, a 2.80 GAA and a save percentage of .918 in five post-season appearances with the Frontenacs.
Finally, the Phoenix Coyotes signed the WHL Tri-City Americans' defenseman Logan Stephenson to a 3-year entry contract yesterday. Phoenix's second round (35 overall) draft pick in 2004, the 20-year old Stephenson (6'3", 190) registered 53 points and 162 PIM in 71 games with Tri-City this past season and was named to the WHL Second All-Star Team. Among all defensemen in the WHL, he ranked tied for 3rd in assists, tied for 5th in points, 5th in PIM and tied for 11th in goals.
In addition to yesterday's signings, the Colorado Avalanche acquired the rights to Brampton Battalion defenseman Michael Vernace from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a conditional draft choice. The 20-year old, 6-2, 200-pound native of Toronto, Ontario was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 2004 Entry Draft and has played with the Battalion for 3 seasons. In 2005-06, Vernace registered 72 points (10 goals, 62 assists) in 68 games.
The latest installment from Broncountry courtesy TGH:
Power and Speed
Hornets hope to run through the Bronco defense By: Rocketman5000
BroncoCountry Senior Editor
Date: Aug 19, 2006
The returning running backs for Sacramento State give Coach Steve Mooshagian plenty of talent and experience. That is if their starter is recovered from shoulder surgery.
While the man operating the Sacramento State offense is new, the Hornets' best chance for success, at least initially, lies in their running game. Four running backs could return at the position, giving Coach Steve Mooshagian plenty of options and experience.
Junior Ryan Mole (5-10, 195) has gained 1,626 yards on the ground in his career to rank sixth all-time at Sacramento State. Mole joins former All-American Charles Roberts and Rob Harison as the only three Hornet players to record multi 200-yard games. He was injured for more than half of the Big Sky season last year, but was still third in the Big Sky with 827 yards (4.5 average) and scored two touchdowns. Mole was named second team all-Big Sky for the second consecutive season. He's a power back that plays off his blocks very well and also has deceptive speed. Mole also caught 17 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown last year for the Hornets.
In 2004, Mole was named co-Big Sky Newcomer of the Year and honorable mention all-Big Sky after rushing for 858 yards. He was also named as a I-AA honorable mention Freshman All-American.
He was originally recruited by San Jose State but chose to go to Sacramento instead.
The Santa Maria, California product had shoulder surgery and missed spring ball. If he is not ready, coaches may let him redshirt in 2006. This would be a huge blow not only to him but also to the Sacramento State offense.
Senior Kris Daniels (5-7, 175) is capable of stepping into the lineup; he did that last year when Mole went out and responded with 356 yards (3.8 average) and found the end zone four times. While Mole will try to run through blocks, Daniels is more shifty and elusive. Daniels rushed for 132 yards against the stout Montana State defense. So Boise State defensive line coach Pete Kwiatkowski has seen Daniels having served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Bobcats prior to coming to Boise. Daniels will also be the Hornets' top kickoff returner.
Daniels rushed for 115 yards against Cal Poly in 2004 in essentially his only action of the season. He also ran for 100 yards on 23 carries his freshman season. Daniels has always possessed a nose for the end zone; he scored 29 touchdowns as a senior at South San Francisco High School.
Sophomore Torrell Baker (5-9, 175) is a converted receiver who coaches want to get on the field. He caught 11 passes for 109 yards and a TD last season. Baker was a running back in high school, rushing for 1,153 yards and scoring 22 touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman Dalen Mason (5-9, 190) was Sacramento State's offensive scout team player of the year last year, and he could be a factor, especially if Mole cannot return this year.
After featuring a one-back offense, Mooshagian will utilize a fullback this season. Junior John Alanis (6-0, 225) and freshman Blake Milton (5-10, 225) were on the roster in the spring and have a head start to earn that starting role.
Alanis was a teammate of quarterback Tim Brockwell at Glendale Community College, which won the NJCAA National Championship last fall. He caught 30 passes for 351 yards and a TD playing fullback for an 11-0 team.
Three transfers could win the spot as well. Junior Ryan Hastie (6-0, 240) comes to Sacramento State from the University of Oregon, Seth McDaniels (6-0, 230, So.) is a transfer from Fresno State and Rainbow Mauga (5-8, 220, Sr.) is a JC transfer from Grossmont. Mooshagian wants his fullback to be versatile, occasionally lining him up as a receiver. This may tend to favor Alanis but like the starter at quarterback, a decision on the fullback may not be made until the final week.
With a new starting quarterback, Mooshagian's hand may be forced to try to run the ball on the Broncos, something that fellow Big Sky member Portland State did very well last year. With a big offensive line and the talent in the unit, this could be a good test for the Bronco defensive line.
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