OHL Trade Thread 2024-25

[donjohnson]

I would be willing to wager my game used autographed Beckett Sennecke jersey that there’s ZERO chance of Saginaw trading Misa this year. None whatsoever.

Misa will be a top five pick - - likely a top three pick - - in the upcoming NHL draft.

I’m surprised that people here don’t seem to comprehend the financial significance this has for CHL teams. Especially for teams like Saginaw with low gate receipts because of their low attendance numbers.

The time to trade Misa would be next year as a 19yr old as he’ll almost assuredly be returning after his NHL training camp ends.

People in Saginaw understand the significance which is why I said we want him to be drafted as a member of the Spirit. We already market the heck out of him here so it's hard to do more but hearing his name called as potentially the highest draft pick ever (after Zayne last year) will be special for us.

With regard to attendance, we're actually pretty consistent...with a stacked team last year we were around 3650 and in a low year we're down around 3250. We also now have a bunch of suites that were created for the Memorial Cup that offset or increase the fluctuations in attendance. We're never going to get 5000 per game...we'll sell out a handful of games per year and we'll have 1500 for weekday games. A year by year average of 3500 per game is just about right for our market and size. We also battle against all levels of football for the first half of the year...people have their priorities.

 

[OMG67]

I would be willing to wager my game used autographed Beckett Sennecke jersey that there’s ZERO chance of Saginaw trading Misa this year. None whatsoever.

Misa will be a top five pick - - likely a top three pick - - in the upcoming NHL draft.

I’m surprised that people here don’t seem to comprehend the financial significance this has for CHL teams. Especially for teams like Saginaw with low gate receipts because of their low attendance numbers.

The time to trade Misa would be next year as a 19yr old as he’ll almost assuredly be returning after his NHL training camp ends.

If you were willing to bet on Misa returning to the OHL, I would take that bet. I think it is 50-50 at best that he returns. He is almost certainly a top-5 pick and probably top-3. Depending on the team that drafts him, he could stick next year. He is at 2.00 points per game right now and doing it as a centre. I’m not sure sending him back for a fourth year is what most NHL teams would do. He has decent enough size to play there.

IMO, the time to trade him is this year. Saginaw has F-All for draft picks. They can’t make a push this year. They can trade Parekh next year, no problem. So they will get a good package for him but I am not nearly as certain Misa will be back considering the pace he is on now. If he can pack on 10lbs next summer and get up to 195-200 at 6’1”? It will be tough to send him back after scoring in the neighbourhood of 120 points with 50ish goals and starring for Team Canada at the World Juniors. I’d almost send him to Europe before playing in the OHL.

I don’t think Saginaw will trade him because I don’t think they care if he returns next year. But, I really doubt he is back in the OHL.

 

[Kingpin794]

If you were willing to bet on Misa returning to the OHL, I would take that bet. I think it is 50-50 at best that he returns. He is almost certainly a top-5 pick and probably top-3. Depending on the team that drafts him, he could stick next year. He is at 2.00 points per game right now and doing it as a centre. I’m not sure sending him back for a fourth year is what most NHL teams would do. He has decent enough size to play there.

IMO, the time to trade him is this year. Saginaw has F-All for draft picks. They can’t make a push this year. They can trade Parekh next year, no problem. So they will get a good package for him but I am not nearly as certain Misa will be back considering the pace he is on now. If he can pack on 10lbs next summer and get up to 195-200 at 6’1”? It will be tough to send him back after scoring in the neighbourhood of 120 points with 50ish goals and starring for Team Canada at the World Juniors. I’d almost send him to Europe before playing in the OHL.

I don’t think Saginaw will trade him because I don’t think they care if he returns next year. But, I really doubt he is back in the OHL.

I'm not so worried about the draft pick part. Parekh, Epperson, big body like Bishop. Plenty of guys that can get moved next year. Plus with the new rules, there's quite a few Americans in our system that either come off the NTDP or will be 17 and ready to take roster spots. A hand full of guys waiting in junior B too. We'll fill out a team and restock. If we're in good shape, we'll use what we have left to try one last time with this group.

 

[OMG67]

I'm not so worried about the draft pick part. Parekh, Epperson, big body like Bishop. Plenty of guys that can get moved next year. Plus with the new rules, there's quite a few Americans in our system that either come off the NTDP or will be 17 and ready to take roster spots. A hand full of guys waiting in junior B too. We'll fill out a team and restock. If we're in good shape, we'll use what we have left to try one last time with this group.

I think it is disingenuous to think the Spirit have assets to make a major push. You have Zhilkin and a couple picks. As of right now, the honest assessment is Saginaw is as likley to lose int he 1st round as they are to win in the first round and that is even if they add a major piece moving Zhilkin. Not moving Zhilkin likley means the best Saginaw can do is add a quality depth piece or two basically supporting the players you have now.

I don’t have an issue with the strategy to remain status quo, get Misa to the draft and use that as a celebration and a hard stamp on this last cycle. It would be great and I agree for sure. But, throwing future assets at this team is unlikely IMO. I think the most likley strategy will be status quo. Too many teams out there looking to make moves I think. The competition for the handful of good players that may be available will be heavy. I don’t think Saginaw can truly wade into that pool without Zhilkin and I don’t think that would be a sound strategy.

 

[EvenSteven]

According to the OHL draft pick database which goes back to the 15-16 season, except for the Covid year, every year there has been a flurry of deals in the month of November. League wide. Many of the blockbuster variety.

This year? One deal on November 1st. (Molnar to Sudbury).

That’s the CHL / NCAA rule change effect. Everyone is waiting to see….