If you don’t take chances you don’t win championships. Plain and simple. Kingston in same situation. Not ideal but you try and make the best of a bad situation. Both Kingston and Sudbury who loaded up may not make it on to round 2.
Next year if/when they trade Walton, Villeneuve and/or Mews they’ll be stocked with picks and young players and have a bright future and without a doubt be in the right direction for the next few years. If this is the direction they go I predict with the NCAA rumours the first one to go is Mews in the off season probably for a lot of picks.
If they don’t make trades then they'll be mediocre at best not only this year and next but for years to come. Won’t be better than Niagara for sure, Brampton should still be decent if they get martone back(Ivankovic will carry team I’m sure) north bay will take a leap as will Peterborough, Brantford will be good still, Barrie has some good parts to still stay competitive etc. all next year of course
Sudbury Wolves @ OHL - 2024‑2025 Stats
the 19 year olds are the ones that could be leading your team next year. Obvious with Musty he will be gone. Pharand not so sure- maybe 50/50. Lose him though and the OA quality really dips down.
Potential 3 OA’s:
Coughlan, Krawchuck, Giantomasso/Ewles/Roberts/Ziliotto?? I’m sure Molnar won’t be back as an OA/Import
Nowhere near as good as this year with McCoy, Delic and DeAngelis