Hi this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “, brought to you by Auto Logic…..the Logical Choice !
So I’m watching North Bay & Barrie the other night, and it strikes me as funny that North Bay got almost of their goals from players who were acquired in deals.
Just for a laugh, I checked the 2011 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection and found that the 6 teams still alive in the post season have 8 first rounders from that draft.
Barrie is the rarity without a 2011 pick, as their pick, Aaron Ekblad, taken 1st overall, is in the NHL
The Soo Greyhounds seemingly hit the jackpot, with the # 2 selection Nick Ritchie acquired from Peterborough, & the # 3 pick, Darnell Nurse.
Interestingly, at one point Sault Ste Marie also had Mitchell Dempsey who was the Whalers’ first choice
North Bay has Ryan Kujawinski , originally drafted by Sarnia, plus Nick Moutrey dispatched from Saginaw.
The Battalion first rounder that year was Brandon Robinson, dealt eventually to Kitchener.
The Erie Otters don’t have their first pick, Stephen Harper who was taken 12th, but they do have Sudbury’s top 2011, Nicholas Baptiste.
Adam Batemen never saw the light of day with the Niagara IceDogs, dealt to Windsor and in a fitting twist, the Dogs have Windsor’s first pick from 2011; Jordan Maletta.
Finally, the Oshawa Generals have a double dip of first rounders from 2011, their own choice, Cole Cassels plus Brent Pedersen acquired from Kitchener.
For the record, Owen Sound’s first pick that year was Zach Nastasiuk, 20th overall, one of just 5 picks from the 2011 Priority Selection to play a full 4 year term with the team that drafted them.
I’m Fred Wallace