Within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), profitable a Memorial Cup typically means coping with the stress of a rebuild shortly after. When the Windsor Spitfires received their 2017 title, everybody knew that large offers had been on the horizon, together with one which shook up the group at the beginning of the brand new 12 months.
Then-general supervisor Warren Rychel wasn’t one to draw back from making the daring transfer. Whether or not it was making a run or tearing all of it down, he jumped in head first and didn’t look again. One in every of his largest offers got here on New 12 months’s Day 2018 when he despatched two stars to the Kingston Frontenacs in a multi-piece deal. In complete, practically a dozen items modified groups. A lot of these belongings continued to assist the group by this previous season they usually’re not carried out but. Let’s dissect this huge commerce.
The Commerce
Right here’s how the commerce broke down:
To Frontenacs:
To Spitfires:
- Ahead Cody Morgan
- Mississauga Steelheads’ second-round decide in 2020
- Frontenacs’ third-round decide in 2020
- Frontenacs’ second-round decide in 2022
- Frontenacs’ second-round decide in 2024
- Frontenacs’ second-round decide in 2025
- Frontenacs’ third-round decide in 2023 (conditional)
- Frontenacs’ second-round decide in 2027 (conditional)
- Frontenacs’ second-round decide in 2028 (conditional)
What the Frontenacs Acquired
With a lineup that included weapons like forwards Jason Roberston (Dallas Stars) and Lynus Nyman, plus goaltender Jeremy Helvig (Carolina Hurricanes), getting two elite abilities in Day and Vilardi appeared like a no brainer.
Whereas Vilardi had damage points previous to the commerce (sitting out the beginning of the season for the Spitfires), the Kings’ prospect wearing 32 video games for the Frontenacs within the 2017-18 common season with a powerful 22 targets and 58 factors. He additionally added one other 11 targets and 22 factors in 16 playoff video games. He was taking part in out his junior profession in his hometown and life on the ice was fairly strong. After the season ended, he made his approach to the professionals the place he has been ever since. That did have an effect on two of the picks above, which we’ll get to on the finish of this text.
Day gave the Frontenacs’ defence a lift with 25 assists in 23 video games, plus one other 14 factors in 16 playoff video games. Like Vilardi, the former Distinctive Standing participant moved on to the professionals following the season and is now within the Tampa Bay Lightning system.
Each membership is aware of that going for a run is a dangerous proposition. You’re sending out a number of belongings in hopes that the gamers you herald will assist you to to glory. Vilardi and Day got here as marketed and produced till the bitter finish, sadly shedding within the Japanese Convention Championship to the eventual OHL Champions, the Hamilton Bulldogs. It was the furthest the group had been since shedding to the Peterborough Petes in 5 video games within the Leyden Division Remaining in 1992-93.
What the Spitfires Acquired
Bear in mind after we talked about that Rychel wasn’t one to draw back from making a deal? A lot of the items he received on this commerce wound up in another person’s arms. Let’s undergo them…
Ahead Cody Morgan
The thought was easy sufficient. Morgan was the Frontenacs’ first-round decide in 2017 (twelfth total) and was speculated to be the alternative for Vilardi. Nonetheless, it didn’t work out like that.
Whereas the 5-foot-11, 185-pound middle had 14 factors in 32 video games for the Spitfires following the commerce, there was one thing lacking. He may rating and create however it by no means felt like he was totally concerned. After simply 9 factors in 33 video games in 2018-19, Rychel shipped him off to the Flint Firebirds for his or her second-round decide in 2020 and a fourth-round decide in 2021. Morgan went on to blossom, scoring 159 factors in 161 video games for the Firebirds and London Knights.
The Spitfires saved the second-round decide and took defenceman Nick DeAngelis, who’s now 19 and flourishing on their blueline. The fourth-round decide was ahead Christopher O’Flaherty, who went to the Niagara IceDogs in a January 2023 deadline bundle deal that noticed ahead Aidan Citadel and defenceman Rodwin Dionicio head to the Spitfires.
It’s unlucky that Morgan didn’t work out just like the Spitfires had envisioned however DeAngelis, Citadel, and Dionicio are large items to their present roster.
Frontenacs’ Third-Spherical Choose in 2020
This was a reasonably cut-and-dry situation. Rychel used it as a part of a bundle deal to get rookie ahead Will Cuylle, who didn’t report back to the Peterborough Petes previous to 2019-20. If an OHL first-round decide refuses to report back to a group as soon as coaching camp opens, he’s thought of “defected” and could be traded for draft picks. That’s what occurred right here.
Cuylle finally grew to become a dynamic energy ahead for the Spitfires in 2021-22, scoring 43 targets and 80 factors in 59 video games. He was additionally named captain and led the membership to the OHL Championship, shedding in Sport 7 to the Bulldogs. The Rangers’ prospect has since moved on to their system and noticed motion with the massive membership in 2022-23.
It took loads to get Cuylle however the Frontenacs’ decide definitely helped push the deal forward. It was an excellent transfer by Rychel.
Frontenacs’ Second-Spherical Choose in 2022
Rychel used this decide as a part of a seemingly smaller deal to get hometown ahead Matthew Maggio from the Ottawa 67’s in June 2019. It additionally grew to become one of many slicker strikes on his resume.
Associated: OHL: Spitfires’ Captain, Isles’ Prospect Maggio Joins 50-Purpose Membership
Maggio began his Spitfires’ profession with 14 factors in 45 video games in 2019-20 however, after taking part in in Sweden throughout COVID-19, got here again able to dominate. Everybody knew he had potential; he broke out with 38 targets and 85 factors in 66 video games in 2021-22 after which led the OHL with 54 targets and 111 factors in 66 video games in 2022-23. He was named captain final November and took them to the primary seed within the Western Convention. Sadly, they misplaced to the Kitchener Rangers within the first spherical, creating a troublesome finish to his junior profession.
Regardless of the disappointing finish, the New York Islanders’ prospect was precisely what the group wanted. He led on the ice, within the room, and locally, and picked up a number of main OHL awards alongside the way in which. The long run is shiny for this class act.
Frontenacs’ Second-Spherical Choose in 2024
This decide was traded to the 67’s in Dec. 2018 together with star goaltender Michael DiPietro. In return, the Spitfires acquired the rights to ahead Egor Afanasyev, plus a number of picks. Final December, we dissected that commerce because it was one of many greater ones on Rychel’s resume with two gamers and doubtlessly 9 picks concerned.
Newest Information & Highlights
Whereas many of the items have come and gone (similar to ahead Pasquale Zito and bought defenceman Andrew Perrott), the membership nonetheless (doubtlessly) owns two future picks — the Steelheads’ fourth-round decide in 2024 and the IceDogs’ fifth-round decide in 2025 — on account of subsequent offers. It’s the decide that retains on giving.
Frontenacs’ Second-Spherical Choose in 2025
Bowler traded this decide in January as a part of the deal to get Sudbury Wolves’ captain defenceman, Jacob Holmes. Whereas he wasn’t flashy, he added 12 factors in 35 video games, supplied strong defence, and caught up for his teammates.
Holmes is considered one of a number of Spitfires’ gamers who’re eligible to return for a ultimate OHL season in 2023-24. That shall be decided later this summer season.
Steelheads’ Second-Spherical Choose in 2020
Not solely did this decide get moved however it additionally created a major change in how the league offers with draft decide trades. In accordance with The Hamilton Spectator, when Rychel acquired ahead Adam Laishram from the Bulldogs on the January 2017 Commerce Deadline, he despatched out a conditional second-round decide in 2026. That was merely a placeholder, although. If Rychel was in a position to purchase an earlier second-rounder in one other deal, that might go to the Bulldogs, as a substitute. (from ‘The day an OHL group traded for 5-year-old’, The Hamilton Spectator, Jan. 3, 2018)
That brings us to this Vilardi deal and the Steelheads’ second-round decide. As quickly because the Spitfires received it, they handed it on to the Bulldogs, who promptly made it part of a deal for London Knights’ star ahead Robert Thomas.
It ought to be famous that the OHL modified the principles relating to buying and selling draft picks throughout the next offseason. Now, groups can solely transfer picks as much as (and together with) 4 years into the longer term.
Frontenacs’ Third-Spherical Choose in 2023 (Conditional)
This decide was conditional on Vilardi taking part in one recreation for the Frontenacs, which he did. Nonetheless, the Spitfires traded it to the 67’s in November for ahead Thomas Johnston and the 67’s sixth-round decide in 2024.
The 5-foot-9, 161-pound Johnston was fast and had potential however solely managed 4 factors in 13 video games earlier than being launched. The 2024 decide was additionally moved as a part of the bundle to get Dionicio and Citadel.
Frontenacs’ Second-Spherical Picks in 2027 and 2028 (Conditional)
The situation on these picks was that Vilardi must be returned to the OHL in 2018-19. On the time of the deal, Rychel knew that it was an extended shot and that’s precisely the way it performed out. Vilardi made the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) and that’s the final we noticed of him within the OHL. The picks stayed with the Frontenacs the place they continue to be.
Verdict: Rychel with the W
When a group makes a major transfer like this, the hope is both for a championship run within the current or the longer term, relying on which aspect you’re on. The Frontenacs wished their title however, regardless of a profitable season, simply missed the mark. The Spitfires wished to construct for the longer term and, not directly, it has labored.
What swings this deal within the Spitfires’ favour is that, not solely did some items assist with their 2021-22 playoff run that resulted an OHL Championship look, however different items additionally received them present gamers and (doubtlessly) picks. It’s laborious to offer this something however a win for Rychel and the Spitifres.
