Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Top Prospects Game

The CHL has announced that the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be hosted by the Oshawa Generals. This isn't a surprise with their star John Tavares is a strong candidate to go first overall in the 2009 NHL Draft.

The biggest question heading to this event is will Tavares be in a Oshawa sweater on January 14th? There are rumors out there that he's on the trade market. The London Knights and the Windsor Spitfires are the teams that could make a strong offer for Tavares.

People are dreaming up a team with Taylor Hall, Jason Bailey if he doesn't stick with the New York Islanders, Greg Nemisz, Dale Mitchell, Austin Watson, Andrei Loktionov, and John Tavares. Or a roster of Nazem Kadri, Jared Knight, Sergei Korostin, Philip McRae, Phil Varone, Christian Thomas, Akim Aliu, and John Tavares.

I think how will both teams be able to keep all that talent to acquire the best player in the league? Wouldn't the Oshawa Generals want some of that talent in return? Pretending to be the general manager isn't my thing but if I was the Oshawa's GM I would start with either Jared Knight or Austin Watson to start. Both London and Windsor are going for it this season, it would make sense that they would give up a young kid. It all depends what Oshawa wants in return. Then draft picks would be added including a 1st round Import and maybe another roster player or two.

My money would be on Windsor to pull a steal for Tavares. They have two trade assets that aren't on the roster. They drafted Cam Fowler in the first round of the Priority Draft last May. He's with the USA Under-18 team and in scheduled to play for Notre Dame next year. They also drafted Richard Panik in the Import Selection. He could be a Top Ten pick in 2009. Unless Oshawa gets confirmation that either Fowler or Panik is willing to come to the Ontario Hockey League, this deal doesn't go down. Or they could be an inclusion in a deal that has roster players Windsor would be charged with highway robbery.

At the sametime I would never say the Hunters are out of the race either. They could add Chasen Balisy or Adam Clendening to a deal. They are more likely to play in the OHL.

It should be interesting the next few months following John Taveres.

New Poll

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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