Tampa Bay Lightning prospects Declan McDonnell and Jack Thompson are on the move after being traded to new OHL teams ahead of today’s OHL trade deadline.
As per usual in the Canadian junior leagues each season, teams that are outside of playoff contention, or looking like longshots for a deep playoff run, ahead of the trade deadline look to send their best 19-year-old players in their final season of junior hockey eligibility to the highest bidder for assets to rebuild.
Forward prospect Declan McDonnell was traded from the Kitchener Rangers (6th in Western Conference) to the Barrie Colts (5th in Eastern Conference).
We have acquired @TBLightning prospect Declan McDonnell from the @OHLRangers
— Barrie Colts (@OHLBarrieColts) January 9, 2022
🗞 https://t.co/Y1im3OknkV
Welcome to Barrie, Declan!#BackInTheSaddle pic.twitter.com/3bNvp5jf2W
On Kitchener, McDonnell had been teammates with newly signed Lightning defense prospect Roman Schmidt.
McDonnell suited up for his new team last night and scored a goal on debut.
Not bad for his @OHLBarrieColts debut 😏@TBLightning prospect and recently-acquired Declan McDonnell (@decmac25_) scores in his first game as a Colt, as Barrie takes the two points on the road in Owen Sound 📽️ pic.twitter.com/6Rknn1zFZY
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 9, 2022
Defense prospect Jack Thompson moved from the Sudbury Wolves (10th Eastern Conference) to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (2nd Western Conference).
🚨 TRADE ALERT! - 'Hounds acquire Jack Thompson from Sudbury'
— Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) January 10, 2022
Full story at ➡️https://t.co/UXr4319mP4 pic.twitter.com/rUpSLqV5FQ
Thompson was one of the last big dominoes to fall in the OHL trade market as he played his final game with Sudbury last night with the uncertainty of if he would still be on the team today. He would go on to score in his final game.
🚨🚨 22 Jack Thompson scores his 8th goal of the season!🔥 @jackthompson_22 @TBLightning pic.twitter.com/L10wwtqybs
— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) January 10, 2022
Thompson had been one of the few bright spots on the league-worst Sudbury Wolves this season. And thus was one of the hotter commodities on the OHL trade market as his offensive exploits and solid defending caught the attention of teams looking to reinforce their defense.
Some rumors indicated that Sudbury was holding out for a blockbuster-type package in return for Thompson, but a deal with the Greyhounds was eventually done before the deadline.
Thompson leaves Sudbury as their season scoring leader and one of only four players on the team with a positive +/-.
Jack Finley was traded within the WHL
The OHL is not the only CHL junior league with a deadline approaching as the WHL has their trade deadline on the 17th.
Forward prospect Jack Finley was traded early in December from the Spokane Chiefs (9th Western Conference) to the Winnipeg ICE (1st Eastern Conference).
TRADE: The @WHLWpgICE and @spokanechiefs have completed a multi-player deal that sees @TBLightning prospect Jack Finley move East to Manitoba.
— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 6, 2021
📰 | https://t.co/A4khHe7kE4 pic.twitter.com/YpdYEzo6Fv
Finley finds himself well positioned for a postseason run as he looks to have landed on the best team out of the three Lightning prospects traded. Winnipeg has been a juggernaut in the WHL this season as they are currently first overall in the WHL and have outscored opponents more than 2:1. A potential showdown with the Everett Silvertips (1st Eastern Conference) – team of Lightning forward prospect Niko Huuhtanen – could be on the horizon for the WHL playoffs.
We will check back in on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s CHL prospects ahead of their respective playoffs.