With the OHL trade deadline approaching there have been tons of speculation and trade rumours around the league. Teams with little to no playoff chances are looking to focus on the future and sell some of their older star players to begin rebuilding for next season. One team that will surely have no limit of trade interest will be the Sarnia Sting.
The Sting currently sit last in the Western Conference West Division with 34 points this season. They currently have the fourth lowest amount of points in the entire league and have limited chances of making the postseason this year. While their chances of a postseason berth may be slim, they have all the tools they need to focus on in the future.
The Sting have some young players on their team that they are likely not willing to part ways with such as goaltender Benjamin Gaudreau who was selected 10th overall in 2019. The Sting may have some solid young pieces, but it would be wise to start adding some high picks and top prospects in exchange for some of their older players. The biggest names that Sarnia has to offer would likely be Ryan McGregor, Sean Josling and Ryan Roth, a recent acquisition.
Jamieson Rees and Jacob Perreault are also two big names that one may expect to be on the trade block, however, will still be in the OHL for at least another year. As for Perreault, 17, the centreman is in his draft-eligible season and will still likely be in the OHL for at least another two seasons. Both players still have time to contribute to the Sting in big roles in Sarnia and as such, the Sting would likely not be as inclined to trade them as they would be to some other players.
Ryan McGregor is the first big name that the Sting may be getting some calls for. McGregor has enjoyed a great season so far with 44 points in 29 games. The Sting captain is playing his last year of junior hockey in the OHL and as a result, the Sting may be willing to trade him for assets to help for the future. McGregor will not be able to help the team make it back to the playoffs in the years to come.
McGregor would be a big addition to multiple clubs in need of another top-six forward. He brings leadership to the locker room as well having served as the Sting’s captain for the past two seasons. Previously, he wore the “A” for the Sarnia Sting before being named captain. McGregor has also been quite a consistent performer in in the OHL playoffs.
Over the course of 27 career playoff games, Jason McGregor, a Burlington native, has racked up a total of 15 points. His best playoff performance came during the 2017-2018 postseason in which the former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick recorded 10 points in 12 postseason games played.
Sean Josling is perhaps the biggest name that the Sarnia Sting could be looking to trade. Josling, a native of Toronto, has been one of the OHL’s top players all season. He is in the midst of a career year with a vast improvement over his previous career-high of 52 points already this season.
Josling has recorded 59 points in 39 games played which is good for fifth place in OHL scoring. He would also likely be a big performer in the OHL playoffs as the last time he made it to the postseason was back in 2017-2018. Josling, 20-years-old, recorded 14 points in 12 postseason games played.
To acquire Josling, given his season, it would likely cost a lot for any contending team considering his offensive production. Josling could very well be the biggest name on the OHL’s trade market in terms of rental players and as a result, the Sting would be looking to bring in a big haul. To acquire Josling would likely cost multiple draft picks as well as a prospect.
Ryan Roth is the last big name that the Sarnia Sting should consider trading. Roth was acquired from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds earlier this season and has been great for the Sting since arriving in Sarnia. Roth has been producing at over a PPG pace by recording 40 points for the Sting through a total of 34 games played this season.
Before joining the Sarnia Sting, Roth had recorded six points in six games played with Sault Ste. Marie. Roth, 19-years-old, would be a solid pickup for any contending team as he may very well be in the OHL again next season as a more overage. Due to his eligibility to play in the OHL again next season, Roth would be a great addition to a contender, but would also likely have a slightly higher price tag attached to him.
While players like Jacob Perreault and Jamieson Rees would bring in quite the hull from interested teams, it would be smarter for the Sarnia Sting to hold onto them both until later. Both players are still young and have been key players for the Sting during their tenures with the team. Perreault and Rees will each likely be spending a couple more seasons in the OHL and both will be key players for the team, especially as the team looks to rebound from a poor season. Perreault is only in his draft season this year and if he can continue to play at the pace that he has been, he could rise to one of the top scorers in the OHL in the next couple of seasons.
The Sting have plenty of big names that could very well be on the trade block. After a down year like they have had with the OHL playoffs looking more and more unlikely, Sarnia would be wise to trade their big names that will not be returning next year now to help build for the future.