There was no doubt in the minds of anyone that covers the Ontario Hockey League that the Kingston Frontenacs would be near the cellar in the standings this season. With that distinction in Canadian Major Junior Hockey typically comes the task of selling off your assets in order to bring in prospects and draft picks to help in the rebuilding. It’s a process most CHL teams go through every few years.
Boston Bruins’ prospect Ryan Spooner is Kingston’s prized asset. Almost everyone believed prior to the season that it wasn’t a question of if Spooner got traded but when. The London Knights are the team most rumoured to be interested in Spooner’s services. That’s a deal that many would love - Spooner would join his friend and fellow Bruins’ prospect Jared Knight on a team that sits atop the OHL standings and is the top ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League.
But Spooner's hometown Ottawa 67’s are said to also have interest. Rumours are rampant that the 67’s have a solid offer on the table or are about to make one for Spooner’s services. It’s believed that the 67’s have offered a prospect plus an assortment of draft picks. The Knights however, can’t match the picks that the 67’s have since they’ve already sent their 2 second round picks in 2012 to Kingston in the Max Domi trade.
A team that could be an underdog is the Kitchener Rangers. They have a lot of young talent and GM/Coach Steve Spott isn’t one to sit pat. But Spott would have to believe he has a chance of going deep into the playoffs with Spooner before he pulls the trigger, but it’s not likely to happen.
For Bruins fans that are salivating at the thought of their two prized assets playing together, what will it take? Again, just rumours, but it’s said that the Frontenacs would want Knights prospect Bo Horvat and picks in return. But it’s hard to imagine that the Knights would part with Horvat for less than a season of Spooner. It’s possible that one of the Rupert twins could be part of the deal. But the lack of high end draft picks for the Knights would mean that they would have to include a player that is already OHL established and the Frontenacs could get two more seasons from. And that could be Seth Griffith who is lighting it up this year for the Knights.
As for Spooner, he’s biding his time in Kingston. While his statistics have taken a dive, his work ethic and defensive play has been better than ever. So much so that the brass putting together the OHL squad for the 2012 Subway Super Series versus the Russians, have named Spooner to the squad, one of only 13 players to play in both games against the Russians.
Fans shouldn’t be disappointed in his production to date. He is playing on an inexperienced squad while at the same time learning other aspects of the game and becoming a leader and a teacher for the younger kids. For Spooner, the points will come once he plays with more experienced players. There is just too much talent there for it not to happen.
Original Story:
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October 29, 2011
