With the OHL trade deadline just days away, it will be interesting to see what teams will be in the mix in the final few days. One team recently made news with a blockbuster deal. The Sarnia Sting acquired Flyers’ prospect forward Travis Konecny along with centre Sam Studnicka from the Ottawa 67’s. In exchange, the 67’s will receive center Sasha Chmelevski, winger Chase Campbell and a total of eight draft picks, and the chance for two more. The two conditional draft picks will only be received if Konecny returns to the OHL next season. At just 18 years old, the chances are quite high of Konecny returning to the Ontario Hockey League for another season. He is not eligible to play in the AHL. It will be a decision of either NHL or OHL for Konecny in September 2016.
#TradeAlert | Sting acquire Konecny & Studnicka from @Ottawa67sHockey Read: https://t.co/p3F7sAqEub pic.twitter.com/2zaZUenGnL
— Sarnia Sting (@StingHockey) January 7, 2016
Travis Konecny was drafted first overall by the 67’s in the 2013 OHL draft. During his career he scored 52 goals and recorded a total of 183 points in just 152 games. Konecny was then selected 24th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Konecny played in two preseason games for the Flyers before being sent by to his now former team, the 67’s.
Sting general manager Nick Sinclair was quoted as saying “Travis’ combination of leadership, skill and character make him a player that every coach wants in his lineup, and every fan wants on their team. He’s a guy who plays with high intensity and has the ability to be a game changer every night.” [Nick Sinclair]
Konecny joins a group of talented Sting players that include Matt Mistele (2014 6th round pick by Los Angeles), Pavel Zacha (2015 1st round pick by New Jersey), Jordan Kyrou (undrafted), Nikita Korostelev (2015 7th round pick by Toronto) and Jakob Chychrun (undrafted).
The Sarnia Sting find themselves in second place in the West Divsion of the Western Conference. Their record currently sits at 19-11-4-1, 8 points back of division leader Windsor Spitfires, but with three games in hand. The Sting are coming off a tough 5-4 loss to the London Knights. The addition of Konecny and Studnicka provide a big shot in the arm for the Sting as they look to push towards finishing atop the West Division standings. Even more so, towards a Memorial Cup Championship.
