Yesterday, the London Knights acquired sophomore forward Max Crete in exchange for the rights to Jacob Monks and a 2028 ninth-round selection. This is the third trade made by the IceDogs since hiring new GM Frank Evola. 

Niagara selected the Ottawa native in the second round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. In 68 games last season, he scored 11 goals and tallied eight assists for a total of 19 points. At 5-foot-9, Crete is an undersized forward who displays a high ceiling when it comes to his raw skills. 

In return, London pays a relatively low price in exchange for Crete. The ninth-round pick is largely inconsequential, as it is a mid-draft pick in a draft that is three years away. Monks is a 2008-born forward who played for Little Caesars 16U last year. In 61 games, he scored 39 goals and 38 assists for a total of 77 points. Monks played call-up games for the USNDTP and the Fargo Force in the USHL. 

The value of this trade for Niagara may lay in their ability to convince Monks to join the OHL. Whether this is achievable is another question. 

This trade is a low-stakes gamble for London, which will be retooling this Summer. The group that won the Memorial Cup is likely to break up almost entirely. They, therefore, are in need of players to fill gaps. London is also unafraid of taking small, skilled players that they can turn into high-caliber OHL players. 

If Crete gets a bit more time, and can improve on his production from last year, this trade could turn out great for Crete and London. If it doesn't London has played a very low price in the long run.