First notable trade of OHL Trade Deadline season is in the books; The Petes trade Ducks prospect Konnor Smith & Sam McCue to Owen Sound in exchange for rookie Nico Addy & Martin Matejicek.

Trade Deadline season is officially underway in the OHL. 

The Peterborough Petes have traded Konnor Smith & Sam McCue to Owen Sound in exchange for Nico Addy & Martin Matejicek and a 3rd round pick (2026).

As sellers at the trade deadline this year, the Petes have made their first major move — and they likely aren't done. They ship out 6-foot-6 physical, solid defender Konnor Smith, and draft eligible forward Sam McCue.

In return, the main piece is 2023 OHL first round pick Nico Addy from the Attack, who could use an early change of scenery and elevated ice time. They also get Czech import defender Martin Matejicek, who also could use a bigger role. 

With Konnor Smith, Owen Sound makes their team bigger and stronger — as if they weren't already. Smith will fit right into this team's system of being tough to play against and dominant physically. The Attack play a lot of "old-fashioned" style hockey, and Smith's lockdown, strong, defensive ability will fit right into that mould. 

Smith was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, as a late-2004 born player. 

The other pickup for the Attack is Sam McCue, who has had a mediocre draft eligible season. He's been playing low in the lineup, but will add some much-needed offensive depth to Owen Sound's roster. The Attack are very top heavy and lack offensive production from their bottom-six. McCue will help with that. 

As sellers, the Petes get a sizeable return in this transaction. 

First round selection in the 2023 OHL Draft — Nico Addy is a huge piece to add. Addy played for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in his draft season, and there weren't many other players like him at the U16 level. 

Addy is a 6-foot-4, power forward type player with a strong finishing ability. He has a strong shot and is able to finish in tight. He's been stuck in the Attack's bottom-six as well, but certainly has a bright future as a power forward in this league. Hopefully he can find his groove in Peterborough, and insulate some highly-skilled players there.

Import defender Martin Matejicek was the second player piece that the Petes acquired in this trade. He went undrafted in the NHL Draft, but will bring some strength and reliability to the Petes defence core. The 205-pound defender is a +10 plus/minus rating, which is pretty good for a team that doesn't score a lot of goals.

With this trade, the Owen Sound Attack classify themselves as buyers — to some degree — at this trade deadline. This is definitely an interesting approach, considering they sit last in the Midwest Division and 7th in the Western Conference. 

The Petes are sellers at this trade deadline, and with plenty of nineteen and twenty-year-old trade bait, they likely aren't done.