The Flint Firebirds strengthen their forward corps by adding Toronto Maple Leafs prospect but subtract their 2024 first-round draft pick in the process.
There has been a flurry of deals in the OHL as we approach the league's trade deadline of Jan. 10. Below is a recap of the deals made in the past month.
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They were busy in the summer and have now joined in on the trade action. The Flint Firebirds announced on Wednesday that they had acquired Owen Sound Attack forward — 2024 seventh-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs — Sam McCue along with four draft picks in exchange for the team's promising 16-year-old forward.
Below are the full details of the trade:
Flint Firebirds Receive:
LW, Sam McCue
2024-25 season statistic: 35GP, 18G, 13A, 31PTS
2027 2nd round pick (OSH)
2026 3rd round pick (OSH)
2028 3rd round pick
*Conditional 2028 15th round pick
Owen Sound Attack Receive:
RW, Cole Zurawski
2024-25 season statistics: 32GP, 6G, 9A, 15PTS
2026 15th round pick
At first, it looks odd for the Attack to give up their leading goal scorer and three early-round draft picks, but Zurawski has the potential to become a top-line player in the OHL.
Zurawski was selected sixth overall by the Firebirds in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection and firmly established himself as a top-nine player for them. In November, he represented Team Canada White at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, where he won a gold medal.
He's a sharpshooter with a high-end release that can beat goalies clean. Combine that with his slick puck-handling skills and sharp edgework, you get a forward who can make plays around defenders by himself.
Owen Sound GM Dale DeGray had this to say regarding their new young forward, as per their press release:
"We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to acquire Cole. Not many times are you given the opportunity to trade for a top player in the previous Under-16 draft. Cole is an elite forward who will add to our young group moving forward and in years to come. He is a smooth skating, smart offensive-minded forward who has the ability to score goals and make plays."
Zurawski played his first game in the Bears Den on Wednesday playing on a line with another 2024 first-rounder, Pierce Mbuyi, and Bruce McDonald.
We wrote who our top five trade candidates were heading into the OHL's trade deadline. Sam McCue made the list and only two players remain on it — Guelph's Jett Luchanko and Sarnia's Mitch Young.
In 2023, McCue played for the Peterborough Petes, who won the OHL Championship. Because he participated in three playoff games, he was recognized as an OHL champion. His physically abrasive style of play thrives in "playoff-style" hockey.
The former seventh-rounder in 2021 is on pace for a career year and is projected to eclipse the 30-goal mark. Last year he averaged 2.3 shots per game. This year through 35 games, he is averaging 4.3.
As per Flint's press release, here's what the team's Head Scout Mike Oliverio had to say about their new acquisition:
“Sam is a guy who sets the example for the rest of the team. He takes and deals out punishment, grinds for every puck, and does what it takes to win games. He brings energy to his team every time he is on the ice, and uses it effectively when forechecking, battling in front of the net, and annoying his opponents. Sam also adds a scoring touch and the ability to make plays."
However, rumors are circulating that McCue does not want to report to Flint. Nothing has been confirmed and we will see where this leads.
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