I think that Pinelli would be a cheaper get than Morrison and this is going to be his last year in the OHL. Kitchener is not going anywhere this year they need to rebuild.
Could we get Morrison and Pinelli probably but I like your other idea better.
The only part I am not sold on is trading with Kingston. I think that next year this team is going to compete for the championship. We are still going to have a good team and as we have seen our young guys are really developing.
I would hate to give Kingston the parts to make them better next year. Draft picks are not an issue and maybe throw in Constantini.
It is really tough to say what the values are right now for those particular players. I like Pinelli but Morrison brings so much more to the team than Pinelli. He is a proven performer when the game is on the line in the pressure situations. If he can perform at that high of a level in an OHL Championship as a 19 year old, he should be able to duplicate it and maybe even increase it as a 20 year old.
The thing that does worry me about Pinelli is Kitchener is horrible right now. Kitchener was predicted by many to hold home ice advantage in round one and maybe even challenge for the Western Conference. I am ok with adding a player from a poor team at the deadline, I mean, that is how it works. But, adding a player from a poor team that was supposed to be really good concerns me a bit. It does give a pause for thought.
Regarding value of the two players, I was not thinking that Pinelli would be cheaper. I figured the only way we would get Pinelli cheaper is through some sort of trade demand to Ottawa to play with his little brother. But, his stats aren’t jumping off the page. I think the Pastujov deal is the honest value but I cannot see Ottawa pay that level of compensation. He’s not playing consistent enough to command that.
Morrison is playing very well. He’s second in League scoring. But he is an OA. I can’t see the deal being more than two 2nds and three 3rds. The pool of teams looking to add an impact OA is short because most teams already have settled in with their current OA’s and if they add an OA, they have to delete one. So any deal they make for an OA would cost them the one they have. Imagine if dealing for Morrison cost us Costantini to make room? Would we be as willing to trade two 2nds and three 3rds for Morrison if it also meant we need to move Costantini at a serious discount at the OA deadline? That is what many other teams would be facing. So, the market is much shorter. Plus there are a handful of great OA’s available so there are choices for many teams. If the bidding gets too high on Morrison, then maybe they move to White or Hayes, both on Hamilton. Oshawa has Moore, Butler and Gagnier. Sudbury has Degrazia. Sault has Duart and Watson. Niagara has Keene and Jesus. Kitchener has Sherpa and Valade. I mean, there are loads of potential OA’s out there for teams to shift to if the prices get silly high. And a lot of the teams out there looking at OAs don’t have the type of trade assets at their disposal to overpay for an OA.
I am more intrigued by Harrison on Oshawa than Pinelli. I think he brings a lot more to the team than Pinelli does. I think he is a better fit. He can play the wing and sub in at centre if necessary. He isn’t a bruiser but he plays a more physical game leaning on guys to make plays. He’s good with the puck. He can dish and shoot.
But, if Franky Pinelli can wiggle his way into an Ottawa uniform with some sort of powerplay move like Lou Dickinson did a couple decades ago, then maybe we could see that happen.
