Draft capital in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) can be a wonderful thing and Sudbury Wolves VP & General Manager Rob Papineau made use of the boatload of picks at his disposal on the final day of Trade Deadline - 2025.
With an eye towards adding more depth to assist a Wolves team that has surprised league pundits this year all while providing a better starting point to the roster that returns at training camp next fall, Papineau acquired a pair of veteran defenceman.
The prized catch, if you will, is 18 year-old Ottawa 67's blueliner Henry Mews, a 2024 NHL draft pick of the Calgary Flames (3rd rd - 74 overall). Now in his third year with the 67's, Mews has recorded 50 points (11 goals and 39 assists) in 38 games to date.
Set to turn 19 on March 9th and born in 2006, Mews would be expected to return to Sudbury for the 2025-2026 campaign, unless he cracks the Calgary NHL roster.
The price, as expected was heavy, as the Wolves shipped promising 18 year old defenceman Nolan Jackson (who just turned 18 on January 2nd - born in 2007) to the nation's capital, along with the requisite bundle of picks: SSM 2nd rd (2027); SBY 2nd rd (2027); SBY 3rd rd (2025); BRAM 3rd rd (2027); SBY 5th rd (2025); SBY 7th rd (2028); SBY 8th rd (2027); SBY 9th rd (2027) - the final three of which are "conditional picks".
Earlier in the day, Sudbury announced the acquisition of 19 year-old rearguard Noah Roberts from the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for four entry draft selections: KIT 2nd rd (2027); SBY 2nd rd (2028); SBY 3rd rd (2026) and SBY 3rd rd (2028) - the final pick being conditional.
With 25 points amassed in his 142 games to date, safe to say that Noah Roberts plays a vastly different game on the back-end that does Henry Mews.
"Noah keeps the game in front of him and is a physical defender who opposing players don't enjoy playing against," noted Papineau in the team issued release.
While there was no trade involving San Jose Sharks first round pick Quentin Musty, the Wolves did insert a little more tinkering into their day, confirming the signing of BCHL forward and RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) commit Jack Ziliotto.
A native of Waterdown (ON), Ziliotto registered 93 points (in 107 games) in two seasons with the Mississauga Chargers of the OJHL, adding another 27 points to his stat-line this year in 33 games to date with the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Finally, the Wolves sent 20 year-old netminder Drew Gaulton to the Sarnia Sting in exchange for local product Karsen Chartier (just turned 19 years old - born in 2006).
Chartier suited up in 24 games for the Sting during the 2023-2024 campaign and was recently acquired by the Greater Sudbury Cubs as the team looks to make a return trip to the Centennial Cup.
The 6'3" puckstopper makes for some valuable insurance as Finn Marshall looks to regain his early season form behind legitimate number one starter Nate Krawchuk.
The Wolves are back in action this evening, welcoming the Niagara Ice Dogs to Sudbury before facing the Kingston Frontenacs on Sunday afternoon, also at Sudbury Arena.
