The trade deadlines have passed across the Canadian Hockey League and some of the big names that have changed places are already having an impact with their new clubs.
In the Ontario Hockey League, Nashville Predators prospect Philip Tomasino has been outstanding this season and a new team hasn’t slowed him down at all.
The third-year centre had 57 points in 36 games with the Niagara IceDogs before being traded to the Oshawa Generals.
His first weekend as a General saw him scored six times in three games.
With 10 points in that stretch, Tomasino has points in 10 consecutive games and 16 of his last 17.
Tomasino wasn’t the only Generals acquisition to have some early success as goaltender Jordan Kooy, a Vegas Golden Knights prospect acquired from the Sarnia Sting, picked up three wins in his first three starts with the team.
The Sudbury Wolves acquisition of Buffalo Sabres prospect Matej Pekar has also gone well as the 19-year-old forward had points in his first three games with the club, including a five-assist performance on Friday night against the North Bay Battalion.
Deadline day in the Western Hockey League was a busy one and it was a whirlwind day for Martin Fasko-Rudas.
Fasko-Rudas was part of a pair of deals, first being traded by the Everett Silvertips to the Swift Current Broncos before being part of a second deal as the Broncos sent the 19-year-old to the Saskatoon Blades.
The biggest deal of the WHL deadline saw the Victoria Royals acquire high-scoring Anaheim Ducks prospect Brayden Tracey from the Moose Jaw Warriors.
With the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League deadline set for earlier in the week, some teams have seen more games with their new acquisitions.
The Moncton Wildcats were among the busiest teams heading into the deadline, acquiring three key pieces in hopes of making a run to a league title.
Having already added Anaheim Ducks prospect Benoit-Olivier Groulx from Halifax and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Gabriel Fortier from Baie-Comeau, the Wildcats also added Detroit Red Wings prospect Jared McIsaac from Halifax as well in the hours leading up to the deadline.
While Groulx and Fortier have settled in with the team and posted solid numbers offensively, McIsaac joined after winning gold with Team Canada. The veteran blueliner missed extended time this season but got into the lineup with Moncton over the weekend.
The Chicoutimi Sagueneens also loaded up and, so far, the results have been good.
Edmonton Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie, acquired from Halifax, and New York Islanders prospect Felix Bibeau, an overage forward acquired from Quebec, have settled in with their new club well thus far.
NHL draft eligible forward Dawson Mercer, like McIsaac for Moncton, was acquired in the hours leading up to the deadline after competing for Team Canada and hasn’t suited up yet in Chicoutimi.
Adding Mercer’s offensive ability to an already-talented group will make things interesting, as they will across the CHL with some very talented players in new places for the rest of the season.
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