In a deal for the future and the present, the Mississauga Steelheads acquired Ryan McLeod—the No. 3 pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Draft—from the Flint Firebirds.
In 74 games with the Toronto Marlboros last season, the Mississauga native racked up 30 goals, 81 points and 46 penalty minutes. After leading the Marlboros to their second straight OHL Cup championship, McLeod also was named tournament MVP.
In exchange the Steelheads sent six draft picks to the Firebirds: a second-rounder in 2016, a conditional second in 2017, a second in 2018 and third-rounders in each of the next three drafts. Flint also received a first-round OHL compensatory pick because McLeod didn’t sign with his draft team and a second-rounder because he was a top-five selection.
In all, Flint netted eight picks for the speedy, hockey-smart forward. Mississauga coach and GM James Boyd described McLeod one of the elite players in Ontario for his age category and said: “His speed and smarts will allow him to be an immediate contributor.”
McLeod joins his older brother Michael in Mississauga—who did this last season for Steelheads:
Michael McLeod is projected as a first-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. Mississauga is hoping for similar feats from his little brother.
