The OHL trade season has begun. As of December 28, the trade freeze lifted for any players who are not participating in the World Junior Championships.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Nikita Korostelev is one of those players. After having a personal best season so far with the Sarnia Sting (34 points in 29 games), Korostelev was looked upon as a player who could help a contender out in the long run to the Memorial Cup.
There were rumours before the break that the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds were most interested in him, and then the Peterborough Petes and Mississauga Steelheads saw their names get tossed into the ring of speculation.
The Petes just want to win a playoff series, and becoming a buyer rather than a seller at this time of year signals a change and a drive to get past the first round of the playoffs for just the second time in 10 years.
It was the Petes that ponied up the big bucks and gave the Sting the big payday they wanted.
Nikita Korostelev and Alex Black have been dealt to the Peterborough Petes. In return, the Sting have added 17 year-old defenceman, Nick Grima and six draft picks. The draft picks include; Erie’s 2nd round pick in 2017, Sault Ste. Marie’s 2nd round pick in 2019, Windsor’s 2nd round pick in 2020, Kitchener’s 3rd round pick in 2017, Peterborough’s 3rdround pick in 2019 and Peterborough’s 6th round pick in 2017.
Nikita Korostelev will now join the Peterborough Petes for the remainder of the OHL season, as the Petes look to keep up with the Eastern Conference leading Oshawa Generals and go the farthest in the playoffs since they won the OHL Championship in 2006.
