With the team on the rise, Spitfires’ GM Bowler feels comfortable holding his own on OHL’s trade deadline

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Windsor Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler opted not to make further changes with his club when the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline expired on Monday.

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Having made three deals a week ago and with his club coming off back-to-back road wins over West Division leader Sault Ste. Marie, it’s easy to see why Bowler didn’t feel pressured to make another move.

“You’re always watching, but, having said that, we like the moves we made,” Bowler said.

Less than a week ago, Bowler traded defender Grayson Ladd and forward Kyle McDonald to North Bay for 19-year-old forward Josh Currie and three draft picks. He then sent four draft picks to Owen Sound in exchange for defender Andrew Perrott.

“In the first game (Saturday), they all grew a foot when Perrott came out,” said Spitfires head coach Marc Savard. “I think it has added a real presence. Currie a big kid and it just made everyone feel bigger. Two big trucks. “

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Bowler added goalie Matt Onuska for a draft pick in London, while earlier in the season he selected a draft pick and defender Nathan Ribau for defender Dylan Robinson in a deal with Sudbury. After missing an entire season due to COVID-19 in 2020-21, Bowler also added some experience up front with forwards Alex Christopoulos, for a North Bay pick, and Guelph’s Jacob Maillett, for a pair of picks.

“I think Bill and Frank (Evola) have done a great job,” Savard said of Bowler and Evola, who is director of scouting and hockey operations.

Along the way, Bowler didn’t sacrifice the future either. The club has at least one pick in the first four rounds for the next four seasons.

“We have a four-round pick and we didn’t have to give up a (young) player,” Bowler said.

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After back-to-back losses to Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie was busy before Monday’s deadline. The club sent former first-round pick Jacob Holmes and third-round pick Marc Boudreau, who have another year of eligibility left, to Sudbury along with a second-round pick for defender Jack Thompson.

The Greyhounds also selected 19-year-old Keegan McMullen of Peterborough for a sixth-round pick and forward Ty Anselmini of Mississauga for a 10-round pick, but Bowler didn’t feel the need to counter the moves.

“No, we focus on our team,” Bowler said. “I cannot control with other teams. The different teams in the league are at different stages and we are only trying to worry about the Windsor Spitfires. “

But no other team in the Western Conference made a big deal Monday with London and Guelph, who are one-two in the Midwest Division, without making a single move.

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The big moves came in the Eastern Conference with Chase Stillman, son of former Spitfire Cory Stillman, moving from Sudbury to Peterborough.

Peterborough also sent forward Mason McTavish to Hamilton on Sunday, while Kitchener dealt forward Declan McDonnell to Barrie on the other. great weekend deal.

“We believe that we can fight for a division title and finally win it.” said the bowler. “We think we have a difficult team to play against and this weekend was a good sign. We just like our team and looking around the Western Conference, we feel like we can compete with anyone. “

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