The Windsor Spitfires make another move involving an offensive producer.
Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel announced Sunday afternoon that the team had traded forward Logan Brown and defenceman Austin McEneny to the Kitchener Rangers. The move will reunite them with defenceman Logan Stanley, who was dealt to the Rangers before this season.
In return, the Spitfires will receive defenceman and Chatham-Kent native Grayson Ladd and a package of four draft picks. Windsor will get Saginaw's second-round pick this year, Kingston's second-round pick in 2019, Saginaw's third-round pick in 2018, and Kitchener's fifth-rounder in 2019.
Ladd, 16, hails from Kent Bridge. He stands at 6' 1", weighs 162 and was Kitchener's first-round pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. He appeared in 22 games for the Rangers this year with one assist and a plus-minus rating of eight.
“Being from the Chatham area, Grayson is a kid we’ve seen a lot over the last couple years," says Rychel in a statement. "He’s got so many tools to work with.”
Brown just completed a stint with Team USA at the World Juniors, winning a bronze medal. He has 13 goals for 24 points so far this season. The Ottawa Senators prospect began the season with the Senators and earned his first NHL assist before being sent back to Windsor.
McEneny has two goals and 18 assists this year.
While Rychel says it's challenging to deal two players who had significant roles in last year's Memorial Cup championship, he believes the move makes good sense for both teams.
“Brownie will be playing pro hockey next year, and Mac will be out of the league and looking for pro work," says Rychel. "The Rangers really wanted both of these guys, and we feel like we got a great young prospect and more valuable high picks.”
Ladd is expected to make his Spitfires debut Thursday night against the Sarnia Sting.
