Sudbury Wolves trade Nick Baptiste to Erie Otters

You don't have to be Nostradamus to know the last place Sudbury Wolves have been trying to move star forward Nick Baptiste for a while.

The deal was finally brokered on Monday when the Wolves sent the 19-year-old Buffalo Sabres prospect to the powerhouse Erie Otters. In exchange the Wolves 19-year-old forward Travis Wood, 17-year-old defenceman Cole Mayo, two second round picks and two third round picks. The only thing that's missing is the partridge in a pear tree.

"We worked on (the trade) for a while," said Erie Otters general manager Sherry Bassin on Monday afternoon. "I've been a fan of (Baptiste's) since midget hockey, you couldn't help but be a fan because he's got skill, he's got high character and I can't say enough about him.

"I think Buffalo got one hell of a player."

The Wolves with their 4-19 record get a nice young prospect in Mayo and some picks to rebuild for the future since this season is practically a write off.

“Based on the way that the season has gone so far, it was imperative that we acquire players like Cole and Travis and high draft selections that will allow us to address our team needs for the present and the future," said Wolves GM Blaine Smith in a press release. "With five draft selections in the first three rounds, the 2015 OHL Priority Selection will be very important to our franchise.”

The Otters, of course, get to add another impressive piece to an already stellar puzzle featuring the likes of Connor McDavid! and Dyan Strome up front.

"He's going to play with all the top guys," said Bassin. "He's a prime player and he's going to help us get a lot better. He'll play on the power play and he's going to get a lot of minutes you can be sure of that."

According to Erie Times-News reporter Victor Fernandes, McDavid, who is out with a broken bone in his hand, was back on the ice today skating for the first time since his injury. He was even making light passes, so Hockey Canada can let out a collective sigh of relief.

"We're happy with what we see and what we hear from the doctor," said Bassin of McDavid's progress.

Baptiste has only played 12 games this season since a shoulder injury sidelined him to start the 2014-15 campaign. He's returned to the lineup and averaged almost a point per game with six goals and five assists. The winger was also Sudbury's leading scorer last season with 45 goals and 89 points in 65 OHL games.

It's hard to imagine the Otters - the top team in the Western Conference - getting any better, but this news should shake things up around the league. One has to wonder whether this move will push the Eastern Conference's Oshawa Generals - the top team in the Eastern Conference - to make a

Three of Erie's forwards, McDavid, Strome and rookie Alex DeBrincat are all in the top five of league scoring and adding Baptiste to their arsenal is scary.

"Good players play with each other like that and he's a good player," said Bassin of the possibility of Baptiste flanking McDavid. "I can't wait to see them play together. That's my quote!"