Yahoo Sports Brampton Adds Anaheim Fourth-Round Pick In Trade With Owen Sound
Earlier today, the Brampton Steelheads announced the acquisition of Anaheim Ducks prospect Konnor Smith from Owen Sound in exchange for seven draft picks.
Owen Sound received a 2025 second-round pick (WSR), a 2028 second-round pick (LDN), a 2026 third-round pick (OTT), a 2027 fifth-round pick (BRAM), a 2027 sixth-round pick (BRAM), a 2025 seventh-round pick (LDN) and a 2028 tenth-round pick (BRAM).
Brampton's start to the season has been disappointing given their success last year and the skill they added during the offseason. Despite being the youngest team in the league last year they finished fourth in the Eastern Conference.
After a first-round exit from the playoffs, it was thought that Brampton could take a huge step forward this season. To help the process along, GM James Richmond added Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf and former Erie Otters' captain Spencer Sova.
However, halfway through the season, Brampton sits seventh in the conference just barely holding onto a playoff spot. Despite the disappointing start, Brampton is still a team loaded with young talent that should be able to climb if they can improve during the second half of the year.
Konnor Smith could play a large part in turning this team around. The Peterborough Petes picked up Smith during the ninth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
He subsequently spent two and a half seasons with Peterborough helping the team win an OHL championship during the 2022-23 season.
The 6-foot-6 defender was named captain of the Owen Sound Attack this season and has four goals and four assists in eight games played. However, he has not played since late October due to an upper-body injury.
The addition of Smith solidifies Brampton's top-four defenders and is the third overage defender on their backend. Between Finn Harding, Jakub Fibigr, Stevie Leskovar, Spencer Sova and Smith they now have a very strong group of defenders.
However, the trade creates a log jam as Brampton is now maxed out on overage players. One of Sova, Smith, Leskovar and Lefebvre will have to sit on a nightly basis once Smith is healthy and Leskovar returns from suspension.
The bevy of picks going to Owen Sound gives the team the option to draft more players and continue to improve their roster. Significantly, four of the picks will be used in this and next year's draft.
Seeing as Smith had not played for Owen Sound since October, this trade makes a lot of sense for the Attack. They have managed without Smith for the majority of the season and now they have a lot of draft capital to work with in the future.
It will be interesting to see what Smith brings to Brampton's lineup which has excelled offensively while allowing the second-most goals in the Eastern Conference.
Undoubtedly, Brampton will make a run for a championship this season. To get there they will need to improve on their performance in the first half of the season.
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