With less than a day left before the OHL's trade deadline of noon Friday, Sherry Bassin faces two potential obstacles on the trade market - and a John Tavares deal isn't one of them.
During trade talks, Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner/general manager, said today that the number of intriguing players available for trade seems slim. Meanwhile, Bassin said, clubs "want a player for a player." Bassin is happy with his team's chemistry, so he's concerned about trading a player off the current roster.
"It's not that we're not willing (to trade a player)," Bassin said. "What I'm interested in is, can I get the right player that can make us better." Bassin has said he could package draft picks in a deal. He has 11 picks in the top four rounds in the next two drafts.
"That's what we're dealing with right now," he said. At this point, Bassin and other clubs have exchanged "inquiries." But no formal offers have been made or received, he said.

In other news, Bassin said defenseman Mitch Gaulton isn't considered 100 percent healthy. But he still expects to be in the lineup next weekend, when the Otters face Niagara and Sarnia at Tullio Arena. Gaulton traveled with the team to Owen Sound this weekend.

In other OHL trade news, four deals were completed while the league waits for word on Tavares.
The headline deal involved Central Division-leading Brampton, which acquired left wing Matthew Kang from Kingston for forward John Hughes and a fourth-round pick in the 2010 Priority Selection.

– Victor Fernandes