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GM Dylan Seca rolls the dice and can convince highly prized prospect Nicholas Moldenhauer to sign with the Sarnia Sting.

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The Sting acquired the rights to the former Ottawa 67’s first-round pick on Thursday in exchange for a 15th-round pick in the 2022 draft and other conditional picks if he plays a game in the Hockey League from Ontario.

The 17-year-old Mississauga forward did not sign with the 67’s after being selected 20th overall in 2020.

He is now in the United States Hockey League with the Chicago Steel.

“Great player, high-end potential, elite talent. Phenomenal skater, competitive player, ”said Seca. “We think he’s… one of Ontario’s top 10 players in his age group.

The trade allows the Sting to negotiate with Moldenhauer and his family.

“At this point, we have no indication if it will arrive at some point,” Seca said. “We just think, based on his talent and potential, it’s a great league for him and we’re going to continue to work on the opportunity to come and play in Sarnia and play in the OHL.

Moldenhauer had 45 goals and 77 assists in 63 games for the Toronto U16 AAA Titans in 2019-2020.

He had 33 points in 13 games with the North Jersey 16U AAA Avalanche in 2020-21 and has played six USHL games with Chicago.

The five-foot-11, 170-pound Moldenhauer also played at Hockey Canada’s Under-18 summer development camp last month.

He wasn’t in Chicago’s lineup for a preseason game Wednesday, but his absence was unrelated to the trade, Seca said.

The CEO of Sting is optimistic about the possibility of securing Moldenhauer’s signature on a contract.

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“We feel there is potential to have good communication with the player and his family,” said Seca. “But, at the end of the day, we’re banking on the fact that we have a great coaching staff (and) a great opportunity to grow with a hockey team that we think will be very competitive over the next two years. seasons.

“We think Sarnia is a great place to play and we hope the family can hold that view over the next… years or two. “

Moldenhauer is eligible for the NHL Draft in 2022.

“All indications are that he’s a relatively high draft pick, which is part of why that makes sense,” Seca said. “We think if he’s a relatively high pick,… playing in our league would work for his development.”

The trade includes seven conditional draft picks: third round in 2022, fifth round in 2023, second and third rounds in 2024, and second, third and fourth rounds in 2025. The 2022 pick originally belonged to the Erie Otters.

However, there is no scenario in which the 67’s are given all seven picks, Seca said.

“If it doesn’t happen, say, this season, a lot of those picks come back,” Seca said. “If he doesn’t arrive next season, we get more of those picks. On paper this obviously looks like a very heavy trade, but in reality it is multi-layered and the choices will come back to us. “

It is a calculated risk but also “a very interesting business”, he said.

“If he shows up in the next week or so, which we think is a very, very minimal scenario, then obviously the breeding production in the other direction would be relatively higher,” Seca said. “But there is no scenario where all of these choices are included.”

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The 67’s will receive a first-round pick in the 2022 draft under the OHL’s no-go rules.

Geci, Tarasevich ready to play

First-year forwards Alex Geci and Nikita Tarasevich have been training with the Stings since arriving from Europe last weekend.

“Both look great,” Seca said. “Both kind of adapt to the environment. Obviously from long flights, both were awake for well over 30 hours. … There is a phase of adaptation, both physically and emotionally. But they both look great. I watched them skate yesterday. They move well and are delighted to be here.

He said the two would likely play this weekend in a home exhibition series against the Windsor Spitfires, but the decision is up to the coaches.

The Sting will play at 7:05 p.m. Friday at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena and at 4:05 p.m. Sunday at the WFCU Center in Windsor.

They are still awaiting the arrival of defender Andrei Malyavin from Russia. His visa is ready and he should be in the air by September 25, Seca said.