67's busy making more deals as OHL trade deadline approaches
GM Boyd trying to turn around team's fortunes amid losing streak
With the OHL trade deadline fast approaching, James Boyd is officially on a buying spree.
After making a couple of significant trades on back-to-back days over the weekend, the Ottawa 67's general manager returned to work Monday by completing three more deals that should improve his team's chances at an OHL championship and keep the program sellers busy at the next home game.
Once again Boyd restructured his leadership group by bringing in a third new overager since Friday while bidding farewell to the two incumbents.
His first move of the morning was to trade Kaleb Lawrence, a 6-foot6, 220-pound overage centre from Orléans, to the London Knights for an eighth-round pick in 2026.
Lawrence was obtained from the Owen Sound Attack on Oct. 3 and had 10 goals and 18 points in 30 games with the 67's.
From there, Boyd acquired 19-year-old goalie Ian Michelone from the Windsor Spitfires for a 12th-round pick in 2026.
A 6-foot-2, 205-pound Kanata product, Michelone has played in 17 games this season, compiling a 5-73 record with a 4.50 goals-against average and .867 save percentage.
In a corresponding move, the 67's lost overage goalie Max Donoso, who was claimed off waivers by the Spitfires.
Donoso was a key player for the 67's, especially with goaltending partner Collin Mackenzie battling injuries this season.
In 2022-23, the two goalies won the Dave Pinkey Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the league.
In his third season with Ottawa, Donoso played in 25 games, starting the team's last five and 16 of its last 20. He owned a 10-10-2 record with 3.45 GAA and a .891 save percentage.
While the 67's get an extra year with Michelone, Donoso, a Windsor product, gets to finish his junior career in his hometown.
In his biggest deal of the day, Boyd landed 20-year old centre Jacob Maillet from the Spitfires for four draft picks — a second in 2027, a third in 2024, a third in 2027 and a fifth in 2025.
A veteran of 224 OHL games, Maillet has 12 goals and 32 points in 37 games this season.
The 6-foot-1, 193-pounder from Dundas spent his first two seasons with the Guelph Storm and was in his third with Windsor.
“Maillet is a responsible two-way playmaking forward,” Boyd said in a news release. “His addition increases the amount of skill, offence and experience in our lineup.”
Whether Boyd has any other plans before Wednesday's trade deadline, the 67's are at their limit of overagers with Maillet and the two weekend additions, centre Braeden Kressler and defenceman Samuel Mayer.
The 67's are mired in a six-game losing streak and, at 18-15-3, are tied for second in their division with Kingston. Both teams have 39 points to trail the first-place Brantford Bulldogs by four points.
The Oshawa Generals and Peterborough Petes round out the division with 38 and 34 points, respectively.
Ottawa begins a three-game road trip Friday in Brantford before playing in Owen Sound on Saturday and Kitchener on Sunday.
The 67's next home game is Jan. 19 when they host Saginaw.
Maillet is a ... two-way playmaking forward.
His addition increases the amount of skill, offence and experience in our lineup.