Bar none, the Rangers have just made the biggest splash in terms of a transaction within the league thus far this year.
North York has acquired veteran defenceman Tyler Currie and rookie forward Christian Mitri from the Toronto Patriots in exchange for second-year forward Jake Harris and other considerations, the club announced Wedneday.
Currie, 20, was in the midst if his fourth year with the Patriots, and contributed 96 points over 211 career contests with the club, spanning the Ontario Junior Hockey League regular and post-seasons, two Dudley Hewitt Cup tournaments, and one Royal Bank Cup tournament.
He is considered by many to be one of the premier two-way defenders in the league today.
“I am expecting him to be an every day, big-minute player,” said North York head coach Brent Hughes.
“I except him to be my hardest worker in practice. He is a 20 year old with two championships, and he is still looking for a scholarship, and I know he doesn’t want to end it with nothing. He will be expected to do a lot of work to help the guide the younger guys, but also to let them know this is his last chance and to make sure it isn’t wasted. We know he can put up numbers and put up a sound defensive game.”
Currie has two OJHL championships and one Dudley Hewitt Cup championship under his belt.
Harris, 17, has 22 points in 62 career OJHL contests, and has taken large steps forward this year with an enlarged role by posting 10 points in 13 games thus far.
A native of Toronto, he was drafted in the 10th round, 185th overall by the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League out of the Toronto Marlboros minor hockey organization.
“It is tough to lose him for sure,” said Hughes.
“He is a ’98 birth-year forward. We taking a risk letting him go to trade up for a 20 year old. Jake is a great kid that is going to get better, he was obviously upset when he got the news, but he is going to a place where a team needs him and where he will get a lot of opportunity. So I think he is going to be better, his skill set is great and off the charts, lots of schools want him, and we wish him all the success.”
Mitri, 17, joined the Pats after making the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL as an undrafted free agent out of the Vaughan Kings Midgets.
The Ice Dogs released him after not recording a point in two games with the club.
