Spirit Get Gimblett
Created: Jun 24, 2003

The Saginaw Spirit have traded to acquire power forward Jesse Gimblett from the Owen Sound Attack. Spirit General Manager Costa Papista says the third year forward is expected to be a top-six forward on the team in 2003-04.

"We are very excited about this acquisition. Jesse adds size, offense and experience to our line-up and we are confident that he will have an immediate impact on our hockey club", Papista said. "The fact that he has two years of eligibility remaining and a potential over-age year is an added bonus and fits well with our long-term plans."

The Spirit traded the third overall selection in the 2003 CHL Import Draft, a fourth round OHL Priority Selection in 2004 and a fifth round OHL Priority Selection in 2005. In return, Owen Sound is sending Gimblett, Owen Sound's 45th overall selection in the 2003 CHL Import Draft, and Owen Sound's 2nd round OHL Priority Selection in 2004.

Gimblett played four games against Saginaw in 2002-03, with 3 assists and 17 penalty minutes. He says he's excited about the move, "What I remember about my two games in Saginaw is that it was a great hockey town. The crowd was very loud and into the game. The rink seemed nice too".

Gimblett had 13 goals, 22 assists and 81 penalty minutes in 68 games in 2002-03.

Jesse Gimblett (gim'-let)

Pos: Left Wing (Left Shot)
DOB: 1/4/1985
Age: 18
HT: 6'2"
WT: 220 lbs
Home: Newtonville, ON
OHL Draft: 3rd round, 50th overall 2001, Owen Sound

The trade sounds good. We didn't lose much and it sounds like we acquired a decent player.

this is a hell of a deal we get a good guy for draft picks

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Sounds like we went out and got some help up front in exchange for our euro pick.

this means:

(1) Owen Sound wants a Euro that other OHL teams want, and will now get first crack at that player

(2) The Spirit don't expect much from the Euro they draft, or they think the player is perhaps so obscure that he will still be there at #45.

Either way, we got more depth up front for an `85 that can play up to 3 years for us. 13 goals last year just might project up to 20 this season.

Look at his size too. 220, holy poop. Hopefully he can run with Geoff Platt and give him some additional protection as well as score from the wing.

Now, this trade means that we can look for perhaps some defense with that Euro pick. It also means that we can acquire some offense with our 3rd overager, but that player doesn't need to be someone with huge numbers.

Plus, we got a 2nd rounder in 2004?! Holy crap. This import player must be someone Owen Sound really, really wants.

(keep in mind that these lines can and will be shuffled)

Top Scoring Line: Yachmenev-Platt-Gimblett
2nd Scoring Line: Raszka-Pyatt-JM Rizk
"Junior Grind Line:" Jenish-Borges-Dix
4th Line: Asselin-(3rd OA)-Crowder

Depth: Goodnough-Thompson-MA Rizk-McKenzie-Milo-Mills

(or whoever we keep on the team)

Things look good for us to try to trade guys like Goodnough and Thompson, so long as they are healthy. I like these guys, but they are older and won't be around much longer. If they have trade value I say pull the trigger on a deal.

Also, if we can pick up one more young defenseman or if Mike Pain steps it up and earns regular time, I can definitely see Adam Gibson being traded, perhaps to Ottawa where he would fit right into their run and gun style.



KING OF THE DANCING FREAKS

Obviously this will help....but still hoping Spirit can pull a move a move for a talented Euro player. Most teams going anywhere have 2 decent players - it killed the team last year to have Csabi not go anywhere and develop and then eventually leave. As much as he didn't fit in necessarily, once the injuries the thought of his talent out there instead of Jelitto and MA Rizk made for many a long night.

Word is still that two new overagers will join the team to accompany Steve Dix who really earned a ton of respect from the fellas who make the decisions in the second half of last season. I'm only telling what I know - Edgar, Luckovitch, and Mac are NOT options for this team this season and will either be released or traded but there's marginal value for any of the three unless Luckovitch is rehabbing. Make no mistake, until that unfortunate injury, Luckovitch would have been strongly considered for an OA spot. I liked what he brought and I wasn't the only one - and sorry MacDonell supporters - but he brought more toughness and grit while giving away 60-65 pounds.

And Disco...I like your first two lines...but if Goodnough is healthy - he'll play. Conditioning is a factor but I don't think they want to trade him. Thompson I'm not so sure about but you can do a lot worse on your 3rd line. I wouldn't expect as many trades as some might think. Let's face it, you've got to give up something good to get something good as the Thorburn trade told everyone and when you're 20th out of 20 teams in the standings, your assets may look diminished to others, and let's face it - no young guns of the future are getting moved.

I believe Goodnough is an 84 - and unless we plan to keep him for an OA year, it is better to unload him sooner than later if he has value. If we can't trade him now, play him a bit and he shows he has value, then they can make the deal. If we plan to keep him around for an OA year then he needs to prove he is a top 6 forward who can contribute a lot of offense. I think that is what we expect to see from an OA forward who cannot contribute in other ways (i.e. Dix's leadership, go-to status as our resident glove dropper, etc.)



KING OF THE DANCING FREAKS

does any one know of a website that has all transactions going on the OHL ? thanks

Go to the Ontariohockeyleague.com they have a list of all the transactions as far as I know.

This trade has the fingerprints of our headscout Dan Haliburton all over it.

Remember, Gimblett was originally drafted by Haliburton in Owen Sound. In his rookie year Gimblett scored 15 goals. To put it in perspective Rizk scored 9.

Gimblett also had 3 years of eligibility remaining.

Wow!!

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Quit talking about my boyfriend