Did they complete a trade for a goalie today?

[spiritsam]

i heard they traded for Parker Van Buskirk (no t sure of the spelling)

[statestreet2005]

Looks like Berard is going the other way.

Got to say that it looks like we lost this one in a big way. We give up a quality OA for a guy that may play 10 to 15 games for us this year.

Are we going to use him as an OA next year?

This one just doesn't make sense to me. Sorry Mr. Edwards but Sarnia got the better of you.

[donjohnson]

To me, especially with Berard getting sent home, we got a TON of value for him. Last year we were looking for someone to push Daniels for playing time. While Lepera looked good, at 16, he is not quite ready for the OHL just yet. I expected only to get draft picks for Berard so I am very happy with this trade. VanBuskirk was the starter last year for Sarnia if i'm not mistaken and they drafted someone high in the Euro draft that is now their #1.

Also, i know for a fact that VanBuskirk only listed 3 teams that he would be willing to go to and we were one of them (obviously). I can't remember who the other 2 were but I think one was Kitchener.

edit: Also, for the first time in 6 years the Spirit.com site beat the OHL Media Notes in announcing this trade

[aj0512]

Trade confirmed on the Spirit's website...

Sarnia gets: Ryan Berard
Saginaw gets: Parker VanBuskirk

Right now this trade doesn't make much sense to me, but it's really not that bad of a move. My guess is that they want to send Lepera down to Leamington, where he will get a lot more experience. We do get a solid back-up who actually could push Daniels for a starting position (maybe). This trade may have also been made to take care of our goalie situation for next year (if Daniels gets a contract with the Ottawa Senators). The only question remains is what is going on with Matt Hoyle?

But at any rate, we have too many OA's and have to get rid of some. I've noticed that Perron is still on the Spirit's web page, so perhaps another trade involving him (probably just for late round draft picks) will be coming.

I'll have to respectfully disagree with statestreet2005. I don't think Berard is a "quality" OA. Yes he's a good role player, but he's not a scorer, nor a player who is going to make a huge impact.

That wasn't the only trade Sarnia made today. They also acquired former Spirit player Steven Whitely (ironically who we traded to get Berard) from Plymouth.

[midlandpucks]

I like this trade. Anyone still sitting down? Stunned that I'm not bashing it? Well, I can be objective AND skeptical.
They have 2 88 goalies to pick from. And push each other. Think of it as an extended training camp in a way. The guy they think can take them furthest, they'll keep. It does mean Lepera will have to wait his turn and play somewhere else but he's 16. He'll live.

Daniels will be incensed but deal with it, Daniels! Sarnia didn't want Van Buskirk and Saginaw had to deal Berard after last week. I don't think anyone got taken in this one. It's the most depth Saginaw's had in goal since the first season with Kellerman and Psycho Brownie. I think it'll be real cool to see them battle. Maybe literally.

[IGive1]

What's not to like about this trade? Having an unproved 16 year as backup is very risky. Berard was an O/A, but not a good O/A. I think that Asselen is the only quality O/A candidate they have, but that is a discussion for another thread. This gives them someone who can play next year if Hoyle shows or not. The pitch to Hoyle is that next year as a freshman at Harvard, he will probably not play, here he would play a lot.

[aj0512]

The more I read, the more I like the trade, and now it makes a lot sense to me, lol. We did get a TON of value for Berard, and now we've got a ton of depth in net. If anything happens to Daniels, we've got the Bus ready to step in.

[newbe]

I think this was a good trade for both teams.

The Bus started quite a few games last year and has good experience, however I do not feel that he is in the same class as Daniels. SHould give us a solid 1-2 tandem, something we haven't had for a while.

I also like the way Berard plays, fast and finishes lots of checks, and a good penalty killer. With more quality ice time, most likely would have put up bigger numbers.

This will give both players a new surrounding and a chance to play

[binque]

Daniels lets in to many easy goals to be considered a top goaltender. He is pretty good at stopping the impossible shot but has a week left shoulder and is not focused enough to stop the easy stops. Giving Daniels some competition is a good thing and should force his to step up or step out.

Berard was good player but not a great player. As such he will not be that much of a loss to the team. Trading Berard (& Whitely) to sarnia to put some much needed pressure on Daniels is well worth it.

[bpfox]

So Binque, explain to me again how having Plymouth trade Whitely to Sarnia helps put needed pressure on Daniels. I am missing the connection.

[spiritfan8]

Interesting that Mark Constantine's column today zeroes right in on the goaltending dilemma without knowing anything about the Van Buskirk deal. He actually said some good things in it.( I like to offer positive reinforcement in case he is reading this.........)
And as far as the deal itself---without giving away too much about myself, let's just say I am inclined to be positive about acquiring a player whose name has a "Van" in it!! ;D

[SaginawGensFan]

Here is how Daniels & VanBuskirk compared to each other last year:

Games Played
Daniels - 60
VanBuskirk - 48

Goals Against
Daniels - 174
VanBuskirk - 146

Minutes Played
Daniels - 3493
VanBuskirk - 2667

Saves
Daniels - 1692
VanBuskirk - 1325

Wins
Daniels - 37
VanBuskirk - 25

Losses
Daniels - 18
VanBuskirk - 13

Overtime Losses
Daniels - 0
VanBuskirk - 3

Shootout Losses
Daniels - 3
VanBuskirk - 3

Shutouts
Daniels - 1
VanBuskirk - 2

Goals Against Average
Daniels - 2.99
VanBuskirk - 3.29

Save Percentage
Daniels - .907
VanBuskirk - .901

[sagspiritsfan]

SagGensFan:

Thanks for the summary .. I coulda sworn Daniels had 2 shutouts last year though, I checked back on the OHL Website there must be a mistake or something.

Statestreet:

What exactly were you expecting in return for Berard? Hes a good 2 way player, but isnt really one for the offensive point producer role.

The only thing I will say is the Sarnia Sting got a lot better yesterday adding 2 pretty good OA players. Berard and Whitely will help that hockey team and in my opinion that might have put them over the top. That team will be a serious contender IMO.

[donjohnson]

sagspiritsfan said:

The only thing I will say is the Sarnia Sting got a lot better yesterday adding 2 pretty good OA players. Berard and Whitely will help that hockey team and in my opinion that might have put them over the top. That team will be a serious contender IMO.

I will give you Berard as a pretty good OA but dude, Whitely is awful.

[midlandpucks]

Whitely was good enough to play regularly for the OHL Champs. 5 assists and a plus 10 in 20 playoff games against guys like Steve Downie, Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner. Doesn't sound so awful to me. Take that for what it's worth. He obviously has gotten better but has no offensive game. Thought the Berard deal at the time was a steal when they got him from Belleville.

But - Whitely in Saginaw's own end, would have been a big improvement last year on Andrew Hotham in his own end, a lot better than Chris Breen in his own end, and better than Nigel Williams in his own end. Are Williams and Hotham more complete players? Sure they are. But like I said, Whitely's value is playing hard in the corners and moving guys out in front of the net. That wasn't exactly the Spirit's strength late in the season against guys like Boll and Sestito for Plymouth, or against a lot of the Sault forwards.

So I don't think "awful" is fair. But in this wonderful world we live in, everyone's welcome to an opinion. Even here. Sometimes.