Generals aquire Lessioo from IceDogs

http://www.niagaraicedogs.net/index.php/article/icedogs-deal-lessio-to-generals

2009-09-14 11:00:00

Niagara IceDogs General Manager Dave Brown announced today that the IceDogs have traded 2009 first-round pick Lucas Lessio to the Oshawa Generals in exchange for a 2nd round pick in 2010 and a conditional 15th round pick in 2011.

The pick becomes a 2nd round pick in 2012 and 2013, if Lessio plays for one year in the OHL and the IceDogs would receive an additional two 3rd round picks in 2011 and a 4th round pick in 2011, if Lessio is to play two or more years in the OHL.

By trading Lessio, the IceDogs will also receive the 8th overall pick in next year’s draft as a compensatory pick for being unable to sign Lessio, the 7th overall pick this year, giving the IceDogs two 1st round picks in 2010.

“Lucas is an elite athlete with an elite skill set and has an extremely bright future” said Brown “We wish Lucas the best of luck in his future hockey endeavors and we hope he will choose the OHL in the future so he can continue his development in the #1 developmental league in the world.”

Wade Graham
Media Relations

Lucas Lessio, Toronto Marlies - Left Wing, 6.00, 175 lbs.

Lessio capped an outstanding season by winning the Tim Adams Memorial Award as the most valuable player of the OHL Cup. He finished in a tie for second place in tournament scoring with five goals and 11 points in seven games. The big winger is equally adept at playing the game with skill or strength.

“He can be a devastating checker, showing that he can beat you with his skill on the score sheet or by punishing defensemen on the forecheck,” said Rob Kitamura, the OHL’s Director of Central Scouting and Player Development. “His physical play creates a ton of turnovers. Lessio brings a lot of positives to the table, and he has the potential to
be a very productive player at the next level.”

the analyst on the vcomp here said he could develop into the best player in the draft

53 goals and 113 points in 72 games for the Marlies

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/25408-Prep-Watch-Lessio-is-more.html

Prep Watch: Lessio is more

Ryan Kennedy
2009-04-16 13:10:00

With the minor hockey season officially done, young men’s thoughts in Canada will turn to either a well-rested summer or the country’s under-17 program.

The latter, of course, is just for the elite kids, but that’s exactly where Lucas Lessio hopes to find himself. The 6-foot-1, 178-pound left winger was named tournament MVP in leading his Toronto Marlboros team to the cherished OHL Cup in late March, tying for the team lead in the tourney with 11 points in seven games, second-most overall.

The win over the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs in the final represented the culmination of a great Marlboros season that saw Lessio’s Ontario League draft status edge up as the season went on.

“It was good to see it pay off,” Lessio said. “Everybody worked as a team.”

The interesting thing about Lessio, 16, is just how team-oriented he is. In fact, he was originally approached to do this interview in early March, but wanted to wait until after the OHL Cup in order to keep the focus on his team, rather than his own personal skills.

But make no mistake, Lessio has talent to burn.

“He’s got great skill, great hands and great speed,” said Marlboros coach Ken Strong. “He really handles the puck well. As a left shot, he’s probably one of the best I’ve seen beating the defenseman wide and cutting in on the left side, which is really hard to do because your body wants to go the other way.”

For Lessio, it’s all about the setups and making the players around him better, which he believes is a noble pursuit in the game.

“I’m very good in the corners,” he said. “And I love passing to my teammates.”

Citing Rick Nash and Joe Sakic as inspirations, it’s clear Lessio wants to mould himself into more than just a player who can put points up on the board.

“They’re such great leaders and models for the game,” he noted.

And if leadership is one of Lessio’s goals (he also wants to improve on his defensive play), the youngster is on the right path with his off-ice charisma.

“The kids love him in the dressing room,” Strong said. “Everything’s fun, everything’s easy-going.”

Lessio is expected to be a high OHL draft pick this year, though the power forward said he and his family are keeping themselves educated on all future options. It goes without saying his team’s triumph in the prestigious OHL Cup will help his profile. Going up against other top major junior prospects such as Boone Jenner, Ryan Murphy and Daniel Catenacci, the Marlboros still came out on top and Strong believes depth and a bit of anonymity were the drivers.

“That’s why we came out and blew people out of the water,” said Strong, whose team outscored its opponents 34-10 in seven tourney games. “We had something to prove. My guys, they understand the game, which gives them a little bit of an edge. They’re winners. They will not stand for losing.”

And Lessio promised not to lose his edge this summer, working with a trainer when he’s not on the ice.

“We’ll be working on legs and my core,” Lessio said. “This game is all about speed now.”

And that’s something the left winger knows a lot about.[url][/url]

Good move for the future as I don't think he'll be in a gen's uniform this year as I think he is going the NCAA route.
Good move by Dipps giving up draft picks, as the Gen's are a young team and need bodys and not need to stock pile draft pick's

Its only a good move if he plays here. Depiero has probably already talked to his agent, family and confirmed he will come to oshawa. If he does go NCAA its a bad move as we give 2 picks for nothing. He should be coming here so one of the D (Hope) might not be making the team and we will go with 4 16 year olds in Jenner, Sullentrop, Mcdowell and Lessio

Well I found something that say's he is going NCAA route,so I guess Dips has to sweeten the pot, on Dips side is Lessio is playing for St Micheal's and that's where Dips started out as coach and GM.
here is the is the quote from the paper:

A conversation today with the father of Lucas Lessio revealed that the top Ontario prospect and first round draft choice of the OHL Niagara Icedogs has committed to play his college hockey at Michigan.

Maybe Iam missing something here, but how many 16 yr olds go to college?

Gens Fan 112 wrote:Maybe Iam missing something here, but how many 16 yr olds go to college?

This being the reason he is currently playing Jr. A

We need help NOW - the future is great but we need someone to come in now and put pucks in the net

Why would you give up picks just to talk to a kids agent

then he doesn't show

Let me see now - We now have this kid - we hope he shows and

Biggs and hope he shows

He better decide to play for the Gens otherwise they gave up something for nothing!! They must be sure he will sign or this goes down as a bonehead move. This team is facing the real possibility of losing 2 players who would have fetched some decent players. They should have been moved last year. Now if they are gone...not coming back we got nothing for them. Lets hope he signs. I like to see kids go the school route & would never deny them the opportunity. Knowing that, why trade?? Things that make you go hmmmm

i thought first round picks couldn't be traded until around the trade deadline. aka Shugg

bigE88 wrote:i thought first round picks couldn't be traded until around the trade deadline. aka Shugg

The OHL has change the rule this year,so the team that drafts a player that dosn't or won't sign a chance to trade him to a team that may be able too the deadline for that is Sept 15 after that if they haven't traded him they would not be allowed to trade his rights till January 10(trading deadline) also the team that can't sign him recevices a compinsation pick the following year ie The Icedogs will recieve an 8 rd pick in the 1st round next season one spot lower than they had this year(7th).this is a good move by the OHL so teams can take a chance on a player that said they would not report,and if they choose not to report the team can trade his rights and get compansation the following year.

I am not not sure I like this deal. Lessio would be a great addition if he shows but I'm not sure he will. To trade a 2nd on speculation seems like a real gamble and waste of a valuable pick. Much like drafting Biggs in the second round without ascertaining he would report. If Lessio shows, what the the Gens would be giving Niagara is very comparable to what they received from London for Tavares and DelZotto, when comparing apples and bananas.

That's right - but you knew what you were getting with Jt

Here it is unproving

If this player shows up to oshawa, and since chris has connections to st.mikes, hopefully he does. This is the start of a pretty solid nucleus in jenner, lessio, biggs yes he will be here next year, mcdowell, sullentrop and kyle hope.Also the players we will recieve in a parnham trade. He should bring us a solid 18 yr old and a draft pick or two, so taking a chance on lessio is worth it.We will be gaining picks back in both the parnham and nagy trade if he is sent back to us.Considering 2 years ago the cuppord was pretty bare, things are looking up.

I agree; it looks good for the future but it would be nice to start the rebuilding now. Looking forward to a potential line of Lessio, Jenner and Biggs next year, two first rounders and a "potential first rounder" had he had not scared teams off with his stated intentions to play in the States. It would be great if they both show up now or later!

oshawa express is running an article with the title Oshawa signs Lessio.... the article however says that oshawa has only aquired his rights.... i got very excited and was quickly dissapointed