The Sudbury Wolves are focused on making the playoffs this year - there is no debating this goal.

That said, the team is equally aware that they are far better positioned, on paper, for a lengthy playoff run either in 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 as their current crop of youngish talent continues to mature.

It is with that mindset and the continued progress and belief that blueliners Djibril Toure, Matthew Mania, Nolan Collins, Andre Anania, Dylan Robinson and Jakub Chromiak can hold the fort that was behind their first trade of OHL deadline season.

The Wolves confirmed on Tuesday that captain Jacob Holmes had been sent to the Windsor Spitfires, the local juniors receiving five draft picks in return: 2nd rd - 2024 (Kitchener), 2nd rd - 2025 (Kingston), 3rd rd - 2026 (Niagara), 4th rd - 2023 (Oshawa) and 6th rd - 2025 (Windsor).

The fact that none of these picks are conditional on Holmes returning to play his overage year in the OHL was perhaps a touch surprising (and clearly favourable to the Wolves), if only because the Wolves noted their concern "with the possibility of Jacob (Holmes) turning pro next season" in their media release today.

Holmes came to the Wolves at the trade deadline last January, acquired from the Soo Greyhounds as part of the trade that would see second round NHL pick Jack Thompson sent the other way.

The native of Alliston would make quite an impression. Despite posting solid numbers over his final 32 games in Sudbury (3G - 15A), Holmes would make his presence felt in the room to the point that coach Craig Duncanson would name the veteran blueliner as the young man who would wear the "C" this season for the Pack.

Despite this move, few who follow the team closely will be surprised if Sudbury VP & General Manager Rob Papineau actually acquires another defenceman between now and the closing of trade deadline on January 10th - though if that were the case, it's far more probable that defenceman would be an 18 year-old with at least one more year of eligibility remaining.

On the heels of a very successful weekend to close out 2022, the Wolves will look to extend their winning streak to three games, something the team has accomplished only once this season when they welcome the Oshawa Generals to town Friday night.