Given the blockbuster trade announcement that hit the internet just minutes before the opening drop of the puck, fans in attendance at the Sudbury Wolves vs Soo Greyhounds pre-season encounter Friday night at the Sudbury Arena can be forgiven for being challenged in paying attention to the game at hand.

This was likely not a bad thing.

With deserved props distributed to Hounds netminder Landon Miller who was rock solid in turning aside all 25 shots that he faced in recording the shutout, a 3-0 Sault Ste Marie victory over the Wolves did not provide home fans much in the way of things to cheer about - beyond a nicely paced game that was wrapped up by 9:13 p.m.

Where the post-game chatter in the hallways might have normally circulated how a Sudbury squad that in fairness was missing a bevy of top talent, away at NHL camps (as was the Soo), the attention tonight was clearly on a youngster two years removed from even being draft eligible.

Just before game time, the confirmation of the acquisition of third overall OHL pick Tanner Adams from the Brampton Steelheads in return for a whopping 15 draft picks (plus two additional compensatory picks from the league*) garnered attention with top-end sports media outlets across the country.

Though you will have no trouble finding OHL scouts who will suggest that Adams, a 6'1" 200+ pound forward from Timmins who played with Hill Academy last year is the top 2010-born hockey talent in the province of Ontario, the price was a steep one for Wolves management and ownership.

The return to Brampton includes four second round pick (OTT-2027; WDSR-2028; PBO-2029; BFD-2030), three third rounders (BFD-2027; OSH-2028; OSH-2029), two fourth round selections (FLINT-2028; WDSR-2029), three fifth round picks (PBO-2027; PBO-2028; SBY-2030) as well as two sixths and a tenth.

And while the compensatory picks* are provided by the OHL and not the Wolves, instituted to try and encourage teams to select the best available player even if they were being told the prospect would only typically report to London or Windsor or such, Brampton will also gain the 5th overall pick in the 2027 OHL draft, as well as an extra second round pick (currently projected at #43 overall or so).

The Wolves will open their 2026-2027 regular season this coming Friday, September 18th, facing the Peterborough Petes in town and Tanner Adams expected to make his OHL debut.