By Wally Donaldson
The Oshawa Express

There was no questioning the wisdom of the Generals’ hiearchy when they chose to deal John Tavares and Michael Del Zotto to the London Knights for what translated to a bushel full of draft picks.
Other transactions here and there enhanced their positioning at the forthcoming priority draft, giving scouts a grandiose opportunity to provide some ammunition at the draft table.
Good for the future. But as the Generals sorely realized this Ontario Hockey League (OHL) campaign, it presented little, if any ammo for the present.Their deletion from playoff contention for the second straight year is testimony.
It should be duly noted, however, that the Generals did pick up some keen talent along the way. Goalie Michael Zador, defenceman Scott Valentine and sniper Christian Thomas came over from London, blueliner Alex Dzielski and Andrew Wilson were scooped up from the Kitchener Rangers and JP Labardo arrived from Guelph.
Very nice additions.

And with his current contract expired, Oshawa coach and general manager Chris DePiero will soon be meeting with the Generals hiearchy to ink another agreement. Principle owner Rocco Tullio declared earlier in the season that with the crop of youth gaining valued experience, DePiero deserves the right to return and complete the task he started.
There was rumor circulating around the Peterborough media room last Saturday that DePiero had sought a three-year contract, but was notified it would be a one year deal.
Nothing was further from the truth, said the Oshawa skipper.
“A three-year deal? I don’t know where that came from,” he said with a smile. “Nothing has been signed yet. We did talk about (resigning) in January, but we will meet.”
DePiero realizes the microscope will be on his ability to coach next season, having missed the playoffs in both years he has been in control.
“And it should be,” he emphasizes. “I don’t disagree with that. People need to understand that I’m certainly not happy about missing the playoffs while under my watch. We made a decision as an organization when we moved Tavares and Del Zotto that we would be taking a step back.
“Our anticipation was to battle for a playoff spot. But we do have to determine as we build through the draft and the right channels the proper means of heading in a positive direction for the future rather than quick fixes.
“When we missed the playoffs last year, it was my very first as a player and a coach. And now, it has happened twice and it kills me.”
Oshawa’s offensive expectations were not exactly at the top of the list with many hockey guru’s at the top of this campaign, considering Jeff Brown came in to this season as the club’s leading scorer from last year with 16 goals.

The remarkable story to be told is the arrival of Thomas as a bona fide junior sniper. Last season at this time,  the 18-year-old Toronto native compiled four goals in 32 games with the Knights and four goals in 27 outings with the Generals after the trade. This totals eight goals in 59 contests.
The progress Thomas was able to achieve is uncanny as he mustered a very commendable 41 goals this season. A lot had to do with the tenacious work ethic of captain Jeff Hayes at the centre position.

“People said coming into this year that we would have trouble scoring goals and rightfully so,” says Oshawa head coach and general manager Chris DePiero. “But when you look at the overall scheme of things, Thomas went from eight goals to 41 and (Jeff) Brown went from 16 to 20 goals, obviously that is an improvement. “(Alain) Berger came in with 19 and (Jeff) Hayes kicked in with 21. We found ways to score goals in different ways.

Conversely, we also found ways to give up goals and that’s the part that scares me.”
The loss of highly-touted defenceman Calvin deHaan earlier in the season took a heavy toll, according to DePiero.
“Calvin has the ability to slow things down and bring the puck out and we certainly missed him. There’s no doubt in my mind that we would have been good for a few more wins had Calvin been in the lineup.”
DePiero has lamented on numerous occasions during the season the emphasis on the youth of his troops and the ability to adjust to the rigors of a major junior level. This year’s experience should pay off in dividends next year.
“When adversity strikes during the course of a game it’s a matter of finding the resiliency and that’s what good teams find to deal with,” adds DePiero. “Our game (against Peterborough) is a good example. We got scored on in bunches. I tried timeouts, tried taking advantage of TV timeouts, changed goalies. . .all different things.
“It was a matter of dealing with the inexperience.”
With their season prematurely completed, the Generals brass will soon be huddling inside a war room eith scouts to discuss their potential selections. The emphasis will be placed squarely on finding players able to take the immediate jump to the OHL level and complement the returning athletes.
“We have five picks in the first 60 and if we can get two or three of those capable of stepping right in, that will be very important to us. And in regards to the other picks, they will become important to us two or even three years down the line.”