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North Bay Battalion

'Crazy' Time Follows Trade to Ottawa

July 8, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - Nick Paul never expected to be involved in the biggest trade to date in the National Hockey League's offseason.

Paul, a centre with the Ontario Hockey League's North Bay Battalion, saw his NHL rights traded to the Ottawa Senators from the Dallas Stars on July 1 as Dallas acquired centre Jason Spezza.

Spezza played for the expansion Brampton Battalion as a 15-year-old super-underager in 1998-99, recording 22 goals and 49 assists for 71 points in 67 games. He played three more OHL seasons, with the Mississauga IceDogs, Windsor Spitfires and Belleville Bulls, with the Senators taking him second overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Left winger Alex Guptill, whose NHL rights also went to Ottawa in the Spezza deal, was chosen by the Battalion in the sixth round of the 2008 OHL Priority Selection.

"The last week has been really crazy, but it's been fun," Paul said via telephone from the Senators' development camp at Kanata, Ont.

"I got a call in the morning to tell me I' d been traded. I knew nothing about it. I turned on the TV and saw there was breaking news of the Spezza trade, and then I saw my name up there. I heard from the Senators right after that, and it was a whirlwind after that trying to get everything done.

"The camp has been amazing. We' ve had some long days getting in shape, but everything they do has been great. We' ve been doing team-building and some great stuff on and off the ice. We're learning something new every day."

Paul, 19, was a fourth-round pick by Dallas in the 2013 NHL Draft.

"It's a huge trade. It's good that Ottawa wants me. They seemed really high on me. Spezza was a great player for the Senators. He was the captain here. It's a great organization in Ottawa, and I like what they' ve done with us so far. The Stars called me and told me they really didn't want to move me but they had to to get a guy like Spezza."

A six-foot-three Mississauga resident, Paul is one of 41 players invited to the Canadian national junior team's summer development camp Aug. 3-8 at the Quebec centres of Brossard, Montreal and Sherbrooke.

"It's a real honour. I' ve been flying under the radar for so long it's nice to get noticed. I' ll go there and do the best I can to get a chance to crack that lineup."

Paul is aware that many of the players whom Hockey Canada will have under consideration for the team might skate in the NHL next season.

"There are a lot of great players who' ll be at that camp, but I think they might need a guy with my skills and playing style. I can grind it out and put the puck in the net. I'm a big body and I can use it. I' m putting on weight now; I' m up to 218 or so now. I feel like I' m getting stronger."

A fifth-round pick by Brampton in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection, Paul scored 26 goals and added 20 assists for 46 points in 67 games last season. He teamed with two overagers, left winger Ben Thomson and right winger Barclay Goodrow, on one of the most dominant lines in the league in the latter half of the season and the playoffs.

"I learned a lot from those guys," said Paul. "We really connected. Barclay showed me that you can put the team on your back and be the clutch player. I' m hoping to take that role on next season.

"I'm easy to play with. I' ll be the best linemate I can be on whatever line I' m put on. I can use my size to create some space and some chances for my linemates."

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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