It's no surprise that Daniil Chayka's name comes up when George Burnett talks turkey with other OHL general managers.
The lanky Russian had a goal and two assists Sunday as the Storm downed the Kitchener Rangers 8-1 at the Sleeman Centre.
But as the OHL's Jan. 10 trade deadline gets closer and the Storm look like a team wanting to add talent and experience, Storm fans don't have to worry about the team's number one pick from this year's draft going anywhere.
"He's one of the elite '02s out there and I'm not going to tell you that people haven't asked, but it's not our intention to even consider it. He's a big part of our team now and he's quite capable of being the go-to guy for many year's to come.
"He's a late birthdate so it's three years since he's draft eligible, he's a good kid and he's had a nice transition into our league," Burnett said. "We think a lot of him," Burnett said.
"I think we see him moving the puck a little harder, a little quicker, his feet are moving a little faster and I just think his confidence is going up," Burnett said of Chayka, the seventh overall pick in this year's OHL draft.
Burnett said there seemed to be a bit of a lull in his confidence after he returned from the World Under 17 Challenge where he helped Team Russia win gold.
"Not that he was feeling bad, it's just you kind of come down off the mountain a bit after you win a gold medal," Burnett said.
"But for every young defenceman, and I don't care how good you are, it's not an easy transition and it takes some time to figure it out. But I think he and Zack (Terry) are in the same situation, the more they play the more we'll see."
Chayka said it's a little easier to play well when you get as much ice time as he did in Sunday's blowout.
"It's getting easier every game," he said, adding that the international experience (he will also play for Team Russia at the upcoming Four Nation's Cup) also helps.
"Playing against all the older guys is a good learning experience and then at the international tournament, with all the best players from around the world, that helps too," Chayka said.
After Sunday he now has three goals and eight points in 19 games.
Kitchener actually scored first on Sunday, a power play goal Alexey Lipanov.
But Guelph then peeled off eight unanswered goals, scoring them on just 30 shots, in the one-sided win, and it wasn't the big stars doing the scoring either as the team's top three goal getters didn't score once.
Keegan Stevenson and Cam Hillis each had a pair and singles went to Barret Kirwin, Dmitri Samorukov and Cedric Ralph.
Guelph hits the road next weekend for games in Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. Next home game is Dec. 14 against Peterborough.
