The return of Markus Phillips from the pro ranks has added even more intrigue to the OHL trade deadline for the Guelph Storm.
Phillips, 20, a key member of the team's OHL championship run last season and is a draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, was returned to the Storm by the Kings on Wednesday.
He has spent most of this season with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL where he had six assists in 20 games. He also played five games with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. A numbers game within the Kings farm system resulted in him being assigned back to the OHL.
"It's another conversation for sure and there's been lots of dialogue," Storm GM George Burnett said Thursday morning.
"We're addressing it. It was something that came to us in the last few days, so we've had a little bit of time with it. But nothing final at this particular time," Burnett said.
The return of Phillips gives the Storm four overage players: Phillips, defencemen Fedor Gordeev and Josh Wainman along with forward Cedric Ralph. A team can only have three on its roster after the trade deadline.
The OHL trade deadline for overage players is Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 for all other players.
Burnett said the Storm found out shortly after Christmas that Phillips would be returning.
"In the few days after Christmas we heard there was a good chance that if he wasn't going to be in the American Hockey League full time, there was a good chance he would be sent back."
Burnett said Phillips just got home to Toronto late Tuesday and if something doesn't develop in the next day or so he will join the team.
"If you look around the team there's a lot of teams that are pretty set with their numbers ... but there's lots of teams that are looking for an elite defenceman and if he's here he makes our team better and if he's on another team he's going to make that team better. He's an all star-calibre defenceman."
The Storm is already facing some tough decisions.
A team expected to struggle in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season currently sits in first place in the Western Conference. Burnett could add players to get stronger or trade some of the very desirable assets he has as part of the rebuild the team knows has to come at some point in time.
No matter what, an overage player has to go.
"There are zero issues with Markus, his work and his character. All those things are positive," Burnett said.
"We have to look at the fact that the group that we have here has done everything we've asked of them and more and just make the right decision for all the parties involved. Hopefully over the next couple of days we'll have some news that's more final on that."
Guelph acquired Phillips from the Owen Sound Attack at last year's trade deadline, giving up three second round picks, two third round picks and a conditional fourth round pick. That fourth round pick kicks in when Phillips plays a game in the league this season.
The Storm, ranked ninth in the Canadian Hockey League, host the Peterborough Petes on Friday.
