The OHL trade season has begun. As of December 28, the trade freeze lifted for any players who are not participating in the World Junior Championships.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Nikita Korostelev is one of those players. After having a personal best season so far with the Sarnia Sting (34 points in 29 games), Korostelev was looked upon as a player who could help a contender out in the long run to the Memorial Cup.
There were rumours before the break that the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds were most interested in him, and then the Peterborough Petes and Mississauga Steelheads saw their names get tossed into the ring of speculation.