OHL Notebook: Overage goaltender on the move?

Overage goaltender Jake Paterson could be on the move sooner rather than later.

Spirit General Manager Jim Paliafito confirmed the possibility of a trade involving Paterson in a story on Yahoo! Sports earlier this week.

“We’re definitely committed to a rebuild and we’re going to stick to it,” Paliafito said in the story. “When the right situation comes to us and one thar makes sense for Jake – to get on a team that can go the distance – then we need to do it and move on.”

“He’s been great for our organization and I want to do right by him, so that’s important to us,” Paliafito also said.

Paliafito also said he would not wait until the Jan. 8 deadline to deal overage players to move Paterson if a suitable deal came up earlier.

“If we can make a deal that we think makes sense, we would do it. We’re not going to hold on to January to selfishly better our record. We understand where we are as an organization right now. It’s tough, but it’s about the future,” Paliafito said.

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BULLS FUTURE IN BELLEVILLE IN DOUBT

The future of one Ontario Hockey League franchise is in limbo.

Recent comments by Belleville Bulls owner Gord Simmonds during a Bulls broadcast on CJBQ radio in Belleville have made waves after suggesting that the city is “in great risk of losing their OHL franchise” if average attendance at the Yardmen Arena is below 3,000 for the season.

Simmonds stressed the need for the team and the city to work together to help decide the future of the team.

“We’re moving into a council that will probably be the council that’s got one of the strong voices in deciding our future in the city of Belleville,” Simmonds said. “We’ve all got to work to make it viable.”

In the municipal election on Monday, the city of Belleville elected a new mayor as Taso Christopher replaces Neil Ellis, who was elected as mayor of Belleville in 2006. Ellis is the Bay of Quinte riding’s Liberal nominee for next years federal election.

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ZADOROV BACK TO LONDON?

If the Buffalo Sabres have their way, underage defenseman Nikita Zadorov could be back with the London Knights to finish off the 2014-15 season.

The issue, according to multiple media reports, is that Zadorov would rather play the season in the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League than return to London to suit up for the Knights.

According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Zadorov’s agent has told the Sabres that the Russian defenseman would rather play in Russia.

Because Zadorov was drafted from the Knights when Buffalo selected the blueliner in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, the development agreement between the CHL and NHL means players drafted from the CHL have to play four seasons in the CHL or be 20-years-old in order to play in the American Hockey League.