PETERBOROUGH – On a Windsor Spitfires club committed to rebuilding, there are no untouchables.

Goalie Mikey DiPietro has watched veterans Logan Stanley, Aaron Luchuk, Gabriel Vilardi and Sean Day all dealt this season after helping the club win last year’s Memorial Cup.

“I kind of came into this year expecting guys to move and go,” said DiPietro, who will be in goal on Thursday when the Spitfires open a three-game road trip in Peterborough against the Petes. “I guess the one thing I wasn’t prepared for was how quickly they would go.”

The Spitfires have exacted a heavy return for those four veterans by getting 17-year-old centre Curtis Douglas, 16-year-old centre Cody Morgan, eight draft picks in the second round and four more in the third round.

It’s a solid return for veteran players with Memorial Cup experience, but Spitfires’ general manager Warren Rychel could be looking at a king’s ransom if he opted to deal the 18-year-old DiPietro.

“I think Mikey, you know, is the most valuable player in the OHL right now,” Rychel said. “It’s hard to find a goalie. There are not a lot of standout goalies in our league at this time and Mikey’s arguably the best one.”

While there has been interest show in DiPietro, it’s not been enough for Rychel to consider a trade – yet.

“You’ve got to listen, to see what’s right, but there hasn’t been enough, yet, offered,” Rychel said.

There’s a lot for the Rychel to consider if he was to make a deal for DiPietro.

Like Vilardi, DiPietro still has another year of junior eligibility to play before the Vancouver Canucks prospect turns pro. While Rychel is gambling on Vilardi being with the Los Angles Kings next season, DiPietro is almost a lock to be back in the OHL for a final season.

As well, the Amherstburg native is the face of the franchise and has close ties in the community.

“He’s the face of our franchise, a local kid and you have to be careful,” Rychel cautioned.

For his part, DiPietro is taking nothing for granted.

“I won’t believe (I won’t be traded) until 12:01,” DiPietro said in reference to the league’s 12 noon trade deadline on Jan. 10^th.

Rychel, who has known DiPietro since he was an 11-year-old, dealt his son, Kerby Rychel, in 2013 to help the club in a rebuild that ended with last year’s Memorial Cup title. DiPietro knows anything can happen.

“For myself, at the end of the day, you have to do what’s right for the hockey club and I’ve got to do what’s right for my hockey career,” DiPietro said. “I want to play in the NHL, whatever way I can help the organization, but also hopefully keep getting better and being a better goaltender, I’ve got think of that, too.”

DiPietro was a league all-star last season and again in helping Windsor win its third Memorial Cup in nine years while also being named the tournament’s top goaltender. A deal for him could tip the balance of power for a club looking to make a title run this season.

“You read a few things here and there,” DiPietro said. “There’s speculation.”

But for a Windsor team that still has hopes of making the playoffs, there is no one to fill the void of DiPietro’s departure, not only in net, but in the dressing room.

“He’s mature beyond his years and really the captain of our team,” Rychel said. “He really is the leader of our team.”

So, while there will be speculation around DiPietro in the coming week, it would take a monumental offer from a club to get him out of Windsor and that’s just fine for the Sun County minor hockey product.

“I really like staying here,” DiPietro said. “It’s where my heart is and where I want to be.

“Maybe there will be a day where I’m not wearing the Spitfire jersey in the OHL, but hopefully that day doesn’t come too soon.”

jpparker@postmedia.com

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