Jan 08, 2009 - 08:27 PM

By Shawn Cayley

OSHAWA -- John Tavares has been Knighted.

Tavares, who has long been rumoured to be on his way out of town, specifically en route to London, was finally dealt to the Knights Thursday, along with defenceman Michael Del Zotto and goalie Daryl Borden, in exchange for winger Christian Thomas, defenceman Scott Valentine, goalie Michael Zador and six draft picks, including four second rounders and two third rounders .

Generals owner Rocco Tullio said he feels his club made the best move possible to ensue future success, regardless of how tough it was to bid farewell to Tavares and Del Zotto.

"We've discussed putting structures and systems in place and building for the future," said Tullio, noting that receiving six draft picks in the deal was key. "I think this is just consistent with the plan that our coaching staff and ownership have set forth. From the outset we wanted to create a consistent and winning team here and the way to do that is through the draft."

Tullio credited coach/GM Chris DePiero for his work on the deal, and feels two major things were accomplished with the trade. One being the restocking of Oshawa's asset cupboard, while the other was giving his two now former stars a shot at a championship.

"We came to realize that we really didn't have the resources or the draft picks to be able to make a run for it this year and the best thing that we could do is put our money where our mouth is and put John and Michael in the best position possible for them to be able to, in their third and fourth years, to be able to win a championship," Tullio said.

Voice messages left with DePiero, Knights GM Mark Hunter, Del Zotto, and Tavares's agent Pat Brisson were not returned prior to deadline.

A news conference announcing the deal was slated for 10 a.m. today at the GM Centre.

Tavares and Del Zotto join a Knights club that is second in the OHL with a record of 30-8-0-1, behind only the Windsor Spitfires, who were also interested in trading for Tavares and made a blockbuster deal of their own on Wednesday, picking up goalie Josh Unice, forward Scott Timmins and defenceman Ben Shutron from Kitchener.

In 32 games with the Generals this season, Tavares totalled 26 goals and 54 points and now becomes London's top gun in an offensive group that includes Phil McRae, Nazem Kadri, Justin Taylor and others.

While it was tough for the Generals to include Del Zotto in the deal, Tullio said London insisted he be a part of the package. So in doing so, the initial price for Tavares was driven a little higher with the inclusion of the offensive defenceman.

In Borden the Generals surrendered a player who was their property, but had not been with the club since last November.

Thomas, the son of former NHLer Steve Thomas, has 11 points in 32 games and was London's first-round pick in the 2008 draft. Valentine is a six-foot-two former second rounder who doesn't have a point in 20 career OHL games.

Zador was the Knights' first rounder in 2007 and in 10 games this season has a 6-1 record and a 3.64 goals against average.

The community was quick to react when word of the trade leaked out.

"I realized Tavares would probably be traded but I didn't realize Del Zotto was going to go with him," season ticket holder Harry Horricks told reporter Stefanie Swinson while picking up tickets at the GM Centre Thursday.

The Generals, who also dealt blueliner David Corrente to Mississauga Thursday for a third round pick in 2009, will play in London tonight, but it wasn't clear if Tavares or any of the new players would be playing.

-- with files from Stefanie Swinson