GALLANT DENIES ALLEN TRADE RUMORS

With the Saint John Sea Dogs playing their best hockey in franchise history, folks are already starting to ask what will make them even better.

Neil Hodge of the Moncton Times & Transcript wrote today in an article that there are indeed rumors of Montreal Junior goaltender Jake Allen coming to the Dogs. The Fredericton native will be in Saskatoon/Regina for much of the trading period with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

"No truth to that,'' said Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant when asked if a deal was already in the works. "I'm not saying that we're not among the teams showing an interest in Jake Allen, but there's far from anything done.''


Sports Juniors Magazine* reported today that Allen is all but gone from the Montreal lineup when he leaves next week for Saskatchewan. The article suggests that the deal will consist of a young stud like Pierre Durepos or Jonathan Huberdeau. The Montreal Junior have denied all reports.

Despite Gallant's answer, he can't deny the fact that Director of Hockey Operations Mike Kelly spent last weekend scouting in Montreal.

"If the right deal is available, we'll make it," he said. "We have a bunch of outstanding young players so we think we're set up for the next three or four years. We have to keep the future in mind if we make any moves.''

Saint John has already been involved with the Junior this season in the trading category. Import David Stich was sent to Montreal after he was released from the AHL's Hartford Wolfpack. Many have come to the conclusion that the Stich deal was the first part of an Allen deal.

On paper it looks as though the Sea Dogs should be the last team interested in acquiring a net minder. Overage goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas has been the best in the league this season and has a 2.29 goals against average.

Gallant didn't say however that the Sea Dogs would not be making any trades. "We're going to look at who's available and what we might be able to do to upgrade our team," he said.


One possible alternative was brought up by Telegraph-Journal columnist Peter McGuire. He suggested that the Sea Dogs acquire Remi Blanchard, an experienced defenseman now playing with the Titan in Bathurst. He has five goals and 14 assists in 33 games but is -13.

*Station Nation would like to add that Sports Junior Magazine is not the most reliable source for information and be advised of this in thier report.