Tuesday, December 13, 2016

REPORT: Booth to be traded to Dogs


Goaltender Callum Booth will reportedly be traded to the Saint John Sea Dogs.

According to multiple reports out of Quebec - including RDS and TVA Sports - the Sea Dogs will acquire Booth and Matthew Pietroniro in exchange for Alex Bishop, Olivier Mathieu, a 2017 first round pick and a 2019 third round pick.
The QMJHL's trade period opens on Dec. 18. Understandably, Remparts head coach and general manager Philippe Boucher would not comment on the news.

Booth, 19, has spent his entire QMJHL career with the Remparts and is considered one of the top netminders in the league. This season he has a 13-8 record to go along with a 2.87 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. In 126 career QMJHL games, Booth has a 2.99 GAA and .906 SV%.

Booth will join Saint John captain Spencer Smallman as Carolina Hurricanes prospects on the Sea Dogs. The goaltender was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the 'Canes.

Pietroniro is a 17-year-old forward who is currently playing with the Lac St-Louis Lions in the Quebec midget AAA ranks. In 22 games this season he has eight goals and nine assists in 22 matches. He was an eighth round pick of the Remparts in the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.

The Sea Dogs are paying a big price to land a big piece. Bishop, 19, has been good this season, but Booth will be an upgrade in net. Plus, having rookie Alex D'Orio work with him will no doubt have some benefits.

Mathieu was Saint John's top pick in this year's QMJHL draft. Giving up another first in the 2017 draft has its drawbacks as well. But Saint John is very much in a window of opportunity to win now, and making upgrades that will benefit now is the priority.

The Sea Dogs could certainly make other big moves as well this trade period. We'll soon see. 

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