Sunday, September 26, 2021

Notebook: Dogs have assets to work with

Kevin Chambers/Station Nation
No matter what happens in the first half of the 2021-22 season, the Saint John Sea Dogs, as Memorial Cup hosts, will definitely be swinging some deals come the holiday trading period.

What do the Sea Dogs have to work with? For starters, a plethora of draft picks. Here's what they have for the next three drafts according to the French fan forum:

2022: 1-1CHA-2-2GAT-7-7VIC-8- 9-10MON-10GAT-11-12-13-14

2023: 1-2-3ROU-4-5-6-10-11-13-14

2024: 1-2-3-5-6-7-7VDO-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

The Sea Dogs also have a number of high end prospects - especially from this summer's draft - who could be dealt for immediate help.

Even if the Sea Dogs have a strong first half, the team will very likely still look at upgrading in some spots. Winning the Memorial Cup is hard - winning the Memorial Cup on home ice is both hard and a rare accomplishment. You don't want to have any regrets when June rolls around.

DOGS WERE IN ON BOLDUC
In non-surprising news: the Sea Dogs had strong interest in acquiring now former Rimouski Oceanic forward Zachary Bolduc.

The Journal le Soir reported last week that the Sea Dogs had been having discussions with the Oceanic about Bolduc for quite some time. Oceanic head coach and general manager Serge Beausoleil said they received a better offer from the Quebec Remparts, which is where Bolduc was dealt to in August.

The Oceanic received a 2022 first-round pick (Sherbrooke); 2022 sixth-round pick; 2023 first-round pick (Rimouski); and another 2023 first-round pick from the Remparts in exchange for Bolduc.

A first-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2021 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old had 10 goals and 19 assists in 27 games with Rimouski last season.

BOUTHILLIER SIGNS IN ECHL
Former Sea Dogs goaltender Zachary Bouthillier has signed with the Maine Mariners, the ECHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins.

A former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, Bouthillier posted a 19-25 record to go along with a 4.16 goals against average and a .897 save percentage during his overage season with the Sea Dogs in 2019-20.

Bouthillier joined the UQTR Patriotes of U Sports last season but never played a game due to the pandemic.

OUR 18 FEATURE
The Sea Dogs were featured in the QMJHL's "Our 18" series last week.
THE LONG GAME
Former Sea Dogs president Wayne Long won a third term as the Saint John - Rothesay Member of Parliament on Monday night, defeating Conservative and former Saint John mayor Mel Norton by a few thousand votes.

Long was photographed wearing his 2011 Memorial Cup championship hat during post-election festivities.
FIGHT
Via HockeyFights.com, here's the fight from last Saturday's pre-season game involving Lane Hinkley and Olivier Picard.


FREDERICTON CROWDS
Saint John's three "home" games in Fredericton had some of the biggest crowds (that were officially recorded, at least) in the QMJHL this pre-season.

Aug. 19 vs Moncton: 1,173
Aug. 25 vs Charlottetown: 1,197
Aug. 18 vs Bathurst: 1,314

Saint John's lone pre-season game at the Aitken Centre in 2019 against Cape Breton had an announced attendance of 2,087.

OTHER THINGS

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