Around The League

It’s looking very likely that the Moncton Wildcats will trade American forward Brandon Shea.

“I’ve talked with his agent and he’s indicated that Brandon would like to remain in the league so right now we’re exploring a potential move for him,” said Wildcats head coach and director of hockey operations Danny Flynn to the Times & Transcript (paywall) yesterday.

The Wildcats selected Shea 13^th overall in last year’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft. The highly touted forward recorded three goals and seven assists in 45 games. He left the team mid-season.

“We’ve had discussions with some teams about him and we’ll see what happens this week,” Flynn added.

In other Wildcats news, RDS’ Stephane Leroux tweets that it’s likely going to cost Moncton prospect Jack Flinn, a 2013 Euro pick, and a 2012 third and fourth round pick to acquire Sherbrooke’s first overall import pick. Leroux also tweets that the ‘Cats could go after Ivan Barbashev or Valeri Nichuskin with the pick.

A few other notes from around the league as Friday’s trading period nears:

• There is a chance San Jose Sharks defensive prospect Konrad Abeltshauser could return to the Halifax Mooseheads as an overage import player next season. [Metro Halifax]
• In other Moose news, they are closing in on acquiring Victoriaville’s Stefan Fournier. [Metro Halifax]
• Mason MacDonald, a Halifax native, is the top rated goaltender in this year’s draft. There’s a chance he could still be around when the Sea Dogs pick eighth overall. [Chronicle Herald]
• This could be the biggest draft in Cape Breton Screaming Eagles franchise history, as the Cape Breton Post explains. The Eagles will pick third overall on Saturday. [Cape Breton Post]
• So yeah, like half of the Shawinigan Cataractes’ Memorial Cup winning team will be playing in the Maritimes Division next season. [La Nouvelliste]
• Sherbrooke native Jacob Gervais-Chouinard will play for the Phoenix next season. [L’Avantage]

The trade period opens tomorrow and there should be plenty of deals. The draft is on Saturday morning in Quebec City.

Photo via Wildcats website