Draft News & Notes

HIGHMORE

As you can see in this video posted by the Chronicle Herald’s Willy Palov, the Sea Dogs’ top pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft had to shake hands with his left hand.

According to Metro Halifax, “Highmore recently had shoulder surgery and couldn’t handshake with his dominant right on draft day, he said he’ll be ready for training camp.”

“I was always hoping Saint John because it’s such a great place to be,” Highmore told reporters.

Highmore, from Dartmouth, was the first Maritimer selected. Newfounlander Clark Bishop was the first player from Atlantic Canada picked, going third overall to Cape Breton.

RECAP

The Sea Dogs website has a full recap of what the Sea Dogs did yesterday.

“I like his skating, he’s got a quick first step," Sea Dogs Nova Scotia scout Sid Veysey said about Highmore. “As far as the passing and playmaking, he’s kind of like Sidney Crosby in that aspect of the game, and that’s what we like about him.”

“It’s a big organization and they win,’’ Olivier Leblanc, the 11^th overall pick, said of the Sea Dogs. “It’s fun to go to a team that wins. They will take care of me."

VIDEO

Here’s Palov and Mooseheads play-by-play man John Moore discussing the Mooseheads, Screaming Eagles, and Matthew Highmore.

RELEASED

The following players no longer appear on Saint John’s roster and were placed on the list of players who were eligible to be drafted this weekend: Danny Chiasson, Ben MacDonald, Spencer MacDonald, Joseph Manno, Dylan McGuigan, Jordan Moore, Richard Tingley, Grant West, and Danny Wicks.

No real surprises there.

GOALTENDING

A couple of surprises involved goaltenders. Mason McDonald, the top ranked goaltender who was projected to seventh overall by Central Scouting, slipped all the way to 20^th where he was picked by Bathurst.

Goaltender Keven Bouchard, projected to go 15^th overall, slid all the way to 46^th where he was selected by Val-d’Or.

The Sea Dogs drafted just one goaltender and that was American Drew Michals in the ninth round. No idea if he'll report.

HALIFAX

There were lots of rumours going around that the Sea Dogs and Mooseheads would make a deal involving Halifax's first round pick. Obviously, that never happened.

“It wasn’t a (high) enough pick to bring us a player who would put us over the top,” Halifax general manager Cam Russell told Metro Halifax. “We felt (drafting Eichel) was the best scenario for us.”

Halifax selected American Jack Eichel in the first round, surprising everyone. Eichel has commitments with the US Development Team and our old friend Jack Parker at Boston University.

SULLIVAN

Shawinigan made an interesting pick in the 14^th round, selecting Montreal Canadiens prospect Colin Sullivan 239^th overall. He was a seventh round pick of the Habs in the 2011 NHL Draft.

The defenseman had seven goals and nine assists in 24 games with Avon Old Farms in Connecticut last season. He has committed to play at Boston College next year.

WILDCATS

Six members of the Valley Wildcats were selected in the 2012 Draft, including Jason Dickinson who was picked 183^rd overall by the Sea Dogs. The Kings County Register has more on the ‘Cats.

SHEA

Speaking of the Wildcats, Moncton didn’t trade highly touted forward Brandon Shea. The American left the team mid-season last year and the Wildcats have said they will try to trade him.

Shea recorded three goals and seven assists in 45 contests with Moncton before departing.

On the bright side, Shea rumours will give all of us QMJHL followers something to talk about this summer.

TRADES

Other than swapping picks, there weren’t a whole lot of trades yesterday. The most notable transactions saw Bathurst acquire Brandon Hynes from Victorivaille, Val-d’Or acquire Memorial Cup hero Anton Zlobin from Shawinigan, Rouyn-Noranda acquire Gabriel Desjardins from Quebec, and Gatineau acquire Robert Steeves from Bathurst. All of this weekend’s trades can be seen here.

UP NEXT

Up next for the Sea Dogs: the 2012 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. It takes place on June 27 beginning at 10am Atlantic. The Sea Dogs, at the moment, will select 52^nd and 112^th overall. [EDIT: As a reader pointed out, the Sea Dogs actually have Rimouski's Euro pick which is 34th overall]