Here We Go

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League trading period has officially begun.

This year’s trading period runs until Tuesday, January 8. All the transactions will be posted on the league website.

Well, this is certainly a different kind of trading period for the Saint John Sea Dogs. They’ll be sellers for the first time since the 2008-09 season. This will also be the first time in the Mike Kelly era that the Sea Dogs will be looking to sell rather than buy.

Saint John certainly has some assets that many teams will want. 19-year old Ryan Tesink should bring in a good return for the Dogs. It’ll be interesting to see if teams go after 20-year olds Stephen MacAulay and Pierre Durepos. And of course, there is Jonathan Huberdeau. What happens with Huberdeau is anyone’s guess at this point.

The Dogs acquired a few draft picks – including a first rounder – in the Kevin Gagne deal. With Saint John currently 13^th overall in the league, you have to think the Dogs may try and get their own first-round pick back from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

It's always difficult to see long time Sea Dogs get traded but that is just how junior hockey works. It's a cycle. And remember, Saint John doesn't have three straight 50-win seasons without the moves they made at the 2009 trade deadline.

This should be an interesting few weeks. We’ll have plenty of coverage.