REPORTS: Sea Dogs to acquire Gauthier

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MONTREAL - They're not done yet.

Having already made a couple of huge acquisitions in goaltender Callum Booth and defenceman Simon Bourque, the Saint John Sea Dogs are set to acquire forward Julien Gauthier from the Val-d'Or Foreurs, according to Stephane Leroux of RDS.

Leroux reports that the deal will be made official on Friday, which is the final day of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's trading period.

The Sea Dogs well send drafts picks and a prospect to the Foreurs, according to Leroux.

Julien Gauthier jouera pour les #SeaDogs après le #CMHJ Troc impliquant des choix et un jeune joueur midget confirmé vendredi matin #LHJMQ

— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) January 3, 2017

Les #Foreurs echangeront Julien Gauthier aux #SeaDogs vendredi matin - j'avais parlé de cette rumeur pendant le camp à Boisbriand #LHJMQ

— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) January 3, 2017

Depuis le debut des transactions les #SeaDogs ont échangé Luke Green mais sont allés chercher C.Booth, S.Bourque et maintenant J.Gauthier

— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) January 3, 2017

TVA Sports is reporting the trade as well, adding that the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and Chicoutimi Sagueneens were in the running for Gauthier.

Gauthier is one of the premier goal scorers in junior hockey, recording 41 goals in 2015-16 and 38 in 2014-15. In 207 career QMJHL games, Gauthier has 94 goals and 186 points.

The 19-year-old hasn't had his greatest goal scoring season so far (by his standards), recording seven goals and 20 assists in 23 games with Val-d'Or. Playing on a Saint John team loaded with play makers should help his numbers out.

A first round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2016 NHL Draft, Gauthier is currently playing with Mathieu Joseph, Thomas Chabot and Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship. He has three goals and two assists in five games with Canada at this year's tournament and was named the team's Player of the Game on Monday.

QMJHL players are not permitted to be traded during the world juniors, so this deal will not be made official until Friday - assuming the report is accurate.

Gauthier and Team Canada take on Sweden tomorrow night in the semifinals.