Dove-McFalls traded to Rimouski

SAINT JOHN - As expected, the Saint John Sea Dogs have traded Samuel Dove-McFalls to the Rimouski Oceanic.

The Sea Dogs receive their 2020 first-round pick back in the deal, a pick that was traded to Rimouski in the Simon Bourque transaction during the holiday trade period.

Friday's deal completes the Bourque trade, which saw the Sea Dogs acquire the Oceanic captain and a 2018 second-round pick in exchange for Vincent Martineau, a 2018 first-round pick (Sherbrooke), a 2019 second-round pick and the 2020 first-round pick.

The Dove-McFalls deal essentially makes the Bourque trade look like this:

To Saint John:
Simon Bourque
2018 2nd-round pick (RIM) 

To Rimouski:
Samuel Dove-McFalls
Vincent Martineau
2018 1st-round pick (SHE)
2019 2nd-round pick (SJ)

It was a high price for the Sea Dogs to pay, but it's hard to argue with the deal given the success Saint John had with Bourque. The Montreal Canadiens prospect had seven goals and 21 assists in 30 regular season games with the Sea Dogs and added another four goals and nine assists in 13 playoff games. He struggled defensively at times at the Memorial Cup while recording two assists in four games.

Bourque has a year of junior eligibility remaining, but seems likely to be heading to either the Laval Rocket (AHL) or Brampton Beast (ECHL) for 2017-18.

Dove-McFalls, a third-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft, finishes his Saint John career with 42 goals and 67 assists in 212 games. He also had 12 goals and eight assists in 40 playoff games.

Like Bourque, Dove-McFalls could return as an overage player next season. The chances of that happening seem higher after the Philadelphia Flyers chose not to sign him before Thursday's deadline, making him a free agent.

The Sea Dogs and Oceanic meet twice in 2017-18 - Jan. 3 at Harbour Station and Jan. 14 in Rimouski.