The Sea Dogs, who also sent an 11th-round pick to Val-d'Or, acquired an 11th-round pick in this year's draft (used to select forward Nico Laforge); a fourth- (Chicoutimi) and fifth-round pick in 2021; and a third-round selection in 2022.
There are believed to be performance clauses attached to the deal, so we've likely not seen the end of this trade.
This a major move by Saint John, who deal one of their leading scorers from the past couple seasons. Cajkovic has struggled at times though, never quite finding the consistency that could make him one of the top forwards in the league. He also struggled with an injury throughout the 2019-20 campaign.
Injuries and international play limited Cajkovic to just 36 games last season where he recorded 18 goals and 42 points. The year prior, the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect had 22 goals and 46 points in 60 games.
Cajkovic joins a Val-d'Or team that is loading up. The team made the biggest trade of the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft on Friday, acquiring Calgary Flames prospect Jakob Pelletier from the Moncton Wildcats.
The deal makes a lot of sense for the Sea Dogs, who have made three major additions up front over the past few weeks: Peter Reynolds, Nicolas Girouard and Cameron MacDonald. Cajkovic, 19, likely won't be playing in the QMJHL as an overager, meaning it may be wise for the Dogs to look at drafting someone in this year's CHL Import Draft that fits the team's cycle a bit better.
Saint John still has import defenseman Joona Lehmus on its roster but the team has not said if he'll be returning or not. With Cajkovic gone, the Sea Dogs will most likely be drafting at least one import this year. The CHL Import Draft takes place on June 30.
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