The Sea Dogs have a core group of defensemen that are presumably locks to make the team: Christopher Inniss (19), Kale McCallum (18), William Villeneuve (18), Jeremie Poirier (18) and Charlie DesRoches (18). Assuming Saint John opts to carry seven d-men, that leaves two open roster spots.
The Dogs have a number of players listed on their pre-season roster who could fill those two holes, including Jordan Spadafore (20), Brendan Sibley (19), Guillaume Richard (17) and Nathan Drapeau (16).
Spadafore might be a long shot given that he's an overager while Richard has indicated that it's unlikely he'll play in the QMJHL this season (if ever). That leaves Sibley, who has appeared in just 87 games over his three-year QMJHL career, and Drapeau, a first-round pick of the Dogs in this month's Entry Draft.
Drapeau may benefit more from playing another season of midget rather than rotating in-and-out of Saint John's lineup... but we'll see what the team decides to do with these final two spots on D. Other options include the Sea Dogs selecting a defenseman in Tuesday's CHL Import Draft (although that seems unlikely) or acquiring/signing a new player.
U-17 CAMP INVITES
Sea Dogs prospects Leighton Carruthers and Simon Hughes were both invited to Hockey Canada's virtual under-17 development camp, which is set to be held next month.
“It’s an honour and something I’ve worked at for a very long time,” said Carruthers, selected third overall by Saint John in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, in a news release. “Anytime you get the chance to wear the maple leaf and represent your country is definitely something that you can’t for granted and you should be proud of.”
“Representing your province is one thing, but having the opportunity and chance to potentially someday represent your country is a huge honour,” said Hughes, a second-round pick of the Dogs.
The virtual camp is in anticipation of the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge which, as of right now, is still scheduled to be held Oct. 31 to Nov. 7 in Charlottetown and Summerside.
HOW BAD COULD THINGS GET?
It seems inevitable that rough times are ahead for the CHL and its 60 teams. Another class action lawsuit is looming a month after settling the minimum wage class action. Plus, there's the unknown of just how much COVID-19 is going to hurt the league.
Sportsnet's Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman discussed the topic on a podcast this week.
Marek adds it all depends what happens with these lawsuits. They're just discussing if worst case scenario is realized.— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 25, 2020
Marek asks if the CHL may be forced to fold and start again with some new model. Marek discusses how there has always been a conversation about having a "West" "East" & "Central" set-up under the CHL rather than having a "Quebec" league, "Ontario" league & "Western Canada" league— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 25, 2020
Things could definitely be going better!
NHL DRAFT RANKINGS
Ahead of Friday's NHL Draft Lottery chaos, Sea Dogs defenseman Jeremie Poirier was ranked 29th for this year's draft by Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino.
"As of right now, there are concerns about defending or a willingness to work on it," wrote Cosentino in his latest draft rankings. "Then again, when you’re as gifted offensively as Poirier with great skating ability, who would want to defend?"
Poirier was ranked 33rd in Bob McKenzie's final rankings while William Villeneuve was an honourable mention.
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