Sea Dogs acquire Lemieux from Foreurs

QMJHL

It's official: Jonathan Lemieux is now a member of the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The overage netminder was acquired by the Sea Dogs in a significant deal that was announced during the sixth-round of Saturday's QMJHL Entry Draft. Saint John picked up Lemieux and the 128th overall pick in this year's draft in exchange for defenseman Kale McCallum; a first-round pick in 2023; a third-round pick in 2022 (Val-d'Or); and a fourth-round selection in 2022 (Bathurst).

The deal had been rumoured for a few weeks and was all but confirmed when the Sea Dogs traded Nicholas Girourd on Wednesday, opening up an overage slot.

🔄TRADE ALERT🔄
The Sea Dogs have acquired overage goalie Jonathan Lemieux from the @ForeursVD in exchange for (D) Kale McCallum and a package of picks. pic.twitter.com/lCAvTNbVJN

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) June 26, 2021

It's a huge add for the Sea Dogs. Lemieux is projected to be one of the best netminders in the QMJHL this season and will obviously help a team that has struggled to consistently play well defensively.

Lemieux went 20-4 last season with a loaded Foreurs squad, posting a 1.96 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. In the playoffs he went 11-4 with a 1.95 GAA and .910 SV%, helping Val-d'Or reach the President Cup final.

In 139 career QMJHL games, Lemieux has a 3.67 GAA and .896 SV%.

The price certainly wasn't cheap but seems to be a manageable amount for the Sea Dogs, who still have plenty of picks banked. McCallum, meanwhile, had slipped down the team's depth chart this past season.

McCallum, an eighth-round pick of Saint John in 2018, has appeared in 80 games with Saint John over two seasons, recording six goals and 18 assists. A Quispamsis native, the 19-year-old played at Rothesay Netherwood prior to joining the Sea Dogs.