Busy trade period begins Sunday

Tigres website

SAINT JOHN - What will likely be the biggest holiday trading period (in terms if acquisitions, at least) in Saint John Sea Dogs franchise history begins Sunday.

As Memorial Cup hosts, we've known all season that the Sea Dogs would be buyers. But given how the first half went - which was perhaps highlighted by the past two games - the Sea Dogs appear on their way to being major, major buyers. Time will tell.

Many teams have been in this position before, obviously. What's a bit unique about Saint John is the amount of assets they have to work with. The team has accumulated plenty of draft picks and prospects that can be dealt to improve the team for the second half.

Here's Saint John's current bank of draft picks, according to the French fan boards:

2022: 1-1CHA-2-2GAT-7-7VIC- 8-9-10MON-10GAT-11-12-13-14 

2023: 1SHE-2-3ROU-4-5-6-10-11-13-14

2024: 1-2-3-5-6-7-7VDO-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

The QMJHL's trading period ends on Jan. 6.

Steve Turcotte of le Nouvelliste is reporting that the Sea Dogs are set to acquire overage defenseman Vincent Sevigny from the Victoriaville Tigres on Sunday. Sevigny, who helped the Tigres win the President Cup last season, has seven goals and 26 points in 24 games with Victoriaville this season.

With Sevigny being an overager, another move will obviously be needed in order to make room on Saint John's roster.

Turcotte is also reporting that overage forward Pierrick Dube, recently released by the ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions, wants to return to the QMJHL and three teams are interested: the Sea Dogs, Shawinigan Cataractes and Gatineau Olympiques. Dube's rights are currently owned by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.