Big and busy deadline day for Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs had one of the biggest trade deadline days in team history on Thursday.

The Sea Dogs made five separate deals before the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's trading period officially ended at 1 p.m. Atlantic on Thursday. All five were major transactions.

The biggest - and most surprising - deal of the day saw the Sea Dogs acquire Philippe Daoust, Nicholas Blagden and Thomas Couture from the Moncton Wildcats in exchange for prospect Natan Grenier, goaltender Jonathan Lemieux and draft picks.

The Sea Dogs significantly upgraded their scoring ability with the additions of Daoust, Marshall Lessard, Connor Trenholm and Raivis Ansons.

One scoring forward who did not end up with the Sea Dogs: Elliot Desnoyers of the Halifax Mooseheads. The much rumoured and expected deal between the Sea Dogs and Mooseheads did not take place. Desnoyers remains a member of the Mooseheads.

Here's a quick look at who is coming to the Sea Dogs and who is leaving.

In (by order of transaction):

19-year-old G Nikolas Hurtubise

17-year-old F Danny Akkouche (prospect)

19-year-old F Marshall Lessard

18-year-old F Connor Trenholm

20-year-old F Philippe Daoust

19-year-old F Nicholas Blagden

19-year-old G Thomas Couture

19-year-old F Raivis Ansons

Many future draft picks

Out (by order of transaction):

16-year-old F Francis Woods (prospect)

18-year-old F Carter McCluskey

18-year-old F Charles Savoie

16-year-old D Natan Grenier (prospect)

19-year-old F Evgeny Sapelnikov

Many, many future draft picks

Here's a breakdown of each deal:

#QMJHLTrades 🔄@TigresVicto
▶️ Saint John : Nikolas Hurtubise (2002-04-18), Danny Akkouche (2004-06-08)@SJSeaDogs
▶️ Victoriaville : 1st round 2022, 1st round 2023 (SHE) pic.twitter.com/5bDEtjsv1M

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) January 6, 2022

#QMJHLTrades 🔄 @SJSeaDogs
▶️ Val-d'Or : Francis Woods (2005-04-18), 1st round 2022 (CHA), 4th round 2023, 5th round 2023, 6th round 2023, 10th round 2024@ForeursVD
▶️ Saint John : Marshall Lessard (2002-09-20), 3rd round 2022, 6th round 2024 pic.twitter.com/U7YbBlCoAA

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) January 6, 2022

#QMJHLTrades 🔄@CBEHockey
▶️ Saint John : Connor Trenholm, 3rd round 2022, 2nd round 2023, 3rd round 2023 (BLB), 3rd round 2024@SJSeaDogs
▶️ Cape Breton : Charles Savoie, Carter McCluskey, 2nd round 2023, 1st round 2024, 3rd round 2024, 7th round 2024, 8th round 2024 pic.twitter.com/v7sFzIpYTv

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) January 6, 2022

#QMJHLTrades 🔄@SJSeaDogs
▶️ Moncton : Jonathan Lemieux, Natan Grenier, 3rd round 2022 (VDO), 3rd round 2023 (BLB), 6th round 2024, 7th round 2024 (VDO)@monctonwildcats
▶️ Saint John : Philippe Daoust, Nicholas Blagden, Thomas Couture, 6th round 2022 pic.twitter.com/VnTWeWKS1l

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) January 6, 2022

#QMJHLTrades 🔄@SJSeaDogs
▶️ Baie-Comeau : Evgeny Sapelnikov (2002-01-09), 2nd round 2022, 2nd round 2023 (CAP), 3rd round 2024 (CAP)@DrakkarBAC
▶️ Saint John : Raivis Kristians Ansons (2002-01-29) pic.twitter.com/VU6YtaoymL

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) January 6, 2022

The Sea Dogs now have four overagers on their roster but defenseman Christopher Inniss is, unfortunately, the odd man out. He was not moved on Thursday but has been placed on waivers.

"Odd man out" à @SJSeaDogs, le défenseur de 20 ans Christopher Inniss. Choix de 1re ronde. 5 ans dans la @LHJMQ. Va finir au ballottage.

— jf plante (@jfplante_Droit) January 6, 2022

Saint John's overage trio for the second half will be Daoust, forward Ryan Francis and defenseman Vincent Sevigny. The teams imports will be Ansons and defenseman Yan Kuznetsov.

The Sea Dogs notably have three goaltenders on their roster with Hurtubise and Couture joining Noah Patenaude.