Updated: MacDonald traded to Gatineau

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Cam MacDonald is expected to be traded to the Gatineau Olympiques, according to a report.

JF Plante of the Gatineau newspaper Le Droit reports that the Sea Dogs will trade MacDonald to the Olympiques in exchange for a first- and second-round pick.

Confirmé. Les @OlympiquesGAT échangent un choix de 1re ronde et 2e ronde (Landry) pour obtenir Cameron MacDonald, un choix du @TBLightning. https://t.co/l8eWFIcWGB

— jf plante (@jfplante_Droit) December 30, 2022

The Telegraph-Journal (paywall) is also reporting the deal.

UPDATED: The deal has been confirmed by the QMJHL. The Sea Dogs have received a first-round (Gatineau) and second-round (Drummondville) pick in 2024 in exchange for MacDonald.

MacDonald was expected to be dealt during the trade period and that speculation heightened on Wednesday night when he was a late scratch by the Sea Dogs.

The 19-year-old has proven to be quite literally a two-way player, suiting up as both a forward and a defenseman this season. He has 16 goals and 13 assists in 27 games this year, which includes four goals and four assists in his final three games before the holiday break. He also had a hat trick against Gatineau in October.

A third-round pick of Saint John in the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft, MacDonald has 41 goals and 39 assists in 124 career QMJHL games spread out over three seasons.

MacDonald was a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Draft but has not been signed. There is a chance he could be back in the QMJHL for his overage season next year.

The Olympiques have made a number of deals during the holiday trade period and are clearly looking to make a long playoff run. Gatineau sits second in the Western Conference wth 45 points, five back of the surprising Victoriaville Tigres.

The Sea Dogs visit Gatineau on Feb. 4.

The QMJHL's holiday trade period ends on Jan. 6.