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| Vincent Ethier/QMJHL |
"The parents are probably tired of hearing from me and all that," joked Stella following the conclusion of the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft. "We're really excited. I know when I first took the (assistant general manager) job a couple years ago I really wanted to bring Americans to Saint John. I think this is a major first step for us. It feels rewarding, honestly."
Beveridge was the top American taken in Saturday's draft, going to Saint John in the second round, 30th overall. While the Sea Dogs have a reputation of being a team that successfully recruits American players, the reality is that, for the most part, that has not been the case.
Beveridge was in Sherbrooke on Saturday and sported a Sea Dogs jersey soon after the selection. He's fully expected to report to the team.
"He'll be at development and he'll be at training camp," confirmed Stella.
THREE SECOND ROUNDERS
Beveridge was Saint John's top pick of the draft and the first of three second round choices by the club.
It's rare to see an American taken so high in the QMJHL Entry Draft. When asked why the team chose to select Beveridge, a player that may have still been available later on, Stella said there were likely other teams with interest.
The highest USA selection in the Q draft since Ilya Putintsev in 2015 🧐
— Jérôme Bérubé (@Jerome_Berube) June 10, 2023
"There was no secret that he may have had interest in our league," said Stella. "I think that word was getting around that the Sea Dogs were on him and I think other teams started fishing around. I also think if you like a player, you get him. Why wait. We just took him, he's in our jersey, and that's it."
DEFENSE HEAVY
Saint John drafted seven defensemen on Saturday and added another in the American portion of the draft. Stella said that was based off the club's internal draft list.
"We felt the value of depth was more on D. Our forward list was almost done and we had a lot more defensemen so it kind of just fell that way."
Stella noted the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft that saw the Sea Dogs select eight forwards and just three defensemen, a move that was also based off the club's list.
"I think we went for value and it was with defensemen."
KILFOIL WATCH
The Halifax Mooseheads traded up to 31st overall to select Quispamsis native Liam Kilfoil, who played US prep school hockey at Salisbury last season. Kilfoil signed a tender agreement with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints in March.
The Kilfoil selection came one after Saint John grabbed Egan Beveridge. Kilfoil and Beveridge were roommates at Mount St. Charles during the 2021-22 season, so you have to wonder if the Mooseheads were worried about Saint John grabbing Kilfoil at No. 33.
Saltwire has more on the Mooseheads' top pick.
MACDONALD TRADED
Former Sea Dogs forward Cam MacDonald was traded back into the Maritimes Division on Saturday.
The Gatineau Olympiques traded the overage forward to the Cape Breton Eagles in exchange for a second round pick (32nd overall) and a sixth-round pick (102nd overall) in Saturday's draft.
The Sea Dogs traded MacDonald to the Olympiques at the holiday trade period. MacDonald recorded 13 goals and 14 assists in 31 second half games with Gatineau. He added five goals and three assists in 13 playoff games.
A fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Draft, MacDonald was not signed by the club, increasing the odds of him returning to the QMJHL for his overage season.
The Olympiques are in rebuild mode after being buyers at the holiday trade deadline.
NEXT YEAR'S DRAFT
The Sea Dogs didn't acquire or trade away any picks for next year's draft. Similar to this year, they are a bit light on picks in the first four rounds — but they do have a first rounder that could end up being quite high.
Here's where Saint John is currently scheduled to pick in 2024, via the French fan boards:
1GAT-3BAT-6VDO-6-7-8-10-11-12-13-14
RANDOM STUFF
- Bo Damphousse, the son of Vincent Damphousse, was selected 26th overall by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Bo spent last season with the Lac St-Louis Lions — the same team as Mateo Nobert, who the Armada picked third overall.
- Gatineau acquired pick No. 27 from the Victoriaville Tigres in a deal involving Anaheim Ducks prospect Noah Warren. The Sea Dogs acquired Noah's younger brother, Elie, in a deal on Friday.
- Cape Breton selected forward Rory Pilling 34th overall, the first player from Rothesay Netherwood to be taken.
- Moncton Flyers forward Zachary Wheeler, one of the top New Brunswick players available, went 39th overall to the Armada.
- Brady Peddle, the brother of Drummondville's Tyler Peddle and the son of StFX head coach Brad Peddle, was taken in the third round by the Gatineau Olympiques. Peddle played US prep school hockey last year.
- Jameson George, an eighth-round pick of Halifax, was the lone member of the Saint John Vito's picked on Saturday.
- Former Sea Dogs forward William Dufour joined the team's draft table for the event and announced one of Saint John's 11th-round picks.
- Ryan Dwyer, the son of former Sea Dogs head coach Gordie Dwyer, was a sixth-round pick of Gatineau.
- Four of Rimouski's top five picks were Maritimers.
- Tristan Langlois, a sixth-round pick of the Moncton Wildcats, was the biggest player selected in the draft. He's listed at 6'5" and 186 lbs. Noa Desormeau, an 11th-round pick of the Blainville-Boisbriand, was the smallest, listed at just 5'3" and 118 lbs.
- In April, Saltwire had a story on forward Matthew MacLean, an 11th-round pick of Saint John on Saturday. MacLean is a 17-year-old who went undrafted in 2022 after missing the entire 2021-22 season recovering from an ACL tear.
- So great to have this event back in-person. No more pandemics, thanks.
NEW SHOTS
Here's something new: the QMJHL brought a drone to the draft.
While we wait, here is a drone pic.twitter.com/CL39onwkzE
— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) June 10, 2023
Hey Jamie , long time reader. Wondering what you think our depth chart looks like as of right now ( after the draft and pre draft trades )
ReplyDeleteLove the column by the way !