Reynolds traded to Mooseheads

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs and Halifax Mooseheads pulled off a major pre-Christmas trade on Friday evening.

The Sea Dogs traded overage captain and leading scorer Peter Reynolds to the Halifax Mooseheads in exchange for 20-year-old forward Brody Fournier and a 2025 first-round pick (Moncton).

The deal is... surprising but also not surprising. It seemed like if Reynolds was going anywhere, it would be Halifax. But there has been speculation that the Moose were looking at other overagers, which made this deal seem like a lower probability. But here we are — and now Reynolds has a shot at playing in another Memorial Cup.

Reynolds is having the best season of his QMJHL career, posting 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points in 32 games, placing him seventh in league scoring. Oddly enough, he scored twice — including the overtime winner — and added an assist in Saint John's win last Saturday in Halifax.

Champion. Captain. Sea Dog.

Thank you, Pete!#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/g4VuTGPnkZ

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) December 22, 2023

The Fredericton native was a second-round pick of Saint John in the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft and joined the club for the 2020-21 season after opting to play junior hockey over college. He recorded 70 goals and 88 assists in 166 games with the Sea Dogs.

Reynolds will provide some needed offensive punch for the Mooseheads, which has been an issue for the club this season.

Fournier, a native of Lombardy, Ont., has spent the past two seasons with the Mooseheads after signing with the club as a free agent. He has 13 goals and 13 assists in 35 games with Halifax this year. He'll presumably slide into Saint John's top-six to fill the void left by Reynolds.

The Sea Dogs are back in action on Dec. 28 when they visit the Cape Breton Eagles. The Mooseheads host the Charlottetown Islanders the same night.

Saint John and Halifax meet again on Feb. 8 at Scotiabank Centre.

The QMJHL's trade deadline is Jan. 6.