Report: Yared to be traded

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

William Yared will be traded in the coming days, reports Matthew Vachon of La Nouvelliste.

Vachon reports that the Saint John Sea Dogs forward will be dealt to the Shawinigan Cataractes when the QMJHL's trade period opens on Monday.

Pause du congé de paternité:

À l’ouverture de la période des transactions dans la #LHJMQ, l’attaquant natif de Mont-Royal Will Yared va passer des Sea Dogs aux Cataractes.

Sélectionné au 5e rang en 2024, Yared, 18 ans, a 106 matchs et 55 points en deux saisons.

— Matthew Vachon (@MatthewVachon_) July 30, 2026

There has been speculation for a few months now that Yared would be on the move at some point this off-season.

The fifth overall pick in the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft, Yared hasn't quite been able to find the level he was projected to reach – and a fresh start might be the right move for him. The 18-year-old recorded 10 goals and 15 assists in 48 games last season, five points less than he generated in his rookie season (a season where he played in 10 additional games).

Yared is committed to Penn State University following his QMJHL career.

The QMJHL's pre-season trade period opens on Monday and will end on Sept. 2.

More moves likely to come

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs made a big splash during the first trade period of QMJHL Entry Draft week – and there are likely more moves to come.

On Tuesday, the Sea Dogs acquired veteran forward Olivier Lemieux from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Buffalo Sabres goaltending prospect Samuel Meloche from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Those were the first of what could be many significant moves for the Sea Dogs in the coming days.

Mikaël Lalancette reported earlier this week that the Sea Dogs are expected to trade forward Nolann Héroux – who the team selected with the 10th overall pick in last year's draft – to the Val-d'Or Foreurs.

La LHJMQ ouvrira une fenêtre de transactions ce mardi.

Xavier Lebel prendra le chemin de Victoriaville, Dominic Pilote ira à Baie-Comeau et Nolann Héroux à Val-d’Or, notamment.

Quelques infos glanées ici et là:https://t.co/A5ZCH03uI5

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) June 2, 2026

Héroux appeared in 26 games with the under-18 Saint-Eustache Vikings in the first half of last season, posting 15 goals and 18 assists. He finished the season with Saint John, recording three goals and 10 assists in 39 games.

A top-10 pick who turned 17 in March, Héroux will likely fetch a big return for Saint John.

Busy week beginning for Sea Dogs

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It's expected to be a busy week for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The team has been fairly quiet since getting swept in the opening round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs – but that is going to change this week.

The Sea Dogs are expected to announce a few trades as the team appears poised to enter contender status. A deal or two could be announced as early as Tuesday when the first trade period of the week opens.

QMJHL Trade Periods for Entry Draft Week:

- Tuesday, June 2 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

- Thursday, June 4 - 8:30-9:30 a.m.

- Friday, June 5 - During the draft.

- Saturday, June 6 - During the draft.

Note: The times indicated are Atlantic Time. #qmjhl #lhjmq

— Jeremy Fraser (@CBPost_Jeremy) May 30, 2026

Friday and Saturday are big days as well, of course. The first-round of the QMJHL Entry Draft – which the Sea Dogs currently have two picks in – will take place Friday night with the remaining rounds scheduled for Saturday.

There's also the possibility of other signings – although those are more likely to come after the draft. The biggest name to watch remains Jamie Glance who spent this past season with the USNTDP.

Saint John is hard at work trying to sign Jamie Glance, 6th round pick and BU commit for 27/28. Played for the USNTDP. Would be a perfect fit for their forward group. https://t.co/Qmi2ToMt2F

— Greg Macdonald (@gmacsask) June 1, 2026

Here's a quick rundown of some off-season coverage if you're in need of catching up:

• Plenty of questions facing Sea Dogs
• Armada GM: Lemieux to be traded to Saint John
• Here's where Saint John will (currently) pick at the QMJHL Entry Draft
• QMJHL Central Scouting releases final 2026 rankings
• Sea Dogs land fifth overall pick

We'll also be keeping an eye on what the other Atlantic teams do this week. It certainly looks like Cape Breton, Moncton, Newfoundland, Saint John and (apparently) Halifax could all be making runs this season.

Plenty of questions facing Sea Dogs

It's been a quiet off-season for the Saint John Sea Dogs – but it appears that is about to change in a big way.

Mikaël Lalancette of Le Soleil reported Sunday that Jim Hulton will be Saint John's new head coach while the team will also trade for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies goaltender Samuel Meloche.

Des grosses nouvelles en rafale dans ma chronique:

- Jim Hulton dirigera les Sea Dogs;
- Mateo Nobert s’en va à Halifax;
- L’Armada choisira au 3e rang vendredi;
- Samuel Meloche à Saint-Jean.

Les détails:https://t.co/LeahfBGSFK

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) May 31, 2026

Hulton left the Charlottetown Islanders last week "to pursue new opportunities" while Meloche is projected to be one of the league's top goaltenders in 2026-27.

Solidifying coaching and goaltending are just a couple of the many questions facing the Sea Dogs this off-season. Here's a look at some of the questions that will be answered this week and in the months ahead.

Who will coach the Sea Dogs?

This is the biggest and most important question facing the Sea Dogs this off-season. As we've seen over the past decade, a roster full of stars will only go so far. The right coach (and coaching staff) is essential to making this thing click.

Ideally, a head coach would have already been in place at this point in the off-season. But, as we've seen in the past, the Sea Dogs do not rush this process. Here's when the last four head coaches were named (note that some of the dates are odd due to COVID):

Josh Dixon - hired Sept. 8, 2017

Greg Gilbert - hired June 19, 2020

Gordie Dwyer - hired Aug. 4, 2021

Travis Crickard - promoted Aug. 5, 2022

Assuming the Hulton hiring does end up happening – what a get for Saint John. Hulton, a two-time QMJHL coach of the year, is well known for getting his teams to play two-way hockey and there is certainly a need for a coach that can get this group to commit to a system and play better defensively.

Armada GM: Lemieux to be traded to Saint John

Embed from Getty Images 

The Saint John Sea Dogs are expected to acquire veteran forward Olivier Lemieux from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Armada general manager Olivier Picard confirmed the deal on Wednesday during the club's very transparent end-of-season press conference.

Olivier Picard vient de l’annoncer, Olivier Lemieux passera aux @SJSeaDogs au repêchage LHJMQ.

Un choix de 5e ronde passera à l’@ArmadaBLB.

— Cédrik Blondin (@cedrikblondin) May 20, 2026

The deal will likely be officially announced when the trade period opens ahead of the QMJHL Entry Draft in June.

The Sea Dogs made a number of moves with the Armada during the holiday trade period, sending depth forwards Elliot Dubé and Jacob Beaulieu to Blainville-Boisbriand while acquiring defenseman Bo Damphousse and goaltender Arseni Radkov.

Lemieux, who will turn 20 in November, is coming off a solid playoff run with the Armada that saw him post eight goals and four assists in 17 games. He finished third on the team in goals.

Originally a third-round pick of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft, Lemieux spent parts of two seasons with the Drakkar before being moved to the Armada during the 2023-24 season. This past season he recorded career highs in goals (16), assists (22) and points (38).

Reports: Sea Dogs to acquire Radkov

Embed from Getty Images 

The Saint John Sea Dogs are poised to acquire a goaltender before the QMJHL's trade period comes to an end, according to reports on Sunday evening.

According to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada broadcaster Cédrik Blondin, the Sea Dogs will be acquiring goaltender Arseni Radkov in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2027 QMJHL Entry Draft. RDS is also reporting the deal.

Arseni Radkov est échangé aux @SJSeaDogs par l’@ArmadaBLB.

En retour, l’Armada obtiendra un choix de 3e ronde en 2027.

C’est la fin de l’aventure avec l’espoir des #GoHabsGo.

— Cédrik Blondin (@cedrikblondin) January 4, 2026

Radkov, 18, is in his first season in North America after being selected in the first-round, 33rd overall by the Armada in this year's CHL Import Draft. 

Listed at 6'4" and 203 lbs, Radkov was a third-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

The Belarusian has had his struggles this season, posting a 12-7-1-2 record but with a 3.01 goals against average and a .894 save percentage. We'll see what a new environment does for him.

Radkov is committed to play at the University of Massachusetts next year, which adds another wrinkle to this acquisition. 

This trade obviously means that at least two other roster moves are coming for the Sea Dogs. They'll need to move a goaltender and an import player. Notably, import defenseman Patryk Zubek has been a healthy scratch in three of the team's first four games in the second half.

The QMJHL's trade deadline is Tuesday.

Trade period begins Friday

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

As the holiday break begins, so too does the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League trade period.

The holiday trade period begins Friday afternoon and ends on Jan. 6, the day after the completion of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. 

What will the Saint John Sea Dogs do? That is an interesting question. Most teams that find themselves sitting 17th overall at this time of year would be big sellers, but that doesn't seem like it will be the case for Saint John. While deals are likely to come, it's unlikely this roster will be blown up – a roster which many believe underachieved during the first half.

Saint John is expected to make at least one move early in this trade period. 

Trevor Georgie taking back the general manager role from Travis Crickard adds some intrigue as well. Georgie showed during his previous time as GM that he's not afraid to make bold moves.

Here's a look at what the French fan board has as Saint John's current bank of draft picks.

2026: 1-1BLB-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-12SHA 

2027: 1-1RIM-2-2CHA-3-3RN-6GAT-7-9-10-11-12 

2028: 1-2-3-5CHA-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Official trades will be listed on the QMJHL website.

The Sea Dogs made a major (and expected) move during last year's trade period, sending captain Eriks Mateiko to the Rimouski Oceanic in a deal that was completed at the QMJHL Entry Draft.

Most of Saint John's trades this year have involved overagers. The team acquired Natan Éthier, Angelo Fullerton and Justin Gendron while moving out Tyler Peddle.

A number of big deals not involving the Sea Dogs are expected to be announced Friday.

Oceanic went hard after Mateiko

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Rimouski Oceanic badly wanted Eriks Mateiko, Saint John Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Travis Crickard said in an interview this week.

Speaking with Sea Dogs radio broadcaster Bruce Smith before Wednesday's game at TD Station, Crickard said about five teams showed interest in Mateiko after he took on the role of general manager. As the trade period neared, it ultimately came down to two teams.

"It kind of just came down to one team, being Rimouski, being very convinced or stern with their need to get Eriks and they were going to do whatever it took to get him," Crickard said. "They weren't interested in doing a negotiation in terms of, okay, we'll offer this and then I come back, no, I want this, and then we'd maybe meet in the middle. It was just like, what do you want for him? This is what I want? And okay, we'll do it. And that's kind of how it it played out with that transaction, so to speak."

Officially, the Sea Dogs traded Mateiko to the Oceanic for a third-round pick; two fourth-round picks; and a fifth-round pick. That's expected to change at this summer's QMJHL Entry Draft where the Oceanic will send Saint John two first-round picks – a significant price for what is likely to be just half a season of the Latvian forward.

"I think one of the things with the deal itself is that Eriks is a player who's only going to be in the league for less than 30 more regular season games and then playoffs, so when we enter the the draft we'll see that it was a pretty expensive price to to pay for Eriks to finish his junior career in Rimouski. But at the same time, that's what he's worth, really."

The Oceanic are expected to keep Mateiko out of the lineup this weekend, giving him some extra rest following the IIHF World Junior Championship.

A few other news and notes...

• In the Telegraph-Journal, Kevin Barrett reports that one of the first-round picks Saint John will receive will be for the 2025 draft while the other will be for 2027. Saint John, at this time, would have three first-round picks in this year's draft.
• Barrett notes Crickard sees Tyler Peddle, Nicolas Bilodeau and Ben Cross as the team's trio of overagers next season.
• Crickard on Mateiko's impressive performance with Latvia at the IIHF World Junior Championship: "His performance at the world juniors is not surprising to anyone in this room. Moreover, when moments are big, that's the kind of player he is, and that's what was the focal point of the discussion with a team like Rimouski. While you may not know him that well, you're getting a big time player in big time moments and he showed that."
• Crickard noted in the radio interview that the team wasn't able to practice much at TD Station after the Christmas break due to Cirque du Soleil taking over the building. The team finally returned to their usual ice surface on Wednesday morning.
• Saint John will look to snap a five-game losing streak on Saturday in Halifax. The two teams meet again on Sunday afternoon in Saint John. The Mooseheads sit last in the Eastern Conference but are now just five points behind the Sea Dogs.

QMJHL trade deadline Monday

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It's been an uneventful trade period for the Saint John Sea Dogs – but that is expected to change on Monday.

The Sea Dogs are expected to trade captain Eriks Mateiko to the Memorial Cup hosting Rimouski Oceanic. The deal was in place prior to the IIHF World Junior Championship, where Mateiko solidified his status as one of (or maybe even the best) import player in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League this season.

The return the Sea Dogs get on Monday – and at June's QMJHL Entry Draft – is the big question.

According to the Rimouski newspaper Journal le Soir, the Oceanic are expected to release former Sea Dogs forward Pavel Simek to make room for Mateiko.

Mateiko, a Washington Capitals prospect, is in his third season with the Sea Dogs. He posted 14 goals and five assists in 23 games in the first half. With Latvia at the world juniors, the big forward had an impressive five goals in five games.

The QMJHL's trade deadline is Monday. The Sea Dogs have yet to make a trade but have made a number of other roster moves.

Defensemen Cruz Scanzano and Giuliano Caputo along with forwards Florian Schenk and Coen Miller are no longer with the team. Saint John added forwards Parker Forlin and Matthew Krayer along with defenseman John Lumsden.

QMJHL trade period opens Monday

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It's that time of year.

The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League trade period officially opens on Monday and will run until Jan. 6, the day after the gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Saint John Sea Dogs are expected to make at least one major trade, which will involve captain Eriks Mateiko. The 19-year-old forward is one of the top import players in the league and is expected to be dealt to a contender.

The Washington Capitals prospect has appeared in just 23 games this season due to NHL camp and injuries but has posted an impressive 14 goals and five assists. He's been out of Saint John's lineup since Nov. 29 due to an injury and is now off to play for Latvia at the world juniors.

Mateiko is the only obvious candidate for the Sea Dogs to move but, especially with a new general manager in place, the team is expected to make some other roster moves whether that be through trades or signings.

Saint John is still on the rebuilding side of this cycle – but there's a chance this could be the last trade period where the team is amongst the sellers. One thing to keep an eye on is that the team is still lacking in draft picks for the next couple drafts, which will likely be a priority for Travis Crickard.

Here's Saint John's current bank of picks, via the French fan boards.

2025: 1-1CB-2-6-6Rim-7-8-11-12

2026: 1-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-12Sha 

2027: 1-2-3-6-6gat-7-8-9-10-11-12

The wildcard for the Sea Dogs in this year's trade period is Crickard. Obviously, we don't know his style as a GM yet. It's also his team now, and there could very well be some moves that weren't expected.

Overall, this year's trade period is likely to be a bit unusual. There aren't a lot of big names on selling teams, so the major deals may not be as huge as we often see – even with the Memorial Cup being hosted within the league. But we'll see what happens.

Plus, there's the NCAA rule change that will no doubt make an impact. Some teams may look to make moves just to open up roster spots for new signings.

Notebook: Trade period nearing

Eriks Mateiko/Saint John Sea Dogs

It's that time of year.

The QMJHL's holiday trading period begins on Monday and stretches until Jan. 6, the day after the gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship.

Many are wondering, so here we go: the next trading period in the #QMJHL runs from Monday, December 16 to Monday, January 6, at noon.

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) December 9, 2024

It's an intriguing year for a few reasons. The Memorial Cup is being hosted within the league which always adds some drama (and some higher prices). Then you have the new NCAA rules which creates some roster possibilities and question marks across the league. Lastly, there simply aren't a lot of star players on rebuilding teams that are obvious trade candidates, so that adds some mystery to the intrigue.

FACTS AND STATS

A few random stats as the first half of the QMJHL season comes to a close this weekend for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

• The Sea Dogs find themselves two games below .500 after back-to-back losses. They've lost three straight games on two separate occasions this season.
• Saint John is 8-7-0-0 at TD Station but have been outscored 44-39.
• Saint John and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan are the only teams that haven't lost in extra time.
• The Sea Dogs are tied for the fewest games in which they've scored first in with 11. They're 8-3-0-0 in those games.
• Saint John has allowed just one shorthanded goal this season.
• Saint John has struggled in third periods of late. They've been outscored 34-30 in third periods. 

MURPHY SIGNS

19-year-old forward Patrick Murphy, a first-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2022 QMJHL American Draft, officially signed with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens last Thursday.

Murphy had been playing in the BCHL where he posted eight goals and eight assists in 21 games with the Cranbrook Bucks this season.

Murphy made his QMJHL debut over the weekend but was held pointless in both games he appeared in.

Some Wednesday notes

The Saint John Sea Dogs have unveiled the pink jerseys they'll wear this weekend at TD Station.

According to the team, "Pink in the Rink Weekend is set for Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 against the Charlottetown Islanders. Sea Dogs players will once again be wearing special, limited-edition pink jerseys during the game which will be available for purchase through in-arena raffles and online auction."

Fans can purchase discounted tickets for Pink in the Rink Weekend using the promo code “PINK” and $5 from every purchase will be donated directly to Breasts Ahoy. The promo code can be used online or at the TD Station Box Office.

Some other Wednesday notes...

• The Sherbrooke newspaper La Tribune has more on the news of Kyan Labbé asking for a trade from the Sea Dogs. The story confirms that Labbé's trade ask is due to the fact that Saint John already has two QMJHL suitable goaltenders on their roster.
• As mentioned during draft weekend, the QMJHL has created a Veterans Club. "Veterans will attend a few of their former team’s games each year, where they will be invited to meet fans, take photos with them and sign autographs," reads a QMJHL news release. Mike Thomas will be Saint John's representative. 
• Mikael Lalancette tweets that QMJHL attendance is up 3.2% compared to last year. Saint John is averaging 2,362 fans per game after 10 home games. Last year they averaged 2,698 after 10 home games. The Sea Dogs continue to head in the opposite direction of most teams.
• A lot going on in the BCHL as the player exodus continues following the NCAA rule change.

  This meeting is taking place today. It’s been scheduled for a week or more. Sounds like there will be some idea sharing on what BCHL brass want their league to be and best way to adapt. Sources I’m talking to are looking forward to their discussion. https://t.co/c8bJP1P9Vi

  — Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 20, 2024

• And similar issues for the USHL, although likely not as severe.

  Junior Hockey - There was a meeting today in Plymouth involving USA Hockey, the USHL and the NAHL. Few details available but I imagine the 'changing landscape' was discussed.

  — Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) November 20, 2024

• Feels like there hasn't been a lot of talk about it, but the CHL USA Prospects Challenge takes place next week in London and Oshawa.
• Mentioned this last week. On Friday TSN picked up the Midco Sports broadcast of Denver/North Dakota, two of the top teams in NCAA hockey. Two of the top teams in the CHL (and two of the biggest markets), London and Kitchener, met on Tuesday with no national fanfare. Don't know what the solution is – or if TV even matters anymore – but something is off here.
• The Gatineau Olympiques are just 3-16-3-1 this season.
• The Charlottetown Islanders hosted the Shawinigan Cataractes in a school day game this morning at 11 a.m.
• The AHL's Utica Comets are 0-10-1-2 to start the season. Jeremie Poirier, Yan Kuznetsov and the Calgary Wranglers sit first with a 12-3-1-0 record.

Report: Labbé wants to play in QMJHL

Nanaimo Clippers

Goaltender Kyan Labbé is reportedly heading to the QMJHL – but it doesn't look like it will be with the Saint John Sea Dogs.

According to Sherbrooke radio station 107.7 Estrie, Labbé and his agent have reportedly requested a trade from the Sea Dogs. The 17-year-old was a fourth-round pick of Saint John in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft.

LHJMQ: le gardien Sherbrookois Kyan Labbé est de retour à la maison après un passage dans la BCHL. Il aurait demandé une transaction aux @StJohnSeadogs #LHJMQ

— Marc Bryson (@MbrysonCogeco) November 19, 2024

Labbé is committed to the NCAA's Union College for the 2026-27 season. The netminder has been playing with the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers this season where he's posted a 2-1 record to go along with a 4.33 goals against average and a .889 save percentage.

Labbé is no longer listed on the Clippers website and he appears to be the latest player to jump from the BCHL to the CHL following the NCAA rule change. The BCHL has long been a league where NCAA recruits played before heading south of the border.

Last season, Labbé helped the Magog Cantonniers win the Telus Cup. He was named the tournament's best goaltender after being named the Quebec under-18 league's playoff MVP and top defensive player.

The biggest knock against Labbé is his size. Elite Prospects lists him at 5'9" and 161 lbs.

Requesting a trade from the Sea Dogs, if true, doesn't come as a huge surprise given Saint John's current goaltending situation. Charles-Edward Gravel has likely been Saint John's MVP so far this season and, given that he is an overager, dealing him to a contender at Christmas would be tricky. Then there's Justin Robinson who the team likely wants to hold onto – and get into some games – for future seasons.

The QMJHL's trading period opens next month.

Report: Dogs to acquire Dubé

Vincent Ethier/QMJHL

The Saint John Sea Dogs will soon acquire a 17-year-old forward according to a report.

Kevin Barrett of Postmedia reported Wednesday that the Sea Dogs will soon acquire Elliot Dubé from the Gatineau Olympiques. The QMJHL's next trading period begins Aug. 1.

It's not been reported what the Sea Dogs will be sending the Olympiques in return.

The youth movement continues for @SJSeaDogs. SJ expected to land 6'0" C Elliot Dube (2007), the #32 pick in '23 draft, from Gat. That would give them 5 picks from No. 22-No. 40 from '23 draft. Last yr, with Notre Dame of QueU18AAA - he had 28 pts (41GP). 7 more in 6 p'off games.

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) July 24, 2024

Listed at 6'0" and 165 lbs, Dubé was a second-round pick of Gatineau in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft but never played a game with the club. He spent last season with Notre Dame College in the Quebec under-18 circuit where he posted 11 goals and 17 assists in 41 games. He added a goal and six assists in six playoff games.

"Dubé is a forward who has a lot of maturity in his game," wrote Frédéric Lévesque of QMJHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2023 draft. "He has good size and uses it to his advantage, both in puck protection and while forechecking. He is a hard worker with an above average hockey IQ.

"The forward has seen his responsibilities increase lately as his coach trusts him as much on the power play as he does on the penalty kill. Offensively, it will be interesting to follow his progression between the end of the regular season and the playoffs."

Dubé was an alternate captain with Notre Dame last year, his second season with the club.

Dubé joins the likes of forward Egan Beveridge and Olivier Groulx along with defensemen Benjamin Amyot and Olivier Duhamel as 2007-born players on Saint John's roster.

Mateiko remains a Sea Dog for now

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON – The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Entry Draft is over and Eriks Mateiko remains a Saint John Sea Dog.

Mateiko, who is coming off his second season with the Sea Dogs and will likely get selected in the NHL Draft later this month, is considered to be one of the top imports in the QMJHL next year. Given where Saint John is at in their rebuild, trading him to a contender is a logical move.

A deal hasn't happened, but one could certainly be coming soon, said Sea Dogs general manager Anthony Stella following Saturday's QMJHL Entry Draft at the Avenir Centre.

"We could have moved now or we could have moved at Christmas," Stella said of dealing the Latvian forward. "If Moncton wanted to make a splash they would have done the deal last night – they didn't. If they wanted to make a splash today they could have done it today and they didn't. There was a handful of other teams that asked about him. I think, leading into it, it's not over yet. There could still be deals for Eriks in the coming days – not necessarily with the draft. So we'll see how that unfolds but that is still an active file."

Moncton GM Taylor MacDougall says he can't comment on a player on another organization and "Anthony has my number."

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) June 8, 2024

The Sea Dogs made just one trade this past week, dealing a 2025 first-round pick (which originally belonged to Moncton) to the Rimouski Oceanic in exchange for the 19th overall selection in Friday night's first round. Saint John used the pick on defenseman Cameron Chartrand who spent last season playing US prep school hockey with the Bishop Kearney Selects.

Playing US prep school hockey is typically a sign of a player intending to play college hockey – or at least keep that pathway open. Saint John drafted three Canadians who currently play in the United States and another four American players.

Stella said the team is hopeful that expected changes to the NCAA/CHL arrangement – which would allow CHL players to play NCAA hockey – will entice players to join the Sea Dogs.

Big trades made ahead of draft day

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MONCTON - It was a quiet day for the Saint John Sea Dogs but a major day for several teams in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

The league opened another trade window on Thursday morning and a number of major deals were announced.

• The Moncton Wildcats acquired 20-year-old forward Markus Vidicek and a couple third round picks from the Halifax Mooseheads in exchange for second year forward Shawn Carrier. Carrier was the sixth overall pick in last year's draft but saw limited ice time with Moncton in his rookie season.
• The Wildcats also acquired defenseman Dylan MacKinnon – a Riverview native – in exchange for Halifax's own first, second and third round picks in 2026.
• The largest deal of the day saw the Memorial Cup host Rimouski Oceanic acquire 20-year-old defenseman Pier-Olivier Roy from the Victoriaville Tigres in a three-team deal that also involved the Val-d'Or Foreurs.
• The Acadie-Bathurst Titan picked up 20-year-old defenseman Francois-James Buteau from the Rouyn-Noranda Hukies, returning Rouyn-Noranda's first-round pick in the deal.
• Back-to-back President Cup champion forward Kassim Gaudet was traded to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in exchange for a couple second-round picks.
• The Drummondville Voltigeurs dealt forward Justin Cote to the Quebec Remparts.

The full list of trades can be found on the QMJHL website .

There are at least a couple big trades expected to be made on Friday. The Quebec Remparts are still expected to acquire the first overall pick from the Cape Breton Eagles while the Oceanic are expected to trade for Mathieu Cataford from the Mooseheads.

Mooseheads forward Mathieu Cataford will move to the Rimouski Océanic tomorrow. Halifax will receive two first-round picks and two second-round picks to make its acquisition. Another big piece ahead of the 2025 Memorial Cup. #lesole

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) June 6, 2024

The QMJHL Entry Draft begins Friday night at 8 pm at Moncton's Avenir Centre.

First trade period opens Tuesday

QMJHL

The Canadian Hockey League season officially came to an end on Sunday, which means it's officially time to start looking ahead to the 2024-25 season.

Next season really gets going on Tuesday in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League with a trade period opening. The first trade period of the off-season is typically an active one with a number of pre-determined deals becoming official.

In addition to Tuesday's 3-hour trade window for the QMJHL, there will be another short window that opens on Thursday followed by regular dealing at the draft at the Avenir Centre on Friday and Saturday. Then it closes again til August.

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) June 3, 2024

There is expected to be some movement at the top of the draft board ahead of Friday's first round. The Quebec Remparts are expected to trade for the first overall pick while the Shawinigan Cataractes could slide into the top-five as well.

Le 1er choix au total des #Eagles sera transigé aux #Remparts

À confirmer mais ca devrait ressembler à :

A QUÉ : 1er au total 2024
À CB : 4e total 2024, 2e choix 2025 et 1er choix 2026

Les #Remparts payent cher pour sélectionner le 1er espoir Maddox Dagenais (fils de Pierre)

— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) June 1, 2024

Le portrait va comme suit :

VDO : Pier-Olivier Roy + Choix #15
SHA : Choix #3 et #21
VIC : Choix #6

L'échange du 3e choix avec les Cataractes avait été rapporté par @MatthewVachon_, vendredi soir.

— Pierre-Olivier Poulin (@P_OPoulin) June 1, 2024

As for the Saint John Sea Dogs, we'll see what happens. As mentioned, Eriks Mateiko is no doubt drawing a lot of interest from contending teams – but the Sea Dogs could opt to hang onto him for a few more days or even a few more months.

There was some speculation online of the Sea Dogs acquiring Sam Oliver from the QMJHL champion Drummondville Voltigeurs – but Kevin Barrett reports otherwise.

The Sea Dogs are currently scheduled to pick fifth and eighth overall in Friday's first round.

The QMJHL's trade period has begun

The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League trade period opened on Sunday.

It's an intriguing year for the Saint John Sea Dogs in that it could be eventful or could be quite quiet. It's obvious that the Sea Dogs would have interest in acquiring younger players and draft picks but, at the same time, they aren't under a huge amount of pressure to deal players away given their ages.

“I hope to acquire some draft picks, get younger and remain competitive,” Sea Dogs general manager Anthony Stella recently told The Hockey News. “Our goal is to keep playing entertaining hockey, continue to be in every single game. We’re committed to win another championship.”

The biggest question mark for the Sea Dogs is overage captain Peter Reynolds, who is having a career best season and sits seventh in league scoring. The decision to stay or go is ultimately up to Reynolds and there are only a select few contending teams that may be looking for an overage upgrade.

There are certainly a number of Saint John players other teams may be interested in acquiring but, again, given their ages, the Sea Dogs aren't under a huge amount of pressure to make deals. But if something like this summer's Cole Burbidge trade comes up, we could see some activity.

The other area to keep an eye on is playing time. The Sea Dogs may look to create some space for players like Egan Beveridge, Matthew MacLean and Benjamin Amyot so they can play more crucial minutes in the second half.

The Sea Dogs are back in action on Dec. 28 when they visit the Cape Breton Eagles. The QMJHL's trade period ends on Jan. 6.

QMJHL's trade period comes to an end

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It was a fairly uneventful final day of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League trade period on Friday.

The biggest deal of the day saw the Acadie-Bathurst Titan trade Montreal Canadiens prospect Riley Kidney to the Gatineau Olympiques in exchange for Donovan Arsenault, Bobby Orr and a 2025 first-round pick.

Orr, 19, was a fifth-round pick of Saint John in the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft but never played for the club. The Halifax Mooseheads traded Orr to the Olympiques in August.

The Olympiques have gone all-in, adding the likes of Cam MacDonald, Francesco Lapenna and Alexis Gendron to an already strong lineup. Gatineau sits second in the QMJHL's Western Conference with 50 points.

Another team that's gone all-in is the Sherbrooke Phoenix, who acquired Jakub Brabenec from the Charlottetown Islanders on Friday. Brabenec was part of the Czechia squad that lost to Team Canada in the gold medal game of this year's world juniors.

Sherbrooke had four players suit up in Thursday's gold medal game: Brabenec, David Spacek, Joshua Roy and Tyson Hinds. Sherbrooke head coach Stephane Julien was also an assistant with Team Canada.

Some other notes...

• Former Sea Dogs defenseman Kale McCallum has reportedly left the Val-d'Or Foreurs to play U Sports hockey. Le Citoyen reports that McCallum had hoped to be traded to a contending team but that did not happen. The 20-year-old is fifth in QMJHL defensemen scoring with 34 points in 36 games.
• There is still no word on what will happen with 20-year-old goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise, who was not traded by the Sea Dogs before Friday's deadline. The veteran goaltender has been listed as a healthy scratch for the past couple weeks.
• Sea Dogs forward Tomasz Szczerba, who has been limited to just 11 games due to injuries this season, had his junior 'A' rights traded from the OJHL's Aurora Tigers to the MHL's Grand Falls Rapids on Friday. A Rapids press release says Szczerba will be joining the team soon.
• On the Sea Dogs radio broadcast on Friday, it was noted that 20-year-old defenseman and captain Charlie DesRoches is expected to return from injury soon. Saint John was only able to dress five defensemen in their 6-4 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads.
• Things are getting wild in the OHL with Team Canada's Shane Wright and Brandt Clarke both sent back to the league from their respective NHL clubs. It's expected that the Kingston Frontenacs, who have announced intentions to bid on hosting the 2024 Memorial Cup, will trade Wright to a contending team.
• Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reports that Team Canada's Ethan Del Mastro will be moved to the Sarnia Sting and Owen Beck will be traded to the Peterborough Petes.
• In the WHL, the already stacked Seattle Thunderbirds, who are ranked No. 1 in the CHL, have acquired the injured Colton Dach from the Kelowna Rockets. Dach, who was injured at the world juniors, is expected to be healthy in time for the playoffs.

Notebook: New masks for Sea Dogs goalies

@gildersdesign/Instagram

HALIFAX - The Saint John Sea Dogs' netminding duo of Ventsislav Shingarov and Olivier Brideau has a new look.

The goalie mask designer Derrick Gilders shared the designs of the goaltenders' new masks on Instagram this week.

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A post shared by Derrick Gilders (@gildersdesign)

TRENHOLM'S DEBUT

Connor Trenholm scored an empty net goal in his debut with the Moncton Wildcats on Wednesday.

Trenholm, who was traded by the Sea Dogs on Tuesday in exchange for two second-round draft picks, scored late in the third period to help the Wildcats defeat his other former team, the Cape Breton Eagles, 5-2 at Centre 200.

The 19-year-old also had two shots, went 8/19 in the faceoff circle and took three minor penalties.

The Sea Dogs and Wildcats don't meet again until Jan. 28 in Moncton.