Trades in the QMJHL: Changes Required for the Playoffs

I don’t know if we won the trading period or not, but we are very happy with what we achieved., President and General Manager of Sea Dogs of Saint-Jean, Trevor Georgie. It’s the only way to find out if we win in June.

The Sea Dogs will host the Memorial Cup tournament in June and the team needs to be competitive. With five trades for eight new players on Thursday alone, Saint-Jean have changed their roster to be ready for any eventuality.

Trevor Georgie and his assistants had three criteria: They were looking for players with character, versatility and experience in difficult situations. We wanted to give trainers a greater variety of styles: muscular, strong or finesse., Georgie mentions.

The Sea Dogs have underperformed since the start of the season.

Trevor Georgie knows it’s important to change a third of his training. But he vividly remembers the Sea Dogs’ last appearance at the Memorial Cup in 2017.

In 2017, at Windsor, we had a slight lack of depth. We missed the cut and we don’t want to live it again, he points out.

not surprised

In Charlottetown, islanders expected sea dogs to be very active. Competing in the Marine Division, Bathurst will also be fierce, with players gaining influence since June.

Just in our division, it will be tight. Halifax Keeps Desnoyers, Mooseheads Won’t Spades, launched Guy Giroud, assistant general manager of the Islanders.

For us the whole season is preparing for the playoffs. The harder the road to the final, the better our preparation will be. [pour affronter les défis], They said.

Guy Giroud is also the associate coach of the Charlottetown Islanders.

Photo : Radio-Canada / Jimmy Chabot

The Islanders were selective in receiving three players, including Zachary Roy (from the Blaineville-Boisbriand Armada) and Dawson Stairs (from the Cape Breton Eagles).

, Roy is a modern and physical player. We saw him in a match in Charlottetown when he challenged our captain when he was playing against us. Stairs, we’ve known him since his draft year. If he is well surrounded, he will help in our attack. To go far in the playoffs, it is necessary to play four lines. ,

We were looking for help in our “Top 6” attack. We wanted depth. We thought we were strong enough defensively, he adds.

Last month, the Islanders acquired goalkeeper Francesco Lapena from the Drummondville Voltigers and defender Jeremy Biacabutuca from Rimouski Osenic.

Giroud recalls that the Islanders lost in the semi-finals of the President’s Cup last year. There are some things to be learned in defeat that will help in 2022.

We will always look for experience and it helps in the long run. The challenge will be to integrate everyone to form a good group. Lapena gives us more experiences. We weren’t taken badly in front of the nets, but we saw last year with Victoriaville [les champions 2021] There were two good goal scorers in the playoffs.

The next step for the islanders: the gradual return of players. Most have completed their required four-day isolation on the island. Others will arrive on Sunday.

It’s a blessing in disguise, this pause, says Giroud. This will allow us to review the game system. When the league gives us a signal, we will be ready.

Quiet Days for Titans and Mouseheads

After acquiring target players in December, the academy-bathurst titan held a no-trade Thursday.

As far as the Halifax Mooseheads are concerned, it was quiet despite the rumors surrounding the departure of Elliot Desnoires. The talented forward will remain in the capital of Nova Scotia.

satisfied wild cats

The Moncton Wildcats and St. John’s Sea Dogs worked hard for Thursday’s major trade.

The Wildcats received:

• 20-year-old goalkeeper Jonathan Lemieux;
• Defender, Nathan Grenier, a prospect;
• A 4th pick in the draft.

Sea Dogs received:

• 20-year-old striker Philippe Doust;
• 19-year-old goalkeeper Thomas Couture;
• 19-year-old forward Nick Blagden;
• Sixth round pick in 2022.

It was an important and complex exchangeWildcats director of hockey operations Richie Thibeau said.

Wildcats’ Philippe Doust watches the warm-up ahead of the opener. This is in stark contrast to players, who are accustomed to reducing crowds to over 5,000 people.

Photo: Radio-Canada / François Le Blanco

We learned on Wednesday that Philippe Doust will be returning to the QMJHL. [par les Sénateurs de Belleville] and we were able to find a team ready to do a business, He explains.

These additions and selections will help the Wildcats manager improve the team over the next year.

It’s the same story in Cape Breton, where General Manager Jacques Carrier made two trades.

We had set certain things as priority and we achieved what we wanted to do, he says.

They found two cheaters, Matisse Ouellet (of the islanders) and Charles Savoie (of the sea dogs), who would help the Eagles in the long run.

Mattis is a promising player who has had success with the so-called mature team, Charlottetown, explains Carriere. He was able to take the ice time off despite being a rookie. It’s not easy for a 16 year old.

, Charles Savoie was behind many old players. We hope that he will join us with a youth brigade. ,

In addition, a decision will be made In the next few days, on the new coach, who will replace Jake Grimes, who tendered his resignation last month.

We should finalize our appointment soon.promising career.