By Canadian Press

Big names, lots of draft picks expected to move as teams ramp up for Memorial Cup

Jan 3, 2019 | 2:15 PM

TORONTO — With the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s trade deadline looming, Saint John Sea Dogs general manager Trevor Georgie found himself putting in extra work over the Christmas break.

“On Christmas Eve I was at a lawyer’s (office) getting stamps to complete transactions,” said Georgie, who has been one of the busiest GMs in major junior hockey since taking over the Sea Dogs in January 2016.

Two seasons ago Georgie was in buyer mode at the deadline, completing a roster through trades that led to a league championship and a spot in the Memorial Cup. Then, last season he turned into a seller as he started rebuilding a team that lost veterans Thomas Chabot, Mathieu Joseph and Julien Gauthier to the pros.

“I placed a lot of big bets trading for Julien Gauthier, Simon Bourque and Callum Booth… No. 1 goalie, top-pair defenceman and a world junior scoring winger,” Georgie said. “We embraced that point in our cycle and used young assets to get us over the top. Last year we were accumulating assets.

“Loading up, prices are always high and I guess you’re never willing to pay and when you’re selling everyone thinks your prices are too high, that’s the foundation of how most conversations start.”

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Georgie’s biggest deal to date came just before the Christmas break last season when he decided it was time to move forward Joe Veleno, who Saint John drafted in 2015 as a 15-year-old under the exceptional player rule.

Veleno was traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in a deal that saw three first-round draft picks and two seconds plus a conditional third go to the Sea Dogs.

“I set the price at five first-round picks and we got pretty close,” said Georgie. “That one trade (was) really important for our franchise. We’ve only seen two of those picks, still three more to come in future drafts.”

Some of the biggest names across the Canadian Hockey League have already started being moved, with more deals expected as each of the three league’s trade deadlines approach over the next week.

Edmonton Oilers prospect Ryan McLeod was shipped from the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga Steelheads to the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday for 17-year-old defenceman Duncan Penman and five draft picks, while in early December the Ottawa 67’s acquired Canadian world junior goalie Mike DiPietro for a roster player and seven draft picks.

The Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds moved forward Zack Andrusiak to the Everett Silvertips for two roster players and three draft picks on New Year’s Day.

This season Georgie is still swinging deals for the future of his organization and plans to have his phone close by over the next 36 hours before the QMJHL’s Jan. 5 deadline. He expects more calls to come ahead of Saturday for remaining veterans like goaltender Alex D’Orio, while interest has also been shown for centre Shane Bowers, whose rights are owned by Saint John despite the Canadian world junior team member being committed to Boston University.

Bowers’ rights will reportedly be traded to Drummondville, and if the Ottawa Senators draft pick chooses to leave school to play for the Voltigeurs alongside Veleno and fellow Canadian teammate Maxime Comtois the Sea Dogs would be compensated.

Last year 28 trades were made in the QMJHL from Dec. 27 to Jan. 6, totalling 41 players 46 draft picks. Georgie alone made six transactions between Dec. 12 and Jan. 6 that fetched Saint John nine draft picks to be used between 2018 and 2020.

“One Christmas later I’m responsible for restocking the cupboards because you did it to yourself the year before,” said Georgie. “At least I got to enjoy the championship and the ring.”

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Kyle Cicerella’s junior hockey notebook will be published every Thursday.

Kyle Cicerella, The Canadian Press