Yannick Dumais' phone bill is about to get bigger.
The general manager of the Rimouski Océanic is fielding calls that will shake the balance of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League this season.
After going all-in last season in attempt to win the Memorial Cup on home ice, Dumais wasted little time in declaring his top two assets' availability on the trade front. Dumais fully intends on trading forwards Patrice Cormier and Jordan Caron before the Jan. 7 trade deadline, but is in no rush to pull the trigger.
"We announce since the draft we are in a year of transition," Dumais told Sportsnet.ca. "A lot of teams take the information about that and they ask us the price but right now we won't do anything before Christmas."
Cormier and Caron are expected to receive invitations to Canada's world junior selection camp in December with a distinct possibility that both will suit up in the tournament. Cormier won gold with Canada in last year's tournament while Caron was invited to the summer camp.
Since both players are 19 and won't likely return to junior next season, Dumais figures they will better serve his team through trade than on the ice.
The Océanic are listening to offers but have made it known neither player will move prior to Christmas. Dumais confirmed all the top teams have spoken with him where it's believed the price will be steep.
Although Rimouski has yet to put a price-tag on either player, one general manager contacted by Sportsnet said the asking price for either player would be similar to the Chris DiDomenico trade last season.
The Saint John Sea Dogs traded DiDomenico to Drummondville prior to last year's deadline in exchange for Mathieu Gingras, Simon Giroux and a first and second round pick. The second round pick was then sent back to Drummondville this summer for overage forward Mike Hoffman.
"I think Caron and Cormier have the same value as DiDomenico last year," the GM said.
Which means a return to contention wouldn't be too far away for the Océanic. Saint John also traded defenceman Alex Grant last season, receiving another overage forward, Nicholas Petersen, as part of compensation this season. The Sea Dogs are now one of the top teams in the league, thus using those trades to expedite its rebuilding.
Ironically, the Sea Dogs are one of the teams rumoured to be interested.
Another team believed to have interest is the Québec Remparts, who play in the Telus Eastern Division with the Océanic. Helping a rival's team succeed doesn't scare the Océanic away.
"Not impossible," Dumais said of a deal with Patrick Roy's team. "If the price is there, we will listen."
The Océanic's goal, Dumais said, is to finish second in the division this season. By doing so, Rimouski would ensure themselves home ice in the first round of the playoffs and would then face the third-place team in its division.
As another general manager noted, finishing second in the weak Telus Eastern Division would still be attainable.
"It's interesting," the GM began, "three of the sellers will be in the division with Québec. Baie-Comeau, Rimouski and Chicoutimi are all in the same division so it's a funny situation."
The Océanic feel confident in the ability to gain the second seed, even without its stars who will likely be suiting up for different teams down the stretch.
"We think we are able to battle for home ice advantage with Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau in our division," Dumais explained. "For sure it's more easy if we have (Cormier and Caron) in our lineup because they are really good players but we think we can battle without them."
Dumais wouldn't discount the notion that both players could be traded to the same team as he said some of the teams that have contacted him have asked for both players.
While one of the GMs contacted by Sportsnet said as many as eight teams would likely inquire about obtaining Cormier or Caron, realistically only two teams could meet Rimouski's demands.
"You have to evaluate your team," the GM said. "If you expect your team will be a contender and you're sure at 100 per cent your team has the character, the leadership and your team only needs one important guy like Caron or Cormier, you have to (make that trade). Probably one or two teams will be comfortable to pay a lot because they will be sure they need only one between Caron or Cormier.
"It's really important to have this type of player if you want to win."
While the trade deadline is still months away, the Océanic's future could receive a big boost as they control the destiny of two of the top players.