BOUCHERVILLE, Que. — The Saint John Sea Dogs and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada will both get top-five draft picks after a compromise decision Thursday from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Armada appealed to the league that they got damaged goods when they dealt a first-round selection to the Sea Dogs on Jan. 2 for forward Ryan Tesink. The St. Louis Blues prospect played only six games before he was sidelined for more than two months with a knee injury.
League comissioner Gilles Courteau ruled that Saint John will keep the pick, which is third overall in this year’s draft, but that the Armada will retain its rights to Tesink and get the fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft.
If the Armada trade the 19-year-old, the pick will drop to 19th overall at the end of the first round.
Courteau said Saint John acted in good faith, but the league needs to clarify the wording of its trade documents.
“Sea Dogs’ general manager Mike Kelly relied on the reports and opinions that were given to him by specialists when he signed, what we believe to be in good faith, the trade declaration on Jan. 2,” Courteau said in a statement.
“To this point, the undersigned is of the opinion that the Saint John Sea Dogs’ integrity cannot be questioned.
“The league shall re-evaluate its rules to avoid similar situations from reccurring,” he added. “Circumstances of the present case are exceptional and even constitute a first for the QJMHL.”
