The Moncton Wildcats were just one of the many teams that made some big moves as the QMJHL trade period opened.
Moncton, who currently sit at the bottom of the QMJHL standings, traded away three of its top four scorers in two separate trades.
In the first deal, the Wildcats sent twin brothers Kevin and Kelly Klima to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. In return, Moncton received a first-round pick in 2017, a fourth-round pick in 2017 and 18-year-old forward Julien Tessier. In the second trade, Moncton sent forward Cameron Askew and defenceman Alex Lavoie to the Shawinigan Cataractes in exchange for a second-round pick in 2018, a second-round pick in 2019 and forward Charles Taillon.
Moncton wasn’t the only team busy on Sunday. The Drummondville Voltigeurs started selling some key players to bolster their future.
In their first trade, Drummondville sent starting goalie Anthony Dumont-Bouchard to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for 17-year-old defenceman Jérôme Gravel and a third-round pick. Drummondville also sent 18-year-old defenceman Benjamin Gagné and two draft picks to the Quebec Ramparts for a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick.
The QMJHL allows teams to make trades from Dec. 18 to Jan. 6, 2017. One major player expected to be traded is Pierre-Luc Dubois, who the Columbus Blue Jackets took third overall in June. His move from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada won’t happen until Dubois returns from representing Canada at the world junior championship.
The QMJHL is keeping track of all of the trades happening here.
