The game is over, nothing is going well! The trade period in the QMJHL officially ended last Sunday and the majority of the leading teams were active to give themselves the best possible chance of replacing the Quebec Remparts as Gilles-Courteau Trophy champions.
• Also read: Fifth defeat in a row for the Remparts
If we were talking about a four-headed monster in the QMJHL last year due to the dominance of a quartet consisting of the Remparts, the Halifax Mooseheads, the Sherbrooke Phœnix and the Gatineau Matériaux, we can probably argue that that monster has five heads this year . Here are these five teams we'll likely be hearing a lot about between now and the end of the season.
Photo provided by Kassandra Blais / Drakkar de Baie-Comeau
Key additions: Charles-Edward Gravel, Donovan Arsenault, Angus Booth
As he predicted, Drakkar general manager and head coach Jean-François Grégoire was a buyer who could be described as “moderate” compared to some of his peers. The reason for this is quite simple: the direction that the Drakkar have shown since the beginning of the season has allowed the team to finish the first half of the season comfortably in first place in the standings.
However, Grégoire has gained experience in defense with Angus Booth, who won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy (then President's Cup) with the Shawinigan Cataractes in 2022. This addition, in addition to goalkeeper Gravel, will solidify the defense. Grégoire also expressed his confidence in his attack, only adding Arsenault, who will provide more weight up front. It is worth remembering that the managing director made his biggest moves last summer by adding Justin Gill and brothers Jules and Raoul Boilard. Given what they have achieved in the first half of the season and the few new additions in recent weeks, we must continue to view the Drakkar as a very serious contender for the title.
Samuel Savoie. Getty Images via AFP
Key Additions: Samuel Savoie, Ty Higgins
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies general manager Yannick Gaucher showed his colors before the start of the season when he signed Antonin Verreault, Andrei Loshko, Jérémy Langlois and William Rousseau. The message was clear back then: The Huskies were aiming for nothing less than the top honors this season. If they weren't as dominant as the Drakkar in the first half of the season, who was? – the Huskies remained in the top group.
The takeover of Samuel Savoie is said to be one of the most important transactions of that time. The fiery New Brunswick native is expected to return to action in the coming weeks after suffering a broken hamstring during Chicago Blackhawks camp. Savoie is a pest like few and his ability to produce offensively while disrupting the opposition will be an asset to the Martin Dagenais-led team. One downer, however: their captain, defender Dyllan Gill, will be out for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. To replace him, the Huskies acquired Acadie-Bathurst Titan captain Ty Higgins.
Alexis Gendron Photo provided by Ghyslain Bergeron / Voltigeurs de Drummondville
Key additions: Mikaël Huchette, Kassim Gaudet, Vsevolod Komarov, Alexis Gendron
Several observers have called the Voltigeurs the big winners of the last deal period, and it's difficult to disagree with them given the significance of the additions made. General manager Yanick Lemay got the ball rolling in mid-December by bringing in Mikael Huchette and Vsevolod Komarov from the Quebec Remparts, then stole the show by acquiring the services of Alexis Gendron, whom the Flyers agreed to leave for a while Returning to the junior level a few months after starting with the Lehigh Valley affiliate. Gendron scored 55 goals last year at 19 and already seems to like Drummondville, with three goals in his first three games.
In the end, Lemay provided a dose of leadership by convincing his Remparts colleague Simon Gagné to swap his captain Kassim Gaudet. The latter's influence was invaluable to the Red Devils in their two conquests last year and there is no doubt that he will be a leading player if the Voltigeurs also make it there. These acquisitions complement an already very talented group led by Maveric Lamoureux and Ethan Gauthier and make the Voltigeurs a team that shouldn't lose many games until the playoffs begin.
Tristan Luneau. Dominic Chan / QMI Agency
Key additions: Tristan Luneau, Alexis Bourque, Joseph Henneberry
The Tigers made THE big move this trade period, but may never take advantage of it. Tristan Luneau's condition remains a mystery as the defenseman returned to Anaheim after missing the World Junior Hockey Championships due to a virus. General manager Kevin Cloutier is now waiting for the Ducks to make a decision. A return for Luneau to the QMJHL would be significant for the Tigres at every level. The Ducks' general manager said Monday that Luneau would “probably” return to junior once he heals. The team has until March 8th to make a decision. In addition to Luneau, Cloutier opened the checkbook to get his hands on Acadie-Bathurst Titan forward Joseph Henneberry, for whom he paid two first-round picks, another second and forward Mathieu St-Onge.
Alexis Bourque also landed at Bois-Francs for two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick. The Tigres already had one of the best defensive brigades in the QMJHL prior to the trade period, led by Noah Warren and Pier-Olivier Roy, in addition to the Canadian Hockey League's best goaltender last year in Nathan Darveau. Imagine if they added Tristan Luneau in the next few weeks…
Jordan Dumais Dominic Chan / QMI Agency
Key additions: Peter Reynolds, Jan Sprynar, Lou-Félix Denis
Already well equipped, the Mooseheads gained experience during the trade period by acquiring two 20-year-old forwards: Peter Reynolds from the Saint-Jean Sea Dogs and Lou-Félix Denis from the Cataractes of Shawinigan, two players who had that experience had championship experience. Reynolds won the Memorial Cup with the Sea Dogs in 2022, while Denis won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy with the Cataractes the same year.
But all that will be secondary if their best player, Jordan Dumais, is forced to end his season. Le Journal revealed last Saturday that Dumais aggravated a hip injury he had suffered for several seasons during Junior Team Canada's final camp. This injury bothered him quite a bit during the World Cup and he traveled to Columbus to undergo testing with the Blue Jackets, who retained his rights. Dumais' absence would be disastrous for the Mooseheads, who are hoping to bounce back this year after a grand final loss to the Remparts last season.