The Sags are coming off a trip to the Memorial Cup, and will now look towards the future.
The Chicoutimi Saguenéens got close to the ultimate goal of winning the Memorial Cup in a magical season.
Fantastic play from start to finish, a wealth of talent on display, big-name trades, and a Gilles-Courteau Trophy to top it off. When you go all-in, you dream of seasons like the one Chicoutimi lived in 2025-26.
But, when you go all-in, the repercussions are usually felt the next year. Last season was the a culmination of a multi-year build from Yanick Jean and co., and 2026-27 will represent the beginning of the next generation.
The Chicoutimi Saguenéens completed a fantastic 2025-26 campaign, capped off with a Gilles-Courteau Trophy. (Photo: Vincent Éthier)On the outs this are a number of key names. Jordan Tourigny, Emmanuel Vermette and Peteris Bulans are aging out as overagers. Thomas Desruissaux, Maxim Schafer, Lucas Beckman, Alonso Gosselin and Liam Lefebvre have all been traded away for futures. Tomas Lavoie, Anton Linde, Maxim Masse, Mavrick Lachance, Emile Guite, Alex Huang and Alexis Bernier are all expected to turn pro or head the NCAA route for the new campaign.
That's a majority of last year's winning team, and a big number of key pieces. That's what happens when you win in the CHL, and it's now about transitioning to a new era.
A couple of trades for Caylen Blake and Louis-Felix Gagnon present some immediate upside bets, while there will be more room for younger players to step into the lineup as well.
In all, while it will be a rebuilding year for the Sags, they'll absolutely take that along with the silverware last season provided.
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