Now one week into the re-opening of the QMJHL's trade window, we've seen a lot of moves -- big and small.
Below are the three teams that got the most out of the first week of trade action since mid-November.
Charlottetown Islanders
Selling is never pretty, however I really liked the Islanders' two moves last week.
The team picked up an absolute haul of draft capital for 2006-born right winger Alexis Michaud (20 in 28), while also picking up a younger player back in centerman Jabez Seymour (5 in 26).
However my favourite move they made had to be the return they got for overage import Egor Goriunov (26 in 21). They were able to secure a second round pick, a third round pick and a 16-year old defensive prospect in Dylan Caron. All this for Goriunov who they acquired this pre-season alongside a twelfth round pick for just a fifth rounder.
Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Could the Sags have been more active in the first week? Yes. Do the two trades they made look odd in a vaccuum? Absolutely. However, when you look at the two moves as one big trade, the pieces begin to fit.
The first move they made was trading recent first round pick LW Jayden Plouffe (3 in 14) to Sherbrooke for a first round pick, second round pick, third round pick (from Cape Breton) and a seventh round pick. A bit of an odd move alone for an aspiring contender to trade a roster player, even if only a 16-year old player for draft capital.
After that, Chicoutimi phoned up Cape Breton and acquired former 2023 first rounder, left winger Emile Ricard (12 in 31). The asking price to get essentially a further along developmentally Jayden Plouffe? A first and a second round pick. So, essentially Chicoutimi got Emile Ricard, a third and a seventh for Jayden Plouffe. Pretty nifty.
Rimouski Océanic
When you are the Memorial Cup hosts, your window is this year and this year only. Any moves which can immediately significantly improve your chances of winning in June, will make you an automatic winner in my book. Rimouski made precisely those kinds of moves last week.
They added the QMJHL's leading point scorer in centerman Jonathan Fauchon (50 in 31) for a plethora of picks.
They offloaded even more picks to acquire top 2005-born left winger Mael Lavigne (34 in 32).
They also reinforced their d-corps, adding Jack Martin (12 in 30), as well as left winger Lou Levesque (15 in 30).
All the team needs to do is win those four to five games at the Memorial Cup, and these moves should help give the Océanic a better chance at doing exactly that.