One Week Until Draft Day

A week from today, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft will take place in Sherbrooke.

It’s going to be a busy day and weekend for the Saint John Sea Dogs. Along with finalizing a lot of rumoured trades, the Sea Dogs also have the first overall pick in the Entry Draft. Will they use it? Will they trade down? By this time next week we’ll have the answer.

It was reported this past week that the Sea Dogs are eyeing defenseman Luke Green with the first overall pick. The smooth skating Green is ranked fifth by QMJHL Central Scouting and fourth by HockeyProspect.com, so it is certainly possible the Dogs could trade down and still be able to snag him. 

“Every shift he is on the ice is a potential to make an amazing play with the puck,” writes HockeyProspect.com in their draft guide. “His offensive hockey IQ is perhaps the most developed out of this draft class, as he anticipates and reads the game at an elite level, creating opportunities where others do not see them.”

There is no consensus No. 1 pick this year and any of the top handful of ranked players could legitimately be taken first overall.

The first overall pick is the only first-round pick the Sea Dogs currently own. But, the reported deal that will see Oliver Cooper traded to Charlottetown has the Islanders sending the 15^th overall selection to the Sea Dogs. Saint John will also be picking 22^nd overall which is the second pick of the second-round. 

The full draft order can be found on the QMJHL website - but remember the Sea Dogs will be busy on the trade front this year so this list will likely change.

There will be TV coverage of the draft that will be streamed online once again this year. We’ll also be tweeting and posting stuff all day. Should be a good one. 

Photo: QMJHL