The QMJHL trading period opens Dec. 19, but the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles made an early splash by reportedly acquiring 20-year-old forward Michael Joly from the Rimouski Océanic. While the final details haven’t been announced, it’s expected a first-round draft pick, another draft pick and a player are headed Rimouski’s way.
Joly was a key member of the Océanic team that went to the Memorial Cup last season. Joly’s overtime winner in Game 7 against the host Québec Remparts during the President Cup won Rimouski the league championship.
This season, Joly has 14 goals and 11 assists in 20 games. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound winger gives the Screaming Eagles more scoring depth behind the red hot line of Pierre-Luc Dubois, Maxim Lazarev and Evgeny Svechnikov. Adding Joly to a line with Carolina Hurricanes prospect Clark Bishop gives Cape Breton two solid scoring lines.
It’s an indication the Screaming Eagles are in win-now mode despite underperforming for the first part of the season. They sit in ninth place with 29 points, but are only six points behind the Maritime Division-leading Moncton Wildcats. The team has a veteran blue line and there’s no guarantee where their top forwards, many being NHL prospects, will be next season. It’s also the last season for over-ager Alexandre Bélanger between the pipes.
For the Rimouski Océanic, they cash in on an over-ager, adding pieces to re-stock for the future after a deep run with a veteran squad last season. The trade suggests Rimouski will be sellers when the winter trading period opens from Dec. 19 to Jan. 1. European players and 20-year-olds can be moved outside the trade period.
Joly will be honoured and play his last game with Rimouski Friday night as the team hosts the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. He’s expected to face Sherbrooke on Sunday with the Screaming Eagles.
