Minnesota Wild prospect Alexandre Belanger, a seventh round draft pick in 2013, was traded from his Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
The #CBSE have traded forward Julien Pelletier to Rouyn-Noranda in exchange for goalie Alexandre Bélanger and a 2015 third round pick (Rim).
— Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) January 5, 2015
Belanger has been decent for the Huskies, but has been nearly splitting time with rising goaltender Samuel Harvey, who will be the future for the Huskies. Harvey is just 16, while Belanger is 19.
To this point in the season Belanger is 12-7-0-1 with a .872 SV% (20th best in the league) and a 3.33 GAA (16th best mark in the league). Francois Brassard, a 20-year-old Ottawa Senators draft pick who is currently the property of the Buffalo Sabres, has taken the majority of the starts for the Screaming Eagles this season, but has struggled, as has fellow netminder Miguel Sullivan.
The Huskies will receive 18-year-old forward and 2014 Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Julien Pelletier. The Huskies give up Belanger and a 2015 third round draft pick.
More from Prospects
- Minnesota Wild prospects all over World Junior Championship rosters
- Three Prospects Who Should Play In Minnesota Next Season
- Timing seems right for Wild to bring in Jesper Wallstedt Next Season
- Minnesota Wild: With Joel Eriksson Ek out, is Marco Rossi’s debut coming?
- Where Will Marco Rossi Line Up This Season?
The move may mean more playing time for Belanger if he can establish himself as the top goaltender and he’s likely to get that opportunity with the struggles the Screaming Eagles have had in net this year. In addition to more starts, he’s likely to face more pucks. Cape Breton is further back than Rouyn-Noranda in the standings and has allowed 4.03 goals per game this season compared to the 3.5 that Rouyn-Noranda has allowed.
Belanger may have some competition in net though, as the Eagles also acquired rookie goaltender Bobby Dugan from the Saint John Sea Dogs in a multi-player trade. Dugan, a 17-year-old American netminder, has played three games for the Sea Dogs this season.
It looks a bit like the Screaming Eagles are getting in a couple moves to shore up their issues for next season with the QMJHL’s trade window closing at 1pm on January 6.
Here are a couple reactions to the move from Twitter:
Reports that it's Julien Pelletier to Rouyn Noranda for Alexandre Belanger. Upgrade in net and Pelletier had been rumoured on the market.
— Kris Abbott (@KrisAbbott21) January 5, 2015
Cape Breton picking up Alexandre Belanger will he solve the goaltending problem ... Can't get much worse :)
— Kevin Chambers (@SN_Canucklehead) January 5, 2015