DELISLE TRADED TO SAINT JOHN

A surprising trade involving the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies went down earlier today. The deal saw the Sea Dogs acquire the rights to defenseman Steven Delisle in exchange for a 12th round selection in the 2012 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft.

The strange part – Delisle is a 20-year old.

First and foremost, it should be noted that his rights had been traded to Saint John but there is a possibility he may never wear a Sea Dogs jersey. Delisle is currently not playing in the QMJHL as an overager, and therefore may be a no show.

The Levise, Quebec native spent four seasons in the Quebec league. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round, 107th overall in the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Jackets over the summer.

Much like former Sea Dogs defenseman and Vancouver Canucks prospect Yann Sauve, it would be considered a long shot to see him return to junior hockey for another season.

But this deal still seems a bit odd given that Saint John appeared to be set in the 20-year old department. Each team is allowed to carry three 20-year old players, with Saint John’s being forward Michael Kirkpatrick, captain Mike Thomas, and goaltender Jacob DeSerres.

Delisle registered five goals and 24 assists for 29 points, 77 penalty minutes and a +17 plus/minus rating in 64 games with the Gatineau Olympiques and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in 2009-10. He ranked third on the Huskies in penalty minutes and was also third among club defensemen in assists and plus/minus rating. He added one goal, three assists, and 12 penalty minutes in 11 playoff games before the Huskies were eliminated by the Moncton Wildcats.

He tallied 17 goals and 83 assists for 100 points, 300 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus/minus rating of +18 in 253 career QMJHL games. He collected 6-23-29, 82 penalty minutes and was +8 in 70 games with Gatineau in 2007-08 and added 0-10-10 and 16 penalty minutes in 19 playoff games, helping the Olympiques win the QMJHL title.

“Delisle, having earned a pro contract,” reports HockeysFuture.com “,will likely make the jump to pro hockey this season, however, with the abundance of defensemen entering the pro ranks for the Jackets, Delisle may find himself starting the season with limited AHL ice time or earning his minutes in the ECHL. There is also an outside shot that he returns to junior as an overager.”

Oddly enough, Delisle was assigned by the American Hockey League’s Springfield Falcons to the Central Hockey League’s Fort Wayne Komets today according to their website.

It is definitely an odd deal with lots of question marks surrounding it. What drama.