Cam Russell did not deviate from his plan to stand pat during this year's QMJHL trade period.
The Halifax Mooseheads general manager didn't make a single move before Monday's deadline, preferring not to tinker with a balanced young roster he assembled over the past 13 months.
"I think with the addition of our two European players after the world juniors and Stephen Davis coming in, that's three new players coming to Halifax to add to the young group we already have in place," Russell said. "We've got 13 new players here this season and we like where we're at as a team.
"And this seems like a group of guys that really like each other. Our practices have been great this year and the consistency and the work ethic are things we've been very happy with. We like the core group we have here and the majority of these guys are coming back next season, which is nice."
Russell said a few general managers "kicked tires" on a couple of players but no one came forward with any concrete offers. Likewise, Russell did not actively pursue any deals, either.
"Like I said, right from the start we were really happy with this group and didn't feel like we wanted to make any changes," Russell said. "Obviously everybody would like to bring in three or four top-end players but that's not how it works all the time. We made a lot of moves last year at the deadline and brought in some new players and acquired a lot of draft picks so I think we set ourselves up pretty good with what we've already added.
"Then you mix in some excellent older guys who have great skill and leadership; they really add to the group. They'll help bring those young players along."
The Cape Breton Eagles made one more move on deadline day, sending forward Felix Lafrance to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens for goalie Remi Delafontaine, forward Mark Rumsey and a second-round pick (2022). Lafrance, 19, has 19 points in 15 games so far this season and Rumsey, 19, has six points in 14 games. Delafontaine, 16, was the fifth goalie picked (second round, 33rd overall) in 2020 QMJHL draft.
Earlier in the trade period, the Eagles dealt captain Shawn Element to Victoriaville and Ryan Francis to the Saint John Sea Dogs for younger players and draft picks. The Eagles also added Nova Scotians Matthew MacDonald and Trey Sturge from the Shawinigan Cataractes for Alexis Bonefon and a third-rounder (2021).
Elsewhere, the Val-d'Or Foreurs went all in with one last blockbuster. They acquired star winger Samuel Poulin from the Sherbrooke Phoenix for a first-round pick (2021), a second-rounder (2023) and a third (2021). Poulin was the captain in Sherbrooke and is a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins (21st overall, 2019).
Val-d'Or also landed overage defenceman Xavier Bernard from the Phoenix for a third-rounder (2022) and a sixth (2023).
The Foreurs had already made blockbuster deals earlier in the trade period to acquire stars Nathan Legare and Jordan Spence to bolster a core that already included top players Jakob Pelletier, Justin Ducharme, Justin Robidas, Maxence Guenette and others. The wheeling and dealing makes them the clear favourite to win it all this year.
The Saint John Sea Dogs sent 2019 No. 1 overall pick Joshua Roy to Sherbrooke for three first-round picks (2021, 2022, 2023) and a second (2021).
Another star player who changed teams at the deadline was winger Alex Beaucage. He went from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to the Victoriaville Tigers for a first-round pick (2022) and a seventh-rounder (2021).
