Olivier Legault is Le-gone.
One day after saying publicly that there would likely be no major personnel moves during this mid-season trade period, Lewiston Maineiacs Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager Ed Harding announced Monday the departure of the veteran winger via a trade.
“This was in the works probably around the 20th of December,” said Harding. “There were a few snafus on Drummondville’s part that I was not too happy about, but that’s ancient history. I would not call this a major deal.”
The trade sends Legault, a 19-year-old forward who in three-plus years has one goal, seven assists and 411 penalty minutes for the Lewiston franchise, to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. In return, the Volts sent the Maineiacs their fourth-round selection in the 2007 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League midget draft. The deal was officially struck in writing on Christmas Eve, which delayed the announcement.
On the surface, the trade looks a little bit one-sided, but considering 16-year-old players can only be selected in the opening rounds of the draft, a pick in the first four rounds is a valuable commodity.
“I checked the market out pretty good before this,” said Harding. “We feel that a fourth-round pick in 2007 is going to produce a pretty good hockey player, and it’s almost like money in the bank for us.”
Legault’s playing time had decreased in recent weeks, and with two new players (Alex Hager and Chris Tutalo) arriving in the last two weeks, it appeared his time with the team was drawing to a close. In his final interview in Lewiston before Christmas, Legault said he was hoping for more playing time.
“In a nutshell, Olivier wants more ice time,” said Harding. “(Maineiacs’ coach and general manager) Clem (Jodoin) told him he wasn’t going to get more ice time from him. The way our team is structured, he would have had to do a few certain things to get some. For example: Playing a little bit better position, his stops and starts. He’s taken a few stupid penalties, and we needed him to be more productive. It was actually kind of a mutual thing.”
According to Harding, Legault had mixed feelings as he picked up his belongings and left Lewiston.
“I think the reality sunk in,” said Harding. “He likes it in Lewiston, I know he likes his billet family. Sometimes, you think the grass is greener on the other side, but time will tell with that.”
Also in the final weekend prior to the holiday break, the Maineiacs’ majority owner, Mark Just, said the team could not afford to keep players on the team that couldn’t contribute in all aspects of the game. At 6-feet-5-inches and nearly 240 pounds, Legault is physically gifted, but at 19 played mostly on the fourth line.
The Maineiacs may also not be done dealing. According to Harding, the calls continued to come in Monday after a brief break for Christmas. Still, Harding maintained, for a major deal to be done between now and Jan. 8, the offer would have to “stun” the team.
The Maineiacs arrived in Halifax late Monday night after driving through some nasty weather and will take on the Mooseheads tonight. The team will get back on the road overnight and face the Saint John Sea Dogs Wednesday before returning home to square off against the Sea Dogs again on Friday at the Colisee.
[email protected]
Comments are no longer available on this story