The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles acquired 20-year-old forward Maxime Legault from the Shawinigan Cataractes on Wednesday in exchange for defenceman Michael Ward and winger Maximilien Le Sieur.
The Eagles also obtained Shawinigan’s fourth-round pick in 2010 and a second-round pick in 2011 in the deal. The Cataractes get Cape Breton’s second-round pick in 2010 and a first-round pick in 2011.
Legault, a seventh-round selection by the Buffalo Sabres in last year’s NHL Entry Draft, has collected 10 goals and 10 assists in 22 games with Shawinigan this season. He had 28 goals and 44 points last season.
The 20-year-old Ward had 15 points — all assists — in 19 games with Cape Breton. Le Sieur, 17, had four goals and 10 points in 36 games.
With one point separating three teams in the Atlantic Division battle for second place, the Eagles were in the market for grit and leadership. Legault, who played five games with the Portland Pirates this fall before being returned to the Q, could address those needs by skating on the Eagles top line with leading scorer, Luke Adam (33 GP 25-27-52). Adam, 19, is currently with playing with Team Canada at the U20 World Junior Championships in Saskatoon.
Another Sabres property, Jacob Lagacé, could be on the move before the trade window closes on January 7th. Lagacé, who leads the league with 27 goals, was rumored to be heading to Victoriaville before Chicoutimi agreed to send Anaheim prospect Nicolas Deschamps to Moncton. The price will not be cheap, but teams in the hunt would love to add his scoring and experience.
