Flames prospect Cole Huckins traded in the QMJHL

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League lifted their trade freeze over the weekend in advance of their annual draft on Monday and Tuesday. And teams in the QMJHL didn’t hesitate, with nearly 40 trades consummated over the weekend.

One such trade saw Calgary Flames prospect Cole Huckins shipped from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan to the Sherbrooke Phoenix in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick.

Huckins was drafted by the Flames in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He had 12 goals and 26 points in 41 games for the Titan, which actually represented a step back for him compared to his draft year. He didn’t have a great season; in addition to his dip in production and a slide down the lineup, he missed roughly seven weeks of the season for undisclosed reasons. He seemed like he might be lost in the shuffle going forward.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix had a strong 2021-22 season but couldn’t get over the hump in the post-season. With Montreal Canadiens prospect Joshua Roy coming off a season where he led the Q in scoring, adding Huckins gives the Phoenix some additional potential scoring depth and gives Huckins a chance for a bounce-back year.

All-in-all, it seems like a tidy bit of business for all involved: Huckins gets a fresh start, Sherbrooke gets a player they like, and Acadie-Bathurst get a high draft pick.