BATHURST – In a move that’s sent a ripple through the ODBHL, the Bathurst Angry Ducks and the Moncton Melons pulled off a multi-piece trade this week, each team hoping to address key organizational needs with an eye on both the present and the future.
To Bathurst Angry Ducks:
To Moncton Melons:
The trade, finalized Friday afternoon night, appears to be a classic example of two teams operating from very different strategic positions.
For Bathurst GM Quintin Sullivan—who, after a recent string of self-imposed absences and a very public AI experiment, has returned to the helm with a mission—this deal is about structure and responsibility. “This move wasn’t about making headlines,” Sullivan said in a brief, distracted press scrum. “It’s about giving our young group a firmer foundation on the back end while injecting a bit more edge into our top six.”
Jakob Chychrun, 30, brings a versatile two-way presence that the Ducks’ blue line sorely lacked. His skating, puck movement, and ability to log big minutes without defensive sacrifice could serve as a steadying force for Bathurst’s younger defensemen. Meanwhile, Dylan Cozens adds a tenacious, defensively responsible center with upside still to be tapped—especially valuable for a club whose identity has sometimes leaned more toward chaos than cohesion.
On the Moncton side, GM Jonathan framed the deal as a necessary step to address cap flexibility while staying competitive. “Sometimes you’ve got to let go of talent to keep the books in order,” Jonathan stated, pointing to the need to prepare for multiple key contract negotiations ahead of Season 14.
In exchange, the Melons acquire former top pick Alex Turcotte, a promising center who’s yet to fully bloom but continues to show flashes of high-end potential. Paired with the right to RFA Jacob Bernard-Docker, a steady, responsible right-shot defender, and an extra second-round selection, Moncton has quietly reloaded its development system with players who could make an impact sooner than later.
Early Reactions Mixed
Fan reaction was predictably passionate. Bathurst fans seem cautiously optimistic, praising the team for finally adding a top-four defender. Moncton supporters are more divided—some lamenting the loss of Chychrun’s stability and Cozens’ grit, others applauding the forward-thinking maneuver.
One thing is certain: if the Ducks miss the playoffs again, this trade will be under the microscope.
And if Cozens blossoms into a 60+ point pivot and Chychrun anchors the D-core while Turcotte stumbles? Well, the Melons’ budgetary gains may come with some bitter fruit.
5/16/2025 - 413 words
