Islanders acquire Squires in trade

Squires ‘pretty pumped’ about trade to Charlottetown Islanders

Jacob Squires did not hide his emotions when discussing the opportunity to play for his hometown Charlottetown Islanders.

“I was pretty pumped,” Squires told Saltwire Network. “I get to come home to an organization over the past couple of years that has solidified themselves in the league.

“(General manager and head coach) Jim (Hulton) and the staff have done an unbelievable job. To be able to come home means a lot.”

The Islanders acquired Squires in one of three separate trades when the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) trade period opened on July 2. In return for Squires, the Islanders sent a sixth-round draft pick in 2024 to the Cape Breton Eagles for the six-foot-one and 190-pound right-handed-shooting defenceman.

“Jacob is obviously a local product, a kid we liked dating back to his draft year,” said Hulton.

“We’ve followed him closely and when the opportunity presented itself to add him, we jumped at it.

“He gives us leadership, gives us experience and helps us with some of the losses we have.”

The Islanders also traded veteran forward Patrick Guay to the Blainville-boisbriand Armada for third- and fourthround picks in 2022 and two thirds and a fourth-round pick in 2023.

Hulton said the Guay trade was part of the Zac Roy deal in January.

“We fought hard to try and keep Patrick, and there are more elements of that trade that will come down the road,” said Hulton. “It’s a huge loss, but you can’t have it both ways. You can’t take a run at a championship and retain all your players.”

Should the 20-year-old Guay, a 55-goal scorer in the 2021-22 regular season, end up playing outside the QMJHL next year, Hulton said there is insurance in place to cover both teams.

In another trade, Charlottetown dealt forward Drew Elliott to the Drummondville Voltigeurs for third- and fourth-round picks in 2024.

“The Elliott trade was done as part of the (Franky) Lapenna and (Xavier) Simoneau trades,” said Hulton. “The inevitable reality is when you load up, it’s going to cost you young players and it’s going to cost you picks.

“We made a conscious decision to push for it this year and it cost us a player like that.”

WATCHED GAMES

Squires grew up in Charlottetown, where he played minor hockey and attended a lot of Islanders’ games.

“My grandparents (Glynne and Bob Squires) live right beside the rink basically, so we’d always park there and walk down to the rink,” said the son of Jeff and Cara Squires. “They still live there and will be there every day, and I will be around them all the time.”

In 60 games with a rebuilding Cape Breton team, Squires had four goals and 11 assists for 15 points during the 2021-22 season.

Squires, a third-round pick of the Rouyn-noranda Huskies in 2019, brings experience to the Islanders as he will enter his fourth season in the Q after one year with the Huskies and two with Cape Breton.

“I’m here to bring a leadership role and help the younger guys,” said Squires, who added the Eagles have a lot of defencemen and he was not surprised by the trade. “Every year I kind of developed, got a little bit better and brought a little bit more to my game each year.

“I want to do more of the same thing, bring a two-way game and be one of those guys in the dressing room who helps out, and show the young guys the way.”

“I was pretty pumped. I get to come home to an organization over the past couple of years that has solidified themselves in the league. (General manager and head coach) Jim (Hulton) and the staff have done an unbelievable job. To be able to come home means a lot.”

Jacob Squires

SPECIAL YEAR PERSONALLY

Although the Eagles missed the playoffs last season, it was a year that carried special significance for Squires, who had the opportunity to play with his younger brother, Cam, a forward. In his rookie season, Cam recorded 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points in 64 regular-season games.

“We knew it wouldn’t last forever,” said Jacob. “Cape Breton gave us the opportunity to live out a dream that not many kids – brothers or sisters – get the opportunity to play with each other, especially in a high-level league

like the Q, where it is more of a business.

“We got the opportunity, and it could have lasted half a year, it could have lasted the next three years, and it lasted a year.”

Jacob is excited about Cam’s future, adding he feels he is in a good spot going forward. Jacob is proud he was able to help with his transition into the Q.

“I know when I was 16 going into the Q, it was a challenge for me trying to figure things out,” said Jacob. “I had good role models and I was happy I was able to be that role model for him.

“I remember sitting on the bench the last game of the year, I think he had two goals and an assist, and I remember thinking I did my part for him and I’m happy it lasted a year.”

DRAFT

The opening round of the QMJHL Entry Draft took place on July 4, with Rounds 2 through 14 on July 5 beginning at 10 a.m., Atlantic Time.

As of deadline time, the Islanders’ first pick is slated for the third round, 51st overall.

“Our draft board is completed right now,” Hulton told the Saltwire Network in a phone interview on July 4. “There are a lot of conversations happening between now and this evening, now and tomorrow to add some more draft picks.

“We are not sure if any of it will become a reality, but we will wait and see.”

Hulton said the organization understands it is at the start of a retooling, so the higher the team can move on the draft board the better.

Hulton said, sitting where the Islanders are now, the team will look to take the best player available.

“Generally, that’s our philosophy,” said Hulton. “I don’t think it’s any secret we have always valued high-end elite defencemen, so restocking some of that will be a priority.”