At roughly 9:30 ET yesterday morning, The Montreal Canadiens issued a press release stating that they had signed MAINEiacs forward Mathieu Aubin to a three year contract. As a result, Aubin’s career in Lewiston appears over. I am working on connecting with Mathieu to get his reaction to the deal, and when I do, I will report it here.

As a result of the signing, focus around MAINEiacs Nation is firmly affixed on what will Lewiston Head Coach & GM Clem Jodoin will do to plug the large hole in the lineup with Aubin’s departure. Fingers are already being pointed at the lack of movement in Charlottetown. Words are being tossed around like “without Aubin we can’t contend” and “Clem had better do something now.” I mentioned yesterday on a discussion thread on the MAINEiacs Fan Forum that we need to stop focusing on what we don’t have and focus on what we DO have. The answers can be found there quite easily, if one takes a look at it.

The previous two drafts are the main focal point for the solution. Taking a look at the 2005 entry draft, the picks in the first five rounds include first rounders Kevin Marshall & Patrick Cusack, third rounder Dave Taylor, fifth rounders Rob McCarthy & Jonathan Paquet. In the most recent draft, Danick Hudon-Paquette was taken in the first round, Michael Ward in the second, Victor Hesselton in the third, Alex Beaton, Peter Delmas & Nicolas Therrien all in the fifth round. Of all of those players, five are defenseman, four are forwards and one goaltender. Of all of those players, Marshall & Hudon-Paquette are likely untouchable. For teams in rebuilding mode that are likely to make deals the three players that could help expedite the process come in the form of 1989 born players, the likes of Patrick Cusack, Dave Taylor & Michael Ward. All three have impact potential and all three could be expendable given the current landscape of the club. With good young stud defensemen being a premium in this league, Cusack & Ward may generate some interest with other clubs.

Training camp and preseason games will be critical moreso this year than any other time in the short history of the franchise in Lewiston. Players that show up in shape and ready to play will likely get one of the precious few spots on this club, or may pique the interest of other clubs enough to make deal for a player to take a spot on theirs.

One thing MAINEiacs Nation can be assured of… you won’t see hasty deals made, such as the two big ones from December 2002 that are burned into back of the minds of the diehard fans:

(12-13-2002) From SHE to RIM Dany Roussin (1985). From RIM to SHE Gabriel Balasescu (1983)

(12-27-2002) From SHE to CHI Maxime Boisclair (1985) Yan Gaudette (1984) and 2nd round pick 2003 (returned to LEW in the Sebastien Courcelles deal 6-6-2003). From CHI to SHE Pierre-Alexander Parenteau and 4th round pick 2004 (Pier-Luc Champagne).

 As MAINEiacs owner Mark Just grabs an axe and  splits his computer screen in two at this point of the reading, it goes to prove that there are no guarantees that making deals to bring in high profile players is going to yield a championship. Over the past three years, if I had a dollar for every time someone told me “Only if we still had Boisclair…” I’d  be close to retirement by now. Sure, moves need to be made, and the old adage goes “you need to trade something to get something”, it’s a double-edged sword, and be careful what you wish for.

Bus Trip to Moncton September 23rd & 24th for the second game of the MAINEiacs 2006-07 season. Sheila wanted me to put out an all points bulletin for this because she needs to book rooms ASAP. The bus leaves the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Saturday morning September 23rd at 6:00 AM. The bus will stop in Saint John for lunch and then finish the ride to Moncton. The hotel is near the Crystal Palace Indoor Amusement Park & Champlain Place Mall, and she tells me McGinnes Bar & Grille is close by as well. The bus will return to Lewiston immediately following the MAINEiacs / Wildcats game Sunday afternoon. A great weekend trip to take without having to take time off from work. Cost is $84 for Lewy’s Legion members, $92 for non-members. Call Sheila NOW if you are interested at 784-9650. Time is running out! Sheila has at least four other trips planned for the season, and I should have the information on those comming soon.

Off The Wire: Former Hull Olympique defenseman Colin White resigned with the New Jersey Devils on a 6 year / $18 million contract yesterday. White was on the Olympiques’ 1997 Memorial Cup team and played in the QMJHL between 1994-97. In 137 games played, White had 5 goals, 22 assists good for 27 points and had a whopping 636 total penalty minutes in his Q career.