HALIFAX—The Memorial Cup host Halifax Mooseheads enter the QMJHL winter trade window with no plans to make a big splash, but anything could happen over what is normally a couple busy weeks.

“Our philosophy all along has been to build our team through the draft, which I think we’ve done over the last few years, and chip away and add some pieces to it,” Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell said in an interview this week.

“Like everyone else, we evaluate it day-to-day. If something makes sense during the trade period, we’ll definitely consider.”

The winter trade period runs from Sunday through to Jan. 6. It’s the only time during the season when any roster player can be traded. Canadian Hockey League import players and 20-year-olds can be traded earlier in the year which is how the Mooseheads brought in overage centre Samuel Asselin from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Czech winger Ostap Safin from the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Asselin currently leads the Mooseheads (22-7-2) with 22 goals and 40 points while Safin has been injured since late November and has nine points in 10 games.

Russell focused on bringing in players over the off-season and early on in the campaign to give the team time to jell under Eric Veilleux, the head coach hired in May.

Asselin’s teammates on the 2018 Memorial Cup-winning Titan, centre Antoine Morand and winger Jordan Maher, were traded to Halifax in June.

“I think it’s difficult to try and throw a team together at Christmas and hope they peak in the playoffs,” said Russell.

When it comes to areas that could be addressed through a trade, Russell didn’t have any specifics, instead leaving the door open for any deal that might come along.

“You have to remember, we’ve got a great group of kids that we’re very pleased with, so we feel very confident with the group that we have here,” he said.

“If something makes sense for the organization then it’s something we’ll consider doing. But time will tell.”

Russell will have to get creative to bring in any big pieces as Halifax’s first three draft picks of the 2019 entry draft were traded away to the Titan in the two separate trades for Maher, Morand and Asselin.

Halifax’s first rounder in 2020 is also off the table, traded to Saint John in the Safin deal. That means any first rounders would be from 2021 or later, picks that could be valuable if the Mooseheads go into a rebuild that typically follows success in junior hockey.

The last two winter trading periods have been relatively quiet for the Mooseheads. Last year, the team brought in defenceman Jake Ryczek and shipped out defenceman Jordan Lepage in its only two deals. In 2016-17, three of four trades were made shuffling around 20-year-olds and defenceman Taylor Ford was shipped to Rouyn-Noranda for a 2018 first-round pick.

With Asselin, Maher and Ryczek occupying Halifax’s three overage slots, it’s unlikely that another 20-year-old shuffle will happen this winter.

So far Russell is pleased with what he’s seen from the roster this season. The team has allowed the second-fewest goals against on the year with 78, only behind Rouyn-Noranda. Both goalies — third-year Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alex Gravel and rookie Cole McLaren — have good numbers, are getting wins and haven’t created an urgent need to bring in goaltending help.

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“You evaluate your team daily and I think the overall evaluation is we’re happy how things have gone and with the improvement we’re seeing daily,” said Russell, highlighting the progress of the team defensively over the last 18 months.

“We’re happy with what our coaching staff has done with our players and the development, especially with the big road trip early. Lots of injuries to our players early, so we’re pleased and like I say, it’s a day-to-day process.”

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