July is always the slowest news month in the QMJHL but there were still a few noteworthy happenings worth mentioning.

Here, in no particular order, are the most intriguing items from the dog days of summer:

1. Nikita Kucherov — The Quebec Remparts raised some eyebrows when they picked the Russian winger in the first round (43rd overall) of the CHL import draft.

The Remparts seemed like the least likely team to need another star European player because top forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and Nick Sorensen were already on their roster. But that didn’t stop head coach and general manager Patrick Roy from adding to his arsenal.

Kucherov is a second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning and has already spent some time in Russia’s KHL. He has also already dominated international tournaments with Russia and recently announced on Twitter he will report to Quebec for the 2012-13 season. He will dominate the Q as a 19-year-old this year.

Grigorenko was the Buffalo Sabres’s top pick (12th overall) in this year’s NHL draft and Sorensen is a possible first-rounder this year. Since CHL teams can only dress two import players, someone will be the odd man out.

It’s possible Roy expects Grigorenko to stick with the Sabres, in which case the Remparts are merely covering their bases. But it’s just as likely Grigorenko is sent back for another year of junior, which means either he or Sorensen has to go. (There’s no way the Remparts deal Kucherov after luring him overseas.)

If I had to guess, I’d say Sorensen is the most likely to be traded because Grigorenko is the bigger star and the Remparts have more invested. But the flip side is Grigorenko would fetch an even bigger return on the trade market, so it’s possible the Remparts go that route. Either way, Roy will secure a top return if he winds up dealing either of those two players, which is simply excellent asset management.

2. Steve Lebel — In the not-so-good news department, the QMJHL suspended Blainville-Boisbriand Armada’s Lebel for eight games for violating the CHL anti-doping policy.

The 20-year-old forward was caught with traces of the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine in his system so he paid the price. It can’t be a very proud moment for the veteran forward, but at least his punishment will serve as a reminder to the rest of the Q players that the league takes doping seriously. If nothing else, that’s a silver lining because there’s no place for that in the game.

3. Brandon Shea — The Moncton Wildcats found a new home for the 17-year-old American forward who left the team last season and asked for a trade.

Clearly the Wildcats had higher hopes for Shea after picking him in the first round (13th overall) in last year’s QMJHL draft. But sometimes a team-player relationship doesn’t work out and both parties have to turn the page.

Shea is a quality player who should get himself back on track with the Remparts. When that happens, Quebec will compensate Moncton with the appropriate draft pick(s). All’s well that ends well, I suppose.

4. Michael Matheson — Also in Moncton, Wildcats head coach/GM Danny Flynn confirmed that Matheson will not report.

This comes as no surprise to anyone who has followed the defenceman’s career. Matheson has been firmly committed to an NCAA career with Boston College for a long time, so much so that he passed on a chance to play for the Memorial Cup host Shawinigan Cataractes last season. Acquiring his rights from the Cataractes was always a low-percentage gamble for the Wildcats.

5. Under-18 team — Six QMJHL players made the Canadian team that will play for gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Under-18 tournament in Slovakia and the Czech Republic next week.

That’s decent representation, but the best part is at least four of those players should play front-line roles for Canada. Quebec’s Anthony Duclair and the Halifax Mooseheads trio of Jonathan Drouin, Nathan MacKinnon and Zachary Fucale represent legitimate star power from the Q, which hasn’t happened in several years.

(wpalov@herald.ca)