Sometimes draft prospects have to sit back and wonder what else they could do. Sean Couturier may be one of the those players as many thought coming into the season that he would be the first overall choice in this year's NHL Entry Draft. After being named the Most Valuable Player this year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Top 2011 Draft Prospect , fourth in the league with 96 points and second in the league with a plus 55 rating you would have thought that he did everything he could to keep that top slot. Instead, Couturier seems to be sliding down the draft board and it all comes down to one thing, his skating.
“He has improved his skating in the last few years but it has a ways to go,” Mark Edwards from HockeyProspect.com said. “His small area starts and stops were exposed a bit during testing in Toronto at the Top Prospects Game. We take testing with a grain of salt, but he was one player that really stood out during testing. Sean showed sluggish starts from a standstill and heavy feet.”
With his big body at 6'4” and 197 pounds as an 18 year old, comparisons are being made to Jordan Staal from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Size is not where the comparisons stop as Couturier has very good hands and can be dominant at the face off circle.
“At his size, he'll be hard to pass up in the draft,” Central Scouting's Chris Bordeleau said. “He possesses a very good work ethic and he's out there for every important face off. He's very responsible in the defensive aspect of the game-- a rare quality for such a young player in junior hockey.”
As you would expect, the scouts are in agreement at Central Scouting about the star from Bathhurst, New Brunswick.
“Sean has excellent puck handling and play making ability; he sees the ice and reads the play very well,” Chris Edwards from Central Scouting stated. “He's extremely smart and gets himself into good scoring position. He plays a solid two-way game and is very responsible defensively.”
I personally love the Drummondville's center game. His hands and size are undeniable and his ability to put points on the board at the QMJHL level is something to look at but just as NHL scouts the big but is with his lack of foot speed. Will he ever get to the spot needed to put up points?
“A big body forward who has very good hands and can be dominant on top of the puck,” one NHL scout told me. “Good size and when he fills out, he will be very strong. Sean will be a fixture on the PP with his size, reach and good hands.”
Just like me though, the scout had to throw a big but, “Skating is the one area where you have to be sure with this kid.”
Plenty of players have made it in the NHL with a “but.” Not many were picked in the top 5 as many feel Couturier will be selected. It's not that NHL teams no longer like the game of Couturier but what many I feel are afraid of is that they will be selecting a future third line center in the top five. When you select that high, teams are wanting franchise players that can take them to the next level where they won't be selecting in the top five anymore. Can Couturier do that? We will see on June 24th if any teams feel he can.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»