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Top Ten Canadian QMJHL Prospects (Mr. Pouliot) |
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For this one I asked my friend Étienne Pouliot to write his top ten Q players. The lad is a bit of a seperatiste scumbag but I love him anyways. He has his own write-ups and follows the Q religiously. You can check him out at http://everythinghockeyinquebec.blogspot.ca/ and follow him @https://twitter.com/Etienne_Pouliot
Please take into account that this group doesn't include players who have played in the NHL over 50 games, is exclusively Canadian born players in the Q and doesn't include draft eligible guys or goalies. For those pinning after MacKinnon, Drouin, Fucale, Laplante, Gregroire and the rest of the resurgent Q youth...it's a blog for another time.
1) Jonathan Huberdeau, 19 years old, LW/C (Drafted 3rd overall in 2011) Saint John Sea Dogs, Property of the Florida Panthers
Huberdeau is without a doubt the best the 'Q has to offer in terms of talent and potential. He was the best player on one of the greatest team Canadian have seen, captaining them onto a 3rd straight 100+ pts season. Having only played in 37 games, due to injuries, suspensions and the World Junior Championship, Huberdeau still almost scored two points per game, scoring 72 pts.
After an ordinary rookie season, Jonathan really took his game a few notches higher in the playoffs, scoring 18 points in 21 games and leading the 'Dogs to a deep playoff push.
Huberdeau is a master when it comes to keep the puck. It seems to be literally sticked to his blade. He has an incredible vision, hands off the charts and a precise shot. He's a poison 1v1 for the Defensemen because he rolls on the checks. He's not scared to rough it up, but he seems easy to get off his game and it's not rare to see him take a bad penalty 180 feet from his net. Huberdeau is good both offensively and defensively and was often used by coach Gallant on the PK.
Jonathan will need to fill out his frame, because shaped like he is right now he'll have a rough time staying healthy playing against men. He will be a scorer at the NHL, and if he keeps on developing his game as the same rate as he did the past two years, watch out.
Potential: 1st line scoring-winger with All-Star potential.
Comparable: Vincent Lecavalier as a winger
2) Brandon Gormley, 20 years old, LD (stolen 13th overall in 2010) Moncton Wildcats, Property of the Phoenix Coyotes
Hands down the best Defenseman in the 'Q last year, Gormley finally won the prized Memorial Cup after getting traded to Shawinigan for a King's ransom at the trade deadline.
Gormley is a very complete defenseman that can both play the shutdown and the quarterback role. He's a great player positionally and rarely gets beat 1v1. He has a good first pass and a huge slapper he loves to use on the PP. Some would like to see him more physical, but that's not his game. He's a great stick-checker, a bit like Lidstrom was. He's very calm with the puck and rarely gives the puck away or takes a bad decision. He plays a very simple game and rarely will you see him stick-handle through the forecheck. His skating is fine, even though improving it wouldn't hurt him. He also brought leadership to the squad he played for. He's ready physically for the big league and it will be interesting to see if he will be able to make the Coyotes out of camp, if there is even a camp (fingers crossed). One thing's for sure, he's one of the best D prospects in the world, if not the best.
Potential: Top2 Two-way D
Comparable: Alexander Edler
3) Nathan Beaulieu, 19 years old, LD/RD (Drafted 18th overall in 2011) Saint John Sea Dogs, Property of the Montréal Canadiens
First 1st rounder drafted out of the 'Q in a while by the Habs, Beaulieu has an elite skating ability he puts to use every chance he gets. Beaulieu is a Puck-moving D that loves to carry the puck out of his own zone. Unlike a lot of offensive D's, he already knows when to pick his spot and plays accordingly to the score, or the situation. He isn't scared to rough it up and is a pretty good fighter. He can get taken out of the play trying to lay a huge hit, but his crazy foot-speed saved him more than a few times at the junior level, will it be the same story though playing against bigger and faster competition? He uses his reach effectively in 1vs1, being good at defending off the rush. He can be lunatic though in his man-to-man coverage, and needs to awake a bit in those situations. He has a heavy shot from the point, and loves to use his wrister too. He's a constant danger in the offensive zone, not being scared of jumping into the play at all. He can both man the Point on the PP or be the shooter. He really improved his defensive game last year, while still being a threat offensively.
Beaulieu will have to improve his upper body strenght as he will have trouble in physical battles in front of the net and along the boards against men. He should be playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs this year, but he could be a possible call-up for the Habs.
Potential: Top2 offensive D
Comparable: Brent Burns
4) Zack Phillips, 19 years old, C (Drafted 28th overall in 2011), Saint John Sea Dogs, Property of the Minnesota Wild
After an amazing draft year that saw him score 95 pts and winning the Memorial Cup, Phillips' production dropped to 80 pts, in 7 fewer games. Zack is a playmaking center that loves to slow down the play to create time and space for him and his teammates. He has very good vision and an underrated wrist shot that surprised the goalies in the QMJHL more than a few times in his 3 junior seasons. He loves to play at the half-boards on the PP and setup the guy down low or backdoor. Phillips is very good on the faceoffs and is reliable defensively. He's a versatile player that can play both on the wing and at center, even though he's more comfortable pivoting a line. He will have to improve his foot-speed, that is okay right now, but he's missing that extra step to really break-away from the coverage. He's a skilled stick-handler. He will need a year or two in the American Hockey League to fill his frame and translate his game to the professional ranks.
Potential: Top6 Center
Comparable: Jason Spezza-lite
5) Xavier Ouellet, 19 years old, LD/RD (Drafted 48th overall in 2011), Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Property of the Detroit Redwings
If Gormley was last year's best on the back end throughout the league, then Ouellet will be this year's. Just like Gormley, Ouellet can do it all. He's a smart player that is always in good position. He's very good at reading the play. He's not a physical player by any mean, but he's not scared to drop the gloves to shake things up when his team is losing or he doesn't like what he's seeing. He was one of the biggest reason why the Armada were such a big surprise last year, leading them to a deep playoff push. He doesn't panic with the puck and is good at escaping the fore-check. He's effective both on the PK and the PP where he mans the point. Ouellet distributes the puck well and rarely turns it over. He still has another year before turning Pro, but will still need to improve his overall strenght to face the bigger players. It might also improve his shot, that is not his best asset. I don't a good handle of Ouellet yet to see if his offensive game will translate to the NHL, but rest assured Wings' fans, he won't be the next Hal Gill.
Potential: Top4 Minute-Eating D
Comparable: Paul Martin
6) Jean-Gabriel Pageau, 19 years old C/RW (Drafted 96th overall in 2011), Chicoutimi Saguenéens, Property of the Ottawa Senators
Speed. That's what defines Pageau's game. He's on the short side at 5'8, but that doesn't stop the little bugger from scoring and buzzing all game long. He's a complete forward that can play both RW and Center. He's a typical Benoît Groulx grown forward that plays both sides of the ice with efficiency and works hard every shift. He literally carried an average Olympiques team in the 2011 playoffs to a final appearance only to lose to the powerhouse that the Sea Dogs were with 29 points in 23 playoff games. He's as good a passer as he's a scorer and can play many roles on the PP, being at his best down low. His size might be what will prevent him from becoming an NHLer, but it surely won't be from a lack of desire. In that sense, Jean-Gabriel reminds of Desharnais. Pageau has that ability to make plays at high-speed, which surprises the defenders in front of him. I don't think he's very far from the NHL, and we might even see him in the show next year as a call-up, because of his versatility and his skating ability.
Potential: Top6 Winger
Comparable: Daniel Brière
7) Michaël Bournival ,19 years old LW/C/RW, Shawinigan Cataractes (Drafted 71st overall in 2010), Property of the Montréal Canadiens
Bournival is another versatile player and can play all the forward position. He can also play in any situation, whether it is on PP, PK, to shutdown the opponent's best, play the last minute of a game, the first, or when his team needs a goal.
That's a huge reason why he made Team Canada junior last year. Sadly he didn't get much ice-time before the semi-finals against Russia. Don Hay then turned to him when his team was losing 5-0, and Bournival with his hardwork and great forecheck abilities brought the momentum back to the Canadian squad. Bournival is a fierce competitor and he'll fight for every loose puck. He has excellent footspeed, and to me it was a huge factor in his impressive offensive season last year. He is also a leader that leads by example.
Last season, he was truly dominant offensively and was scoring at a terrific pace. But after watching him more closely during the playoffs and the Memorial Cup, I settled down. I don't think he will ever be a scorer in the NHL. Bournival to me lacks creativity offensively to become a Top6 forward. He does have a heavy shot though, and usually settles for a shot instead of going fancy.
I eventually think he'll become a great checker for the Habs. He is a very good forechecker, excels in defensive missions and he's good on the PK. He's already ready physically, and skates fast enough to play at the NHL. So don't be surprised to see him called-up, or maybe even cause a surprise in training camp (even though there might be too many NHL contracts). He will more likely start the year in Hamilton on the 1st line.
Potential: 3rd line Defensive Forward
Comparable: Chris Kelly
8) Phillip Danault, 19 years old C/LW (Drafted 29th overall in 2011), Victoriaville Tigres, Property of the Chicago Blackhawks
Danault is a two-way forward that has very good skating ability and is not scared to lay the body on the fore-check. He's very good in the face-off circle and excels defensively. He should be on Team Canada's 3rd line come December baring any injury. Danault was named captain of the Tigres at the age of 16, which speaks a lot about his leadership. He's a hardworking player that coaches love to have on their squad. Danault is a safe bet to eventually make the NHL, remains to know in which role. He lacks the talent you usually want from a Top6 forward but don't rule that option out. He's not the type of player you usually draft in the 1st round, but the Hawks had 2 1st rounders in 2011 and settled for a guy they loved after getting Mark McNeill earlier in the draft. He's a good two years away from the NHL.
Potential: 2nd/3rd line Two-way Center
Comparable: Antoine Vermette
9) Morgan Ellis, 20 years old RD (Drafted 117th overall in 2010), Shawinigan Cataractes, Property of the Montréal Canadiens
Morgan Ellis went last year from being an obscure prospect to some to one of the most talked about prospect the Habs have. You can thank the fact that he was traded to the Memorial cup hostee in Shawinigan, but mostly because he really progressed offensively. People overlooked him because his stats weren't impressive, but he was playing on one of the worst team in the 'Q. I know some scouts that saw his coming-out coming from miles. Morgan always had that game into him, but he didn't have confidence in it, and I still don't think he has enough confidence in it.
Ellis is a two-way D that plays a positional game that doesn't require much speed to be effective. He has a huge shot from the point that takes a lot of time to load though. He has a good first pass in breakouts. He is very calm when he plays, and is flawless defensively. He's a defense-first D that I'd like to see become more physical. He uses his reach to his advantage in board battles and rarely loses those said battles. A very underrated part of his game is his pugilistic skills. He will never fight the Heavyweights , but he can defend himself pretty well. He's also a very adamant shot-blocker, which made scouts draw comparisons between Ellis and Habs' very own Josh Gorges.
He plays a very simplistic offensive game, but sometimes less is more. You rarely see him turn the puck over at the other team's blue line, and goes for the percentage plays. And that type of game seemed to pay off last year. But at the same time, that simplistic game makes me question the transition of his offensive game to the Pros.
Potential: 4th Defensive D
Comparable: Marc-Édouard Vlasic
10) Charles Hudon, 18 years old LW/C/RW (Drafted 122nd overall), Chicoutimi Saguenéens, Property of the Montréal Canadiens
When I see Hudon play, I see a lot of Mike Cammalleri. Both have a small frame, both are average skaters and pure snipers. The two can also be pretty good play-makers. Charles has a terrific vision and is always thinking offense. His creativity is off the charts, and he can separate himself from the defensive coverage with ease thanks to his smarts. He has a deadly shot, that is more precise than powerful, while not weak. He loves using his slapper off the rush. Hudon is also a hard-working player that isn't scared to go in dirty areas, coming out most of the times with the puck. He is decent in his own zone and rarely loses his coverage. After a very good rookie season in the 'Q that made him win the Rookie of the year award, his 2nd year in Saguenay left many scouts on their appetite.
His offensive production stagnated and he was inconsistent with his effort.
To make it to the next level, Charles will have to improve his skating, something that is far from impossible, if you look at how much a guy like Brendan Gallagher improved in that area in two years. He will also have to be more consistent in his effort, like any other player of his age. Hockey Canada seems to like his brand of hockey and after the strong showing he had this week in the Russia-Canada Challenge, he seems like a lock to make Team Canada in December. He will need to prove though that last year was just a fluke, that he's back in form.
Potential: Top6 Scoring Winger
Comparable: Mike Cammalleri
Thanks for reading.
Up next are my top five Swedes.
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