Having dropped out of the top five with New Jersey winning the lottery, Ottawa now selects sixth, having gone on a
'spoiler' run to finish out their season. Hopeful that goaltending has been shored up, and adding defensive prospects David Rundblad and Jared Cowen to the mix, Bryan Murray comes to the 2011 NHL Draft with a mission to continue to add to his young mix of talent.
"With the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Ottawa is proud to select, from the Drummondville Voltigeurs, center, Sean Couturier."
As the tall lanky center approaches the podium, Pierre McGuire is all to eager to add in, "Wonder if this is a precursor to the hiring of Dave Cameron?"
At 6'4, 191 lbs, Couturier boasts size and skill in his bag of goodies and tricks. It wasn't too long ago that the Arizona native was the consensus first overall pick. Nicknamed 'Couts' by teammates and fans, alike, Couturier is a complete player with something to offer a team in any area. His enviable size and reach allow him to protect and shield the puck with relative ease. While not being an overall physical player, Couturier uses his size to compliment his skilled game.
On-ice vision and high hockey IQ are found in plenty with Sean, though some scouts are quick to point out that his decision making seems a tad slow, at times. With power behind his shot, Couturier has the skill to finish, while boasting the soft playmaking skills to be a dual threat.
Considered a strong two-way player, Couturier plays in all situations, on a relatively weak Drummondville team, filled with mostly undrafted overagers, and young kids. A strong stride and good straight away speed help Couturier get up and down the ice, though there is continued work needed on his skating, considered lackluster by some.
While Couturier has dropped down many draft boards, many are quick to point out that coming into the season he had mononucleosis, and would have been much bigger and stronger coming into his draft year, had he not suffered it. Strong leadership and competitive nature have gotten him through the year as one of the QMJHL's top scorers with 36 goals and 60 assists in 58 games.
The biggest reason for Couts falling stock could lay in his future projection, where many have him pegged as a 60-70 point two-way center in the mold of a Jordan Staal. An asset to any team who takes him, Couturier could see immediate time with an NHL Club, unless they feel continued work on his core strength and skating would be better improved, back in the Q.
Taken Previously...
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Gabriel Landeskog
3. Jonathan Huberdeau
4. Dougie Hamilton
5. Adam Larsson
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