Final Scouting Reports and Analysis for the 2022 QMJHL Draft

We are only two days away from the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft and the anticipation is mounting. With all the trades we witnessed today, the importance of drafting and developing is as important as ever. The Saint John Sea Dogs used the 2018 draft to build their core group which won the Memorial Cup. The Shawinigan Cataractes did the exact same thing in 2018 to build their President Cup winning squad. Championship teams are built on draft day, well most are anyhow other than the teams that sell the farm, but that’s for another article and another time.

Which team will do the best job drafting? Which QMJHL organization will win the 2022 draft? Well, only time will tell, here’s the scouting reports and analysis on the first three rounds ranked by the QMJHL’s own Central Scouting Department (CSR). I’ve added some potential sleeper picks from the Atlantic Canada that could draw some attention as we approach Monday’s draft.

(RSD/LSD = Right and left shot Defencemen, LCG = Left catching goaltender, RSF/LSF Right and Left shot Forward)

1ST ROUND SCOUTING REPORTS AND ANALYSIS

1. Tomas Lavoie, 6’3 RSD College Esther-Blodin Phenix: Exceptional skater for his size, incredibly agile, tremendous gap control and stick positioning, takes great routes to pucks, will need to get a slight step quicker to really excel and show is full potential, pro prospect, he won’t light the world on fire offensively, but very confident and composed with the puck on his stick, solid puck skills, physical, two- and half zone defender, tremendous release,
2. Gabriel D’Aigle, 6’3 LCG St- Hyacinthe Gaulois: Big square netminder, incredibly composed, athletic, and very good technically, challenges the shooter well, down a little early at times, but is extremely quick and agile for his size, good rebound control and solid downlow, will have to continue to work on his recovery, might need some refinement on his blocker and trapper side, but an is an incredible talent
3. Sacha Boisvert 6’1 LSF Rhode Island Saints: Great speed and agility, reads the play very well, good two-way center, will have to work on the defensive side of things, body and stick positioning to ensure he plays Top 6 minutes at the next level next year as a 16, great puck skills, good in traffic. Wicked release, natural goal scorer, quick silky hands and very confident in traffic, Will have to get stronger upper body wise to ensure he wins puck battles in all three zones at the next level.
4. Justin Poirier 5’6 RSF Chateauguay Grenadiers: Fantastic skater, amazing edge work, speed for days, processes the game extremely well, great two-way presence, isn’t scared to go to the dirty areas of the ice to create time and space, dynamic release especially on the left dot on the power play. Hard and accurate shot, will have to get stronger upper body wise to make sure he wins his share of puck battles at the next level,
5. Eliot Litalien 6’1 LSF Seminaire St-Francois Blizzard : Solid skater, great puck skills and patience with the puck in all three zones, great hands in tight or in one on one situations, solid two way player, good vision and a very underrated passer and distributor of the puck, Will need to work on some explosiveness to excel and be a top 6 center at the next level, but definitely possesses all the tools to be a dominant power forward at the Q level,
6. Adam Fortier-Gendron 5’10 LSD College Esther-Blodin Phenix: Solid stay at home shut down two-zone defender that can also bring some offensive upside to the game, he’s an extremely strong skater, transitions the puck very well, great first pass, good stick and awareness in the D-zone. Gaps up very well, will have to a little quicker and more explosive to excel at the next level, but that will definitely happen naturally,
7. Quinn Kennedy 5’9 LSF Halifax Macs: Extremely cerebral player, tremendous hockey sense, great playmaker and individual skills, relentless on the forecheck and in all three zones, hunts pucks, solid two-way presence, good in the face-off dot, possesses an extra gear at any time, great escapability and puck skills in traffic, hard accurate shot, will need to get stronger from an upper body perspective to ensure he excels at the next level and wins puck battles at the center position
8. Julien Lanthier 5’11 LSD St-Eustache Vikings : solid skater, good puck skills and good first pass, can play both sides, looks comfortable on the right side, great poise on the offensive blueline, creative with the puck, good gap control and very active stick, will have to get more explosive to reach his full potential at the next level, but possesses all the tools to be a solid two and half zone defender at the Q level. Good instincts to jump into the play, very good heavy shot from the point position
9. Xavier Veilleux 6’0 LSD Seminaire St-Francois Blizzard : Good skater, solid edge control, two way transitional two and half zone defender with an exceptional first pass, very good gap control and has the ability to play both sides with relative ease, type of defencemen that can skate for days, can log and eat big minutes in every situation, great patience and composure with the puck in all three zones, like every young defender he could continue to work on his skating to get a half step quicker to fully excel at the next level, possesses great instincts to jump into the rush and isn’t scared to take the puck below the dots in the offensive zone to create,
10. Owen Phillips: 5’10 RSD Pittsburgh Pens Elites:  Strong skating two and half zone D-man, solid puck skills, great gap control and good first pass, very active stick in the defensive zone, great instincts and thinks the game extremely well, good shot from the point, Phillips plays a similar style to that of Sea Dogs defender Charlie Desroches
11. William Shields: 5’9 RSF Bishop Kearney Selects: Strong fast skater, quite agile and great edge control, solid puck skills, thinks the game well, solid release, brings lots of energy, good two-way player with offensive upside, needs to get to the middle more to ensure he reaches his full potential at the next level
12. Raoul Boilard 6’0 LSF Magog Cantonniers : good skater, good puck skills, solid hockey IQ, good release, very creative, has great vision and playmaking ability, fantastic in the faceoff dot, can play both forward positions, but is probably more comfortable playing the middle, will have to work on his explosiveness and getting to the middle of the ice more and engaging more to generate offense at the next level,
13. Spencer Gill 6’2 RSD Moncton Flyers: Spencer Gill is on a similar trajectory to that of his older brother Rouyn-Norada Huskies 1st rounder Dyllan Gill The similarities are truly uncanny, but Spencer is on his own path in the game. Gill’s poise with the puck and ability to make tough plays look routine jump off the page. He’s not the fastest player on the ice, but he’s definitely one of the smartest. Gill has the foundation to be solid two and half zone defenceman at the next level. Gill takes solid routes to pucks, hits the open man with relative ease and is willing to take a hit to make a play in all three zones. By no means is he explosive, he’s very tactical with and without the puck. Gill’s decision making and poise with the puck is extremely similar to that of his brother. His feet are very good and will get better as he matures and gets stronger. A quicker first step will serve him well, Gill will have to work on his shot to increase its effectiveness from the point, he does possesses a very accurate wrister and snap shot from the point position, but that needs to get harder to be able to score and generate rebounds at the junior level. He can eat massive amounts of minutes in every situation, will need to get stronger from an upper body position to inflict some damage on forwards below the dots, but definitely has the frame and stature to do it.
14. Maxim Masse 6’0 RSF College Notre-Dame Albatross: strong skater, quite agile for his size, great puck skills and patience and creativity in traffic, very good on the half boards in his own zone, power forward potential, plays a heavy two-way game, will need to work on his foot speed reach his full potential at next level. Type of player that can play up and down the lineup and fulfill any role or identity when called upon. Possesses a fantastic pro release, and great hands in tight, as the potential to score a ton of goals by going to dirty areas of the ice every time out. If he gets a half step quicker look out, he could become a monster point getter at the Q level.
15. Thomas Desruisseaux 5’10 LSF Levis Chevaliers : strong skater, good foot speed and agility, solid puck skills in traffic, responsible two-way presence, would bring tons of energy and skill to any line up, goes to the dirty areas of the ice and is comfortable to create time and space and offence for himself and his linemates, solid accurate release, very smart player with an extra gear of speed in open ice,
16. Jeremy Leroux 5’8 RSF Stanstead College: strong skating winger, plays a lot bigger than his size, great compete level, solid hockey IQ, processes the game very well, has great instincts, pucks and a very good release, could play up and down any lineup, brings tons of energy and skill every time he steps on the ice, will have to get a little stronger to reach his full potential at the next level, but definitely possesses all the attributes to be an extremely effective player at the Q level.
17. Justin Carbonneau RSF Levis Chevaliers : Great skater, quick, agile and powerful stride, solid puck skills and patience with the puck, good hands in tight and a very good passer of the puck, solid on the half boards in his own zone, doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas of the ice, another player that could skate for days, will need to get a little stronger on both sides of the puck to ensure maximum performance at the Q level.
18. Mathieu Taillefer 6’0 RSD St-Hyacinthe Gaulois: Ultra smooth skating transitional defender. Great instincts for the game, solid gap control and very active intelligent stick, great patience and composure with the puck, good release from the point position and very good first pass, This kid can skate for days, very impressive player, like any young defender, he will have to get a little stronger to win his share of puck battles at the next level, Taillefer isn’t going to the light the world on fire offensively and that’s perfectly fine, this kid is going to be a fantastic two zone defender with grit and puck moving capability. These days everyone wants offense from the backend, but what’s more important, scoring a bunch of points or keeping the puck out of your net, Mathieu Taillefer will keep pucks out of his net and plays the game the right way every time out.

2ND ROUND SCOUTING REPORTS AND ANALYSIS

19 Alix Durocher 5’7 LSF Magog Cantonniers : dynamic energy player, highly skilled, explosive skater, some may suggest he might have to lengthen his stride a little to reach his full potential at the next level, but this kid can fly on the ice already, plays a lot bigger than his stature, will have to continue to work on his upper body strength to win board battles, but he’s highly engaged in every shift, he possesses a strong two-way gritty element to his game, fantastic hockey sense, relentless and can score from anywhere, Isn’t scared of the dirty areas of the ice.

20 Bill Zonnon 6’0 LSF Northwood Prep School: strong skater with very good puck skills in traffic, thinks the game very well, Isn’t the flashiest or most polished skater by any means, but has solid edge control and fantastic compete level, prototypical power forward that gets to the net and can caused havoc in the offensive zone, solid passer and great instincts in all three zones, tremendous reach and stick control in tight areas, will have to get stronger from upper body perspective and slight bit faster to reach his full potential at the next level,

21 Connor Arseneault 6’1 LSF Saint John Vito’s: strong skater very agile and mobility for his size, prototypical power forward in the making, type of player can definitely skate for days, needs to get to the middle of the ice more often to ensure he can generate scoring chances at the next level, he possesses a fantastic shot, solid pucks and processes the game well in certain situations, like every young forward Arseneault could improve his overall defensive game to ensure he reaches his full potential at the next level, Connor Arseneault could be a steal in the draft, he has all the tools to be a highly effective two-way scoring winger at the Q level

22 Anthony Pare 6’0 LSD College Notre-Dame Albatross: solid skater, great edge work, can play both sides with relative ease, probably more comfortable on the right side, thinks the game very well, good agility and very active stick, good shot from the point position, very good passer, can run a power play, good vision, will be a solid two and half-zone transitional defender at the next level, solid puck skills in traffic, will need to get a slight bit faster to reach full potential at the Q level, good composure with the puck in all three zones, especially on the offensive blue line, good gap control, will need to get stronger like any young defender, but this kid can play the position and takes a lot of pride in playing the position the right way.

23 Alexis Bernier 6’0 RSD St-Hyancinthe Gaulois: Above average skater, will have to work on his explosiveness and agility to reach his full potential at the next level, solid puck skills, thinks the game well, has all the makings of a shutdown defender at the next level, outstanding compete level and grit, good distributor of the puck and takes solid routes to pucks for puck retrieval, solid shot from the point position

24 Gabe Smith 6’3 LSF Rothesay Netherwood School River Hawks: Gabe Smith has all the tools to be an extremely dangerous presence at the QMJHL level and beyond. The 15 year old power forward skates incredibly well for his size. A matter of fact some scouts would say he has amazing feet. At 6’3 and a 190 pounds Smith still has room to grow figuratively and literally. You can make all the comparisons and similarities you want, but Gabe Smith is a close to a bonafide power forward as you could have. Milan Lucic, Jamie Benn and Sean Couturier come to mind when you see the young New Brunswicker play the game he loves. Many comparisons are unfair, especially when it comes to NHLers, but Smith possesses a tremendous foundational skill set. Smith is arguably the best forward prospect to come out of New Brunswick in quite some time. The St. Andrews, New Brunswick product competes on every puck in every situation all over the Ice. He’s a nasty player to play against, not because he’s dirty, because he’s mean and has tons of sandpaper to his game. You can guarantee Gabe Smith will finish every single hit available. He plays the game the right way in all three zones. Many players that are Smith’s size at that age are reluctant to throw their weight around, that’s certainly not the case. On average Smith throws four to five bone crushing hits a game. He’s defensively accountable in all three zones, thinks the game very well and has very active stick in all three zones. he’s as closest to “Q” ready a NB prospect has been since Lukas Cormier. Smith can play both forward positions with relative ease. He logs massive minutes in every situation and distributes the puck very well through the middle. He has extremely soft hands and great puck skills in open ice and in high traffic areas. QMJHL teams will more than likely play him on the wing early on, but he could blossom into a 1st line two-way center due in large part to his skating and off the charts compete level. He will have to improve in the face off dot to carry the first line center moniker at the next level, but he certainly possesses all the tools to be an elite Major Junior player and professional hockey player. When it comes to the offensive side the game, Gabe Smith has incredible upside. He possesses a heavy accurate shot and can score from just about anywhere on the ice. His shot rivals that of many pros.

25 Felix Lacerte 5’9 LSF Trois-Riveres Estacades  :  solid skater, great vision and play making ability, good speed, solid two-way center, good stick in all three zones, good in the faceoff dot, solid deceptive release, will need to get a step faster and stronger to reach his full potential at the next level, has all the makings of a reliable two-way checking center with offensive upside at the Q level, creative on the half boards on the power play

26 Nathan Brisson 5’9 LSF St-Eustache Vikings: good skater, solid speed and agility, will need to get a step faster to fully excel as a shutdown checking center with offensive upside at the next level, extremely reliable two-way center,  good in the dot,  can log big minutes in any situation, good accurate release, good hands in tight,

27 Coen Miller 5’10 LSF Cole Harbour Wolfpack: great offensive instincts for the game, good puck skills, needs to work on his explosiveness, extremely deceptive accurate release, good hands and puck possession in traffic, will need to get more engaged in all three zones and stronger to reach his full potential at the Q level. Can play both forward positions, all the tools to be a solid Top 6 forward at the next level, it’s just going to take a little time, but can definitely contribute at that level

28 Marcus Kearsey 5’9 LSD Rothesay Netherwood School River Hawks:  Extremely gifted skater, almost seems like he floats on the ice, smooth operator when it comes to the transition game, very good hands and puck skills, great instincts to jump into the play and join the rush, will have to pick and choose his spots a little bit better at the next level, but that will all come with experience, good release from the point position, solid gap control and active stick, will have to get stronger to make sure he wins his share of puck battles below the dots at the Q level Great compete level and element of grit to his game, plays with an edge, and is always looking to push the pace, as in many young transitional puck movers, sometimes less is more, but Marcus Kearsey has all the tools to be a highly effective transitional two and a half zone defender at the next level.

29 Vincent Desjardins 5’9 RSF St-Eustache Vikings : Strong skater, reliable two-way center, great puck skills, great in the face off dot, logs big minutes in any situation, very accurate quick release, great vision and passing ability, processes the game extremely well, great stick and body awareness on the defensive side of the puck, plays a lot bigger than his stature, will have to get stronger from an upper body perspective, but this kid is relentless and plays the game the right way shift in, shift out,

30 Reece Peitzsche 5’11 LSF Cole Harbour Wolfpack: great skater, good puck skills, solid hockey IQ, power forward in the making, needs to get a step quicker to reach full potential for the Q, can play both forward positions, but is a natural centreman, needs to trust his skills and skating a little more to ensure he gets to the net more frequently, great release, vision and playing making ability, calm, cool and collected running the power from the halfboards or the top, solid two-way presence, Peitzsche has all the tools to be a very effective forward at the next level.

31 Alexis Michaud 5’11 RSF Seminaire St-Francois Blizzard : strong skater, will have to a step quicker to reach full potential at the Major Junior level, good puck skills, can play both forward positions, but is a natural winger, power forward in the making, gets to the dirty areas of the ice almost every shift, great board play in the defensive zone, great passer and play maker from the wing position, extremely reliable two-way winger that takes pride in playing the game at both ends, type of player that can play up and down any line up, fantastic accurate release, heavy shot that can generate a lot of rebounds,

32 Louka Cloutier 5’10 LCG Magog Cantonniers : very athletic netminder, solid technique, moves well post to post, tracks pucks very well, is square to the shooter, fights for his space well in traffic, challenges the shooter, would like to see him telescope out a little quicker at times, plays a little deep at times, down a touch early, good glove, great rebound control, solid goaltending prospect

33 Felix Plamondon 5’11 LSD  Seminaire St-Froncois Blizzard: strong skater, solid edges, will have to work on his explosiveness a touch, great instincts for the position, strong stick, processes the game very well, great first pass, knows when to pick and choose his times to join the rush, solid puck skills, good release from the point position, will have to get stronger upper body wise to inflict some damage down low, type of defender that can log big minutes in any situation or play any role within your defensive corps, won’t bring a lot of offence to the game, but that doesn’t really matter when you think about what Plamondon brings to the game, this kid can really play the position and takes a lot of pride in playing the game the right way in all three zones.

34 Marek Beaudoin 5’10 LSF St-Hyancinthe Gaulois: strong skater, solid edge work,  good puck skills, processes the game very well, can play both forward positions, but is probably more comfortable on the wing, like many young wingers, he needs to work on some aspects of his defensive game to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Q level, solid stick, will need to get a little stronger to win board battles at the next level, good heavy accurate shot, good passer, very effective when he uses all of his tools to get to the net, solid two-way winger with tons of offensive upside in the making.

35 Alexis Boily 6’1 RSD St-Eustache Vikings: Good skater, will need to work on his quickness and mobility from a pivot and edges perspective to reach his full potential at the next level, good puck skills, good stick and gap control, won’t light the world on fire offensively, but will become a strong shut down two-zone defender if he continues to develop and progress, Boily will be a nasty defender to play against, many forwards will be reluctant to go in his corner shift after shift, because he will inflict some damage physically, good first pass and instincts for the game, the team that will draft this kid won’t be disappointed, he is the type of kid that will get better and better with experience and will be able to log massive minutes, important minutes in a shutdown role

36 Anthony Biakabutuka 6’2 LSD College Charles-Lemoyne Riverains: Good skater for his size, will have to work on his explosiveness and mobility to excel at the next level, strong physical presence, very good active stick, solid gap control and a good first pass, good release from the point position, processes the game well, fantastic compete level, great shot blocker, you can tell this kid loves the game of hockey and will do just about anything to achieve his goals within the game, Will become a strong two-zone defender at the next level, a shutdown D-man that will be incredibly difficult to play against, won’t bring a ton of offense, but thinks the game well enough to join the rush and distribute pucks effectively.

3RD ROUND PROSPECTS SCOUTING REPORTS AND ANALYSIS

37 Guillaume Fillion 5’11 LSD Magog Cantonniers: good skating defender, solid edge work, will have to get a step faster to fully excel at the next level, needs to get a little stronger to ensure he wins puck battles below the dots at the Q level, good puck skills, makes good decisions and possesses a solid first pass, however needs to be a touch more consistent in that area at times, willing to take a hit to make a play, good instincts for the position, great stick positioning and gap control, solid two-zone defender, won’t bring a ton of offense at the next level, but has a good release from the point, could become a very solid shut down defender at the junior level

38 Alexandre Lallier 5’8 RSF St-Eustache Vikings:  good skater, solid edges, crafty player, solid instincts in all three zones, good hands and release, will need to a get step quicker or more explosive to become more elusive at the junior level, will have to put up some muscle upper body wise as well to ensure he wins puck battles along the wall, can really create havoc when he gets to the middle in the offensive zone, brings a lot of energy to the game and wing position, will need to refine his defensive game to reach full potential at the Q level, lots of skill and potential

39 Emile Beaunoyer 5’10 LCG College Notre-Dame Albatros: solid netminder, good technique, moves well, plays a little deep at times, good quickness downlow, solid recovery might need to get a touch quicker in that department, very solid glove, battles for space in traffic, good rebound control, tracks pucks well, looks big in the net, very square to the shooter, this kid saw a lot of rubber this season, and was left out to dry on several occasions, you can tell this kid is a battler, solid goaltending prospect

40) Jeremie Richard 6’0 LSD Moncton Flyers: One of most improved skaters this season, has really worked hard on his pivots, puck skills are very good, doesn’t shy away from the corners, loves the physicality, struggles at times with processing under pressure, but I’ve seen a marked improvement in that area as well,  always willing to take a hit to make a play, he’s a strong skater and getting a lot stronger on his skates, solid two and half zone D man, won’t put up massive offensive numbers at the Q level, but takes a lot pride in playing the position the right every time he takes to the ice, very good on the offensive blue line with the puck, great vision and good first pass, very few players want it as bad as he does, outstanding kid and is a sponge when it comes to the game, he’s a phenomenal student of the game, this kid is captain material, glue guy in the room,

41) Luciano Ruggiero 6’1 LCG Laval-Montreal: solid netminder, very big in the net, square, good technique, very quick and agile for his size, very athletic, active in the bluepaint, down early at times, will have to refine his recovery movements to excel at the next level, deep and down early at times as well, tracks pucks well, good in traffic, but would like to see him telescope out more to challenge the shooter, lots of potential here, great goaltending foundation,

42) Eric Halliday 5’8 LSD Halifax Macs: smooth operator with the puck, no panic, tons of composure, great skater, great hands, transitional defender, good puck skills and a very active stick in all three zones, defends well in his own zone, great instincts for the game in all three zones, very good hard accurate shot from the point position, could become a solid two and half zone transitional d-man at the Major Junior level, like many young D, will have to get stronger upper body wise to ensure he wins puck battles at the next level, but his skating alone will get him out of trouble in his own zone, can play both sides with relative ease, probably would be more comfortable on his strong side to start out in the Q, great vision and instincts when it comes to jump to into the rush, will have to move it a touch quicker at the next level, but will adjust very quickly given his hockey IQ and instincts for the game and the position,

43) Mathis Langevin 6’1 LCG Chateauguay Grenadiers : very active in the net, very athletic, solid technique and foundation, definitely a battler, plays a little deep at times, will need to work on his recovery and rebound control to excel at the next level, good downlow and has a solid glove, tracks pucks well, needs to fight harder through traffic, all the tools to be an effective netminder at the next level,

44) Ian Ramsay 6’3 LSD Cole Harbour Wolfpack: good skater for his size, great feet, solid mobility, above average puck skills, solid stay at home shutdown D-man in the making, this kid thinks the game very well, will have to continue to get a little more explosive and work on his agility in traffic with and without the puck and continue to work on his puck skills to excel at the next level, there’s no question this kid can play at the next level and deliver massive minutes in key situations, has a great shot from the point position and has a knack for getting shots through which is very good skill to have,

45) Mathys Dube 5’9 LSF College Notre-Dame Albatros: verygood skater, can skate for days, lightning fast, might not be the best technical stride in the world, but this kid can fly, doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas of the ice, ultra-energy player, extremely aggressive on the forecheck, active stick, plays a lot bigger than his stature, can play both forward positions, but I definitely see him playing the wing to start his career at the next level, but there’s no denying he can skate and play the middle at the Q level, he’s very good in the face off dot, good instincts with and without the puck, great two-way presence, very good puck skills and very good play maker, the teams that overlook this kids size, understand what he can bring to the game, Dube, could be considered a steal in this draft, because this kid is the ultimate competitor and energy player, type of player that can play up and down any line up and would be a penalty killing machine at the next level, his hands and puck skills are good enough to play the half boards on the man advantage, this kid does everything at top speed.

46) Vincent Murray 6’0 LSD Gatineau L’Intrepide : above average skater, solid puck mover, stay at home defender, no flash or dash type of d-man, steady, shutdown potential, tough to play against, real nasty edge to his which is great to see, will never shy away from the physicality of the position,  active stick in all three zones, willing to take a hit to make a play, great body positioning on the defensive side of the puck, solid gap control, good first pass, will have to get a few steps quicker to excel at the next level, but this kid thinks the game very well and plays to his identity shift in, shift out, great instincts for the game and the position, good release from the point position, if Murray continues to develop and grow, he will be a great addition to any team as a solid two-zone defender.

47) Chad Bellemare 5’7 RSF St-Eustache Vikings: strong skater, good speed, can play both forward positions, but probably will start on the wing, great speed, checking energy type of winger with offensive upside, solid puck skills, plays a lot bigger than his stature, solid two-way winger, will need to keep getting faster to make sure he reaches his full potential at the Q level,

48) Antoine Fontaine 5’7 RSF Magog Cantonniers : good skater, good speed, very good puck skills, strong on the forecheck, great hockey IQ, plays a lot bigger than his size, doesn’t hesitate going to the dirty areas of the ice to generate offense, very creative, great quick release, will have to work on his speed and get stronger to make sure he will live up to his full potential at the Q level, definitely has a nose for the net, type of player that’s all over the puck all the time, lots of potential here no matter how tall he is,

49) Kaden McNeil 6’1 LSD Rothesay Netherwood River Hawks: Underrated, but certainly not undervalued, Kaden McNeil’s draft stock continues to soar, by some accounts McNeil’s performance at the recent Q Cup was exceptional, very good skater and transitional D-man, this kid can skate for days, good puck skills, keeps things simple, highly effective and efficient puck mover in all three zones which is a pretty rare skill to possess for a young defender in this day and age, plays to his identity every time he steps on the ice, great instincts for the game, jumps into the rush at the right times, McNeil understands the less is more approach to the game and position, good shot from the point position, can play both sides with relative ease, but will more than likely start his junior career on the left side, won’t light it up offensively, at the next level, he plays the position and the game the right way, McNeil is a big time sleeper pick, the team that selects will be very impressed with this future solid two-zone shutdown defender

50) Mavrick Brunet 5’9 LSF Laval-Montreal Rousseau Royal : very good skater, solid edges and agility, it’s all about getting stronger and faster for Mavrick Brunet for him to excel at the next level, all the other attributes are certainly there to become a very effective two-way center at the Q level. great instincts and hockey sense, good puck skills, good accurate shot, solid play maker,

51) Lincoln Waugh 5’9 LSD Charlottetown Knights: fantastic competitor, great skater, he can skate for days, Waugh is going to play the game the right way every shift, he lets the game come to him, he picks his spots to be the dynamic defencemen, This kid is a savvy defender, who effectively and efficiently plots his way around the ice. He makes plays in all three zones with relative ease. His head is always and I mean always up, He’s not the biggest most physically intimidating rear guard, but he seemingly never loses a puck battle due in large part to his tremendous edge control, agility and smarts. This kid will be an outstanding Major Junior defender, good leader, glue guy in the room, His draft ranking has slightly dropped over the year, which is puzzling to me, the team that drafts him won’t be disappointed, they will have a four to five year two and half zone defender that will eat minutes in any situation.

52) Alexandre Ritchie 6’0 LSD Laval-Montreal Royal: good skater, great stick and gap control, great pivots, great instincts for the game and position, good pucks skills and very effective first pass, can play both sides of the ice, seems to be more comfortable on the right side, will have to get a touch quicker and stronger to reach his full potential at the Q level, solid two-zone defender in the making here, has all the tools to be a solid contributor to any blueline at the Major Junior level,

53) Brett Yuzik 6’3 RSF College Charles-Lemoyne Riverains: good skater for his size, power forward in the making if not already, tremendous release, goes to all the dirty areas of the ice to create time and space and offence for himself and his teammates, gritty two-way presence, more suited for the wing position, so he will have to continue to get quicker and more explosive, but that will certainly come with time and experience at the next level, if this kid continues to develop lookout because he has great offensive instincts and a heavy highly accurate shot, great hands and vision, very good passer of the puck, lots of potential in this player,

54) Liam Furey 6’2 LCG Halifax Macs: solid goaltending prospect, moves quite well for a big goaltender, needs to get quicker on his lateral movements post to post and tracking players cutting across the middle of the ice, but very square to the shooter and solid technical foundation, down early at times, would like to see his glove a little higher when in the butterfly, solid rebound control will need to improve in that area to excel at the next level.

Potential Atlantic Canadian 2022 QMJHL “Sleeper Picks”

What’s a “sleeper pick?” Well, I’m sure every scout and organization across the sporting world have their own definition for that one. Nevertheless, in this article I take a look at potential “sleeper picks” from Atlantic Canada. Rankings are rankings, it’s what a player puts into their game and all of the sacrifices after their name is called at the draft that matters most. As for the sleeper picks, it’s all about the quiet talent or the talent that “whispers.”

All some players need is an opportunity to take off and prove all the critics wrong. “Sleeper picks” make those that really know a player (their skill, character and the intangibles they possess) look like geniuses. There are a ton of examples of players from this neck of the woods who have been drafted in the later rounds that have excelled at the QMJHL level and beyond. This year will be no different. Every organization hopes every prospect they select hits, but in all reality that doesn’t always happen. It’s the “sleeper picks” that no one is willing to take a chance that pays dividends in the long run for any organization. In many ways “sleeper picks” surprise the hell out of people, but those that do their homework know how to project and know what type of impact a “sleeper” can have when given the right opportunity will ultimately hit a homerun on draft day.

Here are some potential sleeper picks in no particular order:

Rylan Benner (6’1 ) LCG Mount Academy Saints: (Ranked as an E Player Rounds 13 and on)

Rylan Benner shockingly flew under the radar all season long. He’s currently ranked as an E on the CSR’s final list. The 16-year-old backstop from Riverview, New Brunswick had a tremendous campaign for the Mount Academy U-17 AAA Saints. His exploits between the pipes didn’t get much recognition or attention until the end of season.  Goaltenders come in all shapes and sizes, however, ask anyone and they will say size definitely matters these days when it comes to playing in the blue paint. Sadly, the hockey world has a way of casting off or labeling young players especially goaltenders far too early in their developmental process. At the end of the day there’s not a lot of patience and too much pressure when it comes to young goaltenders. At 6’1, 190 pounds size and strength doesn’t seem to be an issue for Benner, but the question remains, why aren’t more people talking about his game and potential? Well his addition to the list as an E prospect definitely means the CSR took notice and that QMJHL teams are quite intrigued as well.
Perhaps, Rylan Benner is the best kept secret when it comes to the 2022 QMJHL draft. Quality goaltending is hard to come by, which makes prospects like Benner so important to the future of any organization. When push comes to shove are junior hockey organizations doing the right thing when it comes to growing and developing the position? Are they patient enough with young goaltenders? Do they give them enough time? Do they rush them? Do they play them enough early on in their careers? Do they put too much pressure on their young goaltenders to win? When is the right time to throw them into the fire and let them play?
The questions are endless with regards. Nevertheless, when it comes to Rylan Benner, you can ask all the questions you want, his play, composure and natural feel for the position answer all the questions you dare ask.
In 11 games this season Benner is 10-1 with a 1.21 GAA and .961 save percentage. To fully evaluate and project any young prospect you have to go beyond the stat sheet, beyond the numbers and look at the intangibles the player possesses. Benner has room to grow both figurately and literally when it comes to the game of hockey and position. Like so many young netminders Benner has the tendency to play a little deep in his net at times will and will need to challenge and fight for his space to ensure he excels at the next level. He’s incredibly comfortable playing the puck which is rare amongst goalies at his age. Benner’s overall technique is incredibly sound. He’s square to the shooter and very composed and relaxed in the blue paint. His lateral movement agility, quickness and athleticism jump off the page.
He’s not a flashy netminder by any means which is a good thing. Some might mistake his calmness as not being intense or engaged, but that’s certainly not the case. Rylan Benner is a battler which is one of his strongest attributes. When things get a little squirrelly and the action intensifies around the net, Benner remains cool and composed, but that doesn’t mean he won’t sell out for pucks and do just about anything in his power to keep the puck from going in the net. You can tell this young kid hates to get scored on and feels like he should be able to stop any shot no matter what.
We all know it takes a special breed and character to be a goaltender and that being the last line of defense can take its toll.

Benner’s fierce competitive spirit is evident every time he gets the nod.
Rylan Benner has all the tools, foundational technique, and mindset it takes to be an outstanding netminder at the next level. It might take some time and experience, but all signs point to him having a significant impact at the junior level. You can use all the labels you want; you can be over critical and overanalyze every minuscule detail the player possesses, or you can flat out project. Every situation is different, every scenario unique. Every player and goaltender have their own unique path in the game. For now, we all wait to see how things will play out, but Rylan Benner is definitely a “sleeper pick” because not a lot of teams have seen him, obviously, the teams that did certainly know what he’s capable of, hence that’s why he’s a “sleeper”

Matthew Butler: 5’6 LSF Pinnacle Growlers: (Ranked 79^th)   “Oh he’s too small to have an impact at the next level.” How many times have you heard that one? I’m sure many people have said the same for Newfoundland’s Matthew Butler, which is complete BS if you ask me. If you can play, you can play and Matthew Butler can flat out play the game. This kid is dynamic play making forward who possesses an extremely elusive skill set. He’s a solid skater who can put it into an extra gear at a moments notice. Butler has incredible instincts and hockey IQ, fantastic vision and compete level. He’s solid defensively but will need to work on his stick positioning when defending below the dots at the next level, especially if he wants to play through the middle which he can definitely do. Butler plays big, he understands body positioning extremely well. At times he needs to engage a slight bit more defensively, but that is often the case for players that think one or two plays ahead and always end up with the puck on their stick. He’s very good in the face off dot. The team that drafts Butler will more than likely start him on the wing, and then move him to the middle around the half way mark of the season. He will have to get stronger in order to win puck battles on the halfboards in his own zone, but that will come with time, hard work and reps against tougher competition. Butler is more defensively accountable than Brady Burns, but thinks the game equally as well as Burns does from an offensive perspective. Butler has tremendous offensive instincts very similar or comparable to that of Josh Nadeau, Butler has a very solid accurate shot and quick release. This kid is a massive “sleeper pick” due in large part to his size. Obviously, some organizations will steer clear of him because of his stature which is totally wrong, while others will covet and value his amazing skill set and individual talent. Matthew Butler is the type of “sleeper pick” that organizations will say they won the draft because they selected him where they did! This kid will be an unbelievable player in the league at 17!

Owen Bresson: 6’1 LCG South Kent Selects: (Ranked as a C Player Round 6 to 8)

Owen Bresson shouldn’t be a “sleeper pick”, but given his current ranking there’s two sides to that story, some might say he’s where he belongs while others may say he’s far too low on the draft board/ranking system for their liking. Bresson is anathletic netminder, solid technique, very square to the shooter, needs to be a little quicker with lateral movements, like many young netminders he plays deep at times, he needs to come out and challenge a little more to cut down the angle and take certain options away from the shooter, he has a solid glove that might need a little refinement in order for him to reach his full potential, but that will certainly come with time, hard work, progression and experience. Bresson is sometimes down a touch early which could potentially cause him some issues at the next level, but this kid is a natural, Bresson will undoubtedly continue to grow and progress he could be one of those players that in a few years’ time, everyone wonders how could he have ended up being selecting at that point of draft. Owen Bresson is a “sleeper pick”, that given the time will be a key contributor at the Major Junior level.

Kyle Greene: 5’8 RSF Bishop Kearney Selects  (Ranked as a D Player Rounds 9 to 12)

Kyle Greene can skate for days, he skates like lightning. Greene is a “sleeper pick” because he doesn’t have the flashy numbers or stats to back up his underrated individual skill set. All Kyle Greene needs is time. The organization that drafts him know that he thinks the game extremely well and that his skating ability will definitely translate and have a substantial impact at the next level. Some teams will stay away from Greene based on his size which doesn’t make sense to me. Obviously, he will have to get a lot stronger which will happen naturally with the maturation process. Greene has very good lateral movement and agility, he brings good energy and jump every time he’s on the ice. His hockey IQ and processing is very good, he thinks the game so well, and has a very good release. Greene needs to make sure he’s more defensively accountable at all times, but that can be said about a plethora of young draft eligible players. Kyle Greene is a “sleeper pick” of all “sleeper picks” because of his ability to skate and process the game. Of course he has a lot of work to do in the gym to get stronger and to work on his play away from the puck, but that simply takes time. If a team takes their time with Greene he will definitely be a key contributor to their line up in the future.

Sam LeBlanc 6’0 LCG Moncton Flyers:  (Ranked as a E Player Rounds 13 and on)

How can you win two Provincial titles in back to back years, win an Atlantic title and a National Championship and still be a “sleeper pick”.  That’s probably what Sam LeBlanc is thinking right now, but the hockey world and QMJHL scouting fraternity are definitely paying attention now. How could a kid like that go undrafted? Well, it happened last year, and I don’t really know why myself. This kid is the ultimate battler, the ultimate puck stopper and he does it when all the chips are down. LeBlanc isn’t the flashiest or most technically sound netminder, don’t get me wrong he’s solid, but this kid simply battles and stops pucks no matter what. He gives his team a chance to win games, every time he’s in the blue paint. What more could you ask for in a goaltender?  Stop pucks and win games. Obviously, Sam LeBlanc shouldn’t be a “sleeper pick” he will definitely get drafted now, but the real question is why didn’t others see it last year? Personally, I loved his game last year, I loved his compete level and I voiced that on several occasions, but at the end of the day, he went undrafted.

The past is the past and you can’t go back and change that, but let’s just say Sam LeBlanc’s journey so far in the game is an incredible story. Persistence and perseverance always pays off. You see it’s the intangibles that this kid brings day in day out that should have never been overlooked. LeBlanc will have to work on a few things and refine his game slightly to reach his full potential at the next level, but this kid is going to be a solid netminder for years to come. The question right now is not if he will get drafted its when? There’s no question teams paid very close attention to him this season and rightfully so. You see Sam LeBlanc should have been a “sleeper pick” last year and that’s how easy it is to miss on a player.

There are tons of “sleeper picks” in this years QMJHL draft class. Unfortunately, some may get passed over. I guess the biggest take away of all is that value is value. Often times a players true value gets overlooked. No one can fully predict or project the intangibles a player possesses. “Sleeper picks” aren’t really “sleepers” they are right in front of us, playing their game, playing to their identity, it’s up to us to see it. Some do, some don’t, that’s what makes this aspect of the scouting process so intriguing. I could write a book on all of the potential “sleeper picks” in Atlantic Canada, I just identified a few. To be honest with you, I probably missed some to, as scouts we all make mistakes, it’s those mistakes that make us better, it’s those mistakes that we carry with us every time we go to a rink so we don’t make them again. Best of luck to all the draft eligible prospects from this region, Continued success and see you at the rink,