Top End Atlantic Canadians Draft Prospects
Tynan Lawrence, Jacob Gouchie and Zakary Savoie are rated as the highest New Brunswicker’s and Atlantic Canadian’s draft prospects by the QMJHL’s CSR for the upcoming 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft. Central Scouting (CSR) work incredibly hard to build out draft lists. Liam Arsenault is the highest ranked Islander and Nathan Crane is the highest ranked Newfoundlander and Max Hanley is the highest ranked Nova Scotian according to the CSR.
Crane and Lawrence play prep school hockey while Gouchie, Savoie and Arsenault play in the NBPEIU18AAA Hockey League while Hanley plays in the NSU18MHL.
The CSR’s job is far reaching, and they try to have eyes on all of the up and coming players eligible for the draft. That’s a daunting task, but that’s the job. As we have discussed before rankings and draft lists are quite subjective and at the end of the day, it’s all about the 18 team’s and their draft boards.
Graphic Content Courtesy of the QMJHL
As far as overall scouting reports go for these top end Atlantic Canadian’s, we will share those when the time is right closer to the draft.
As far as which Atlantic Canadian will hear their name first at the draft on June 7th and 8th that really depends on the direction the player and their family want to go.
The consensus first pick amongst the Atlantic Canadian prospects would be Tynan Lawrence. Lawrence signed a tender agreement in February with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. Things can drastically change in the hockey world especially on draft day. If Lawrence and his family have settled on their path and have told QMJHL teams that he will be playing in the USHL in 2024-2025 is one thing but that still doesn’t mean he won’t be drafted by a team in the 1st round or very early in the 2nd. Teams can select players and if the player doesn’t report they can have compulsory pick in the 2025 draft. Teams could also select Lawrence in effort to potentially move his rights to another team for more assets.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gouchie (ranked 21st) and Savoie (ranked 23rd overall) climb into the 1st round on June 7.
Gouchie has pro potential and Savoie has definitely risen up countless draft boards. Both these proud New Brunswicker’s are “Q ready” and could jump in right away and impact the organization that chooses to select them.
Critics will look at Arsenault’s size as a deterrent, but let me tell you that kid is skilled, competes and is relentless. Crane’s ability to create and do things at top speed is no doubt his strongest attributes while Hanley is arguably one of the most complete underrated defenders from this region.
Sleeper Pick Potential
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, let’s 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.
Aaron Murphy of the Saint John Vito’s isn’t necessarily a “sleeper pick” given his 35th overall ranking by the CSR, but he could be one of those sneaky 2nd or 3rd round picks that people will look back on and say, “how the hell did Murphy end up going there?”
Aaron Chipp is another player that could definitely surprise a lot of people. Again, here’s a perfect example of a player that everyone focuses on what he can’t do or what he isn’t instead of focusing on what he can bring to the game and position.
Dylan Pelletier is another player that I definitely qualify as a “sleeper pick,” because here’s a player that skates exceptionally well and has all of the tools, if he was to get a touch stronger look out.
Xander Boutilier is a throwback type of player that if put in the right situation and given an opportunity could flourish.
Owen Dyke, Caylen Blake, Owen O’Donnell, Andrew Akerman, Cole Bent, Cameron LeBlanc, Aiden McCullough, Gavin Sudds, JD Trainor amongst countless others in my opinion all possess “sleeper pick” potential.
There are so many young aspiring players out there with quiet talent. Their talents might be buried in the undercurrent of their team or within themselves.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean their talent isn’t there. You see my interpretation of quiet talent is that type of skill and talent takes times to grow, time to develop, time to surface. You can call it late bloomer if you wish, but quiet talent takes on a lot of different perspectives. Perhaps the hockey world doesn’t appreciate or truly valued quiet talent.
Obviously, quiet talent hides within players that might not be the flashiest. The quiet aspects of their skill set and the intangibles they possess takes some time to see, evaluate and project, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Quiet talent might be the honest, two-way players, the stay at home defenders or hard nose competitors, the grinders, that’s who the quiet talented players are.
Scouts often share stories of the first time seeing or viewing certain players. Everyone has one of those stories, “oh I saw this or that player when they played here.”
Well, when it comes to quiet talent, the talented player might have been in front of you all along. Quiet talent is often missed, because all of the focus is directed towards the highflyers. Every scout and organization are looking for the diamonds in the rough, but moreover they are looking for the sure thing.
The sure things doesn’t always materialize. The later round draft picks often surprise the most and make the largest impact on and off the ice, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if you have done your work and identified the quiet talents these players possess.
It’s not about taking a flyer in the later rounds of the draft, it’s about the quiet talent. It’s all about time. Time for growth and development because when its time for the opportunity, quiet talent is more than ready to jump at the chance to show they belong. The adversity quiet talent face on a day to day, year to year basis has a way of galvanizing their character and resiliency.
As scouts we have to drill down, always look closer and project no matter what. It doesn’t matter where the player is playing now or where they played last year, what matters the most is where they are going to be when it’s time, their time and the organizations time.
Quiet talent takes time, but when its time, look out because they will be more than ready and willing to contribute.
Here’s to all the quiet talented players and potential “sleeper picks” out there, your time to shine will come soon enough!
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