2024 QMJHL Draft Preview: 8th Edition 9 Days Away, Scouting Report Season, What’s the Going Rate on a 1st Overall Pick?

There are 9 days until the 2024 QMJHL Draft.

To be brutally honest, I hate countdowns, I find them counterproductive, but I’ve found myself counting down the days to the draft.

I can’t imagine how the players and their families must be feeling right now. There’s no question the excitement is mounting, and the nervous energy is palpable with regards to draft day and what that means for so many hockey families and all those involved in the game.

Unfortunately, with the exit of the Drummondville Voltigeurs from Memorial Cup contention, the QMJHL will now shift its focus and attention to the draft.

We have seen draft eligible scouting reports throughout the season from the CSR, but in the next couple of days one would assume we could see a more comprehensive look or write ups/scouting reports on their projected Top 18 or 36 prospects.

We all see the game differently.

We all have our own opinions, scouting reports, analysis and takes when it comes to projecting and evaluating prospects.

As I’ve said before, it’s “Scouting Report Season” there are some amazing scouts and writers out there doing great things, but let’s choose our words wisely when describing or projecting young players.

There’s a big difference between objective and negative analysis and projections.

If you haven’t seen a player, just come out and say you haven’t seen them, don’t try to bullshit your way through an analysis, a scouting report or a comparison, secondhand information or word of mouth assessments are always flawed, just be honest. “I haven’t seen that player” that’s all that needs to be said.

The CSR does solid work, but every team will have their own scouting reports, projections and rankings, at the end of the day it’s the teams that will decide who they select and when they select players.

We have to be very careful when we suggest players fall or climb in any draft situation.

Making statements like, “I can’t believe, (insert players name here) continues to fall in this draft.”

“I can’t believe they took him there, that’s really high.”

Draft day is always full of surprises, but what’s the main purpose of the draft?

To criticize or to showcase? I’ll let you decide that one. As one hockey executive told me several years ago, “it’s easy to be negative.”

It’s easy to criticize or nit pick the smallest of things in a player’s game, how about touching on the areas of the game they need to improve on and all of the great things they do. Another area that Q teams will address that outside scouting services or analysts may not key in on is organizational need. Every organization will use their “go to” hockey cliché’s or mantras as they approach the draft, “we are going to take the best player available.”

At the end of the day, organizational need weighs in very heavily leading up to draft day, things can drastically change on whim especially when that purposed team is well positioned in the draft.

So best player available or best fit? That’s why some highly touted players or perceived highly touted players drop slightly on draft day. One shouldn’t read a ton into that or drastically criticize the player, they’re 15- and 16-year-old kids for cripes sakes.

What about their path? What if they don’t want to play in the Q, that’s another reason why they would supposedly “fall”, but again let’s not criticize the kid and their family for making a different decision with regards to their route in the game.

There’s no guarantees on draft day. “If you’re there when we are picking, we will take you,” shouldn’t be uttered by teams. Things can change in mire seconds on draft day especially when trades happen. Draft day promises like any promises in the game of hockey are extremely hard to keep.

The team(s) decide who they want to select, it’s the media’s job to scrutinize their direction and trajectory, but let’s hope the media and anyone for that matter do not harshly criticize the player, that doesn’t help anyone or the game. There’s a massive difference between objectivity and negativity when it comes to projecting and evaluating young athletes.

9 days away from the QMJHL Draft and there’s tons of storylines, we can only hope some of those stories showcase rather than criticize especially when scouting reports, analysis and projections start flying around like playoff predictions.

What’s the Going Rate on a 1^st Round Pick?

What’s the Going Rate for a 1st Overall Pick?

It’s very fitting that Sylvain Couturier and the Cape Breton Eagles landed the 1st overall selection in the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft especially given the resurgence of the organization and its fanbase. It’s extraordinary rare for any organization to find themselves in the semifinals and thinking about who they’re going to pick 1st overall.

The Eagles have some options and a massive choice to make which will no doubt impact the trajectory of the organization. To pick or to trade, that is the question, but the question remains what’s the going rate for a 1st overall pick?

The Eagles are in a perfect position to continue to add significant young talent to their roster and make another run. Because they’re so deep right now they could make the pick and have an impact player and keep moving forward in their process or they could also decide to shock the league and move that 1st overall pick for a bounty of veteran impact players and try to make another legitimate shot at winning at Gillles Courteau Trophy and perhaps a shot at a Memorial Cup which so happens to be in the league next season.

Couturier is no stranger to pulling the trigger when it comes to significant trades.

With the attention and excitement of the Eagles soaring at an all time high right now the Eagles’ braintrust have to be very careful how they approach their options. Everyone knew it was now or never this season for the Eagles, but it has definitely worked out, but there’s no guarantees when it comes to trading away a monumental asset.

Nevertheless, the allure of bringing a championship to Cape Breton might be enough to, persuade the decision makers to take a leap of faith. Finding the right fit when it comes to trade partners is critical when dealing with as many moving pieces as potentially trading a 1st overall pick.

What teams have veteran players that could put the Eagles over the top next year?

What teams want to make a splash?

What teams need to make a splash?

Could teams with trades already discussed vito those deals in effort to land the first overall pick? Obviously, the timing of this is amazing for the league and the Eagles organization, but the question still remains what’s the going rate for a 1st overall pick? What if a team was loading up or trying to force the issue and make a run, but quickly realize instead of next year, let’s wait? Would that be attractive to the Eagles?

Is there a bonafide number one pick overall?

What player would the Eagles target?

Every organization no doubt finalized their draft list and boards at the Q Cup which is an excellent showcase for the 2024 draft class and opportunity for GM’s to meet with each other and talk trades. It was great to see a resurgence this season for the Eagles especially at the Nest, which by all accounts was crazy in the playoffs, but Eagle fans will also go crazy if the organization doesn’t get it right on June 7th!

Don’t worry folks Mr. Couturier has been there and done that, but what’s the going rate for a 1st overall pick?

Only Sylvain Couturier knows the answer to that one.