The future of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League is upon us. Going strictly off the QMJHL CSR’s Final List, I dive into some quick analysis and scouting reports from predominantly video platforms.
Watching video isn’t the same as being in the rink and it never will be, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn a lot about player tendencies especially what they do way from the puck. Young players that compete like hell and do all the little things the right way jump off the screen. Video platforms continue to be a game changer. Nonetheless, these platforms are not the same as the eye test or being in the rink, but they are the next best thing.
The Prospect Exchange continues to be on the cutting edge of the technology which make our jobs easier by providing access to players from across the hockey world. Obviously, I couldn’t have done these reports without the video platforms.
Video platforms are critical and really help scouts to drill down refining and projecting player tendencies. TPE does a comprehensive job and is leading the way when it comes to covering Atlantic Canadian teams/players which provides those prospects with more exposure which is essential for identifying and projecting young talent.
Prospects Ranked in the 5th Round by the CSR
73) Edouard Salvas deep at times, and down early, moves well for his size, very square to the shooter, would like to see him telescope out more and challenge, Very athlete in there, has a tendency to drop his trapper a touch in the butterfly, His glove positioning might need some work as well, would like to see him catch more pucks and be a touch more in control, incredibly athletic, just needs to trust his technique and have quieter feet at times, sometimes over commits
74) Mikael Perrault Smooth skating right shot D-man with great edge control and vision, very good passer of the puck, solid gap control, would like to see him stay more central, and watch his posture or defend more with his eyes up, will need to get stronger upper body wise to handle the rigours of the next level, but does compete hard, but needs to make sure his has more jam to his game at the next level,
75) Jayden Shea Strong skater forward, thinks the game and position well, good in traffic, and has solid speed and edge control, good to see stops and starts, would like to see him not turn his back on the play at times, willing to engage even at this size, which is great to see, plays on the edge, moves the puck very well, will have to get stronger to ensure he wins puck battles if he plays through the middle at the next level, skilled enough to play up and down the lineup and gritty enough, but better suited to start on the wing at the junior level, but could project into a solid two way center
76) Luke McGuire pesky two way center with great compete level, skating ability and hockey IQ, solid in the dot, competes like hell will have to prove he can compete through the middle at his size at the next level, but this kid has the will to battle and that can’t be taught, Plays a similar style to Islanders star forward Matthew Butler, could watch this kid play for days, isn’t scared to go to the dirty areas to create offensive time and space for himself and linemates, Again, people will question his size, but he will prove a lot of people wrong.
77) Hugo Bergeron This kid could skate for days, tons of energy and thinks it incredibly well, great route skater and knows how to move into the quiet areas of the ice, again size and strength will be questioned here, but this kid competes like hell and can skate rings around players, isn’t scared to engage and go to the dirty areas, skilled enough to play in any situation and very good in traffic, love the fact this kid open face pivots and never turns his back on the play and stops on pucks, tons of potential in this player,
78) Pierre-Antoine Chartrand-Bongono excellent skater, north south winger, reads the play well, creative player, good puck skills, and solid in traffic, with that speed and frame, would like to see him drive the net even more, competes equally hard at both ends which is rare in this era of the game at his age, tons of potential in this player,
79) Felix Theroet solid skater, very quick and agile, active stick in all three zones, great on the forecheck and really hunts pucks, would like to see him a touch more patient or composed with the puck in traffic, won’t drive a ton of points or offence at the next level, but can definitely be a reliable north/south energy player that will be tough to play against and put some points on the board, his U15 numbers are impressive and he does possess a solid release,
80) Raphael Truchon above average skater, will have to maximize his agility and lateral movement to reach his full potential at the next level, thinks the game well, works like hell to win puck battles, Would like to see him carry his stick a touch differently, I realize it’s an individual thing, but better suited especially at the next level to hold it with the tip up instead of down especially given the speed at which the game is being played, strong as ox, but he really has to continue to work on that skating to have an impact at the next level.
81) Mickael Rheaume prototypical power forward, skates well and tough to play against, but will have to work on his speed and agility to reach his full potential, very raw, but definitely has a knack for the net, his numbers in M17 proves that, but it’s all about pace of play and processing, from Point A to Point B, Rheaume can motor, but it’s the agile aspect of his stride that might be lacking, big and strong and plays big and strong which again is pretty rare, will need to continue to work on his puck skills and play in traffic, Could be a solid bottom six forward at the Jr level
82) Zackary Renaud Solid technique, would like to see him challenge more and fight for his space at the top of the paint and that would make him better through traffic, moves well, will have to get stronger which will only enhance his quickness, has a tendency to over commit at times moving to his left, will need to refine that to reach his full potential at the Jr level,
83) George-Nektarios Panagakos moves well for his size, covers a lot of the net, very square, and solid technically, has a tendency to lose his angle at times when players are coming in on the right side of the ice, gives up a lot room on the stick side, nice to see his glove stay up and in position when he goes into the butterfly, which is a tough thing to so with regards to bigger netminders. Will need to work on his recovery and quickness around the bottom of the net to have an impact at the next level.
84) Aidan Graham very good skater, will have to continue to get stronger and more explosive if he wants to play through the middle at the junior level, competes hard and as a very good stick in all three zones, but will need even more jam to his game, responsible two way presence in the middle which is great to see, and you can tell takes a lot of pride in playing the game the right way. Crafty with the puck and uses his body well to shield attackers, Projects to be a solid middle six forward at the next level, just needs to get stronger upper body wise and continue to fight for time and space on the inside of the ice.
85) Loik Savoie solid skater, takes good routes to pucks on retrievals solid gap control, but has to trust his skating even more and gap up even more especially in the neutral zone might not be the smoothest on his edges, but he’s strong and has an element of grit to his game,
86) Cole Toms Big body winger, good set of hands and good in traffic, very good vision and passer of the puck, competes like hell and goes to all the right areas to create offensive pressure, solid skater, but will have to work on his explosiveness to reach his full potential at the next level, Can this kid ever pass the puck, his board work is tremendous, the subtle little plays he makes are outstanding, Here’s a prototypical power forward in the making that just needs time to develop his skating stride and look out, plays the position and game the right way, just needs to get a half step quicker and more agile,
87) Hugo Vaillancourt skates very well for his size, posture, posture, posture, As the late Paul Boutilier stressed so much, it’s all about the eyes up, as soon as he reaches out with the stick his posture is strained opening up an area to the outside or inside to exploit, this kid has great gap control and a solid puck skills, doesn’t panic with the puck and isn’t scared to step up and be physical, Obviously like any young defender, he still needs to continue to work on his pivots and agility, but he has a tremendous foundation in which to build on, listed as 5’11 but plays a lot bigger than that, Can play in any situation, projects to be a very good 2 ½ zone D man at the junior level, Another issue with his posture it causes him to be out of balance at times or his weight to be too far over his toes, surprised to see this kid ranked where he is, he’s going to be solid addition to any blueline, again people will look at his size and question things, but he’s going to be a very good 5-6 defender in the league.
88) Jamie Jaillet good skater, can play in any situation, not going to drive a bunch of offense at the next level, projects to be a 2 zone defender, active stick and thinks the game and position well, will have to bring even more jam to his game at the junior level, takes solid routes to pucks on puck retrievals, but that’s one area that any young D needs to work on, Would like to see him stay more central while defending through the neutral zone, again like a lot of young D, they stay too wide thus giving up quality ice in the middle.
89) Justin Hamel very good skater, agile and explosive, solid gap control and an active stick, picks and chooses his spots when it comes to jumping up in the play, obviously like many young offensively minded defenders, will have to find that balance when it comes to trying to drive offense, while taking care of his own zone, Can play both sides, but looks more comfortable on his off side, which might cause some issues adapting to the next level, if played on his strong side pivot wise, but he skates well enough to figure that out and make the adjustment, Is illusive enough to break down forechecks and use his speed and natural talent to kick start the rush and transition
90) Isaac De Franco gritty two way center, solid skater, again people will look at his size as a possible weakness, but he plays bigger than his size, skates well enough to play through the middle at the next level, but teams might elect to put him on the wing to start his junior career, competes like hell, which is great to see, very good puck skills and thinks the game and position very well, Will need to continue to use his speed and skill to engage more and get to the middle of the ice, Has speed to the outside, but to reach his full potential at the Jr level, he will have to make a living on the inside which he’s definitely capable of.
The Quick Shift 