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 continue 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 platform.
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 3rd Round by the CSR
37) Elijah Sylla very good skater, competes hard, would like to see him compete even harder on the defensive side of the game, very elusive player from the red line and in, needs to bring that same urgency to the other side of the puck, very good puck skills, good in traffic, would like to see him not leave his own zone as much or try to take flight when the puck is still in there, a touch too one dimensional at times, but this kid has a lot ability that you can’t teach and is only going to get better in the years to come, there’s no question he can generate offense with his overall skill set,
38) Matteo Roy very good skating defender, processes the game well, would like to see him like many other young defenders stay more central and inside the dots, has a tendency to drive wide which gives up quality ice through the middle, transitional type D, which some offensive upside which will translate to the junior level, projects to be a 4/5 D man and 2 ½ zone defender, Like all young defenders that generate points at the U18, I really hope he doesn’t think he has to generate or drive points in junior, some players lose their focus and purpose when it comes to defending, Roy is smart enough and process the game and position well enough to understand that aspect and the team that picks will be getting a very underrated and understated D with tons of potential, Will need to tighten up his gap and trust his skating ability,
39) Jayden Tillman very good skater does everything at top speed, thinks the game and position well, Very good gap control, and really steps up to pressure and take his space, Calm, cool and collected, plays a very straight forward simple game which is great to see, this kid doesn’t complicate things and can he ever transition pucks, takes excellent lines and routes to pucks on retrievals and isn’t scared to take a hit to make a play, if anything he welcomes the contact and is more than capable to jump up into the play to create offensive opportunities, Here’s another kid that’s ranked a touch low in my opinion, he can flat out play the game and position and plays it with tons of jam and has the ability to move pucks with relative ease. Very good defensive prospect here, This kid projects to be a great full 2 ½ zone defender at the junior level and beyond
40) Maxime-Alexandre Beaudoin strong skating defender, it doesn’t take you too long to figure out that this kid is a nasty, rugged, old school in your face defender that takes a shit ton of pride in being tough to play against. Absolutely love the fact that this kid stays mobile and doesn’t stand still on the offensive blueline, he has good gap control, clearly like any young defender they can always improve their skating, but this kid is strong on his blades and you can tell he really trusts his skating ability, Great patience and composure with the puck, simply put this kid gets it when it comes to defending and providing transition,
41) Mavrick Ouellette above average skater, solid puck skills, good quick release, hard working north/south type forward, will have to work on his agility and explosiveness if he wants to play through the middle at the next level, no doubt better suited to start on the wing, not going to drive offence, but he competes like hell,
42) Malek Belanger powerful stride, good skater, will have to work on his agility, moves well needs to be more shifty in order to breakdown defenders in open ice and in traffic, good puck skills, has a long reach and uses it well, thinks the game well, and is good on the halfboards, here’s a perfect example of a player that might just need more time to refine his skating and when he’s ready will have a big impact as an energy player with solid offensive upside.
43) Jackson Conroy solid skating center, it’s pretty clear that this kid isn’t finished growing by the size of skates he’s wearing, I could definitely see this kid get to 6’3 by the end of his junior career, he’s pretty slick in traffic and has good pucks skills, clearly like any young player still developing or growing into his body, things will take time and he still needs to work on his explosiveness, but all the foundation is there, processes the game very well on both sides of the puck, I would like to see him play with even more jam and urgency at times, when he has the puck on his stick he can drive things and creates a lot of time and space, If you look at his numbers, he’s a point a game player, but it’s more about the little things and details in his game that will matter the most at the next level, can he drive offence at the next level, yes, the points will come, because he’s a smart player, but can he handle the physicality and get to the inside and engage to create, I think he can it might take some time but this kid can play,
44) Logan Leclair very strong skater, might not be the most agile on his blades, but this kid competes like hell and wreaks havoc on the forecheck, he plays a really heavy game and is your prototypical power forward and like most young power forwards they just need time to refine their skating, this kid works incredibly hard and with the same urgency and intensity at both ends of the ice and that’s a rare combination to have which will no doubt serve him well moving forward playing at the next level, he’s not going to drive a ton of offence or anything like that but he can definitely be one hell of an energy player and bottom six winger as early as next season,
45) Joey Begin solid skating D man, would like to see him maintain his posture more frequently especially when backing up and playing an odd man rush, really enjoy how he stays central and has good gap control, good puck skills, great passer of the puck, doesn’t rush things back there, Will have to get a touch more explosive, but here’s another D man that can really play a solid two way game. Again surprised to see a player like this ranked here, but again, I haven’t watched him all year, there might be some other tendencies to his game that I’m not noticing, but there’s no question he could definitely be a solid 3/4 D at 19 in the league, projects to be a full 2 ½ zone defender,
46) Chase Cleary diminutive winger, good skater and does everything at top speed, will need to continue to work on his quickness and elusiveness, processes the game well, terrific vision and is very composed with the puck, loves to make plays and is a pass first player through and through, with any small play maker the question remains are they and will they be ready to engage physically and go to the tough areas of the ice to create at the next level? I think Cleary will do that, but he really needs more explosiveness when it comes to engaging one on one battles in the offensive zone and in tight areas of the ice, again that might come with a touch more time, but here’s a player that can process the game very very well,
47) Alexy Blanchette another solid skating defender, less is more, would like to see him let the game come to him a touch more or not force things especially trying to get start transition, he can really pass the puck and skates very well, so important to keep things simple, Again here’s another good defensive prospect that struggles with posture, tons of potential in this prospect,
48) Mathieu Genereux solid skater, processes the game well, good vision and good first pass, Very eager to jump up and join the rush and is very aggressive on the offensive blueline, which is great and all, but he has to continue understand where to pick and choose his spots, will not be a big point getter, but skates well enough and projects to be a very solid ¾ D man at the next level, Strong big kid, will have to make sure he’s physical and brings that in your face style to the Q, very good compete level and doesn’t quit on pucks which is great to see, just has to continue elevate that level even more to be a nasty two way defender at the junior level,
49) Enzo Levy speed and skating ability for days, this kid can fly out there, very good puck skills and he isn’t scared to go all over the ice to create and generate offensive opportunities, clearly he will have to get stronger to win his fair share of puck battles at the next level, this kid competes and has a very good shot for his size, just needs to keep playing with the same intensity and poise at the junior level and he will be a great middle six winger/energy player with a ton of offensive upside,
50) Carter Giberson Solid skating defender, will need to continue to work on his agility and lateral mobility to reach his full potential at the junior level, very active gap control, would like to see him a touch more patient with the puck at times and not rush it, he has good puck skills, very strong player, projects to be a very good 2 zone shutdown defender at the next level and he won’t have to change the physical aspects of his game because he doesn’t shy away from style of play, if anything he welcomes it, Again, just needs to be a little more composed with the puck and make plays
51) Loik Poulin hard working two way forward, processes the game and wing position very well, will have to get more agile and a touch quicker in traffic to ensure he reaches his full potential, very strong on the blades and on his stick which is great to see, won’t drive a ton of points at the junior level, but he competes like hell and doesn’t back down, all the makings of big power forward, he does have good puck skills and a heavy shot, He’s skilled enough and works hard enough to play up and down the lineup, Q ready just needs a touch more explosiveness to his game, but that will come with time, tons of potential in this player
52) Xavier Gervais solid presence between the pipes, telescopes well, slight tendency to drop his trapper in the butterfly, moves effectively, might have to get a touch quicker post to post, again not a goalie guy at all, but has a small tendency to slide off the strong side post which opens things up especially over the glove side when he moves to his left, solid glove side, good rebound control, would like to see him challenge a touch more, but definitely looks a lot bigger in there than 6’0 which is always good to see, tons of potential in this young goaltender, just requires some refinements to reach his full potential, Here’s another example of the importance not to only look at the numbers when it comes to a young goalie and look at the full body of work and their overall technique
53) Damien Roy Very good skater for his size, great to see him stop on pucks especially in his own zone, processes the game very well, great two way presence, you can tell this kid takes a lot of pride in all the details of the game especially on the defensive side of things, good passer of the puck and good in traffic, Like all big rangy centers skating will be called into question, but this kid is so positionally sound that he makes up for it through that process, but he will have to continue to work on his explosiveness to play through the middle in junior, projects to be a solid bottom six center, not going to light the world on fire offensively, but doesn’t really have to just a good honest player that if his skating improves will have a nasty shutdown center
54) Nathan LeBlanc Strong skating skilled winger who has a knack for the net, processes the game and position very well, makes subtle plays with the puck, has very good pace to his game, like all young skilled forwards, they will need to continue to find a way to engage and generate points at the next level, I think LeBlanc can do that with his relentless style of play, again like a lot of young very skilled players, sometimes it’s all about willingness as well, LeBlanc will be more than willing to do whatever it takes to be an effective player at junior level, This player has a lot of potential and can definitely play up and down any lineup, Q ready, and can definitely play in a Top 6 role by the halfway point of his rookie campaign especially with the way he skates, just needs to bring even more jam and grit to his game which will only give him even more time and space to create
The Quick Shift 