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 these 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 2nd Round by the CSR
19) Bryce Lazare great skater, does everything with relative ease, does an amazing job using his body to shield the puck from would be attackers in all three zones, very quick in traffic and in small areas which makes him ultra elusive, tremendous puck skills, This kids ability to change speeds is extraordinary, perhaps one of the best players his age, I’ve seen be able to find the soft areas or the seams and then attack those areas with very innate and nature scoring touch and excellent release. This kid is going to put a ton of points on the board at the junior level, again like all highly skilled players they will have to adjust their physicality, but this kid thinks it so well, he will adapt very quickly, obviously, he will have to get stronger but that will come with time, so impressed with this player, is skilled enough to play through the middle, it might very interesting to see what team drafts him and where they elect to play him, but I would elect to keep him on the wing and let him go be that massive point scoring winger that he is
20) Tommy Leroux Great set of wheels on this player, can really drive the puck, great two way presence, very good hands and he’s very good in traffic, isn’t scared to get to pucks first, You can tell this kid loves to drive the net and get to the net which is rare in this day and age with highly skilled players so this is great to see, this kid reads and reacts exceptionally well, It doesn’t take very long to realize how much this kid cares about the other side of the puck as well, very active stick in all three zones, really comes back to the puck well and takes great routes to pucks, Great in the dot and there’s no question this kid could be a fantastic second or third line center in the Q for a long time.
21) Nathan Frost very smooth operator on the backend, doesn’t rush with the puck, this kid has ice in his veins when it comes to handling the puck in all three zones, great puck skills, and he’s a transitional that can really lug the puck and pass whatever the situation calls for, He’s eager to jump into the play, but picks and chooses his spots very well, and has really good gap control, Frost has the potential to be a full three zone defender in the Q and doesn’t mind the physicality of the game or position which is great to see with suck a skilled defender, I would like to maintain his spine angle or posture a touch more often especially when playing one on ones where the forward is attacking with speed to the outside, This kid gets it, plays with his head up engages and plays with some jam in all the right scenarios and can skate for days, There’s no question, he’s Q ready just needs some veteran insulation on the right side and this kid could play and impact, here’s a perfect example of a kid that simply jumps off the screen two shifts in and a player that you want to keep watching, Clearly every young D man can work on their skating and get stronger, but not too many play the game and position as well as Frost does!
22) Raphael Tetreault speed for days, good compete level, plays on his toes, very good skater and processes the game very well, he’s going to have to get stronger upper body wise to reach his full potential at the junior level, and he can definitely skate at the next level right now, but it’s that will to get his nose dirty and engage, I think that will be an element of his game that he will bring sooner rather than later. Given his path to this point of his career I think it’s pretty impressive to see what he has done this year, and the strides he as taken, clearly size and strength will cause some critics to question this players projection, but perhaps Tetreault just needs times, but it’s clear he can adapt and adapt quickly to a level up in intensity and physicality
23) Eliot Faucher A very good defensive prospect here, Faucher projects to be a full three zone D man at the next level by 19 great skater, powerful and effortless in his mobility, Like all young and skilled transitional D men, he has to pick and choose and make sure he continues to defend hard in his own zone, At times he’s a touch overzealous about wanting to kick start transition and forgets about his responsibilities defensively, great passer of the puck, and one aspect that jumped off the screen for me was his ability to stay active and always moving on the offensive blueline, he has very good feet and they will only get better with time, maturation and experience
24) Samuel Nowlan solid skater, but lacks breakaway speed which might hinder his trajectory, incredibly smart hockey player, who has excelled at every level and has put points up at every stop, Very good puck skills and is great in traffic, just needs to work on his explosiveness to make sure he wins battles at the junior level, and gets into and out traffic to create time and space and offence, great shot and gets it off quickly and accurately, Compete level and will to win the puck will be the separator moving forward, needs to engage more and work on his skating especially if he wants to play through the middle at the next level, Perfect example of a player that might turn the corner and figure things out at the junior level and there’s no question he has the ability to be point a game player, but his skating and will to engage needs to elevate
25) Enzo Roy Size, size and size, Critics will point to this kid’s size as a drawback, he will really have to focus getting stronger though and even more engaging to reach his full potential, there’s no question he can skate for days and moves pucks all day to, but it all comes down to willingness to defend and engage physically, Some young transitional D men can and some can’t, time will tell, but this kid thinks it incredibly well, he’s an elite level skater that’s one man breakout, projects to be that prototypical full three zone defender that will put a ton of points on the board, I’m sure everyone will have their comparables, but he does play a very similar style to that of Xavier Villeneuve of the Armada, Roy is dynamic player and perhaps a player that countless organizations need, hopefully the organization that takes will insulate him and use him in all the right situations
26) Damian Norris Very good skater, active stick in all three zones, great vision, pass first player, very good puck skills and good in traffic, doesn’t panic with the puck and moves it effectively and efficiently. Going to have to get stronger to win more battles at the next level, but isn’t scared to go to the dirty areas, Really hunts pucks on the forecheck and is very reliable defensively, obviously at 5’11 critics will question his size and ability to compete and generate points, this kid has a lot of will, grit and character, tons of potential in this player,
27) Nathan Roy Very effective and efficient transitional defender, moves the puck very well, great skater and very agile, would like to see him watch his posture especially when backing up in a one on one situations, Very active with his stick, would like to see him use his body and skating ability to defend even better, Very good at keeping opponents in front of him and contains very well, Here’s a young D man that has the potential to be a full three zone defender at the next level, like we have talked about countless times, it’s all about being willing to defend and get gritty and up his physicality at the junior level,
28) Simon Olivier Guerard moves extremely well, very efficient in his movements from post to post, Looks bigger than 6’0 in there, which is great to see, very technically sound, would like to see him challenge a touch more, but this kid is very good netminding prospect, Calm, cool and collected in there, really impressed with this young goalie and doesn’t seem phased by anything which is rare,
29) Joey Lackman smooth skating defender, very good puck skills, great passer of the puck, transitional style D man, won’t drive a ton of offense at the next level, but can definitely move pucks, Clearly will have to get stronger and focus on taking care of his own zone, but he definitely brings that element to his game, but that’s only going to get tougher and tougher as he moves up the ladder, better suited to play on his strong side, good pivots, but you can tell he’s used to playing his strong side, needs to use his skating ability to gain positional advantage in one on one battles, projects to be a solid 2 and ½ zone defender,
30) Nathan Boulanger moves well, needs to telescope and challenge more especially given his size. Very square to the shooter and remains square in the butterfly, needs to fight for his space at the top of his creese, if he comes out and trusts his skating and movement he will be even more successful, very solid goaltending prospect, might need more time to make finite refinements to his game before making the jump, but he could definitely make an impact, Again his size might be a deterrent for some, but he’s very athletic in there,
31) Gabriel Coache-Luqman this kid can flat out play and the particular game I watched through a massive open ice hit that really set the tone, it wasn’t dirty it was just a beautiful hit, he reads the play incredibly well and processes the game and position extremely well, would like to see him maintain his posture longer and lunge towards the opponent, at his size he will have to continue to work on his quickness and agility to continue to reach his full potential at the junior level and beyond, Great first pass, and has good gap control, Surprised to see this kid ranked where he is, to some he may look raw, but in my opinion this kid has pro potential,
32) Alexandre Noel strong skating rugged defender, with his skating ability, I would like him to hold his gap a touch longer, he has the tendency at times to give up more than a stick and half of space, he as a very good stick and you can tell he relishes the physical aspect of the position and game, here’s a perfect example of a kid that just needs more reps and experience to really refine his craft, projects to be a full 2 zone nasty as hell in your face shutdown defender at the junior level, Noel just needs to trust his ability especially when it comes to his skating and continue to work on his explosiveness and agility and continue to work on his pivots towards the bench.
33) Morgan Flemming very crafty forward, great set of hands especially in traffic, solid skater, but will have to continue to work on his first step, Needs to continue to improve on the defensive side of the puck and play with the same urgency as when the puck is on his stick, but here’s a kid that can really see the ice and spot the open man, great vision and hockey IQ, Skates well enough to play through the middle at the junior level, but will have to continue to finish his hits and be even tougher to play against at the next level, projects to be a solid 2nd or 3rd line center in the Q, will continue to put numbers up, but will have to continue to get to the middle, engage and generate which I think he can definitely do,
34) Domenico Borsellino savvy, crafty and very smart diminutive winger that can really handle the puck, thinks the game very well and uses his body well to shield the puck in traffic, obviously will need to get stronger upper body wise to continue to engage and generate offence at the next level, This kid has a natural knack for finding the back of the net and that’s something you can’t teach, There’s no question this kid can and will produce at the junior, he might need one more year in the U18 to get stronger before he steps on in and contributes
35) Axel Bolduc gritty two way defender, good skater and can really transition pucks, would like to see him be a touch more patient with the puck at times and use/rely on his skating ability to be more elusive to kick start transition, willing to take a hit to make a play which is great to see, Will have to continue to work on his agility and edge control to elevate his game at the junior level, projects to be a solid two zone shutdown defender at the junior level if he continues to progress,
36) Alexandre Deschamps solid skating rearguard, moves very well and is very active on the offensive blueline, really enjoy watching this kid gap up, he really trusts his skating and compete level, This kid isn’t going to be an offensive player, but a D man that many forwards will hate to play against in the years to come, I wouldn’t say he’s a pure stay at home defender because he can really skate and transition, but this kid gets it and competes like hell,
The Quick Shift 