Brandon Gignac – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: DADOUN – THE WEEK AHEAD (February 12th to February 18th) – Washington fading in playoff race and faces tough questions – Favourable schedules and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 18:37:42 +0000

Early this season, Washington seemed to be able to manufacture wins despite not looking great on paper. The Capitals had a 17-9-4 record through Dec. 21, but at that time they had a minus-8 goal differential. Washington was doing fine defensively, ranking 10th with 2.73 goals allowed per game, but it was 30th offensively, averaging just 2.43 goals per contest. Washington compensated for that by having one of the league’s best records in one-goal games (10-1-4).

The question at the time was if Washington’s success was mere smoke and mirrors. At this point, it’s fair to say that it was. The Capitals are now 22-20-7. They’re seven points back in the Wild Card race, which might not sound like much, but it’s a mountain to climb this late in the campaign. Meanwhile, their goal differential has gotten even worse, dropping to minus-36.

If Washington can’t find a way to turn things around soon, then the Capitals will need to consider retooling. What would look like, though? Trading Alexander Ovechkin is almost certainly a nonstarter. He’s not having that strong of a season anyway (11 goals and 33 points in 46 games) and at the age of 38, teams might be reluctant to take on his $9.5 million cap hit through 2025-26. Even if he was playing well, though, he’s the face of the franchise and has a no-movement clause, so there would be a lot of barriers to moving him.

TJ Oshie? His $5.75 million cap hit through 2024-25 likely would give contenders pause too. The 37-year-old has just eight goals and 12 points through 32 contests. Tom Wilson agreed to a seven-year, $45.5 million contract in August, so Washington probably won’t trade him, and Dylan Strome is signed to a $5 million cap hit through 2027-28. Meanwhile, Nicklas Backstrom is on the long-term injured reserve and isn’t likely to play again this season while Evgeny Kuznetsov is in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, so neither of them is likely to come up in serious trade conversations.

There are still a couple of players who might be dealt. Anthony Mantha’s 16 goals and 24 points in 45 outings isn’t good relative to his $5.7 million cap hit, but at least his contract ends at the end of this campaign, so there might be contenders willing to part with a pick for him if Washington retains half his remaining salary. Max Pacioretty has a goal and seven points in 14 contests since coming back from his Achilles injury. That’s not great, but there might still be a team interested in him as a secondary scorer and veteran presence.

Those kinds of moves won’t fundamentally change Washington, though, they’ll just leave the Capitals with minor consolation prizes for their lost season. At some point, though, Washington needs to decide if a larger rebuild is necessary. The Capitals are likely reluctant to go down that path while Ovechkin is still under contract, but the alternative might be added years of futility before finally beginning the process.

Anaheim Ducks – TUE @ MTL, THU @ OTT, SAT @ TOR

The Ducks will be in Canada next week, playing in Montreal on Tuesday, Ottawa on Thursday and Toronto on Saturday. The 26-15-8 Maple Leafs figure to be a tough adversary, but Montreal and Ottawa are far removed from the playoff picture.

Those upcoming two games against struggling opponents give Troy Terry an opportunity to extend his hot streak. The 26-year-old has recorded at least a point in six consecutive contests, totaling four goals and six assists. Adam Henrique has been on a run too, providing five goals and 14 points across his last 12 appearances, which gives him 15 goals and 33 points in 49 outings in 2023-24.

Pay special attention to Henrique because there’s a good chance he’ll get traded before the deadline. Granted, that’s not until March 8, but we’ve already seen a couple of major moves, so there’s no guarantee that teams looking to upgrade will wait before pulling the trigger. Especially with Henrique doing so well recently, Anaheim might be able to get a decent return for him. How that impacts Henrique remains to be seen. He’s averaging 17:16 of ice time with Anaheim, including 2:21 with the man advantage, and might not get that kind of role with a contender, which might hinder his fantasy value.

Another trade candidate with Anaheim is Jakob Silfverberg. The 33-year-old forward has struggled this campaign with just five goals and 13 points in 49 outings, but he’s shown some life recently, supplying three goals and five points over his last four appearances. It helps that he’s averaged 15:07 in that span, compared to 12:14 on the season.

Arizona Coyotes – MON @ PHI, WED VS MIN, FRI VS CAR, SUN @ COL

The Coyotes have a busy week ahead of them. It will start with a trip to Philadelphia on Monday, followed by a home stretch versus the Wild on Wednesday and Hurricanes on Friday. Finally, the Coyotes will head to Colorado to play the Avalanche on Sunday.

Although Arizona doesn’t have a back-to-back set next week, the busy schedule might still lead to Karel Vejmelka getting some work. He had a strong relief appearance Thursday, stopping the 28 Golden Knights shots he faced after Connor Ingram surrendered three goals on just six shots midway through the first frame. That strong performance is the exception, though. Vejmelka still has a 6-11-2 record, 3.33 GAA and .900 save percentage in 18 appearances in 2023-24. Ingram has been the better option with a 17-12-1 record, 2.69 GAA and .914 save percentage in 33 outings, but he’s now allowed at least three goals in each of his last three contests, so there’s an opening here for Vejmelka if he can take advantage of it.

Someone else with an opening is Jack McBain. He’s been all over the lineup this season, but recently the 24-year-old has featured on the top unit alongside Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. McBain isn’t much of an offensive threat, scoring just six goals and 15 points through 34 games, so don’t get too excited, but it of course helps to be working alongside players of that caliber.

Especially with Clayton Keller being hot at the moment. He has eight goals and 15 points over his past 12 contests, bringing him up to 21 tallies and 46 points across 49 games.

Boston Bruins – TUE VS TBL, THU VS SEA, SAT VS LAK

The Bruins get to stay in Boston next week and will host the Lightning on Tuesday, the Kraken on Thursday and the Kings on Saturday. It’s not the easiest schedule, but Seattle isn’t in a playoff position and LA has been slumping for the better part of two months, so the potential is there for the Bruins to have a strong run.

Some teams lack any particular player who has stood out recently. That’s almost never the case for the Bruins. You can count on David Pastrnak to put on a show and, most recently, he’s provided three goals and eight points in four contests. He continues to be one of the league’s biggest stars with 33 goals and 75 points through 51 outings.

One player who isn’t as much of a sure thing is Pavel Zacha, but he’s been clicking lately, providing two goals and six points over his active four-game scoring streak. That brings him up to 12 goals and 33 points in 47 appearances this season.

Meanwhile, Brad Marchand has been quickly climbing up the goal-scoring list. He’s found the back of the net 12 times over his past 15 contests, giving him 25 markers and 51 points in 51 games. That puts him on pace to reach the 40-goal milestone for the first time, but his current hot streak has skewed those numbers and he’s a safer bet to finish with around 35 tallies.

Los Angeles Kings – TUE @ BUF, THU @ NJD, SAT @BOS, SUN @ PIT (BTB)

As noted above, LA has struggled lately, posting a 3-8-6 record over its past 17 outings. The Kings will attempt to rebound during a road trip that will take them to Buffalo on Tuesday, New Jersey on Thursday, Boston on Saturday and Pittsburgh on Sunday. Certainly not the easiest of schedules, but LA is one of the few teams set to play in four contests, so it’s still worthy of mention.

Maybe the Kings will get some help from Brandt Clarke, who was summoned from AHL Ontario on Thursday. He’s been fantastic in the minors, recording eight goals, 33 points and 35 PIM in 32 contests and figures to be a big part of LA’s long-term plans. It’s not clear what role he’ll have next week, but with the way things have been going for the Kings, they could stand to mix things up, and giving Clarke some responsibility would be one way to do that.

Alex Turcotte was also recalled Thursday. He had a goal and an assist in two games with LA during his previous stint and has recorded 24 points (seven goals) across 30 AHL appearances, so the 22-year-old might be helpful too.

Given the busy schedule, Cam Talbot is expected to get at least one opportunity to rebound over the next week. He had a 14-8-3 record, 2.10 GAA and .925 save percentage in 25 appearances through Jan. 2, but since then he’s lost his last seven contests while posting an ugly 4.62 GAA and .865 save percentage. He hasn’t played since Jan. 26, though, so perhaps the 36-year-old goaltender has had sufficient time off to step back and reset.

At the same time, David Rittich has done well, posting a 5-1-3 record, 2.09 GAA and .925 save percentage in 11 outings this season, which is part of the reason why he’s been able to wrestle the starting gig from Talbot. Even if Talbot rebounds, there’s a chance Rittich will stay busy, perhaps in a 1A and 1B situation. Certainly, this is a goaltending duo worth monitoring.

Montreal Canadiens – TUE VS ANA, THU @ NYR, SAT VS WAS

The Canadiens will host the Ducks on Tuesday, visit the Rangers on Thursday and conclude the week with a home match versus the Capitals on Saturday. New York is a tough adversary, but Anaheim and Washington aren’t in playoff positions.

Montreal’s standout forward recently has been Nick Suzuki, who has provided three goals and eight points during his active five-game scoring streak. The 24-year-old was limited to three assists across eight appearances from Jan. 4-18, but he’s been far more hit than miss this campaign, totaling 15 goals and 45 points through 50 contests.

Sean Monahan was having a strong season with Montreal too, but he was dealt to Winnipeg. The silver lining is that opened the door for Brandon Gignac to make his Canadiens debut Tuesday against Washington. Gignac logged 14:54 of ice time, including 0:32 on the power play. He didn’t record a point in that game, but the 26-year-old has 14 goals, 42 points and 36 PIM in 43 outings with AHL Laval this season, so if he continues to serve in a middle-six capacity while seeing time on the Canadiens’ second power-play unit, then he should have some offensive production going forward. Keep in mind that Montreal might not be done trading veterans. At the least, Tanner Pearson is likely to be shopped, and if that happens, the door might be opened to Gignac also serving a bigger role with the man advantage.

It’s safe to say Juraj Slafkovsky won’t be moved, though. Although the 19-year-old hasn’t been a major part of the Canadiens this year, supplying nine goals and 22 points across 50 contests, he is a big part of their long-term plans. He’s also seen an uptick in production recently, collecting five goals and seven points over his last eight games, so perhaps we’re seeing the early stages of a strong second half.

New Jersey Devils – MON VS SEA, TUE @ NAS (BTB), THU VS LAK, SAT VS PHI

New Jersey is gearing up for an eventful week. It will start by hosting the Kraken on Monday, then the Devils will play in Nashville on Tuesday before returning home to face the Kings on Thursday. They’ll conclude the week with a game against the Flyers on Saturday. New Jersey is the home team for that contest, but rather than it being played at Prudential Center, it will be an outdoor event at MetLife Stadium (the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets).

Injuries have held Jack Hughes back in 2023-24, but he returned from an upper-body issue Thursday, logging 20:24 of ice time, including 3:19 with the man advantage. If he can stay healthy, then Hughes adding 35-40 points over the Devils’ final 33 games is a reasonable hope.

Erik Haula might see his role diminish somewhat now that Hughes is back. Haula logged 15:40 on Thursday compared to an average of 17:40 from Jan. 6-Feb. 6 while the Devils were without Hughes. Haula, who had three goals and seven points in 10 outings during that stretch, might see his production decline as a result. He has 11 goals and 25 points in 43 appearances overall.

One forward who is likely to get a lot of work regardless of Hughes’ status is Jesper Bratt. The 25-year-old winger has certainly earned that privilege. He registered three assists Thursday to extend his scoring streak to six contests (four goals, nine points). Bratt’s up to 20 markers and 55 points through 49 outings in 2023-24.

Ottawa Senators – TUE VS CBJ, THU VS ANA, SAT VS CHI

The Senators aren’t having a great campaign, but they’ll be playing against some of the other teams at the bottom of the pack next week. They’ll host the Blue Jackets on Tuesday and the Ducks on Thursday before visiting the Blackhawks on Saturday.

Before that action starts, Anton Forsberg (groin) and Travis Hamonic (upper body) are set to return this Saturday versus Toronto. The Senators are expected to be without Jake Sanderson (lower body) against Toronto, though, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be available next week. If he can’t play, then Mathieu Joseph will likely find himself with a role on the power play again after averaging just 0:10 with the man advantage over Ottawa’s last seven contests. Joseph hasn’t recorded a power-play point this season, but he’s done well overall with eight goals and 23 points through 37 appearances, so this is a situation worth monitoring.

It will also be interesting to see if Forsberg’s return saps time away from starting goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The No. 1 goaltender has left plenty to be desired this season with a 12-16-2 record, 3.38 GAA and .889 save percentage in 33 outings. However, Korpisalo has stepped up lately, posting a 4-1-2 record, 2.19 GAA and .912 save percentage across his past seven appearances. If he keeps that up, he should be able to hold Forsberg at bay, but if Korpisalo reverts back to his previous struggles, then Forsberg might play on a semi-regular basis down the stretch.

The Senators don’t have any blazing hot forward at the moment, but Shane Pinto has done well since returning from his 41-game suspension for sports wagering activities. He has two goals and four points in six contests and should continue to serve in a middle-six capacity as well as the first power-play unit going forward.

Toronto Maple Leafs – TUE VS STL, THU VS PHI, SAT VS ANA

The Maple Leafs will spend next week at home, hosting the Blues on Tuesday, the Flyers on Thursday and the Ducks on Saturday. That’s not the weakest of schedules, but it’s not a particularly difficult one either. St. Louis and Philadelphia are both in the middle to upper-middle of the pack while Anaheim ranks near the bottom.

Joseph Woll (ankle) still isn’t close to returning, so Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones are still the team’s goaltending duo. Jones hasn’t started since Jan. 20, but Samsonov has surrendered seven goals on 60 shots (.883 save percentage) over his past two contests, so Jones might get another shot next week. Both of those goaltenders have had great stretches, but also some incredibly rough patches, so they’re risks going forward.

One player who hasn’t dealt with such a roller coaster of a campaign is Auston Matthews. The 26-year-old has eight goals and 13 points in eight contests, but what’s remarkable is he’s not especially hot, that’s practically just the norm for him. Through 48 games, he’s supplied 41 tallies and 61 points and is likely to continue to find the back of the net at a reliable pace as long as he stays healthy. His continued health is critical to the team. While it’s true that Toronto has other superstars, he’s personally scored a staggering 24.3 percent of the team’s entire goals.

In terms of the supporting cast, Toronto doesn’t have anyone doing particularly well at present. The only players to accumulate at least three points over the Leafs’ last five contests are the Big Four (Matthews, John Tavares, Mitchell Marner and William Nylander) and their top defenseman, Morgan Rielly. Matthew Knies is getting a turn on the Matthews’ line, though, so perhaps that will help the 21-year-old forward.

New Jersey Devils Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:07:25 +0000

Prior to the 2016-17 season, Hockey Prospectus ranked the New Jersey system 16^th overall, basically middle of the pack. It was a system led by the team’s three most recent first rounders in Michael McLeod (2016), John Quenneville (2014), and Pavel Zacha (2015), respectively. Also in the top ten were a few other recent prospect graduates in Steven Santini, Jesper Bratt, and Miles Wood. There were no deep sleepers who have become New Jersey mainstays, although 20^th ranked Alexander Kerfoot has emerged as a solid player with Colorado after he declined to sign with the Devils once his NCAA eligibility expired.

Regardless of the strength at the time of the New Jersey, the NHL Devils suffered through a horrendous season in 2016-17, finishing 27^th out of 30 teams. There was a silver lining at the edge of that dark cloud though, as they bucked the odds to win the draft lottery, enabling them to take their pick of what was, in all honesty, a below average draft class.

New Jersey didn’t complain, though, using the top pick on Nico Hischier, an electrifying talent from Switzerland who had been playing in the QMJHL with Halifax. Not only was Hischier immediately the best player in the revitalized New Jersey system, but we had graded him out as the number two prospect in all of hockey in last year’s McKeen Annual guidebook.

The Devils did not rest after selecting Hischier, though. Far from it. They made 11 total selections in the 2017 draft, and we placed two additional picks, second rounder Jesper Boqvist, and fourth rounder Nikita Popugaev, in our top 250 list, at 120 and 150, respectively. Throw in the surprise signing of Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher, who, like Kerfoot, did not sign with the team that drafted him, and went to New Jersey instead. In a bit of irony, Butcher was a Colorado pick signing in New Jersey while Kerfoot was a Devils pick who signed with the Avalanche. An unofficial trade if you will. Four other 2017 draft picks were also listed in the New Jersey top 20.

With such a broad infusion of talent, it should come as no surprise that the New Jersey system shot up the organizational rankings from 16 to six.

One year later and the New Jersey system has fallen back down the other side of the rainbow, coming in 20^th at this time. How did they fall so soon, so quick, you might ask?

Some of it is for good reasons. The Devils rebounded as a team to return to the NHL postseason Hischier was a key driver of that success, playing in all 82 games, finishing seventh in the Calder Trophy race. The aforementioned Will Butcher, as well as Jesper Bratt, who had inexplicably fallen from a top ten talent to outside of the top 20, were the only other prospects to graduate.

A few other players left the organization through trade or free agency, but they were footnotes at the bottom of the list. What really hurt New Jersey the most, in terms of organizational ranking, was the simple fact that none of the players (Hischier/Butcher excluded) really reached a new level of performance or production, and many others, including the aforementioned Popugaev, top netminder Mackenzie Blackwood, Blake Speers, and others, saw their play fall off and new questions about their ultimate ceilings emerge.

Finally, the Devils went from a dynamic draft class of 11, to a muted class of six, three of whom make this year’s list. It remains to be seen whether the flagging system below the NHL level will continue to follow (or lead) the fortunes of the team at the highest level.

Ty Smith

1 Ty Smith, D (17^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) The number two scorer among all defenders in the WHL in his draft year, Ty Smith, two years removed from being the first overall selection in the WHL Bantam Draft, has undoubtable offensive skills. He is a fantastic skater with high end puck moving ability. He was unable to demonstrate those gifts to the full extent during a few high profile events last year, namely the CHL Top Prospects game, or the WU18, neither of which made his highlight reel, but even when he was off his game, he still was able to showcase other elements of his game that suggest he has top pairing potential. In other words, even on his off days, he still can be a high-impact defender. He tracks back well, showing 200 foot commitment to the game. He lacks size, but plays with strength, whether using his stick to break up plays, or maneuvering opponents into the boards to nullify threats. Not only is his upside rather high, but he projects to reach it sooner than some of the other guys who were taken in the picks before the Devils got him.

2 Michael McLeod, C (12^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2^nd) The OHL speedster had yet another successful yet mildly disappointing season in the OHL and representing Canada at the WJC and is ready to become fully immersed in the professional game. His skating is just shy of elite, he can flash a high end wrist shot from the circles on in, and earned a reputation for his hustle and work ethic on the PK for Mississauga over the years. He is not known as a playmaker, but has promising vision and passing ability. He has a lot of exciting tools, even though only his straight ahead speed truly exudes a dynamic vibe. He should earn a fair bit of NHL play this season, as his gameplay should be able to find a home up or down the lineup. That said, he would be well served with a few months of AHL action to whet his appetite before settling down in New Jersey. He has strong middle six upside.

3 Jesper Boqvist, C/LW (36^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 4^th) Don’t let his production fool you. Jesper Boqvist has the makings of a very good middle six forward, capable of putting up good numbers at maturity in the NHL. A fantastic skater with very impressive puck skills, the burgeoning playmaker took a big step forward last year, the bulk of which was spent in the SHL with Brynas. He surveys the ice very well, recognizing chance to move forward and advance the attack. He is also noted for a solid defensive zone game. The versatile forward’s biggest drawback is the complete lack of a physical side to his game. In 40 games last year, he accrued only six PIMs. This after eight PIMs in 54 games in his draft year and a whopping 20 minutes in 67 games in 2015-16. He is very high on the Devils’ radar and they are likely hoping to bring him overseas once his contract with Brynas expires after the coming season.

4 John Quenneville, C (30^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 3^rd) When he was selected at the tail end of the 2014 draft, the idea was that he would no longer be on lists like these four years later. Quenneville has a well-rounded game, highlit by a very good shot which is deadly from the hashmarks on in. He may have received more NHL time last year were it not for some injuries which hampered him in the AHL, notably a knee injury shortly after mid-season. He is not exactly old at 22, but he his offensive production has been (on a rate-basis) stable at 0.79 points per game for the past two seasons, and his ability to drive the possession game seemed to carry over to his brief NHL stints in both seasons. He has the game to step into a bottom six role at center or on the wing right now, and if he fails to break through again, it will be a black mark on his future outlook.

5 Joseph Anderson, RW (73^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 9^th) Wherever Joey Anderson goes, he wins. He is generally not the best player on that winning team, or even the second best player, but he is always a key contributor both in what can be measured and in the intangibles, such as leadership, grit, and hustle. He is a solid skater, with a hard wrist shot that can beat a goalie cleanly from mid-range and closer. He offers a very strong net front presence, with quick hands ready to pounce on loose pucks in the home plate area. He is not overly tall, but has good reach, assisted by plus upper-body strength. He is very intelligent, performing all sorts of easily over-looked, subtle acts to help his team regain, or maintain possession. After helping Minnesota-Duluth to an NCAA championship in the spring, Anderson inked an ELC with the Devils. He will have a good chance to make the club in a bottom six role right away, with New Jersey hoping his winning ways rub off on the rest of the team.

Reilly Walsh

6 Reilly Walsh, D (81^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 10^th) A New Hampshire prep star, Walsh proved that he could hang at a higher level with his intermittent play with the Chicago Steel of the USHL in his draft year. As a true freshman with Harvard, he proved his supporters right as one of the Crimson’s most play driving blueliners. He is small, but somewhat rugged and has the mobility that is sought by all talent evaluators in modern-age defenders. He is also imminently gifted from the offensive perspective. Both his point shot and his puck handling skills are high end. Unlike many defenders of his ilk, he is also competent and responsible in his own end. He is still a few years from being ready for the AHL, much less than NHL, but he looks for all the world like a top half of the roster blueliner.

7 Aarne Talvitie, C (160^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11^th) Still under the radar as he spent both his draft and post draft years in Finland’s junior ranks, Talvitie should be commended for finishing third in scoring in the Jr. A SM-liiga, winning the league’s MVP award in the process. The reason he has not graduated to Finnish senior is not due to lack of aptitude, but to maintain his NCAA eligibility. Lack Henrik Borgstrom, Talvitie is crossing the pond to go to college, in this case, to play for Penn State. He is a strong skater with finishing skills and impressive hockey IQ. He lacks size, but plays tough enough to survive. As the Nittany Lions have lost a few key forwards to graduation, Talvitie should receive an early opportunity to shine in his first taste of North American hockey.

8 Colby Sissons, D (UDFA: Oct. 3, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Overlooked in his draft year as a moderately productive second pairing defender with a poor Swift Current team in the WHL, Sissons nonetheless impressed the Devils so much in rookie camp that the team couldn’t get rid of him, finally signing him to an ELC as the season was getting underway. Two years later, after a stellar age 20 season helping to take the Broncos to a WHL title, the word has gotten around on Sissons. While not the greatest skater, he moves the puck with purpose and precision. He can walk the line like a pro on the power play, finding an open teammate down low, or picking up a seam to step through to fire a low slapshot on net. He has a mature all-around game from the back and plays a somehow understated, but very forceful, physical game. Next stop is the AHL and he should be in the consideration set as an injury replacement as soon as this year.

9 Mackenzie Blackwood, G (42^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 7^th) As a 16 year old with the OHL’s Barrie Colts, Blackwood seemed like the ideal goalie prospect, checking all of the boxes in the scouts’ lists. He was massive, coupled with solid athleticism, reasonably refined technique. He even did a good job of controlling second chances and could push the puck up the ice ably. Since those heady early days, Blackwood has been miss as much as hit. His OHL work never really improved from his first year. His first two years as a professional have been disconcerting, losing playing time to the likes of Kenny Appleby and Scott Wedgewood and even finding himself down in the ECHL for stretches last year. It is too early to give up on a 21 year old who can still flash the game of a possible starter in the NHL, but it is past time for Blackwood to produce where it counts and ensure that the Devils still see the future in him.

Xavier Bernard

10 Xavier Bernard, D (110^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) For a system that has largely eschewed scouting for size, Bernard is one of the few prospects of significance in the organization that bucks that trend. Listed at 6-3” and over 200 lbs, he is actually more of a mobile puck mover with smarts and skills than a bruiser. His offensive game took a big step up in his draft year, jumping from six to 35 points with Drummondville. There are still questions about his ultimate offensive upside, allowing him to drop to the fourth round in the draft, but he plays an efficient game on both sides of the puck. He has a big point shot, but is more effective as a passer from the blueline. Bernard’s development has a few possible routes available, but the majority of them point to a solid professional career.

11 Mikhail Maltsev, LW (102^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Without doubt, the biggest riser in the New Jersey over the 2017-18 season. From a production standpoint, Maltsev’s year was not much different from years’ past. He seemed to have finally graduated from the Russian junior league and spent the bulk of his domestic season split between the KHL and the VHL, with very promising VHL numbers, with the best points per game mark of any under 20 player to have played even 10 games at the level. His KHL and international production were more muted, but he did turn a number of heads at the WJAC. He has a big frame, is usable on both special teams units, playing a mature and intelligent game. His first few steps are strong and he has burgeoning puck skills to go along with it. He will be in Russia again this year, but may be ready, at least in theory to come to North America in the near future.

12 Fabian Zetterlund, RW/C (63^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 16^th) If the Devils can be said to have a type in the draft, it would look a lot like Fabian Zetterlund. That is to say a winger with a bit of skill and the type of grittiness to allow him to play bigger than his listed measurements. A solid offensive force in the Swedish junior ranks when he was drafted, the young forward spent this past season mostly playing against men. As is often the case with teenagers in the SHL and Allsvenskan, his production was nothing to write home about wit only 12 points in 43 combined games between the two levels. When he plays against his age-based peers, such as in the WJC, he can demonstrate a promising offensive package, including a shot and puck skills that both project out as above average attributes. Add in a feisty game in the neutral zone and comfort playing a physical game, and he could work his way up to a middle six role down the road.

13 Blake Speers, RW (67^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 6^th) Blake Speers has been somewhat of a frustrating prospect to track, as he has all of the tools you want to see. He is a very good skater, who gets to a fine top speed, with quick acceleration. He can flash a hard wrist shot that allowed to score a respectable 12 goals as an AHL rookie last year after he was a goal-scoring threat throughout his OHL career. He is not especially big, but is built solid. On the down side, while it is still early in his career and he can certainly change our minds going forward, he struggled with reads and decision making, preventing him from getting full bang for the buck on his tools. He has a fine motor and hustles, showing a promising work ethic, but the onus is on him, like many others in this system, to take his game to the next level.

14 Michael Kapla, D (UDFA: Mar 28, 2017. Last Year: 18^th) Turning 24 before the start of the coming season, Kapla, now only one year into his professional career, plays a mature, yet limited game from the blueline. The limitations are largely the result of not having a game heavy on skill. He is not slow, but nor is he exceptionally mobile. He can man the point at the AHL level, but lacks the vision or howitzer to project to that role in the NHL. He is somewhat broad around the shoulders, but he does not play a physical game. If the former UMass-Lowell captain will make more of an NHL impact than the five game bonus trial he received after signing as a free agent, it will be on the strength of his versatility, in the sense that he can be used in any situation, and his poise with the puck. He will not thrill the crowd, but he will also not be the cause of their displeasure either.

15 Jeremy Davies, D (192^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Drafted as a seventh round flyer in his second year of eligibility after putting up some good numbers for a moribund Bloomington team in the USHL, Davies is proving himself to be a scouting find after two strong to very strong seasons manning the point for NCAA offensive powerhouse Northeastern. He finished second in blueline scoring as a freshman and led all NE defensemen in points by a wide margin as a sophomore. He is not a very toolsy player, which forces us to be cautious in projecting his future, but he handles the puck quite well and demonstrates the hockey smarts needed on the back end. He even plays strong despite being undersized. Another season like the last may force the Devils to try to pry him away from school before graduation.

Marian Studenic

16 Marian Studenic, RW (143^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 15^th) While he has never broken out as an offensive force, notably being shut out for two straight years in the WJC for his native Slovakia, the former fifth round pick still demonstrates a well-rounded game that suggests a potential bottom six future awaits. He is a strong skater, with good size, if not a physical game. He can play up and down the lineup thanks to his hustle and has a lot of experience as a penalty killer. The reason for his moderate offensive impact is largely down to a lack of creativity or vision with the puck. He has a quick shot which he can hesitate with the release to add an element of trickery, but he is largely a two way, North-South player.

17 Brandon Gignac, C (80^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14^th) Being limited to only 21 games, in which he put up only three points, clearly qualifies Gignac’s rookie pro season as a severe disappointment. Injuries can do that. Considering the year as a practical write-off, we will instead use this space to serve as a reminder of why the Devils saw fit to use a third round pick on him two years ago. He is small, undersized and lacking in functional strength. Of course those factors did not convince New Jersey to draft him that high, but we can state with confidence that they kept him from going higher. What Gignac still can do, and why the Devils are still believers is primarily his incredible top gear. He has just enough puck skills to be a real threat on a breakaway. He also shows good vision and has a history of creating respectable secondary offense. Now let’s see what he can do with a full, healthy season in the AHL.

18 Cam Johnson, G (UDFA: Mar. 24 2018. Last Year: IE) Unheralded to a large extent in his first draft season, playing for Little Caeser’s U18, Johnson earned his way a role in the USH over the next two seasons as a walk-on. Good enough to graduate to a role with a big time collegiate program in North Dakota, he went from a barely used freshman (two games) to a surprise starter as a sophomore, leading his team to an NCAA championship. A bit undersized by modern standards, Johnson is fairly athletic and calm under duress. He is confident with the puck, although his technique is raw – particularly his footwork - and he is prone to surrendering juicy rebounds. He could never re-capture the success of his sophomore season, but his body of work was enough to convince New Jersey to offer him a contract and replace for free agent signing Kenny Appleby on the depth chart.

19 Mitchell Hoelscher, C (172^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Another player on this list with underwhelming numbers in the OHL, Hoelscher at least can fall back on the reasoning that he joined the league relatively late, getting in only six games with the Ottawa 67s before his draft year began. Joining a mediocre team in transition did not help his numbers play up either. To his credit, he has a fine enough collection of tools to suggest that there is more in his near future, even though he was not a top scorer in his pre-OHL days either. He gets up to a fine top speed. He plays a fine physical game despite lacking in size or stature. He also plays with maturity, suggestive of comfort playing down the lineup as needed.

20 Yegor Zaitsev, D (205^th overall, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) If these grades only focused on skills, Zaitsev may not have made the cut. His point shot is sub-par and his mobility and ability to move the puck are average at best. He is small and lacks much of a physical presence, as well. But we talk about him because he has legitimate shut down defender qualities. He is very good positionally in his own zone, uses his stick very well to cut into gaps, even if he does not close them down with the body. He does a smart job of moving rushers to the outside and removing danger. If you needed any proof of his ability to play above his tools, consider that Russian legacy team Dynamo Moscow had him playing in the KHL in his age 18 season.

New Jersey – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:15:27 +0000

Two short years ago, the New Jersey Devils had one of the weaker system in the game. John Quenneville was a decent prospect, and Steve Santini seemed like a sure-fire NHLer, if not a top tier one. All in all, there was very little there before Ray Shero took over as GM on May 4, 2015, blessed with a top ten pick in the upcoming draft.

Although the Devils only had five choices in the 2015 draft, they made the most of them, with Pavel Zacha emerging as their new top prospect and supplementing the system with talented youth such as netminder MacKenzie Blackwood, versatile forward Blake Speers and two-way defenseman Colton White. But a five man draft class can only do so much for any organization.

Shero had more time to implement his plan of beefing up the system in 2016 and with nine more draft picks, did just that. Among those nine players, five rank among their top twenty today and a few more were contenders to sneak on to the list as well. Even with those nine players, though, the Devils system was still middling. After so many years of focusing on the here and now, to diminishing results, left a correspondingly diminished system with few players projecting as top half of roster talents and a paucity of players who could even be expected to contribute in a bottom half manner.

The best talents, other than the aforementioned Zacha and Miles Wood, were still a few years away, and even with the acquisition of former first overall pick Taylor Hall from Edmonton, the Devils were still in a poor place. Sometimes, however, with short term pain, comes long term gain. Some of that pain was literal. Hall missed ten games to injury. Mike Cammalleri missed 20 due to various causes. Star netminder Corey Schneider battled leg injuries in the second half. Without exaggeration, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, and Adam Henrique were the only regulars not to miss significant action on the season. After March began, the Devils could only pick up seven points in the standings in 20 games.

As for the gain, their late tumble down the standings dropped them to 27th in the league standings. And wouldn’t you know it, but that slot lined up perfectly with the bouncing balls of the draft lottery. For the first time ever, the Devils would have the first overall pick. As much as some pundits moaned about the lack of top end talent in this year’s class, there was still talent a-plenty and the Devils would have their way with it.

After selecting the dynamic Nico Hischier first overall, the Devils had ten more opportunities to man their man. In addition to quantity, the Devils got a ton of quality. In the top twenty list to follow, fully seven players were products of their most recent draft class, a class that should mark the transition of this team from tear down, to re-build.

Nico Hischier

1 Nico Hischier – Although we ranked him second among draft prospects this year, we still expected the Devils to draft Hischier, a dynamic player who fits the Ray Shero approach of extreme talent. On any given night, he can display near elite skating, shooting ability or puck-handling skills. Sometimes all three. What cements his place in the Devils lineup right away is his unflagging commitment to the play away from the puck as well. He can be trusted in all zones, in all situations. A superstar to build around.

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

2 Michael McLeod – McLeod got off to an unexplained slow start this year in Mississauga, after threatening to go straight to the NHL as the 12th overall pick in 2016. As the year moved on, he picked things up, although his inclusion in Canada’s WJC entry may have been based on reputation and tools over production. He has tremendous speed, decent hands and plays a high IQ game. By the OHL playoffs, McLeod was back to being the dominant player the Devils drafted.

3 John Quenneville - A somewhat unexpected first rounder, Quenneville started his professional career as the best player for AHL Albany, leading the team in scoring by seven points despite only playing in 58 games. He is very effective on the cycle, and loves shooting the puck. While not usually flashy, he has some highlight reel tricks up his sleeve. A versatile forward who can play both center or on the wing, he might be ready for a full time NHL job after a briefer debut last year.

4 Jesper Boqvist – The Devils second round pick this year, Boqvist split his year fairly evenly between Swedish junior and the top two men’s leagues. He was effective at all three. He has standout quickness, with matching agility and demonstrates excellent puck movement abilities even at high speed. A creative play driver, he needs more time to develop in a consistent system before reaching his potential. Should be a front-runner to make the Swedish WJC squad.

5 Will Butcher – The 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner, Butcher opted not to sign with Colorado, which drafted him in 2013. Short, but stocky, he has very advanced puck moving skills. A good skater with soft hands, he is a clear danger from the point, able to both whip in a strong wrist shot, or walk the line until a better passing option opens up. Positioning and anticipation make up for his relative dearth of a physical game. Likely to step right into the NHL on the third pairing.

6 Blake Speers – Although the Devils have a few prospects in the system with higher offensive upside, Speers has a high end combination of speed and hockey IQ that ensure he will not be overlooked. A strong performance with the Silver medal winning Team Canada WJC team gave a preview of how Speers’ career should play out. A versatile bottom six forward who can handle tough shifts and shorthanded situations.

Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

7 MacKenzie Blackwood – Although his professional career did not get off to the same dominant start with which he began his OHL career, there is still an awful lot to like about Blackwood’s future projections. He has a huge frame that covers a lot of net, with he combines with above-average athleticism, and play-reading ability. With Schneider in complete control with the Devils, there is no rush but Blackwood needs to improve his game-to-game consistency before taking the next step.

8 Nikita Popugaev – In many ways the inverse of the above-listed forwards, Popugaev has incredible size and a pretty full toolbox, but he has never put it all together over a full season. His production fell off the map after a mid-season trade from mid-market Moose Jaw to prime Prince George. He may have been a first rounder without the nearly half-season long slump. He has a high end shot, but plays largely a perimeter game, which largely negates his size advantages.

9 Joey Anderson – USNTDP alumnus Anderson has always excelled as a support player for more talented teammates, a trait that followed him from the hothouse program, through a stint with the American WJC championship team and through his freshman season with Minnesota-Duluth, where he came one game away from a second title. A stocky player who plays a power, puck digger game, he has solid puck skills, but knows his role as a supporting mule and plays it well.

10 Reilly Walsh – A dynamic blueliner who fell a bit under the radar in his draft year flitting back and forth between Chicago in the USHL and Proctor Academy in the New England prep ranks. A Harvard commit, he missed all of Chicago’s championship run in order to graduate. Somewhat undersized, Walsh makes up for it with plus speed, and aggressive defending, particularly with how he uses his stick to break up plays. Similarly aggressive with the puck on his stick, he is one to follow with the Crimson.

11 Aarne Talvitie – The Devils drafting Talvitie in the sixth round this year qualifies as one of the best value picks in the entire 2017 draft class. The captain of Finland’s Silver medal winning WU18 entry, his best features are his big, hard wrist shot, his competitive style and his ability to read the play in all situations. Looking to attend Penn State, he is expected to come to North America this year to play for Sioux Falls in the USHL.

12 Yegor Rykov – Although his first full season in the KHL was at times underwhelming, Rykov’s performance against his peers in the WJC for Team Russia should have the Devils pleased with the development of their 2016 5th round pick. He has a booming slapshot and impressive puck moving ability. He could be more mobile and he will need to show more consistent league play in a return engagement with SKA St. Petersburg, but with two more years on his KHL contract, he has time.

13 Nathan Bastian – Like Nikita Popugaev, but with fewer and duller tools. Bastian is very big, has a strong understanding of the game, and has an understated skill set. His lack of production, even while playing often on a line with Michael McLeod, raises questions, as does his subpar skating. Expected to move up to the AHL this year, he will need to prove that he can produce on his own to avoid being consigned to a bottom line projection.

14 Brandon Gignac – A moderate offensive threat, Gignac likewise carries with him a moderate skill set, featuring above average skating ability, puck skills and an impressive hockey IQ. He can reach an extra gear and looks dangerous shooting from the half-wall. He is undersized and generally not a very aggressive player, but he generally earns strong reviews for his play in his own zone.

15 Marian Studenic – A projection pick in the fifth round this year, Studenic was inconsistent, but promising in his first season in North America with Hamilton of the OHL. He has a strong shot and should be able to increase his goal scoring output with additional experience, but his play away from the puck was disappointing and he was practically a non-entity for Slovakia at the WU18 tournament.

16 Fabian Zetterlund – A solid scorer for Farjestad’s junior team and one of Sweden’s top contributor’s for their WU18 squad, Zetterlund is a creative offensive driver, but suffers due to a skating deficiency. With a little more zip to his stride, he could project as a solid middle six winger down the line, but this is something he will need to see improve to get there. To his credit, he has some agility at least, and plays a ragged style, willing to take a hit to make a play.

17 Colton White – A solid mid-round pick, White has been a steady contributor for four season with Sault Ste. Marie. He combines above average skating and puck moving ability with impressive play defending his own zone. His OHL play seems to have plateaued over his last two seasons, leading to fears that he may have regressed. He will be tested in the AHL, but it is too early to assume he cannot be a solid #5 down the road.

18 Michael Kapla – A second team All-American as a senior at UMass-Lowell, Kapla, who captained the squad for each of his final two seasons is an intelligent defender with plus acceleration. He is willing to take a hit to make a play, although he is not a physical force. He specializes in pushing forward the transition. Although he is in contention for one of the final blueline spots in New Jersey this year, a year or so developing in Binghamton is the wiser play.

19 Yaroslav Dyblenko – Never a big offensive producer over four plus seasons in the KHL, the Devils signed Dyblenko to a two-year entry level contract this offseason with the expectation that he will compete for a spot on the NHL blueline. He is roughly average with or without the puck, but should be able to bring plus physicality to the ice, as he had a reputation as a big hitter in Russia.

20 Viktor Loov – Loov is a similar style player to Dyblenko. His skating is flawed, without being slow, his puck play is fairly basic and he has never been a big producer at any level. On the other hand, he hits people and hits people and hits people. And the hits are very hard. His near-elite physical game can cross the line too often, though and he needs to do a better job of recognizing the limitations to avoid being a liability.

The rise from a bottom feeding system to a top quartile one has been fairly quick for New Jersey, a welcome change after years of neglect to drafting and prospect development. The system is now very forward heavy, as most of the better defenders have lower ceilings and/or are further away from contributing. With a few of the above listed players expected to challenge for NHL jobs right away – improving the team’s on-ice success, the team will have to be more judicious going forward with their draft plans.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: New Jersey Devils

Grant McCagg — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:38:15 +0000

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Trading down one spot to get McKeen’s seventh-ranked player at 12 AND adding Joey Anderson with the extra pick was one of the shrewdest moves in the draft. Michael McLeod was in McKeen’s opinion the most underrated player in the top 12…he will be a top-two center on the Devils within a couple of seasons and bring much needed skill and size to their lineup. New Jersey added McLeod’s 6-3 linemate Nathan Bastian in the second round…if he can improve his feet he’ll earn an NHL position thanks to his smarts and overall skill level.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	12	7	Michael McLeod	C	CAN	6-2/190	Mississauga (OHL)
2	41	49	Nathan Bastian	RW	CAN	6-3/205	Mississauga (OHL)
3	73	82	Joey Anderson	RW	USA	5-11/190	NTDP (USA)
3	80	83	Brandon Gignac	C	CAN	5-11/175	Shawinigan (QMJHL)
4	102	NR	Mikhail Maltsev	LW	RUS	6-3/200	Team Russia U18 (Rus)
4	105	140	Evan Cormier	G	CAN	6-3/205	Saginaw (OHL)
5	132	NR	Yegor Rykov	D	RUS	6-1/215	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)
6	162	128	Jesper Bratt	LW	SWE	5-10/170	AIK (Swe)
7	192	NR	Jeremy Davies	D	CAN	5-10/180	Bloomington (USHL)

Nathan Bastian of the Mississauga Steelheads was selected by the New Jersey Devils at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Anderson was quite productive for the USNTDP team playing on the top line with Keller and Bellows…he also needs work on his skating, but there’s no denying his offensive skills. Brandon Gignac is another intelligent prospect with a good skill level whose main knock is a lack of size….lots to like about the competitive two-way center. Mikhail Maltsev never quite lived up to the hype this season…certainly the size and skill level are intriguing if he can ramp up the intensity.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit was selected by the New Jersey Devils at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Evan Cormier brings the size and athleticism scouts look for in a goalie prospect…more consistency and better mental approach are what he needs to work on the most. Yegor Rykov caught the attention of scouts with a solid performance at the U-20’s. He brings a well-rounded game and size to the blueline. Jesper Bratt was one of the most talented Swedish prospects available in the draft…but inconsistent performances and perimeter play in U-18 events hurt his draft stock.

Brandon Gignac of the Shawinigan Cataractes was selected by the New Jersey Devils at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Grade: B+: Trading down a spot to draft McLeod was a great start to their draft, and there were some promising picks in rounds 3-5. Gignac is a personal favourite who may surprise some teams.

NHL Draft Watch: Dubois heads Top 10 QMJHL prospects

Iain Morrell — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 08:44:03 +0000

In terms of producing top 60 prospects for the NHL Draft, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has alternated between "good year" and "bad year" recently.

Last summer, 12 players were selected in the top two rounds from the QMJHL, including five in the first round, a number inflated by a strong import contingent led by Timo Meier and Jakub Zboril.

Two years prior was the 'golden' draft of 2013 as the league, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin, grabbed a whopping 16 spots in the top 60. The 2011 NHL draft saw eight players selected, however in the intervening years the number dipped to five with just one pick in the opening rounds - and both being imports - Mikhail Grigorenko (2012) and Nikolai Ehlers (2014).

While it's not historically thin this year, only seven or eight players are expected to be top 60 picks. There is a chance that six are taken in the first round this summer, but that number is more likely to be three or four.

Cape Breton forward Pierre-Luc Dubois has separated himself from the pack as the QMJHL's top draft-eligible prospect with a strong second half (26-18-28-46), highlighted by a standout effort at the CHL Top Prospects Game.

Some nights Dubois has been ‘Du-blah’, as one scout put it - disappointing with his effort and intensity but for the most part has been a dominating force. Scouts see Dubois as a ‘safe’ pick, but some have concerns about his offensive ceiling at the pro level.

He's done his best to alleviate those worries with 93 points so far - fifth-most in the league - including 38 goals after reaching just 10 as a rookie in the 2014-15 season.

Dubois has likely played himself into a top ten position, but could even reach top five depending on team's needs, and his playoff performance. Scouts would like to see him produce consistently versus the QMJHL's tougher teams, and if Cape Breton goes on a good playoff run and he produces, his stock should go up even higher.

Going head-to-head recently in a game against his nearest challenger, mammoth winger Julien Gauthier of Val d'Or, Dubois made a statement with a five-point effort (2g, 3a) while Gauthier was shut off the scoresheet.

GAUTHIER LOTS TO WORK WITH, LOTS TO WORK ON

Opinions on how Gauthier will pan out are varied, but the genes and undeniable physical attributes are certainly there, starting with a 6-4, 225-pound frame.

With 40 goals in just 50 games, Gauthier has been a veritable goal machine this season, yet has managed just 15 assists after recording 35 helpers as a sophomore in 2014-15.

Scouts need to determine which is the anomaly. Aside from flashy goal totals, 83 over the past two season including five in the playoffs, Gauthier has shown holes in how he senses and reacts to the game.

Very fast in a straight line, he can resemble a runaway freight train when he isolates a defender 1-on-1 and makes a power move to the net.

His play away from the puck must mature however, and he will have to develop his physical play and learn how to be a more effective checker as he is prone to chasing the game.

It's not always just about bulging the junior twine as his former teammate Anthony Mantha found out when he slipped to the No. 20 spot at the 2013 Draft fresh off a 50-goal season.

GIRARD A RIDDLE IN A CONUNDRUM

Projecting the number of QMJHL picks in the first round is a tougher task.

Luke Green of the Saint John Sea Dogs is third-rated among Q prospects - sitting near the end of the opening round (No. 29) of the McKeen's Draft Rankings, trailed fairly closely by the trio of Pascal Laberge, Samuel Girard, and Vitali Abramov.

Shawinigan rearguard Samuel Girard may be among the smallest in stature - but may also be the largest riddle for the NHL to decipher.

There's been plenty of talk and evidence of how the NHL is migrating toward mobile and skilled puckmovers at the back over big. strong and physical. The NHL is just too fast and skilled today. Pucks turn around in a flash via errors - even the old reliable 'high-and-hard-off-the-glass' clearances can come back like a boomerang.

Ultimately, however, it always comes down to how well a defenceman can defend.

Smart, skilled, speedy - Girard's offence impresses as evidenced by his 66 points this season, just one behind the CHL leader Andrew Nielsen of Lethbridge (WHL).

Not everyone is convinced.

"He's definitely not a first rounder, IMO..great skater, but lots of issues defensively," confided a top NHL scout recently.

Here is one assessment from a McKeen's scout:

"His size and confidence can get him in trouble. He'll try to thread the needle on passes in his own end and get picked off. Had three own-zone turnovers in the first 30 minutes. Mind you he handles the puck much more than anyone else on his team."

"He's not a crease clearer, but uses his speed, smarts, and stick to his advantage Plays on the PK and late in games protecting the lead..so he certainly has his coach's confidence."

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RANKING THE TOP 10 QMJHL DRAFT PROSPECTS

RANK	RND	PLAYER	P	TEAM	H/W
1	1	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton	6-2/200
2	1	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or	6-4/225
3	1	Luke Green	D	Saint John	6-0/190
4	2	Pascal Laberge	RW	Victoriaville	6-1/170
5	2	Samuel Girard	D	Shawinigan	5-9/160
6	2	Vitali Abramov	LW	Gatineau	5-9/175
7	2	Frederic Allard	D	Chicoutimi	6-1/180
8	3	Evan Fitzpatrick	G	Sherbrooke	6-3/220
9	3	Vladimir Kuznetsov	LW	Acadie-Bathurst	6-2/210
10	3	Otto Somppi	C	Halifax	6-1/180
HM	4	Brandon Gignac	C	Shawinigan	5-11/175