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Edit: Drafted 54th by the Dallas Stars.
Philippe Desrosiers came to Rimouski this year, and started the year as the team’s backup. However it didn’t take long before the talented goaltender had stolen the job and become the team’s go to guy. It was a position he would never relenquish. During the year Desrosiers also earned himself an invite to the CHL Top Prospects Game. In his half-game in the net, he did not allow a single goal. Desrosiers would eventually help lead the Oceanic to a 4th place finish in the QMJHL. Unfortunately the Oceanic were upset in the first round, falling in 6 games to Gatineau.
Desrosiers then joined Team Canada for the 2013 IIHF Under 18 World Championships in Sochi, Russia. Desrosiers beat out fellow draft eligible, Spencer Martin, for the starting job and took Canada all the way to the Gold Medal. He was particularly good in the Gold Medal game, helping Canada to a 3-2 win over the United States despite being badly outshot. Desrosiers play in the tournament certainly opened up eyes and moved him up the scouting ranks. He finished the tournament with a 0.80 GAA and .970 save percentage, the type of stats usually only reserved for video games.
Goalie
Born Aug 16 1995 — St.Hyacinthe, PQ
Height 6.01 — Weight 187 — Shoots Left — Catches Left
At 6’1″ and not even having reached his 18th birthday yet, Desrosiers has the good size that NHL teams have been looking for in Goaltenders in recent years. He takes advantage of his size, and challenges shooters, by coming out of his net and playing his angles very well. Desrosiers is an extremely aggressive goalie who really comes out far. He plays a solid butterfly style. His technique is tight and he rarely allows shots to get through him (ie 5 hole, under the arms, etc). He has very quick legs and covers the bottom of the net well. Desrosiers is extremely athletic and gets in and out of his butterfly quickly. Up top he has a quick glove hand, and is good on the blocker side. His technique is very good for a young goalie. Desrosiers is calm and poised in the net. He keeps a cool demeanor even after allowing a goal. This helps him to put the last one behind him, and be ready for the next scoring chance.
Desrosiers moves quickly in the net, and his lateral movement and agility are very good. However he does need some work on his puck tracking, as he seems to lose it at times when there is a lot of traffic and passing in front of him. Desrosiers also needs some work on handling the puck. He loves to get out of his net and play it, but this can sometimes be an adventure. In terms of rebound control, Desrosiers does a better job than most 17 year old goalies, and he is above average in relation to his peers, however this is always a problem spot for young goalies, and Desrosiers will still need to continue to work on it before reaching the next level.
Desrosiers style is similar to that of Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes. In terms of potential, he could be a number 1 goalie if he is given the time to develop and proper coaching.
Check back tomorrow for another NHL draft feature.
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