Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects. It’s that time again–major junior hockey is back and we’re here to preview the new season for you. While teams have already played their first game in the QMJHL, things are set to start on September 19th in the WHL and on September 24th in the OHL. With that in mind, we will start our division previews out east, then go west, and finally finish in Ontario this year. You can check out our previous Top Shelf Prospects articles here.
QMJHL West Division Preview
The Contenders (In order of how I predict they will finish)
Gatineau Olympiques: The Olympiques have lost their top four scorers from last year’s club, so what makes me think that they will finish on top of the West Division this season? One reason is that they are coached by Benoit Groulx, who is the best coach in the QMJHL. When you consider also a veteran defence that has Mickaël Beauregard, Élie Bérubé, Phil Pietroniro and Marc-Olivier Crevier Mortin, you see the foundations of solid back-end. By adding Alexandre Carrier, one of the best draft eligible defencemen in the QMJHL, to that already formidable defence, you have what is easily the best group in the division. Anthony Brodeur will take over as the number one goaltender and should provide stability behind that defence. Up front, Groulx has added Louick Marcotte from Val D’Or to replace some of that offence. The team also looks for Alexis Pepin and Vaclav Karabacek to take steps forward and put more pucks in the net. The Olympiques may not have enough to challenge for first place in the league, but in a relatively weak division, they should have enough to come out on top.
Val D’Or Foreurs: The Foreurs won the division last year, and went on to win the QMJHL Championship and advance to the Memorial Cup. Sure they have lost some talent and the departure of Anthony Mantha is a big loss, but there is still enough talent returning to Val D’Or that they won’t fall completely out of things, and will still contend in this division. Flyers draftee Nicolas Aube-Kubel will be asked to step-up and lead the offence–he certainly has shown the skills to be able to do so. Youngsters Anthony Richard and Anthony Beauregard are expected to join Aube-Kubel on what will be a very young top line. Julien Gauthier and Pierre-Maxime Poudrier form the nucleus of a solid second line for Val D’Or and, while the offence won’t be as dominant without Mantha and company, they can still score. The defence is very young as overager Jérémie Fraser is the one player who is 19 or older in the group and will be asked to lead them. Olivier Galipeau and Kevin Larouche went through the playoff run last year and will be asked to take bigger roles on the blueline. In net, Keven Bouchard moves from backup goaltender to starter replacing Antoine Bibeau. The team should be able to score goals, and Bouchard looks like a good goaltender–it’s the defence that is the big question mark here.
Sherbrooke Phoenix: The Phoenix are now in their third year in the league and, while they haven’t been very good to date, I believe that this is the year we start to see progression up the standings from a bottom-tier expansion club to a more middle-of-the-pack club. In Daniel Audette, the Phoenix have a guy with the talent to be a QMJHL scoring star, and in Jeremy Roy they have a defenceman who has the talent to be a legitimate star as well. In net, the team is counting on the fourth overall pick in the QMJHL Draft Evan Fitzpatrick to compete for playing time with former Cape Breton goalie Alex Bureau. Having that veteran to help the young Fitzpatrick is a great move for the team. Helping Roy on the blueline are fellow young defencemen Thomas Gregoire and Mikael Sabourin; while Aaron Hoyles was acquired to be a more veteran presence. Up front, veterans Raphael Lafontaine, and Liam O’Brien were brought in this summer, while David Storto joins the team after spending the last two years in the United States, and import Kay Schweri has seven points in two games to open the year. These four should provide support for Audette. The team also looks for Tim Weiser to take a step forward.
Players to Watch
Danick Martel, Left Wing, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada: Martel scored 32 goals and 60 points in 63 games for the Armada last season, and will be expected to take over as their top offensive producer this season, especially if Christopher Clapperton does not return after Florida Panthers camp. Listed at just 5’8″ and 162 pounds he is undersized but makes up for it with great speed and tenacity. He isn’t afraid to throw a hit on the forecheck and gets in very quickly pressing defencemen for the puck. He is a good stickhandler, and can protect the puck and make plays at top speed. He has the soft hands to finish plays in close, and a very good wrist shot. This could be a tough year for the Armada and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Martel moved at the QMJHL trade deadline to a contender looking for some second line speed and offence.
Daniel Walcott, Defence, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada: Joined the Armada as a 19 year old rookie last year, after a strong showing in the preseason. A 39 point regular season, and an appearance in the Subway Super Series led to Walcott being drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL draft by the New York Rangers. While he is AHL eligible at 20 years old, Walcott is expected to return to the Armada as an overager. He’s a bit undersized for a defenceman at just 5’11”, but the big issue is that he really needs to he really needs to add muscle to his frame before he is ready for the AHL. Walcott is a smooth skater, who plays a very smart two-way game. He keeps opponents to the outside and uses a quick stick and smart positioning to create turnovers both when facing onrushing opponents and when defending in the zone. He makes a strong first pass and can even quarterback things from the point on the powerplay. A good one-timer led to Walcott scoring 10 goals last season, and he looks for more this year.
Christophe Lalancette, Centre, Drummondville Voltigeurs: An overager who was drafted in the 2012 draft by the San Jose Sharks, but did not sign and they have relinquished his rights. Lalancette is a mainly known for his playmaking abilities as he controls the puck very well in the cycle despite being a bit undersized. Has strong balance on his feet and is tough to knock off the puck, Lalancette extends plays and then can make a quick pass to an open teammate near the net. He is also good defensively, and supports his defencemen down low. His shot has a good release but lacks the power to be a big time goal-scorer. He does have enough to keep up with the play, and can be dangerous off the rush as well, but again more as a playmaker than a scorer.
Jerome Verrier, Right Wing, Drummondville Voltigeurs: If Lalancette is the set-up man, then Verrier is the trigger man. The 20-year-old winger put up 39 goals for the Voltigeurs last year, and is expected back as an overager this year. He has found his spot as a high scoring junior with a great wrist shot and release, and an excellent one-timer. Verrier knows how to find the open spots in the defence and can deliver from those spots with a pure sniper’s precision. His speed is above average and he shows good agility to shake defenders. His passing skill is a bit underrated, as he does have the ability to create plays for others too. He could stand to be a little more physical though, and better in his own end. He is currently on a tryout with the Winnipeg Jets, and if he doesn’t get sent back it will be a huge blow for Drummondville.
Alexis Pepin, Left Wing/Centre, Gatineau Olympiques: A fourth round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Pepin is capable of playing both Center and Left Wing, he is a quick and agile skater, with a very good shot and excellent release. A big forward who is still growing and is already 6’2″ and well developed at 238 lbs, Pepin is your prototypical power forward who loves to throw his weight around and drive to the front of the net. He put up just 17 goals and 34 points in 60 games last year though, and the offensive production just doesn’t match the package. However with the Olympiques losing their top four scorers from last year, he will now be expected to do more. Effort level can be inconsistent at times in the physical department, if he drove the net regularly would produce more. Some games are great, but not all. Pepin has taken steps to improve his defensive game and become a two way forward last year, though. With his package of size and physicality, he would be a real steal if he can learn to get to the front of the net game in and game out.
Vaclav Karabacek, Right Wing, Gatineau Olympiques: A second round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, Karabacek’s offensive game is based around his tenacity. He digs pucks out of the corners for his linemates, and works hard to continue the cycle game down low. He makes short quick passes to teamates, and almost always takes the safe option over those that are riskier, but more creative. The stickhandling is decent, but it is more about puck protection on the cycle than it is about making the type of creative moves to beat a defender one-on-one. Without the puck, he has the ability to find open spaces on the ice, and to evade defenders. From there he is able to unleash a good one-timer, or a very powerful wrist shot, with an excellent release. The shot is the best part of his offensive game and is among the better shots in the league. Karabacek could improve his first step and his acceleration, though he is very strong on his skates and very tough to knock off his feet.
Alexandre Belanger, Goaltender, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies: Belanger was a 7th round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2013 NHL Draft. If the Huskies are to remain competitive in a rebuilding year, he will need to be the team’s backbone, and play as a QMJHL all-star this season. Belanger is only 6’0″, and is thus on the smaller side for the type of goalies drafted now. He does show a willingness to make himself look bigger by playing well out of his net, and has a good butterfly technique. He is a very athletic goaltender who can make tough stops even when it seems he is out of position. Belanger is also very good with his glove. He could use work on his rebound control, and on his cross ice movement, but he is one of the best goalies in the division. If Rouyn-Noranda is not contending come December, he could be trade bait for the Huskies.
Julien Nantel, Left Wing, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies: A seventh round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Nantel put up 14 goals and 34 points last season. The Huskies will be asking a lot more of him this year, as he will be key to their offence this season. Nantel has good tools, including good size, a strong shot and release, and good hockey sense. He must improve his skating though, particularly in his start up and acceleration. He also needs to be more consistent in taking the tools he has and generating points out of them. He is at his best working in the cycle, as he protects the puck well when he has it and can move it to open teammates. Loves to execute the give-and-go play dropping the puck off for a teammate and then finding an opening near the net to take a return pass and fire a shot on net.
Daniel Audette, Centre, Sherbrooke Phoenix: A fifth round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, Audette was the player drafted first overall by the Phoenix in the 2012 QMJHL draft as they prepared to enter the league. The son of former NHLer Donald Audette, Daniel has grown with the team over the last two years, and is now preparing to take another step forward in his third year in the league. He’s also proving that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree as Audette is a natural sniper blessed with the fantastic wrist shot and quick release that was his father’s best asset as well. He’s also a very good stickhandler and is able to beat goalies with an array of shootout moves. His playmaking is also very good as he has excellent vision and passing skills. Audette is a little undersized, but makes up for it with his strong skating and outstanding hockey sense. Scored 21 goals and 76 points in 68 games this season. The only knock here is his size. Still he has the skills to take a leap forward and could approach a 100 point season this year, with more help joining him on the Phoenix.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Right Wing, Val D’Or Foreurs: Aube-Kubel has a very good wrist shot coupled with an excellent release. He loves to shoot the puck and will fire from anywhere in the offensive zone. He has good hockey sense and an ability to find open spaces when his linemates have the puck. Makes decisions quickly and gets the puck off his stick in a hurry. Is a decent passer, with good vision; but shooting is more his game. Aube-Kubel’s stickhandling is decent, but he’s not one to hold the puck for long periods of time, he is always looking to quickly pass it off and get open on a give and go, or take the shot and go after the rebound. He’s also a good forechecker who gets in on the puck quickly and is very good at creating pressure and turnovers. Aube-Kubel is willing to battle in the corners, and will go to the front of the net and battle to score goals. He needs work on his first step, but once moving has excellent acceleration and great top speed. He also is a strong two way player, who supports the defence down low and could be used on the penalty kill, where that speed will make him an offensive threat.
Draft Eligibles to Watch
Alexandre Carrier, Defence, Gatineau Olympiques: A late 1996 birthday, Carrier was part of the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Winning Team Canada squad as well as the 2014 Bronze medal winning under 18 squad. Heading into his 3rd year in the QMJHL, he has a leadership role in Gatineau as he was named an Alternate Captain last season. A strong skater in both directions and covers a lot of ice. Carrier plays a physical game, looking to land a big hit if an opponent tries to slip by him on the rush. He also clears the front of the net effectively and loves to battle in the corners. Carrier also shows offensive potential with good vision and passing skills from the point. He could stand to improve his slap shot, both in power and accuracy if he wants to be seen as true offensive defenceman at the next level though. As it is he could be a second round pick, with the possibility to slip into the first round of the 2015 draft if he can greatly improve on the 3 goals and 28 points he put up last season.
Jeremy Roy, Defence, Sherbrooke Phoenix: Jeremy Roy is the best draft eligible defenceman to come out of the QMJHL in quite some time, and a potential top 10 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. The two-way defender put up 14 goals and 44 points in 64 games last season as a 16-year-old. He also captained Team Quebec at the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge, and scored 5 points (the most of any defenceman in the tourney). This summer he picked up 3 points in 5 games helping Team Canada to Gold at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. He is an outstanding skater, and shows great mobility both forwards and backwards, as well as the strong edgework and agility to cover all areas in the defensive zone, and walk the line in the offensive zone. He’s a smart player, who almost always makes the right pass out of his own end, or on the point at the powerplay. Roy is developping a hard one-timer, and understands that by keeping it low and on net, he creates second chance opportunities for the Sherbrooke forwards. Roy’s hockey sense and positioning are extremely good, and he battles hard in the corners and in his own end. He may only be 17, but he will play all situations and against top competition for the Phoenix this year.
Anthony Richard, Centre, Val D’Or Foreurs: Another late 96 Birthdate, Richard is entering his third QMJHL season and is expected to be on the Foreurs top line after scoring 52 points in 66 games last year. He has tremendous speed and the ability to stickhandle at that top speed. He could stand to add power on his wrist sh0t, but he has a lightning quick release that really gives goalies problems. He also has very good vision and passing skills, and should be able to light up the score board with Aube-Kubel this season given increases in ice-time and powerplay minutes. His size (5’9″) is his biggest detriment and likely makes him a later round pick in the NHL Draft.
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