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After being the 21st overall pick in the 2013 WHL Draft, Dillon Dube had 27 points in 45 regular season games, and 11 points in 18 playoff games during a solid rookie campaign for Kelowna. This was in very limited ice time as a 16-year-old on the best team in the WHL, and eventual WHL Champions. This season he was thrust into a bigger role and Dube has put up 26 goals and 66 points in 65 games this year. He struggled in the playoffs though, with just two goals and seven points in 18 games as the Rockets fell in the Western Conference Final to the Seattle Thunderbirds. Dube has international experience, picking up three points in four games as he helped Canada to win the Ivan Hlinka Tournament last August. He also played for in the CHL top prospects game, and was selected for Team Canada White at the 2015 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge, but missed the tournament due to injury.
Dillon Dube Scouting Report: 2016 NHL Draft #39
Center — shoots Left
Born Jul 20 1998 — Cochrane, ALTA
Height 5’10” — Weight 180 lbs [178 cm / 82 kg]
Dillon Dube is an undersized centre who plays bigger than what his listed height says, getting involved in the forecheck and battling for space in front of the net. He is not afraid to take on bigger opponents, and plays with a non-stop motor. After the whistle, he can be found in the middle of scrums, often working to agitate opponents and get them off their game. Dube isn’t afraid to go to the net, and to battle in the dirty areas of the ice; fighting for pucks in the corners or battling in the front of the net. He is also willing to drive the net both with and without the puck.Offensively, Dube has the instincts, vision, and passing skill to be a playmaker. Dube sees the ice very well, and can thread a tape-to-tape pass through the smallest of openings. Dube has high-end hockey IQ and almost always seems to make the smart play with the puck on his stick. He uses good stick handling and puck protection in the cycle game to extend plays and wait for his teammates to get open. He also has a heavy shot and quick release to be a sniper, and the quick reflexes, and soft hands to bury rebounds or score goals on rebounds in when he does get to the net. He needs to show more consistency though as he can go through stretches where the scoring dries up.
Dube is a quick skater with good acceleration. He is able to take defenders wide off the rush and change direction quickly to cut to the net, or pull up to create a passing or shooting lane. With his excellent balance, and good lower body strength, he is hard to knock off the puck. Dube can fight through checks and get to the front of the net, where he has the soft hands to finish plays. Dube’s agility and edge work make him extremely elusive, and he can beat defenders to the net, both on the rush and in the cycle game.
Dillon Dube is tenacious in the back check and uses his hockey IQ to anticipate plays and create turnovers. He gets the transition game going very quickly when he does steal pucks or intercept passes. He is willing to block shots and works to provide back pressure and support down low. Again more upper body strength would help him to contain opposing forwards down low in the cycle game.
In terms of upside, Dube can be a productive presence and an agitator on a second or third line in the NHL, assuming he is given the time to develop and is able to reach his ceiling. His style is reminiscent of a mixture of Zach Parise and with a bit of Brendan Gallagher’s feistiness. This is a style comparison though and not one based on talent.
The following is a compilation of Dillon Dube highlights, taken from youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the #40 prospect on our NHL Draft board.
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