DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: QMJHL

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Tommy Bleyl (RD)

    Tommy Bleyl:
    Projection: Top 4 Defenceman
    Strengths: Elite skating, Playmaking, Shooting
    Weaknesses: Physicality, Defensive IQ

    Analysis:
    Tommy Bleyl might be the most under-the-radar defenceman in this
    draft. The main attribute in his game is his elite skating. He has
    elite mobility and shiftiness, which is attributed to his excellent
    edge control and very good top speed. He moves around the ice so
    effortlessly that it allows him to jump up in the rush or maintain his
    gap control against very fast attackers. His playmaking and vision are
    also extremely good. His passes are crisp and always placed on the
    tape of his teammates. He sees the ice very well to find open ice and
    lanes through sticks. His decision-making with the puck is excellent,
    too, consistently making the right play. He also has a very deceptive
    release, making his shot a dangerous tool for him as well.

    Where he needs to improve is in his physicality. He needs to put on a
    little bit of muscle to help improve his net front and along the boards
    battling. He isn’t the best at using his body to separate opponents
    from pucks or box them out in front due to his size. I have found in
    the games I watched him, he sometimes has a lapse defensively, where
    he leaves his assignment open for a little longer than I like, or he
    defends them well with his stick, but then doesn’t take the body out
    of the play as well.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Thomas Rousseau (RW)

    Thomas Rousseau:
    Projection: Bottom 9 Forward
    Strengths: Hockey IQ, Puck control, Versatility
    Weaknesses: Strength, Size, Patience

    Analysis:

    Thomas Rousseau is an incredibly versatile undersized forward. In
    every situation of the game, his immense amount of hockey IQ allows
    him to be an effective player on the ice. At five on five, he is
    excellent at supporting his teammates along the wall, being an option
    for an easy breakout pass, and controls his opponents’ options with an
    active stick and continuous head on a swivel, dissecting their options
    and the best way he can eliminate the most dangerous one. Offensively, he
    is very good at making quick one-touch passes in transition, being a
    hard-checking F1 or supportive F2, and finding the open ice to be an
    option for a pass, deflection, or rebound. On the power play, he is
    good at gaining the opponent’s blueline while being effective with his
    hockey IQ and vision, playing either the bumper or flank. On the
    penalty kill, he again leverages his defensive attributes along with
    his strong faceoff prowess to be a reliable PKer.

    His flaws are unfortunately out of his control for the most part. The
    main thing is his size, being able to remain a super versatile forward
    in the next level won’t be the easiest thing to do because of his
    height. He also lacks a significant amount of muscle, but it will just
    take a few seasons and summers of developing to overcome that. The
    easiest thing he can develop in his game is a little more patience
    with the puck. There are times that he touches the puck as soon as he
    gets it, whereas if he waited just a second or two longer there would
    have been a better, more dangerous option available to him. In all
    honesty, he is very capable of becoming a very good NHL player, he
    just requires time to develop his body to the level needed to become
    that player.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Maddox Dagenais (C)

    Dagenais is a poised, detail-oriented forward who plays a simple but very effective game built around strong puck control and smart, calculated decisions. He consistently slows the play down, especially on zone entries, showing patience and awareness to let plays develop instead of forcing anything, while still having the ability to slip passes through sticks when lanes open up. He is a really fluid skater with good edgework, and while he can beat defenders with speed, he more often uses that skating base with his poise to control the pace and maintain possession. His puck control stands out even more with how well he uses his body in battles, protecting pucks and coming out of contested areas with control. In the offensive zone he shows good movement within the cycle, staying connected to plays and supporting effectively to extend possession. Defensively, he is poised with the puck and makes clean, composed decisions, which really shows on breakouts as he moves pucks up ice seamlessly and keeps transition play under control. He keeps things simple, plays within structure, and doesn’t try to do too much, which makes him very reliable shift to shift. He is also a good shooter who looks to shoot, with a strong release that is most dangerous off the wrist shot in space rather than in tight, but he will still get inside when needed. On the power play, he fits naturally on the right flank, where he can attack off the catch or distribute. In the faceoff circle, he sits around 50 percent right now, but it feels like there is more there
    and that should improve as he gets stronger and refines his technique. With his combination of skating, intelligence, puck management, and overall reliability, I could see him pushing for the top-three center spot in this draft, but at worst, he looks comfortably like a top-five center and a mid-first-round type who projects as a strong two-way 2C with legit defensive value, in my opinion.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    Draft-eligible talent across junior and professional leagues continued to deliver in high-pressure situations this week, with playoff hockey and international competition providing the perfect stage for prospects to elevate their stock. As the 2026 NHL Draft approaches, consistent production and timely performances remain key separators among the class.

    This week’s three stars feature a towering Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) center finding his stride in a crucial push for a game 7, a Swedish pivot dominating at the U20 level following his SHL season, and a well-traveled Latvian defender who has found his offensive touch in the DEL playoffs.

    Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of March 30 to April 6.

    Maddox Dagenais | C | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

    Quebec Remparts center Maddox Dagenais put together an impressive draft season, positioning himself as a potential late first-round or early second-round selection. The 37th-ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings finished tied for third among QMJHL draft eligibles with 30 goals, while his 62 points (30 goals, 32 assists) ranked fifth in the group. The 6-foot-4 pivot also represented Team CHL at the second annual CHL USA Prospects Challenge, recording an assist across the three-game series.

    Dagenais has elevated his play as the stakes have increased in the postseason. Despite being held off the scoresheet in Games 1 and 2 against the Charlottetown Islanders — registering 11 shots on goal over that span — the Montreal native has responded with six points (three goals, three assists) in the following four games, helping the Remparts push their series to a decisive Game 7.

    In Game 3, with the score tied late in regulation, Dagenais helped initiate the sequence that led to a dramatic, last-second power-play goal as Quebec secured a crucial victory. He followed that up with a standout performance in Game 4, opening the scoring with a strong end-to-end rush capped by a precise wrist shot over the glove. Later in the game, with under a minute remaining, he added another goal to bring the Remparts within one, though the comeback ultimately fell short in a 3-2 loss.

    Dagenais recorded an assist in Game 5, continuing to generate offense despite another narrow 3-2 defeat. Facing elimination in Game 6, he delivered one of his most impactful performances of the series. He helped open the scoring by moving the puck to the point for a goal by defenseman Charlie Morrison. In the third period he moved the puck down low before finding space on a 4-on-3 power play, where he buried a one-timer over the glove to extend the lead and help force a winner-take-all Game 7.

    Viggo Björck | C | Djurgårdens IF (SHL)

    Swedish center Viggo Björck continues to reinforce his status as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft class. Following the conclusion of Djurgårdens’ SHL season, the Stockholm native joined the club’s U20 side for the playoffs and has been a dominant offensive presence. His 12 points (six goals, six assists) in five postseason games for 2.40 points per game ranks as the best point-per-game mark for draft eligibles in the U20 Nationell. He has been playing a key role in pushing his team to the semifinals.

    Björck made an immediate impact in the series opener against Leksands. He evened the score at one midway through the second period, jumping into open space off the bench and finishing quickly with a wrist shot. The 2026 World Junior gold medalist struck again in the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie with a power-play goal after finding himself uncovered in the slot. He later added an assist on the empty-net goal to seal a 5-3 victory.

    The skilled forward followed that up with another strong showing in Game 2. Björck opened the scoring with an impressive individual effort, taking a pass through the neutral zone, driving wide while protecting the puck, and finishing with a smooth backhand-to-forehand move to lift the puck over the goaltender. He added a power-play assist later in the game as Djurgårdens secured a 2-0 win and took a two-game series lead.

    Albert Smits | LHD | EHC München (DEL)

    Latvian defender Albert Smits has taken an unconventional path in his draft year, gaining experience across multiple leagues and international stages. The December-born blueliner began the season in Finland with Jukurit, recording 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 38 games. He later logged significant minutes for Latvia at the 2026 World Junior Championship and represented his country at the Olympic Games, where he contributed two assists in four contests.

    Following the Olympics, Smits joined EHC München on a loan for the stretch run and postseason. After a limited role in the regular season, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound defender has found another level offensively in the playoffs.

    In a back-and-forth contested series against ERC Ingolstadt, Smits broke through in Game 5, extending his team’s lead in the third period with a heavy point shot that beat the goaltender cleanly. He followed that performance with a three-point effort in Game 6, recording two secondary assists before adding an empty-net goal to help seal a 7-3 victory.

    Smits’ recent surge highlights his ability to adapt quickly and contribute in key moments, further strengthening his case as one of the more intriguing defensive prospects in the 2026 class.

  • Weekly 2026 NHL Draft Eligible Three Stars

    By Stuart Miller-Davis

    With playoff runs coming to an end across much of the hockey world, the draft year is officially winding down for many NHL hopefuls. While a select few still have opportunities to impress at the Memorial Cup or the IIHF World Championship, most prospects have already completed the most important campaigns of their young careers.

    This week’s three stars feature two Swedish forwards continuing to prove they can thrive against significantly older competition, along with an overage QMJHL forward whose strong finish helped deliver a championship for his club.

    Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of May 11 to 18.

    Ivar Stenberg | RW/LW | Sweden (WC)

    Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg has shown throughout his draft year that no stage is too big. After producing one of the strongest seasons ever by an 18-year-old in the SHL and playing a major role in Sweden’s gold medal run at the World Junior Championship, the Stenungsund native is now making his mark at the IIHF World Championship.

    The 6-foot forward recorded three assists in as many games this past week in Switzerland and has looked right at home on Sweden’s top line alongside Detroit Red Wings standout Lucas Raymond and fellow draft-eligible forward Viggo Björck.

    The second-ranked skater on Draft Prospects Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings recorded a pair of assists in Sweden’s dominant win over Denmark. His playmaking ability was on full display, particularly on a setup to Björck, who converted with a one-timer past the Danish goaltender.

    Stenberg also added a secondary assist on a goal by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Sweden’s comeback attempt against Czechia, though the Swedes ultimately fell short.

    Viggo Björck | C | Sweden (WC)

    Viggo Björck continues to strengthen his draft stock with every opportunity against older competition. The Swedish center emerged as Djurgården’s top-line pivot late in the season before dominating the U20 playoffs, where he recorded 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in nine games and helped lead his club to a league championship.

    Though slightly undersized at 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds, the Stockholm native has continued to prove that his skill and hockey sense allow him to thrive against more physically mature competition.

    That trust has carried over to the international stage, where Sweden has deployed Björck at center on its top line at the World Championship.

    Both of his tournament points came against Denmark, but his impact has extended well beyond the scoresheet. Among Swedish forwards, only established NHL players Lucas Raymond, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Adrian Kempe have averaged more ice time than the younger brother of Vancouver Canucks prospect Wilson Björck.

    Liam Lefebvre | C | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

    Overage forward Liam Lefebvre has made a seamless transition from United States prep school hockey to Canadian major junior, emerging as an important contributor during a championship run.

    The Montreal native recorded 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 35 games with the Rimouski Océanic before being acquired by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens ahead of the trade deadline.

    The 6-foot-3, 203-pound center elevated his production after the move to one of the QMJHL’s top clubs, recording 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 25 games. Despite averaging just 14:32 of ice time per game, the Trinity-Pawling alumnus finished third on the team in points per game among skaters who appeared in at least 45 contests.

    Lefebvre added four points in four games this past week, helping the Saguenéens secure their first league championship since 1994. His ability to provide secondary scoring and consistent two-way play proved to be an important part of Chicoutimi’s title-winning run.

  • Evaluating the Crease: 2026 NHL Draft Goaltender Spotlight

    After completing at least three viewings on each goalie listed below in the latter part of their respective
    seasons, I wanted to put together a more complete spotlight on some of the most intriguing draft-eligible
    goaltenders in this class. The goal here wasn’t only to evaluate results or statistics, but rather to identify
    projectable technical habits, physical tools, decision-making, and long-term upside through multiple live
    viewings and game situations.
    The following reports focus on the elements that stood out the most in recent viewings and how each
    goalie currently projects heading into the NHL Draft.

    Carter Casey, Medicine Hat Tigers
    Carter Casey is probably one of the most electrifying goalies in this class and, in my opinion, the best
    mover of the bunch. He’s constantly active in his crease and stands out with his quickness, speed, and
    mobility. His athleticism allows him to contort his body and extend his legs to put himself in excellent
    position to make all kinds of saves without compromising his recoveries or overall structure.
    In my most recent viewings, I particularly liked the way he tracked pucks on long-range shots through
    traffic. He followed the puck extremely well even when it changed direction and reacted on time to place
    his body in front of tipped shots. That greatly helped limit dangerous rebounds and second chances.
    Casey also displayed excellent anticipatory habits on cross-crease plays, reading passes and identifying
    the shooter rather than simply following the puck.
    High-shot tracking remains something to monitor. On a few occasions, some pucks didn’t appear to be
    tracked cleanly and his body reacted with a recoil-like motion, with his head retracting into his shoulders.
    Casey also tends to drop to his knees too quickly instead of holding his edges longer, which can leave
    him vulnerable to passing plays and secondary chances.
    Overall, Casey projects very well thanks to his speed, athleticism, and the control element he’s
    progressively adding to his game. He should hear his name called somewhere around the third round of
    the draft.

    William Lacelle, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
    William Lacelle is another highly skilled goalie who may lack a bit of size by NHL standards. His biggest
    strength is undoubtedly the precision and speed of his movements, but digging deeper, his puck tracking
    is not far from elite.
    He reads releases extremely well and consistently keeps sight of the puck in nearly every situation. I also
    really liked his play reading. He has a strong feel for how sequences develop in the defensive zone and
    adjusts his game accordingly. The fact that he’s both quick and intelligent allows him to play aggressively
    while maintaining excellent angle coverage and strong recoveries on lateral plays and second chances.

    That said, his speed and aggressive movement habits can sometimes work against him. There are
    sequences where he overmoves and ends up needing extra effort to recover positioning.
    Some teams may hesitate because of his lack of size, but he compensates with elite traits that, in my
    opinion, should guarantee him a selection in the third round or, at worst, the fourth.

    Harrison Boettiger, Kelowna Rockets
    When watching Harrison Boettiger play, the first word that comes to mind is smooth. Everything about his
    game looks fluid, from the way he moves to the way he controls pucks. He’s particularly effective in the
    butterfly, sealing the ice extremely well with a wide flare and powerful drops.
    His butterfly slides are elite, efficient, and look effortless. That makes him very difficult to beat on low
    shots and highly effective on recoveries. I also like his puck tracking. While it may not be elite, it’s clearly
    above average, especially in how quickly he reads releases.
    However, it hasn’t always been his most consistent trait. I noticed some sequences where he briefly lost
    focus, which led to softer goals on clean long-range shots.
    Boettiger will also need to improve his play recognition and anticipation. Too often, he relies on his
    athleticism and excellent slides to cover space instead of anticipating plays before they fully develop.
    He’s a goalie with a lot of tools that I really like, but I don’t currently see enough to place him ahead of the
    goalies I value in the first three rounds of the draft.

    Vladimir Proskurin, Atlant Mytishchi
    Vladimir Proskurin is one of the goalies who has made the biggest jump in my rankings throughout the
    season. Once viewed as a speedy goalie with some erratic tendencies, he has made tremendous
    progress controlling his movements and staying precise without sacrificing his elite traits.
    And the list of elite tools is long: quick feet, crisp edges, high-end athleticism. He also plays with an
    aggressive but controlled approach that makes him look much bigger than he actually is. That says a lot
    about how efficiently he covers angles.
    His puck tracking was also very good and he used active hands to catch and control pucks, limiting
    dangerous rebounds.
    The main thing I’d still like to see more of is his awareness of backside threats and peripheral options. He
    often reacts after the pass and relies heavily on athleticism to cover the distance.
    I really like both the upside and progression curve with Proskurin. He checks a lot of boxes for what
    modern NHL teams look for in a goalie and he should be one of the first goalies selected in the next NHL
    Draft.

    Dmitri Ivchenko, Omskie Yastreby
    I’ve said it multiple times already, but Ivchenko is probably one of my favorite goalies in this class and
    certainly one of the most projectable long-term. The level of competition he faced was questioned
    throughout the year, but it’s impossible to ignore the tools and projectable traits he displayed all season.
    His overall game is extremely clean, but what stood out most was his ability to slow plays down and make
    everything look easy. That translated into elite puck tracking. His eyes stayed locked on the puck from the
    shooter all the way into his body. Whenever he gave up a rebound, his eyes stayed with the puck, making
    his recoveries quick and controlled.
    Throughout all my recent viewings, he remained extremely well positioned thanks to strong anticipation
    and highly efficient crease routes.
    There honestly weren’t many weaknesses that stood out in his game. However, on some occasions, he
    stayed locked into the overlap position for too long, which made him vulnerable against sharp-angle
    shooters and passing plays. Also, while his blocker stayed projected on slides and he caught nearly
    everything to the glove side, his hands could still become more active while moving to further improve
    angle coverage.
    Bottom line, Ivchenko will be near the very top of my goalie rankings and I fully believe he’s worthy of a
    third-round selection.

    Michal Orsulak, Prince Albert Raiders
    Michal Orsulak’s stock is clearly trending upward right now, especially with Prince Albert playing in the
    WHL Final and after helping Czechia reach the final of the most recent World Junior Championship.
    Orsulak is a re-entry candidate after going undrafted last year before making the move to North America
    this season. At first glance, he has all the tools to be viewed as one of the top goalie prospects available.
    He’s big and possesses excellent mobility, especially through his lower body. That allows him to cover the
    ice very effectively. His legs stay active while in the butterfly, making him highly efficient on his knees.
    In my recent viewings, he was extremely difficult to beat on low shots. He also uses his large frame very
    well to stay square and take away a significant portion of the net. Despite his size, Orsulak moves fairly
    well overall.
    That said, I have major questions regarding his top-end lateral speed. On many occasions, he anticipated
    plays well and quickly identified the new shooter on passing sequences, but he lacked the pure speed
    needed to fully cover the distance and get set in position to make the save. That issue led to goals
    against, especially on plays coming from the corners or from behind the net. After multiple viewings, it
    looked more like a recurring trend than isolated mistakes.
    Also, while he read releases quickly, he didn’t always seem to fully track the puck into his body, which led
    to several uncontrolled rebounds into dangerous areas.
    For those reasons, I can’t fully buy into the trend of placing him near the top of my rankings. The lack of
    elite lateral speed and the concerns surrounding his puck tracking force me to rank him behind more
    complete prospects in those areas. Still, Orsulak remains a legitimate middle-round candidate in this
    draft.

  • Weekly 2026 NHL Draft Eligible Three Stars

    As the calendar turns deeper into May, the road to a championship continues to narrow across Canadian major junior hockey. With league titles and Memorial Cup berths on the line, draft-eligible players are being tested in the highest-pressure environments of their seasons, while every standout performance carries added weight ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.

    This week’s three stars feature two highly mobile, offensive-minded defensemen from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) who have played central roles in their teams’ postseason runs, along with an overage Ontario Hockey League (OHL) goaltender whose combination of regular-season consistency and playoff resilience should earn him renewed draft attention.

    Here are the draft-eligible three stars for the week of May 4 to 11.

    Tommy Bleyl | RHD | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

    Slick-skating defenseman Tommy Bleyl has taken the QMJHL by storm in his first season north of the border. The Schenectady, New York native led all league defensemen in regular-season scoring with 81 points (13 goals, 68 assists) in 63 games and has carried that production into the postseason, where his 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 17 games lead the league.

    Bleyl delivered several key moments in the deciding game of Moncton’s semifinal series against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, helping propel the Wildcats to their second consecutive trip to the QMJHL Final. Just under five minutes after the Armada tied the game at two, the 6-foot, 170-pound blueliner jumped into open space in the offensive zone and wired a wrist shot past the goaltender to restore Moncton’s lead. He added an empty-net goal late in the third period to seal a 6-2 victory.

    The 12th-ranked defenseman on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings is still searching for his first point of the QMJHL Final, though he has remained active offensively, registering seven shots on goal through the opening two games.

    Xavier Villeneuve | LHD | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

    Xavier Villeneuve’s draft season was interrupted by injury, but the dynamic defender still managed to leave a strong impression. Despite missing time from early January through mid-March, the Laval, Quebec, native recorded 38 points (six goals, 32 assists) in just 37 regular-season games.

    The 2025 U18 gold medalist continued to lead from the back end during the postseason, producing 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 17 games while serving as one of the Armada’s most important contributors.

    The fifth-ranked defenseman on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Rankings appeared in just one game this week, but he made his presence felt. With Blainville-Boisbriand trailing Moncton 2-1 early in the second period, Villeneuve joined the rush, found open ice, and finished a pass into a nearly open cage to briefly tie the game.

    Though the Wildcats ultimately pulled away for a 6-2 win, Villeneuve’s ability to create offense and influence play in critical moments remained evident throughout the postseason.

    Ben Hrebik | G | Barrie Colts (OHL)

    Overage goaltender Ben Hrebik has played a pivotal role in Barrie’s run to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Final. The Milton, Ontario native posted a .920 save percentage in 43 regular-season games, tied for the third-best mark in the OHL, and has elevated his game considerably after a difficult postseason in 2024-25.

    After finishing last year’s playoffs with a 1-5 record, a 4.87 goals-against average, and an .867 save percentage, Hrebik has responded with a much stronger showing in 2025-26.

    The 20-year-old netminder was outstanding in the deciding game of the Eastern Conference Final against the Brantford Bulldogs, turning aside all 40 shots he faced in a 5-0 shutout to clinch the series.

    Barrie now faces a difficult challenge after dropping the opening three games of the OHL Final against the Kitchener Rangers, but Hrebik has remained the team’s brightest spot. After allowing four goals on 31 shots in Game 1, the 31st-ranked North American goaltender on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings responded with back-to-back standout efforts.

    In Game 2, Hrebik made 39 saves on 42 shots through regulation and added another 19 stops in overtime before Kitchener found the game-winner.

    He followed that performance with another exceptional outing in Game 3, making 32 saves in regulation — including a diving stop while shorthanded — to push the game beyond three periods. The Rangers generated 14 shots across two overtime frames before finally scoring the deciding goal.

  • 2026 QMJHL’s New England Prospects Showcase Standouts

    The QMJHL’s New England Prospects Showcase returned to Wellesley, Massachusetts for a two‑day evaluation event featuring some of the region’s top 2010‑born players eligible for upcoming the QMJHL draft along with some 2009 prospects. Split into two teams of 20, the prospects were already on QMJHL team radars after their respective regular seasons and participation for some in the US Nationals. Several late‑season risers were looking to solidify their status ahead of the June draft to be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    91 White F Owen Lundin – Feb 26, 2010 (Bolton, MA) – 5’11, 165lbs
    Owen Lundin was one of the most active forwards across the two games, constantly popping up in dangerous areas and using his quick angle changes to shake defenders. A right shot who plays with purpose, he stayed open for rebounds and second‑chance looks while showing solid puck‑handling through traffic. His motor kept him involved all over the offensive zone, and his ability to pressure, retrieve pucks, and immediately turn plays toward the net made him a consistent problem for opposing defenders.

    29 Blue goalie Jesse Bernardinelli – Mar 04, 2010 (Wakefield, MA) – 6’2, 159 lbs
    Jesse Bernardinelli stands out as an imposing right‑handed catching goalie. He used his stature and composure to command his crease, regularly stepping out to the top of his arc to challenge shooters and take away space. He stayed calm while facing heavy volume, sealing the bottom of the net on close‑range scrambles and making multiple second‑ and third‑effort stops. Bernardinelli tracked plays well and covered his angles effectively throughout the weekend, though he was beaten on a difficult side‑to‑side 2‑on‑1 sequence. Overall, his poise, positioning, and ability to manage chaos in tight stood out amongst the goaltenders at the event.

    77 Blue D Mason Stonacek – Dec 26, 2010 (Stamford, CT) – 5’10, 161 lbs
    Mason Stonacek was the most active defenseman I noticed, using a quick, efficient stick to jumpstart breakouts and disrupt plays in the neutral zone with well‑timed sweeps. He retrieved pucks cleanly under pressure and protected them confidently around the net. He repeatedly kept plays alive at the offensive blue line with sharp reactions and good footwork. Stonacek regularly joined the rush with calculated timing and showed comfort shooting from distance, identifying open options in the zone and calling for pucks on the power play. His only real blemish came on Day 2, when a rushed distribution led to a costly 2‑on‑0 against, but overall he played with assertiveness and strong instincts that made him one of the more noticeable players throughout the weekend.

    16 White D Mason Wohlers – May 20, 2010 (Somers, CT) – 6’00, 165 lbs
    Mason Wohlers is probably the only player taking part I had seen play before, albeit in a small sample at the Whitby Silver Stick tournament. This time he defended the middle of the ice with authority, repeatedly closing down oncoming rushes and planting himself to deliver heavy, well‑timed hits. His stick was active in the neutral zone, breaking up plays with long sweeps, and he showed confidence jumping into offensive sequences—though his decision‑making there could feel unpredictable. Wohlers tried to open shooting lanes from the point but didn’t always recognize when space wasn’t truly available, leading to several blocked attempts, and he never really uncorked his big right‑shot release. He identified open options in the offensive zone but a few sequences, including some odd shot choices, reflected a player still refining his reads. This performance showed both his physical strengths and the areas where added patience will elevate his game.

    7 Blue F Chase Warsofsky – Jun 20, 2009 (Northborough, MA) – 5’08, 159 lbs
    Chase Warsofsky was among the 2009-born prospects included. He brought real dynamism, pushing play with pace and attacking the offensive zone with quick cuts and a fast, compact shot release without obvious windup. He contributed on draws and showed strong compete, hustling back hard after missed chances and staying engaged in all three zones. Warsofsky drove the middle with speed, once cutting inside to set a screen before firing through traffic. He later buried a rebound by battling at the net front. His blend of pace, effort, and opportunistic offense made him one of the more noticeable smaller forwards in the event.

    22 Blue F Jameson Needham – Jan 6, 2010 (Woburn, MA) – 5’11, 175 lbs
    Jameson Needham had an energetic showing, taking a few high‑risk routes on exits that forced him to scramble to maintain possession before pushing play into the neutral zone. Once settled, he consistently got himself into the thick of the offensive action, showing a willingness to drive into traffic and stay connected to developing plays. Needham came out with extra pop early in the second game, noticeably raising his compete level, tracking back hard after turnovers, and re‑engaging quickly on the forecheck. His shift‑to‑shift urgency stood out, and while some decisions carried risk, his overall pace and willingness to battle left me with a solid impression in the end.

    20 Blue F Jackson Luedke – Jul 2, 2010 (Ridgefield, CT) – 6’01, 182 lbs
    Jackson Luedke was consistently hard to play against, especially along the boards, where he denied opponents time and space and won a lot of small‑area battles. He was reliably the first man up on the forecheck during opposing breakouts, pressuring puck carriers early and forcing rushed decisions. With the puck, Luedke showed good patience—lifting his head, scanning for options, and waiting out defenders before moving it to the right spot. As a whole, he possesses a nice combination of pressure, competitiveness, and composed puck touches .

    11 White F Kai Scranton – May 3, 2010 (West Hartford, CT) – 5’09, 144 lbs
    Kai Scranton showed a nice work rate, breaking up plays and immediately transitioning them into offense with quick, purposeful touches. When sequences broke down, he didn’t quit on them—driving pucks deep, extending possessions, and creating secondary chances through sheer persistence. Scranton stayed active around the net, keeping his stick available for redirects and positioning himself well for rebound opportunities. In the offensive zone he chased down loose pucks with energy, applying pressure that disrupted opposing breakouts and kept his line in control. He’s a player to keep an eye on as he matures physically.

    Over the course of two competitive days at the QMJHL NE Showcase, Team Blue emerged victorious in both matchups, though the second game tightened considerably as players settled in. With this portion of US evaluations now complete, attention shifts to the final stage of the 2026 QMJHL Cup. This event took place April 22–25 at the Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan. Four teams took part, featuring 80 2010‑born prospects, selected by the CSR. For the first time, American‑born players participated in this final stage of the QMJHL Cup, highlighted by Logan Cotter (St. Mark’s), Robert Dekleine (Belmont Hill), and Mason Stonacek (Mount St. Charles). Their inclusion marks an important step in the league’s expanding reach beyond Quebec and the Atlantic provinces

  • Game Report – Moncton Wildcats 6 vs Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2 – April 27th, 2026

    April 27th, 2026

    Round 3, Game 3

    Moncton Wildcats 6 VS Blainville Boisbriand Armada 2

    Venue: Centre Excellence Sports Rousseau

    #21 D, Jan Golicic
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’5″, 201 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: June 30th, 2006

    Overview:

    Jan Golicic is a poised puck moving/defensive defenseman who relies on his size, reach, and patience to shut down opponents. Steady in his own zone, he plays with a sound mind, letting the game come to him and forcing the opposition to make the mistake. His shot is used intelligently. When discussing his mechanics though, although follow through’s low, he lacks emphasis on hip rotation which is why his shots are not powerful. Jan’s main weakness lies in his puck handling as he does maintain good control, but his stick movement is considered choppy. His passing is his best offensive trait as he keeps every pass very flat on the ice which eases transition greatly, especially from breakouts. Skating-wise, he has a strong forward stride but lacks explosiveness in his reverse and lateral movement, which can expose him against quicker opponents. Defensively, he uses his reach and stickwork well to disrupt plays and maintain strong positioning. What he will need to work on is becoming imposing physically. That first starts by putting a lot more weight on so he can build that confidence up. Then it’s the matter of knowing how to throw it.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 4 Puck Moving/Shutdown Defenseman 

    Floor: 7th Defenseman

    Special Teams: PK2

    Production Outlook: 5~ Goals, 25-30~ Points

    Pick Range: 118th overall

    Player Comp: Jamie Oleksiak (With Noah Dobson hands)

    Strengths:

    • Defensive Play: Strong positional awareness, great at using his reach and stick to break up plays and prevent offensive pressure.
    • Skating Strides: Strong stride generates speed for him to win races.
    • Puck Distribution: Displays great consistency at moving the puck crisply. Keeps his passes very flat which aids transition greatly.

    Weaknesses:

    • Puck Handling: Struggles when carrying the puck up the ice with confidence.
    • Shot Power: Displays great intelligence of walking into shoot and following through low, though lacks a lot of emphasis on hip rotation to get that power off.
    • Lateral Movement: Needs to improve reverse skating and lateral movement to handle faster, smaller players effectively.

    In-game observations: 

    • Throughout the 1st period, displayed poise in making simple yet effective decisions, becoming conservative for his teammates, aiding breaking the puck out.
    • At 4:00 of the 2nd, Jan displayed good patience when defending the 2-on-1, slid down and swatted at the puck to break up a dangerous scoring chance.
    • At 7:35 of the 2nd, needs to be mindful of his actions with his stick and needs to keep his feet moving, drew a hooking penalty on the play.
    • At 4:15 of the 3rd, on PK, displayed patience when defending the rush, letting the opposition create the mistake and place the puck in a safer environment.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 4.5
    • Puck Skills: 5
    • Scoring Ability: 3.5
    • Playmaking Ability: 5.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 5.5
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 6
    • Defensive Play: 6.5

    #15 D, Spencer Gill
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’4″, 214 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: August 17th, 2006

    Overview:

    Spencer Gill is a poised, puck-moving defenseman who relies on his size, reach, and patience to shut down opponents. He plays a steady, composed game in his own zone, allowing plays to develop and forcing mistakes rather than overcommitting. His shot continues to improve and shows good hip rotation, though keeping his follow-through low will help generate more dangerous chances and consistency as he gains confidence through repetition. With the puck, he isn’t overly flashy, but his poise allows him to make calm, efficient decisions under pressure, helping him transition play quickly. His passing stands out as his best offensive asset as his passes are consistently flat and accurate, making breakouts smooth and reliable. Skating-wise, his lateral mobility is strong for his size, aiding his positioning and gap control, though improved leg extension would help increase his top-end speed. Defensively, he uses his reach and stickwork effectively to disrupt plays, and while he can lean on his reach at times, he has the frame and ability to be physical and punishing when engaged.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 4 Puck Moving/Shutdown Defenseman 

    Floor: Bottom Pair Defenseman

    Special Teams: PK, PP2

    Production Outlook: 8~ Goals, 35-40~ Points

    Pick Range: 59th Overall

    Player Comp: Low end Aaron Ekblad

    Strengths:

    • Defensive Play: Strong positional awareness, great at using his reach and stick to break up plays and prevent offensive pressure.
    • Skating Strides: Strong stride generates speed for him to win races.
    • Puck Distribution: Displays great consistency at moving the puck crisply. Keeps his passes very flat which aids transition greatly.

    Weaknesses:

    • Puck Handling: Struggles when carrying the puck up the ice with confidence.
    • Shot Power: Displays great intelligence of walking into shoot and following through low, though lacks a lot of emphasis on hip rotation to get that power off.
    • Lateral Movement: Needs to improve reverse skating and lateral movement to handle faster, smaller players effectively.

    In-game observations: 

    • At 4:35 of the 1st, Gill made a soft, yet flat breakout saucer pass directly on Carbonneau’s tape.
    • At 14:35 of the 1st, after making slightly too hard of a pass, he had to reverse back quickly to defend, read the play very well, intercepted a long breakout pass to prevent a breakaway.
    • At 1:20 of the 2nd, displayed tremendous poise and confidence making simple yet effective decisions on PP. Developing confidence shooting the puck through traffic, earned an assist on Lavigne’s goal.
    • At 14:00 of the 2nd, developed tremendous confidence with the puck in the o-zone, walked by the opposition and got a shot on goal.
    • At 6:45 of the 3rd, displaying confidence with the puck at the point, quickly yet crisply threads the puck over to Nobert for a dangerous chance.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 5.5
    • Puck Skills: 5
    • Scoring Ability: 4
    • Playmaking Ability: 5.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
    • Character: 6
    • Physicality: 6
    • Defensive Play: 6.5

    #8 F, Justin Carbonneau
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’1”, 201 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: November 25, 2006

    Overview:

    Carbonneau’s game is best described as explosive and powerful as he’s constantly in motion maneuvering his way by or through the opposition with ease. His hands are as quick his foot speed, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates, especially on the rush. A little bit about his skating, although he doesn’t fully extend his strides, he generates tremendous acceleration due to the explosive footwork, getting himself at top speed very quickly. His best trait by far however is no doubt about it is his shot as it is NHL ready. It packs tremendous punch due to how much emphasis he places on leveraging the strength of his hips. This is keeping in mind that his follow through is controlled for how much power he brings. For his size, he is very physically involved as his hits are very impactful when he throws them. Where his game needs work is in his own end as he isn’t sound defensively by any means which he needs to be a lot more conscious of. This also goes for his effort level in his own end. One aspect that could be noted too is that he could utilize his teammates more.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: 1st Line Forward 

    Floor: Top 9 Scoring Forward

    Special Teams: PP1, Left Flank

    Production Outlook: 40~ Goals, 70-80 Points

    Pick Range: 19th overall

    Player Comp: Ilya Kolvalchuk

    Strengths:

    • Shot Release: Very powerful shot, with a near-instant release, strong emphasis on hip rotation.
    • Puck Handling: His quick hands are as agile as his feet, weaving his way by the opposition easily.
    • Offensive Zone Compete Level/Awareness: Displays relentless effort in the o-zone, understands how he needs to position himself to retrieve the puck via a pass or broken play.

    Weaknesses:

    • Defensive Positioning: He can sometimes get out of position defensively, creating openings for the opposition.
    • Lateral Skating: Although he has a quick stride, his transitions and crossovers occasionally lack smoothness.
    • Teammate Utilization: Although displays strong playmaking traits, he relies a bit too much on himself to make the big play.

    In-Game Observations

    • At 9:00 of the 1st, Carbonneau while 4-on-4 tried doing a bit too much with the puck, ultimately stripped by Bleyl, needs to utilize his teammates better.
    • At 19:45 of the 1st, although an energy ball on the ice, he does need to be conservative when it comes to his decision making at the blueline, gave the puck away to Desnoyers.
    • During the first PP of the 2nd period, first Carbonneau displayed strong hustle to get back hard on the backcheck. Moments later in the o-zone, displayed strong consistency in puck distribution, earned an assist on Blainville 2nd goal.
    • At 10:02 of the 2nd period, displayed his tremendous ability to snap pucks off in a hurry, catching the goaltender a bit off-guard, created a big rebound.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 6.5
    • Puck Skill: 7.5
    • Scoring Ability: 8
    • Playmaking Ability: 6.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
    • Character: 6
    • Physicality: 6.5
    • Defensive Play: 4.5

    #9 F, Bill Zonnon
    Team: Blainville Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’2”, 190 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: October 3, 2006

    Overview:

    Bill Zonnon brings power and patience as a playmaker. His ability to read plays, along with his strong net-front presence, makes him a very intriguing and trustworthy player who can be used in any situation. He protects the puck well and is a constant menace around the net due to his high activity level. His elite vision stands out, as he can thread passes through multiple defenders, supported by his crisp, hard, and flat passing mechanics. When it comes to puck handling, he isn’t the quickest, but he remains very controlled. His shot shows solid mechanics on the follow-through, though he needs to be more confident in taking advantage of open lanes without hesitation. Defensively, he is reliable, plays with good positioning, and is willing to block shots. His main area for improvement is skating, where he needs better stride extension for higher top speed and improved lateral explosiveness.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 6 Playmaking Forward (2nd Line)

    Floor: Bottom 6 Scoring Forward

    Special Teams: PP2, Net Front

    Production Outlook: 20~ Goals, 50~ Points

    Pick Range: 22nd Overall

    Player Comp: Adam Henrique/Nick Bonino

    Strengths:

    • Playmaking and Vision: His awareness in the offensive zone sets him apart from the opposition by deep understanding of his teammate’s positioning.
    • Size and Physicality: At 6’2”, he’s already a physical presence, which makes him tough to handle around the net and good body positioning.
    • Patience with the Puck: Zonnon is calm under pressure and takes his time to find the best passing or shooting opportunity.

    Weaknesses:

    • Shooting Confidence: Although demonstrates his ability to really follow through on his shots with power, needs to use it more, allowing for him to be more unpredictable.
    • Skating Stride and Lateral Explosiveness: Even though he possesses a tall stance, allowing him to visualize the play, he needs to develop quicker but also more fully extended strides.
    • Strength/Balance: Although has good height and leverages it well fending off the opposition, needs to develop lower core muscle, providing stronger stability when receiving checks.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 0:40 of the 1st period, Zonnon won a timely faceoff in the offensive zone, drove hard to the net, deflected the puck in for a huge first goal.
    • At 3:55 of the 2nd, displayed strong consistency at shielding the puck, then threaded the puck to Desjardins so he can then pass it to Lemieux for a dangerous chance.
    • Throughout the game, displayed tremendous consistency at winning board battles and being consistent in winning faceoffs. With that said, when it comes to his strides, doesn’t dig into the ice deep enough which makes him look slower.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 5
    • Puck Skill: 6
    • Scoring Ability: 5
    • Playmaking Ability: 7
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
    • Character: 6
    • Physicality: 6
    • Defensive Play: 5

    #39 F, Maël Lavigne

    Team: Blainville Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’4”, 196 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: February 11th, 2005

    Overview:

    His ability to read plays and his strong net-front presence make him a very intriguing and trustworthy prospect who can play in many situations when asked. This is due to not his strength at protecting the puck and being a menace around the net but also utilizing a strong motor for someone at his size as it allows him to be impactful as well on the defensive side of the puck. When discussing about his puck skills, although he demonstrates good awareness when timing his puck handling, he isn’t very smoothest when controlling it. Even though his passes may not always be the crispest, he understands the mindset of where his teammates are going to be and utilizes them well. On the defensive end, he does showcase great commitment on the backcheck, though what will be key for him is to develop consistency of playing sound in position. His stride although quick for a bigger player, can emphasize more leg extension to create himself higher top speed. His shot, displays great bottom hand activation, though can follow through quicker. Can also build more muscle to be more impactful physically.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top-9 Scoring Forward  

    Floor: AHL Top-6 Forward
    Special Teams: PP2 (Net-Front)
    Production Outlook: 15~ Goals, 35-40~ Points
    Pick Range: Undrafted

    Player Comp: Mason Marchment

    Strengths:

    • Physicality: When in use, really understanding how to throw his weight around and use his size to his advantage.
    • Offensive Awareness: Strong understanding of zone coverage, allowing him to navigate through the neutral zone with ease.
    • Versatility/Effort Level: Dynamic in any situation given, very consistent, high effort level both on the forecheck and on the backcheck.

    Weaknesses:

    • Skating Stride: For a bigger player, although displays quickness in his strides, needs to emphasize more leg extensions.
    • Inconsistent Puck Handling: Although possesses strong anticipation when to deke, isn’t consistent at smoothly weaving the puck quickly.
    • Strength: Although displays great physical engagement, can build more lower core muscle in order to generate stronger balance and generate stronger shot power.

    In-game Observations:

    • At 12:31 of the 1st, Lavigne active in the o-zone behind the net, was able to distribute the puck to Nobert for a dangerous scoring chance.
    • At 1:20 of the 2nd, displayed strong hustle on PP, drove and placed himself at the front of the net, scored by deflecting the puck in for Blainville’s 2nd goal.
    • At 3:30 of the 2nd, displayed tremendous will to sacrifice the body and stay committed defensively in position. Led to then him engaging on the o-zone rush for a key scoring chance.
    • At 3:15 of the 3rd period, Lavigne provided consistent pressure on the PK, forcing errors at the blueline.
    • Throughout the game, displayed strong consistency at winning the draw, was also very consistent with effort level on both the forecheck and the backcheck.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 4.5
    • Puck Skill: 5
    • Scoring Ability: 6
    • Playmaking Ability: 5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
    • Character: 7
    • Physicality: 6
    • Defensive Play: 6.5

    #72 D, Xavier Villeneuve

    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL

    Height/Weight: 5’11”, 157 lbs

    Shoots: Left

    DOB: September 29, 2007

    Overview:

    Xavier is an electrifying offensive-minded defenseman with great agility and dazzling puck-handling abilities up the rush. Known for his tremendous confidence in carrying the puck and reading the offensive zone, Villeneuve brings a unique flair to the back end for the Armada as even though he is quite the risk taker, he is excellent at understanding when to take risks for the team’s own good. When looking at offensive defensemen, Villeneuve does an excellent job at utilizing his shot as much as he can to cause havoc, or even score. However, his small size limits his effectiveness in physical battles in the corners as, and he’ll need to add a lot of strength to succeed at the NHL level. Even though the league has many smaller players now, the league is now as physical as ever and he will need to get ready to endure long 82 game seasons. With that said though, he does possess tremendous heart in trying to win out puck battles as he has developed the mindset of becoming more physical with his frame.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: First Pair Offensive Defenseman 

    Floor: Top 4/5 Offensive Defenseman, PP QB.

    Special Teams: PP1 Quarterback

    Production Outlook: 5-10 Goals, 55–65 Points

    Pick Range: 15th-30th Overall

    Player Comp: Lane Hutson

    Strengths:

    • Skating and Edgework: Villeneuve’s agility is elite, with quick pivots and tight turns.
    • Puck Skills and Passing: Soft hands make his passing smooth and effective, supporting his offensive style. 
    • Offensive Awareness: Villeneuve has the confidence and vision to be quite the quarterback from the blue line in any scenario (Not even on the powerplay).

    Weaknesses:

    • Physicality and Balance: Building strength is an absolute must for him to him to be more durable.
    • Defensive positioning and decision making with the puck in his own end. 
    • Discipline: Needs to be mindful of how he possesses himself, especially how he handles external factors.

    In-game observations: 

    • At 2:18 of the 1st, although displayed confidence in puck distribution, when he got puck back, he stickhandled way too much at the blueline. Got burned, needs to be mindful of decisions.
    • At 11:15 of the 1st, using his explosive footwork, performed a fast give and go play with Carbonneau, creating a lane into the o-zone with ease.
    • On Moncton’s 3rd goal, Villeneuve was not urgent enough at winning a puck battle at the front of the net, resulted in Cornforth scoring.
    • On Moncton’s 4th goal, Villeneuve was lackadaisical when defending the rush, allowed Mutryn to get a stick on the puck to deflect the puck in.
    • Throughout the game, hasn’t utilized his strength enough in his own end, wasn’t urgent enough in his own end at winning puck battles.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 7
    • Puck Skill: 7.5
    • Scoring Ability: 4.5
    • Playmaking Ability: 7
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 5.5
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 3.5
    • Defensive Play: 4

    #42 F, Vincent Desjardins
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 5’11”, 172 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: September 8, 2006

    Overview:

    His passing ability and offensive awareness are top-notch, allowing him to create high-quality scoring chances under pressure. Desjardins’ skill in threading passes through tight spaces makes him a critical asset on the powerplay as he’s an excellent choice of a player who could get in the dirty areas, specifically in-front of the net like he does on the Armada powerplay. He will though have to deeply improve his physical play as a centerman as he gets outmuscled on many instances, however, he is one of the very best on his club at being responsible by covering his teammates when needed. He wins many faceoffs, performs the little plays as well, especially board coverage which he blocks pucks from escaping. His best trait however to encompass all of his skills, is his ability to utilize his teammates, which allows him to be a Swiss army knife in any given scenario.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Middle-6 Playmaking Forward 

    Floor: AHL Top-6 Forward

    Special Teams: PP2, PK

    Production Outlook: 10~ Goals, 35-40 Points

    Pick Range: Undrafted

    Player Comp: Alex Kerfoot

    Strengths:

    • Playmaking: His ability to thread the needle is very precise, distributing pucks flat and hard.
    • Offensive Awareness: Desjardins reads the play well and often lures defenders in, utilizes his teammates very well.
    • Defensive Support: Desjardins demonstrates himself being sound positionally in zone coverage along with clean faceoff work.

    Weakness:

    • Shot Power: Although displays quickness in wrist rotation getting shots off quick, needs to put a bit more emphasis on rotating his hips for power.
    • Physicality/Strength: Due to lack of strength, he can’t fully follow through on his checks with impact.
    • Stride Power: Lacks emphasis on leg extensions which limits him generating top end speed.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 2:15 of the 2nd period, after Carbonneau picked up the loose puck, Desjardins displayed tremendous engagement on the rush, walked into the o-zone, threaded a pass across to his defenseman in the slot for a dangerous scoring chance.
    • At 4:55 of the 2nd, Desjardins playing sound in position, opened up a passing lane to Lemieux for a key scoring chance in the slot.
    • At 16:53 of the 2nd, threaded the needle over to Carbonneau for a dangerous chance.
    • At 9:15 of the 3rd, displayed his ability to stay sound in position to block a heavy shot, preventing chances in the slot.
    • Throughout the game, although sound in position, lacked urgency to engage physically and win puck battles.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 5
    • Puck Skill: 6
    • Scoring Ability: 5
    • Playmaking Ability: 6.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 3.5
    • Defensive Play: 6

    #16 D, Tommy Bleyl
    Team: Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6”, 165 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: December 1st, 2007

    Overview:

    He is a dynamic, and very fluid puck-moving defenseman who thrives with the puck and plays a confident, possession-focused game. Despite a smaller frame, he’s often Moncton’s most offensively involved blueliner, excelling in transition, and creates tremendous amounts of rushes with the use soft hands, deceptive head movement, and quick reads that create scoring chances. His skating is arguably his best trait as from step to step it is very fluid and displays excellent lateral mobility, especially showcasing 10-to-2 crossovers, allowing him to walk the blue line and sustain pressure. One small aspect that can be touched on is that he can display slightly quicker steps for higher explosion. Offensively, because of his high level of creativity, he brings a dual threat, threading passes through seams or firing accurate point shots. Defensively, his limitations show: he struggles in board battles, can be pushed off pucks, and his short reach hinders disruption, meaning he has to build a stronger core overall. While his positioning is solid, he must become more assertive in physical engagements and shot blocking.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 2 Offensive Defenseman

    Floor: Top 4 Offensive Defenseman
    Special Teams:     PP1 Quarterback
    Production Outlook:     10 Goals, 65~ Points
    Pick Range: 35th-50th Overall

    Player Comp: Erik Karlsson/Shayne Gostisbehere

    Strengths:

    • Offensive Activation and Anticipation with the Puck: Displays great confidence with the puck, understands how to assess his risks in his actions with the puck.
    • Reverse Skating/Lateral Movement: Smooth transitioning from one move to the next, helps him stay square in positioning when defending the rush.
    • Puck Skills: Although not the fastest, he does showcases smooth hands to knife his way around the opposition in tight spaces.

    Weaknesses:

    • Size and Reach: Gets muscled off the puck very easily, needs to build core strength to also improve balance.
    • Increase in Defensive Activation: Although pretty square in positioning and not always chasing, he needs to block shots more and getting involved more physically in the corners/board battles.
    • Explosiveness: Although smooth and dynamic skating, allowing him to carve his way, can develop quicker steps in order to create himself more space.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 9:00, although Bleyl needs to be a bit more mindful of positioning when he’s chasing someone, he hustled hard on Carbonneau, won possession of the puck back.
    • From 17:20-17:30 of the 1st, Bleyl using his smooth yet shifty footwork, carved his way through the neutral zone into the o-zone with ease on the PP.
    • At 6:10 of the 2nd, displayed his smooth lateral movement to create space at the blueline to create shooting lanes.
    • At 7:45 of the 2nd, hustled hard to win puck back on the PP.
    • At 11:45 of the 2nd, on the PP from his own end, decides to display his shifty skating again, exploding through the opposition into the o-zone, creating sustained pressure.
    • With confidence at the blue line, Bleyl threaded the needle over to Tournas which led to Desnoyers scoring on a one-timer for Moncton’s 5th goal.

    Skater Category Ratings:

    • Skating: 7.5
    • Puck Skill: 6.5
    • Scoring Ability: 5
    • Playmaking Ability: 7
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 3.5
    • Defensive Play: 4.5

    #18 F, Caleb Desnoyers

    Team: Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

    Height/Weight: 6’2”, 180Ibs

    Shoots: Left

    DOB April 11th, 2007

    Overview:

    Caleb Desnoyers is a dynamic two-way/playmaking centerman with a complete game that blends offensive creativity, physicality, and defensive awareness. His exceptional playmaking and vision on the ice when it comes to understanding the positioning of his teammates is one of, if not his strongest attribute. He demonstrates solid puck skills and persistence, maintaining control under pressure due to him understanding how to use his frame very well. While his shot is powerful but less consistent than his passing, Desnoyers forces goaltenders to stay sharp with his strong pass-to-shot ratio. Defensively, he excels in positioning, faceoffs, and as mentioned, using his size effectively. However, his edgework needs improvement, as slow pivots and transitioning in tight spaces provides him some difficulty when it comes to generating explosiveness.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: 1st Line Defensive Center

    Floor: Top 6 Forward

    Special Teams: PK1 / PP

    Production Outlook: 60–70 Points

    Pick Range: 4th Overall

    Player Comp: Jonathan Toews

    Strengths:

    • Playmaking and Offensive Awareness: Exceptional vision and anticipation make him a key offensive facilitator.
    • Defensive Awareness: Consistently positions himself well and disrupts plays with interceptions and shot blocks.
    • Puck Protection and Physicality: Uses his size effectively to shield the puck and deliver impactful checks.

    Weaknesses:

    • Edgework and Agility: Struggles with quick turns and maintaining momentum, providing himself no assistance in creating himself more space in shorter time periods.
    • Shooting Consistency: While powerful, his shot can miss the net at times and lacks the precision of his passing.
    • Slow Pace of Play: While powerful, his shot can miss the net at times and lacks the precision of his passing.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 19:45 of the 1st, playing sound in position, was easily able to take advantage of Carbonneau, intercepting the puck, created a 3-on-2, dropped the puck to Voronin for a dangerous scoring chance late.
    • At 1:20 of the 2nd period, while Desnoyers understood his role of being the center, he was playing a bit too low, giving all of the space to Gill for him to walk in and shoot.
    • At 10:20 of the 2nd, displayed subtle yet quick vision by setting up a tic-tac-toe play which almost ended up being a goal on the PP.
    • At 12:05 of the 2nd, in the offensive zone, was patiently persistent on the loose puck, became active when it was loose, crisply feeding it to a wide-open Gabe Smith for Moncton’s 2nd goal.
    • At 1:30 of the 3rd, displayed sound positioning on the PP, scored on a quick one-timer.

    Skater Category Summarization:

    • Skating: 5
    • Puck Skill: 6
    • Scoring Ability: 5.5
    • Playmaking Ability: 7
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
    • Character: 6
    • Physicality: 6
    • Defensive Play: 7

    #86 F, Niko Tournas

    Team: Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

    Height/Weight: 6’2”, 200Ibs

    Shoots: Right

    DOB February 17th, 2006

    Overview:

    Defined by his poised awareness, he drives play with pressure on the opposition due to his quickness in his footwork and the way he reads the play. What needs work in his skating however is that his mechanical stride is lacking as he lacks putting major emphasis on his leg extensions as he doesn’t appear as fast as he should on the ice. His hands need slight work as he displays the quickness to perform dekes, though he needs to develop stronger control. Offensively, his shot is his best trait as he really puts emphasis in using his lower body but most importantly, does not take much time as he can shoot it very quick not even controlling the puck. Defensively, he’s reliable enough where he will make the proper read and create counter attacks, though he isn’t the most willing to sacrifice the body which is something for him that is key. That is to utilize his frame for the NHL level. He does display great hustle on a few occasions which allows him to draw penalties.

    Player Projection:

    Ceiling: Middle 6 Scoring Winger

    Floor: AHL 1st Line Forward

  • Game Report – Victoriaville Tigres 3 vs Blainville Boisbriand Armada 5 – March 27th, 2026

    Game Report – March 27th, 2026

    Victoriaville Tigres 3 VS Blainville Boisbriand Armada 5

    Venue: Centre Excellence Sports Rousseau

    #9 F, Egor Shilov

    Team: Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’0”, 177 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: April 30th, 2008

    Overview:

    Egor Shilov is a versatile two-way forward excels greatly on both ends of the ice. At 6 feet and 180 pounds, his solid frame and agility make him highly effective in puck protection, board battles, and transitions with still some room to grow. Offensively, he shows strong positional awareness and playmaking ability, thriving in give-and-go situations. However, he can overcomplicate plays with excessive deking, and his shot, while accurate, lacks power, limiting his scoring impact. Defensively, he showcases his skill as he is a true 200-foot player with an active stick and excellent faceoff ability, making him a reliable presence in his own zone. His grit and commitment on the forecheck further enhance his all-around game. When discussing about his skating, he could generate quicker feet in the long run, but his agility and balance are quite up to par as it allows him to smoothly transition from one move to the next.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 6 Forward

    Floor: Bottom 6 Forward

    Special Teams: PK/ PP2 (Low Net-Front Role or Distributor)
    Production Outlook: 15~ Goals, 50~ Points (Two-Way Playmaker, Secondary Scorer)
    Pick Range: 35th-50th Overall

    Player Comp: Evgeny Kuznetsov

    Strengths:

    • Defensive Awareness: Great understanding of defensive positioning and active stick work.
    • Playmaking Ability: Strong give-and-go plays create dynamic offensive rushes.
    • Puck Skills: Fluid with his stick movement when controlling the puck, anticipative.

    Weaknesses:

    • Shot Power: He lacks heaviness in his shot, limiting his scoring potential, making it easier for the goaltender to read. (Needs to build upper core strength).
    • Overcomplicated Plays: Occasionally tries to do too much with the puck, leading to turnovers.
    • Skating Stride: Even though fluid transitioning up the rush, especially with crossovers, needs to extend his legs more to create more top end speed.

    In-game Observations:

    • At 3:45 of the 1st, on the 2-on-1, could have been a bit more urgent on the rush driving faster to the net, Zonnon backchecked him as a result.
    • At 7:32 of the 1st, Shilov played the bumper position on the PP to perfection, leading to him hammering home a quick one-timer and scoring Victoriaville’s 2nd goal.
    • At 18:05 of the 1st, after receiving the puck from Lottin, he circled back to the point and recreated his own lane which led to him shooting the puck through a screen with confidence and scoring Victoriaville’s 3rd goal.
    • At 3:30 of the 2nd, after winning a puck battle in the corner in the o-zone, he then was able to sneak behind the play and place himself wide open in-front of the net.
    • Throughout the 2nd and 3rd period of play, Shilov seemed to be disengaged physically, needs to develop consistency when it comes to being involved on the forecheck

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 5
    • Puck Skill: 6.5
    • Scoring Ability: 5.5
    • Playmaking Ability: 6.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
    • Character: 4
    • Physicality: 5
    • Defensive Play: 6

    #39 F, Loïk Gariépy

    Team: Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 5’11”, 160 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: June 13th, 2009

    Overview:

    Loïk Gariépy is an intelligent, two-way forward who brings responsible defensive play, strong work ethic, and solid skating which can be slotted in any portion of the lineup. With a growing frame, Loïk is developing into a trusted player in all three zones. His greatest strength lies in his 200-foot awareness as he supports the puck well down low, wins faceoffs, and consistently provides reliable coverage in his own end. His defensive instincts and stick placement make him especially effective on the penalty kill and in defensive-zone faceoff situations. Offensively, Loïk flashes good hands and smart movement, particularly in give-and-go scenarios and rush support. He’s an accurate passer and positions himself well, but can overthink plays in the offensive zone, occasionally limiting his effectiveness. His shot is mechanically sound but lacks both heaviness and consistency in accuracy, especially when pressured. While not overly physical, he displays a willingness to engage. What is key though is that as he continues to grow, he places a lot of physical development in his lower core for stability.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 9 Playmaking Forward

    Floor: Bottom 6 Forward
    Special Teams: PP2
    Production Outlook: 10~ Goals, 35 Points
    Pick Range: 45th-60th overall, 2027 Draft

    Player Comp: Andrew Copp

    Strengths:

    • Skating: Explosive and agile, able to shift momentum with quick bursts.
    • Defensive/Positional Awareness: Understands how to soundly play the center position. 
    • Puck Handling: His smooth hands allow him to work well in tight spaces.

    Weaknesses:

    • Strength: Needs to add muscle to handle physical play better, especially when receiving checks.
    • Shot Accuracy: Occasionally misses target, needs to control and maintain low follow through if he wants his shots to be effective.
    • Full Leg Extension: Although displays ability to carve his way with smooth tomahawking, he needs to develop longer extensions to drive higher top speed.

    In-game Observations:

    • At 5:25 of the 1st, stayed committed in a puck battle and played as a sponge for his linemates, was able to win the puck battle and distribute it to his defensive core.
    • At 4:10 of the 3rd, was able to swiftly toe-drag his way in the offensive zone and quickly distribute the puck to his linemate for a decent chance for a redirect play on goal.
    • At 7:03 of the 3rd, playing square zone coverage in the neutral zone, was able to take the puck away and create a counterattack for Victoriaville.
    • At 17:20 of the 3rd, playing like a sponge in his own end, where it seemed that Villeneuve beat him, Loïk didn’t accept defeat and won the puck back so Victoriaville can clear puck out.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 5
    • Puck Skill: 6
    • Scoring Ability: 5
    • Playmaking Ability: 6
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
    • Character: 5.5
    • Physicality: 3.5
    • Defensive Play: 5

    #17 F, Alexei Vlasov

    Team: Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 5’9”, 180 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: February 2nd, 2008

    Overview:

    Alexei Vlasov might be one of the more dynamic forwards in the QMJHL, often overlooked due to his smaller frame. Despite that, he’s a highly intelligent and crafty playmaker who consistently finds creative solutions under pressure, often making difficult plays look effortless. His vision and timing allow him to set up teammates in tight areas or turn broken plays into scoring chances. When discussing about his defensive game, there is a lot that needs work. In his own end, he plays too mellow and isn’t urgent enough when it comes to willing to be sacrificial. What also doesn’t help is that his smaller frame doesn’t allow him. Physically, he cannot do a lot as although he can withstand his own when receiving checks, he gets easily bounced off when trying to throw the body. When discussing his skating, he displays quick cuts and explodes rapidly. The issue is that he doesn’t fully extends his strides to get his max top speed enough. His shot, he showcases great bottom hand activation but needs to emphasize more follow through.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 9 Playmaking Forward

    Floor: AHL Top 6 Forward
    Special Teams: PP2
    Production Outlook: 40–50 Points
    Pick Range: 100th-160th Overall

    Player Comp: Matias Maccelli

    Strengths:

    • Puck Handling: His smooth hands allow him to work well in tight spaces.
    • Playmaking Ability: Strong give-and-go plays create dynamic offensive rushes.
    • Offensive Awareness: Plays off of his teammates very well.

    Weaknesses:

    • Stride Mechanics: His stance is too wide and does not emphasize enough on full leg extensions, leading to him loosing many puck battles.
    • Physicality/Size: Although can withstand checks, he cannot throw
    • Defensive Engagement: He often plays too high in the defensive zone as a centerman.

    In-game Observations:

    • At 7:30 of the 1st, on PP, Vlasov was urgent when it came to his puck distribution, leading to him starting a tic-tac-toe play, leading to Shilov scoring on a one-timer.
    • At 5:28 of the 2nd, was able to display poise in his own end, re-distributed the puck to his defenseman, Victoriaville was able to break the puck out crisply.
    • Throughout the whole game, displayed lack of urgency along with lack of explosiveness, exposing him many times throughout this game as he got outmuscled or interfered with on many occasions, limiting his ability to win battles.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 4
    • Puck Skill: 6.5
    • Scoring Ability: 5.5
    • Playmaking Ability: 6.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 3
    • Defensive Play: 4

    #34 F, Enzo Lottin

    Team: Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 5’7”, 170 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: February 11th, 2008

    Overview:

    Although physically small, Enzo Lottin is an energetic and responsible forward in the QMJHL who provides solid offensive production. He is highly positionally aware, and combined with his quick footwork, he consistently puts himself in situations to generate his own offensive chances. Defensively, he shows strong commitment and a willingness to sacrifice his body, but he can overextend by trying to cover too much, leading to wasted energy and lapses in positioning. Despite his physical effort and willingness to throw hits, his smaller frame limits his effectiveness in puck battles, as he often goes down with his opponent. As a skater, he has quick cuts and strong acceleration, but he needs to extend his strides more consistently to maximize his top speed. His shot features good hip rotation and follow-through, though greater bottom-hand involvement would add more power. While his puck skills are quick, he still needs to improve his overall control.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top-9 Energy Forward

    Floor: Bottom-6 Forward
    Special Teams: PP2
    Production Outlook: 15~ Goals, 30–40 Points
    Pick Range: 180th-Undrafted

    Player Comp: Yanni Gourde

    Strengths:

    • Explosive Footwork: Rapid foot to foot movement, allowing him to easily create separation on the rush.
    • Work Ethic: Very sacrificial of his body, stays very committed defensively, displays strong support for his linemates.
    • Positional Awareness: Understands how to stay committed in his positioning, allows him to be more prepared to create counter attacks.

    Weaknesses:

    • Shot Quickness: Although displays strong follow through and emphasis on hips in his shots, he needs to place a bit more emphasis on bottom hand activation to generate quicker release.
    • Size: Although very sacrificial of his body and throws a strong amount of hits, his size doesn’t provide him the leverage required to win more puck battles. Needs to build lower core strength.
    • Puck Control/Poise: Although displays quick hands, he isn’t consistent enough when it comes to maintaining control of the puck. Needs to let the game come to him and be patient with it.

    In-game Observations:

    • Throughout the whole game, displayed great consistency with his puck distribution. On the 3rd goal, Enzo crisply distributed it to Shilov, earning an assist on the play.  
    • In the 1st period, where he had the puck and was carving his way up the neutral zone, he needed to keep his head out and let the play develop as Taillefer cleaned him out with a heavy check.
    • Throughout the game, displayed his ability to be a spark plug while playing square, acted as a sponge for his defensemen.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 6
    • Puck Skill: 5
    • Scoring Ability: 6
    • Playmaking Ability: 5.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
    • Character: 7
    • Physicality: 3.5
    • Defensive Play: 6

    #21 D, Jan Golicic
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’5″, 201 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: June 30th, 2006

    Overview:

    Jan Golicic is a poised puck moving/defensive defenseman who relies on his size, reach, and patience to shut down opponents. Steady in his own zone, he plays with a sound mind, letting the game come to him and forcing the opposition to make the mistake. His shot is used intelligently. When discussing his mechanics though, although follow through’s low, he lacks emphasis on hip rotation which is why his shots are not powerful. Jan’s main weakness lies in his puck handling as he does maintain good control, but his stick movement is considered choppy. His passing is his best offensive trait as he keeps every pass very flat on the ice which eases transition greatly, especially from breakouts. Skating-wise, he has a strong forward stride but lacks explosiveness in his reverse and lateral movement, which can expose him against quicker opponents. Defensively, he uses his reach and stickwork well to disrupt plays and maintain strong positioning. What he will need to work on is becoming imposing physically. That first starts by putting a lot more weight on so he can build that confidence up. Then it’s the matter of knowing how to throw it.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 4 Puck Moving/Shutdown Defenseman 

    Floor: 7th Defenseman

    Special Teams: PK2

    Production Outlook: 5~ Goals, 25-30~ Points

    Pick Range: 118th overall

    Player Comp: Jamie Oleksiak (With Noah Dobson hands)

    Strengths:

    • Defensive Play: Strong positional awareness, great at using his reach and stick to break up plays and prevent offensive pressure.
    • Skating Strides: Strong stride generates speed for him to win races.
    • Puck Distribution: Displays great consistency at moving the puck crisply. Keeps his passes very flat which aids transition greatly.

    Weaknesses:

    • Puck Handling: Struggles when carrying the puck up the ice with confidence.
    • Shot Power: Displays great intelligence of walking into shoot and following through low, though lacks a lot of emphasis on hip rotation to get that power off.
    • Lateral Movement: Needs to improve reverse skating and lateral movement to handle faster, smaller players effectively.

    In-game observations: 

    • At 3:00 of the 1st, although calm at the blueline, he was too stale and did not keep his feet moving, led to him being flat footed in a foot race and Victoriaville scoring.
    • At 8:08 of the 1st, displayed consistency in his passing, kept his pass flat and hard to Gill for a dangerous scoring chance.
    • At 16:50 of the 2nd, was able to defend the rush to perfection as he kept his feet in quick motion when reverse skating, allowing Theo Lemieux to grab it.
    • Roughly the halfway mark of the 2nd, Golicic displayed great poise and baited the opposition which allowed him to perform a quick toe-drag play and create a very dangerous passing lane to the net.
    • Throughout the game, played relatively calm defensively in his own end, though needs to be meaner and be willing to throw more punishment when boxing out guys.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 4.5
    • Puck Skills: 5
    • Scoring Ability: 3
    • Playmaking Ability: 5.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 5.5
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 5
    • Defensive Play: 6.5

    #8 F, Justin Carbonneau
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’1”, 201 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: November 25, 2006

    Overview:

    Carbonneau’s game is best described as explosive and powerful as he’s constantly in motion maneuvering his way by or through the opposition with ease. His hands are as quick his foot speed, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates, especially on the rush. A little bit about his skating, although he doesn’t fully extend his strides, he generates tremendous acceleration due to the explosive footwork, getting himself at top speed very quickly. His best trait by far however is no doubt about it is his shot as it is NHL ready. It packs tremendous punch due to how much emphasis he places on leveraging the strength of his hips. This is keeping in mind that his follow through is controlled for how much power he brings. For his size, he is very physically involved as his hits are very impactful when he throws them. Where his game needs work is in his own end as he isn’t sound defensively by any means which he needs to be a lot more conscious of. This also goes for his effort level in his own end. One aspect that could be noted too is that he could utilize his teammates more.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: 1st Line Forward 

    Floor: Top 9 Scoring Forward

    Special Teams: PP1, Left Flank

    Production Outlook: 35~ Goals, 65-70 Points

    Pick Range: 19th overall

    Player Comp: Ilya Kolvalchuk

    Strengths:

    • Shot Release: His shot is fast and powerful, with a near-instant release with strong emphasis on hip rotation.
    • Puck Handling: His quick hands are as agile as his feet, weaving his way by the opposition with ease.
    • Offensive Zone Compete Level/Awareness: Displays relentless effort in the o-zone, understands how he needs to position himself to retrieve the puck via a pass or broken play.

    Weaknesses:

    • Defensive Positioning: He can sometimes get out of position defensively, creating openings for the opposition.
    • Lateral Skating: Although he has a quick stride, his transitions and crossovers occasionally lack smoothness.
    • Teammate Utilization: Although displays strong playmaking traits, he relies a bit too much on himself to make the big play.

    In-Game Observations

    • At 1:50 of the 2nd, Carbonneau displayed his playmaking ability by utilizing his teammates in order to generate a dangerous chance. He performed a give and go play wit Desjardins where it opened up some room to walk in wide open in the slot.
    • On Blainville’s 4th goal, Carbonneau displayed his ability to stay committed and was throwing the body. He then drove to the net and became a screen which aided greatly in Villeneuve scoring.
    • At 15:00, Carbonneau displayed his ability to backcheck hard and was able to stop a rush from happening. Moments later, he played high up like he was supposed to and blocked a shot.
    • Throughout the whole game, displayed strong commitment at playing a dynamic two-way game and displaying strong work ethic in his own end. Displaying incremental defensive growth.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 6.5
    • Puck Skill: 7
    • Scoring Ability: 8
    • Playmaking Ability: 6
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
    • Character: 6
    • Physicality: 6.5
    • Defensive Play: 4.5

    #9 F, Bill Zonnon
    Team: Blainville Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’2”, 190 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: October 3, 2006

    Overview:

    Bill Zonnon brings power and patience as a playmaker. His ability to read plays along with his strong net-front presence make him a very intriguing and trustworthy player who can be placed in any situation asked due to his excellent strength at protecting the puck and being a menace around the net due to his high activity. As hinted, what is mostly seen with his game however is his elite vision as he could really thread the needle with 3 guys that are between his passing lanes. This ties in with the fact that his pure passing mechanics are his bread and butter as he passes a puck very hard and flat. When discussing about his deking ability, he isn’t the quickest when it comes to his puck coordination, but its very controlled. Discussing about his shot, although he demonstrates thorough mechanics on his follow through, he needs to develop confidence at taking advantage of lanes and not waste a half second to shoot. Defensively, he’s very reliable as he plays square in position and is willing to block shots. Where his game needs work is his skating as he really needs to develop more of him fully extending his legs for higher top speed and develop explosiveness laterally.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 6 Playmaking Forward (2nd Line)

    Floor: Bottom 6 Scoring Forward

    Special Teams: PP2, Net Front

    Production Outlook: 20~ Goals, 50~ Points

    Pick Range: 22nd Overall

    Player Comp: Adam Henrique/Nick Bonino

    Strengths:

    • Playmaking and Vision: His awareness in the offensive zone sets him apart from the opposition by deep understanding of his teammate’s positioning.
    • Size and Physicality: At 6’2”, he’s already a physical presence, which makes him tough to handle around the net and good body positioning.
    • Patience with the Puck: Zonnon is calm under pressure and takes his time to find the best passing or shooting opportunity.

    Weaknesses:

    • Shooting Confidence: Although demonstrates his ability to really follow through on his shots with power, needs to use it more, allowing for him to be more unpredictable.
    • Skating Stride and Lateral Explosiveness: Even though he possesses a tall stance, allowing him to visualize the play, he needs to develop quicker but also more fully extended strides.
    • Strength/Balance: Although has good height and leverages it well fending off the opposition, needs to develop lower core muscle, providing stronger stability when receiving checks.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 0:17 of the 1st, displayed great responsibility when playing in the center position by being a sponge for Golicic. Then displayed improvements in quickness in footwork, drove the puck up the neutral zone, dumped it in the o-zone for sustained o-zone time.
    • At 3:45 of the 1st, while Victoriaville was on a 2-on-1, Zonnon displayed tremendous heart hustling back and disrupting Shilov who was the puck carrier.
    • At 8:33 of the 2nd, displayed strong consistency at keeping his passes flat and hard, keeping the opposition at bay, led to him earning an assist on the play.
    • At 13:43 of the 2nd, won a key puck battle in the o-zone, was able to give it to Villeneuve, earned an assist on the play.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 5
    • Puck Skill: 6
    • Scoring Ability: 5
    • Playmaking Ability: 7
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
    • Character: 6
    • Physicality: 6
    • Defensive Play: 5

    #39 F, Maël Lavigne

    Team: Blainville Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’4”, 196 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: February 11th, 2005

    Overview:

    His ability to read plays and his strong net-front presence make him a very intriguing and trustworthy prospect who can play in many situations when asked. This is due to not his strength at protecting the puck and being a menace around the net but also utilizing a strong motor for someone at his size as it allows him to be impactful as well on the defensive side of the puck. When discussing about his puck skills, although he demonstrates good awareness when timing his puck handling, he isn’t very smoothest when controlling it. Even though his passes may not always be the crispest, he understands the mindset of where his teammates are going to be and utilizes them well. On the defensive end, he does showcase great commitment on the backcheck, though what will be key for him is to develop consistency of playing sound in position. His stride although quick for a bigger player, can emphasize more leg extension to create himself higher top speed. His shot, displays great bottom hand activation, though can follow through quicker. Can also build more muscle to be more impactful physically.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top-9 Scoring Forward  

    Floor: AHL Top-6 Forward
    Special Teams: PP2 (Net-Front)
    Production Outlook: 15~ Goals, 35-40~ Points
    Pick Range: Undrafted

    Player Comp: Mason Marchment

    Strengths:

    • Physicality: When in use, really understanding how to throw his weight around and use his size to his advantage.
    • Offensive Awareness: Strong understanding of zone coverage, allowing him to navigate through the neutral zone with ease.
    • Versatility/Effort Level: Dynamic in any situation given, very consistent, high effort level both on the forecheck and on the backcheck.

    Weaknesses:

    • Skating Stride: For a bigger player, although displays quickness in his strides, needs to emphasize more leg extensions.
    • Inconsistent Puck Handling: Although possesses strong anticipation when to deke, isn’t consistent at smoothly weaving the puck quickly.
    • Strength: Although displays great physical engagement, can build more lower core muscle in order to generate stronger balance and generate stronger shot power.

    In-game Observations:

    • At 1:15 of the 1st, in the offensive zone, drove to the front of the net, deflected the puck which made D’Aigle have a hard time handling it, led to Collard scoring on the rebound.
    • At 7:23 of the 2nd, was able to drive hard to the net and got a redirect on goal, just D’Aigle made a strong save.
    • At 6:20 of the 3rd, displayed his ability to announce his presence and stay at the net front area, taking a bit of punishment, and was rewarded with him taping home the puck in a wide open net.
    • Throughout the game, displaying consistency at winning key faceoffs, was very much engaged physically, and was getting under his opponent’s skin.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 4.5
    • Puck Skill: 5
    • Scoring Ability: 6
    • Playmaking Ability: 5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
    • Character: 7
    • Physicality: 6
    • Defensive Play: 5

    #72 D, Xavier Villeneuve

    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL

    Height/Weight: 5’11”, 157 lbs

    Shoots: Left

    DOB: September 29, 2007

    Overview:

    Xavier is an electrifying offensive-minded defenseman with great agility and dazzling puck-handling abilities up the rush. Known for his tremendous confidence in carrying the puck and reading the offensive zone, Villeneuve brings a unique flair to the back end for the Armada as even though he is quite the risk taker, he is excellent at understanding when to take risks for the team’s own good. When looking at offensive defensemen, Villeneuve does an excellent job at utilizing his shot as much as he can to cause havoc, or even score. However, his small size limits his effectiveness in physical battles in the corners as, and he’ll need to add a lot of strength to succeed at the NHL level. Even though the league has many smaller players now, the league is now as physical as ever and he will need to get ready to endure long 82 game seasons. With that said though, he does possess tremendous heart in trying to win out puck battles as he has developed the mindset of becoming more physical with his frame.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: First Pair Offensive Defenseman 

    Floor: Top 4/5 Offensive Defenseman, PP QB.

    Special Teams: PP1 Quarterback

    Production Outlook: 5-10 Goals, 55–65 Points

    Pick Range: 15th-30th Overall

    Player Comp: Lane Hutson