Draft Rankings: QMJHL
The NHL’s Central Scouting Report for the preliminary rankings of some of the top 2013 draft prospects was recently released, allowing teams, fans and fellow players alike a chance to look at some of the possible high selections in next year’s entry draft. The North American rankings include the top 25 skaters and 5-7 goaltenders each from the Ontario, Quebec Major Junior, Western and United States hockey leagues.
Here, we take a look at the top five skaters and top three goaltenders from each of the leagues and how they’re doing so far this season. In this third installment, we’ll check out the top players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
The 25 skaters ranked from the QMJHL represent 12 teams, with the Rimouski Oceanic represented by a league-high six players. Goaltender Phillippe Desrosiers also ranks in the top six goaltenders to give the Oceanic a total of seven ranked players. Quebec and Val-d’Or each have three players on the list, while a number of other teams are represented by a pair.
5. Adam Erne – left wing – Quebec Remparts
Behind 2012 first round draft pick Mikhail Grigorenko, Erne is second on the Remparts in goals, assists and points. He has 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points and a plus-14 in just 24 games played. The 17-year-old Connecticut native has a 1.46 points-per-game average and has three power play goals on the season.
4. Frederik Gauthier – center – Rimouski Oceanic
Despite missing a few games this season, Gauthier remains third in point scoring on the Oceanic. The center has scored 11 goals and 112 assists, and his plus-14 is best on the team. He also has a respectable face-off percentage, having won 246 of 522 taken, and holds a 1.10 points-per-game average.
3. Valentin Zykov – left wing – Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Zykov has played in 25 games with Baie-Comeau this season, in addition to appearing in the Subway Super Series with Team Russia several weeks ago. With Drakkar, the winger has scored 17 goals (second on the team) and 10 assists for 27 points and a plus-15. Zykov also has a team-high 101 shots and three power play goals, third-most on the team.
2. Jonathan Drouin – left wing – Halifax Mooseheads
Drouin, along with MacKinnon, both represented the QMJHL in the recent Subway Super Series. In 18 games with the Mooseheads, Drouin has 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points in 18 games – a 2.22 points-per-game average. He has three power play goals and one shorthanded goal, 61 shots and a plus-17 rating.
1. Nathan MacKinnon – center – Halifax Mooseheads
MacKinnon has 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in 24 games with Halifax this season. He also holds a plus-23 rating and has scored seven of his 20 goals on the power play, in addition to two shorthanded tallies. MacKinnon has a 1.79 points-per-game average and 121 shots on the season. He’s also won 299 of 554 face-offs this year.
Goaltenders
3. Eric Brassard – Gatineau Olympiques
The rookie goaltender has played nine games for Gatineau this year, backing up Michael Nishi. Brassard has a 2-3-0-0 record, stopping 167 shots and allowing 28 goals against. He also has a 4.37 GAA and .856 save percentage in 384:07 played.
2. Philippe Desrosiers – Rimouski Oceanic
Four goaltenders have suited up for Rimouski this season, with Desrosiers leading the way and having played over 938 minutes of ice time. Appearing in 17 games, Desrosiers has allowed 54 goals and stopped 469 shots of 523 faced. With seven wins and a 3.45 GAA on the season, Desrosiers is ranked fifteenth in QMJHL goaltenders.
1. Zachary Fucale – Halifax Mooseheads
Fucale has played in 20 games this season with Halifax, racking up over 1,183 minutes. He’s allowed 51 goals on 460 shots faced, racking up a 17-20-0-1 record. The Quebec native also has a 2.59 GAA and .889 save percentage. Last season with Halifax, he went 32-18-2-4 and had 1,412 saves in over 3200 minutes played.