We're less than one year away from the 2022 NHL Draft!
With the QMJHL draft, CHL import draft and trading period now done, we have a good idea of the make-up of most teams for next season, and who top prospects will be playing with.
Here's a list of major prospects to look out for. The main storylines are Gatineau/Halifax/Drummondville with very young teams with tons of solid draft eligible players, as well as the fact there are a lot of small players who could fall due to size (Verreault, Cote being the two main ones)
1. Tristan Luneau, D (Gatineau)
-A responsible defenseman with high-end skills and skating ability. Potential top-10 pick.
2. Nathan Gaucher, C (Québec)
-A 6'3 two-way center that registered more than a point per game last season.
3. Antonin Verreault, C (Gatineau)
-An extremely talented and shifty center who could fall due to his size. Could record more than a point per game this upcoming season.
4. Markus Vidicek, C (Halifax)
-A responsible two-way center with high hockey sense who can do it all on the ice.
5. Pier-Olivier Roy, D (Victoriaville)
-A smooth-skating dman with high hockey sense that played a big role in winning the Q championship this year as a 16 years old rookie.
6. Justin Cote, W (Drummondville)
-A pure goal scorer who is unfortunately only 5'6. The next Cole Caufield? Has the potential to score 30+ goals in his draft year.
7. Samuel Savoie, W (Gatineau)
-A skilled winger that likes to go to the tough areas.
8. Maveric Lamoureux, D (Drummondville)
-A huge, mobile 6'5 dman who can skate, hit, pass and defend well.
9. Vincent Filion, G (Moncton)
-A 6'0 goaltender with high potential who could win the starter's role in Moncton.
10. Jordan Dumais, W (Halifax)
-A smallish winger with high hockey sense and passing abilities.
11. Luke Woodworth, C (Drummondville)
-A high octane offensive center that lacks size.
12. Leighton Carruthers, C (Rouyn-Noranda)
-A smart, physical center with some offensive skills that was just traded to Rouyn for more ice time.
13. Noah Warren, D (Gatineau)
-A huge blueliner that likes the physical stuff.
14. James Swan, W (Halifax)
-A small offensive winger that has a wide arsenal of skills.
15. Charles-Edward Gravel, G (Blainville-Boisbriand)
-A 6'1 goaltender that took over in the playoffs and did well as a rookie. Cousin of former Chicago draft pick Alexis Gravel.
16. Riley Mercer, G (Drummondville)
-A 6'1 goaltender who is the brother of NJ prospect Dawson Mercer.
17. Maxim Barbashev, F (Moncton)
-A nicely talented forward who had a point per game in his first year in NA. The brother of Ivan Barbashev.
18. Jeremy Langlois, D (Cape Breton)
-A smart defenseman that skates well and is very responsible defensively. Should be a first-pairing guy this year.
19. Yoan Loshing, W (Moncton)
-A highly talented forward who should get a ton of ice time this upcoming season.
20. Sam Oliver, C (Charlottetown)
-A skilled center with decent size coming off a solid rookie season.
With the QMJHL draft, CHL import draft and trading period now done, we have a good idea of the make-up of most teams for next season, and who top prospects will be playing with.
Here's a list of major prospects to look out for. The main storylines are Gatineau/Halifax/Drummondville with very young teams with tons of solid draft eligible players, as well as the fact there are a lot of small players who could fall due to size (Verreault, Cote being the two main ones)
1. Tristan Luneau, D (Gatineau)
-A responsible defenseman with high-end skills and skating ability. Potential top-10 pick.
2. Nathan Gaucher, C (Québec)
-A 6'3 two-way center that registered more than a point per game last season.
3. Antonin Verreault, C (Gatineau)
-An extremely talented and shifty center who could fall due to his size. Could record more than a point per game this upcoming season.
4. Markus Vidicek, C (Halifax)
-A responsible two-way center with high hockey sense who can do it all on the ice.
5. Pier-Olivier Roy, D (Victoriaville)
-A smooth-skating dman with high hockey sense that played a big role in winning the Q championship this year as a 16 years old rookie.
6. Justin Cote, W (Drummondville)
-A pure goal scorer who is unfortunately only 5'6. The next Cole Caufield? Has the potential to score 30+ goals in his draft year.
7. Samuel Savoie, W (Gatineau)
-A skilled winger that likes to go to the tough areas.
8. Maveric Lamoureux, D (Drummondville)
-A huge, mobile 6'5 dman who can skate, hit, pass and defend well.
9. Vincent Filion, G (Moncton)
-A 6'0 goaltender with high potential who could win the starter's role in Moncton.
10. Jordan Dumais, W (Halifax)
-A smallish winger with high hockey sense and passing abilities.
11. Luke Woodworth, C (Drummondville)
-A high octane offensive center that lacks size.
12. Leighton Carruthers, C (Rouyn-Noranda)
-A smart, physical center with some offensive skills that was just traded to Rouyn for more ice time.
13. Noah Warren, D (Gatineau)
-A huge blueliner that likes the physical stuff.
14. James Swan, W (Halifax)
-A small offensive winger that has a wide arsenal of skills.
15. Charles-Edward Gravel, G (Blainville-Boisbriand)
-A 6'1 goaltender that took over in the playoffs and did well as a rookie. Cousin of former Chicago draft pick Alexis Gravel.
16. Riley Mercer, G (Drummondville)
-A 6'1 goaltender who is the brother of NJ prospect Dawson Mercer.
17. Maxim Barbashev, F (Moncton)
-A nicely talented forward who had a point per game in his first year in NA. The brother of Ivan Barbashev.
18. Jeremy Langlois, D (Cape Breton)
-A smart defenseman that skates well and is very responsible defensively. Should be a first-pairing guy this year.
19. Yoan Loshing, W (Moncton)
-A highly talented forward who should get a ton of ice time this upcoming season.
20. Sam Oliver, C (Charlottetown)
-A skilled center with decent size coming off a solid rookie season.
