LW Alexis Pepin - Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL (2014, 114th overall, Colorado)

[Jabba11]

Alexis Pépin
1996-04-24
Position: LW
Candiac, Qc, Canada
Ht: 6ft2 Wt: 196 lbs
Shoots: Left

STATS:

Prince Edward Island Rockets QMJHL: 64GP 18G 12A 30TP PIM 78 +/- -9
WHC - U17 - Team Québec: 6 GP 3G 4A 7TP PIM 18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-YBCUuaCx0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfp_xMv8U4I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9JrTC0U6UE

Click to read more...

 

[TA1 Sports]

I was extremely underwhelmed by his 16 year old season. Will have to see this year, especially a bigger bodied kid, you'd think it would have been more effective during his rookie campaign.

 

[scoutman1]

I was extremely underwhelmed by his 16 year old season. Will have to see this year, especially a bigger bodied kid, you'd think it would have been more effective during his rookie campaign.

I'm not sure about that, the kid was great this year....he is not a flashy player but strong, physical, gritty, great hands, excellent hockey sense, smart player, uses size, good sot, good passing, two way, great character, the kid this year was one of pei's best players...watch him closer u will appreciate a great player

 

[rt]

Alexis Pépin Does Not Actually Weight 238lbs Does He?

http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/Under-18/2013-14/Memorial-of-Ivan-Hlinka/Roster

Wow. A lot of these weights seem pretty inflated. Many of these kids are listed way lighter on their respective team sites (Alexis Pépin is 196 on the Q site). Did they weigh them for this tourny?

Lemieux at 213 (listed at 194 on Barrie site) and Virtanen at 211 (listed at 190 on Calgary site) are surprising, too.

 

[jfb392]

I'd say yes, he probably does.
He looks to have gotten incredibly heavy and you can see it in his face.

Last year:

Recorded during Ivan Hlinka camp:

 

[rt]

Wow. Stever Bernier ptII?

 

[Ishdul]

The listed weights are rarely changed from when they're first taken, and when you're talking about guys at that age they can, and are encouraged to, put on weight in a hurry.

 

[3 Minute Minor]

WOW the difference in those pictures are gross.

Aren't people projecting him as a first round pick?

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Yes that is accurate. He was deconditioned and behind the play in Hlinka camp, but threw some heavy hits.

 

[SarcazemKadri]

Waaay too heavy. I feel that when players think of bulking up, they don't consider good weight and bad weight. Good weight comes from a clean diet, heavy lifting and exercise - the latter from a neglected diet. Could be why he didn't see much ice all tournament.

 

[R S]

http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/Under-18/2013-14/Memorial-of-Ivan-Hlinka/Roster

Wow. A lot of these weights seem pretty inflated. Many of these kids are listed way lighter on their respective team sites (Alexis Pépin is 196 on the Q site). Did they weigh them for this tourny?

Lemieux at 213 (listed at 194 on Barrie site) and Virtanen at 211 (listed at 190 on Calgary site) are surprising, too.

Keep in mind for a kid like Virtanen, that weight is from this same time last year. Gaining 21 pounds might seem like quite a bit for one calendar year, but can probably be achieved as a 16 year old kid who likely ate over 1000 pounds of pasta over the winter.

 

[hab 4ever]

Yup. I am a big Pépin believer but that was shocking. He finished the season at around 205 pounds and came to Hlinka at 238 pounds, no wonder he struggled on the ice.

For a guy whose main flaw remains skating, it is just shocking he put on almost 35 pounds. I am guessing his ideal playing weight should be around 215-220 pounds in the end.

I think he will have a tremendous season in the Q though and the only good thing is that the whole Hlinka tournament + training camp will allow to start the season in much better shape than he would have sans Hlinka.

 

[Sala90]

Yup. I am a big Pépin believer but that was shocking. He finished the season at around 205 pounds and came to Hlinka at 238 pounds, no wonder he struggled on the ice.

For a guy whose main flaw remains skating, it is just shocking he put on almost 35 pounds. I am guessing his ideal playing weight should be around 215-220 pounds in the end.

I think he will have a tremendous season in the Q though and the only good thing is that the whole Hlinka tournament + training camp will allow to start the season in much better shape than he would have sans Hlinka.

In the last month of the season and in the playoff, he was a consistent and very good powerforward. And he wasn't a bad skater. But yeah, even on the updated weights on the Charlottetown website, Pépin is 238 lbs. He has naturally a big frame, but 238... I think he will be fine around 220.

 

[Moskau]

To be fair it doesn't look like puberty was treating him all that well and it could be a large part of the reason.

 

[Ryan English]

alexis pepin ‏@alexispepin26 5 Aug
@Jonathan_Dunphy I am actually 230 lbs

https://twitter.com/alexispepin26

Not sure how to embed tweets, but I saw this earlier. He is indeed 230 lbs, which may scare a few NHL scouts. His mobility wasn't the greatest last year and 20+ lbs. can't help that.

I think he was the most complete 16 year old last year, but a lot of kids will catch up this year without skating improvements.

 

[BondraTime]

alexis pepin ‏@alexispepin26 5 Aug
@Jonathan_Dunphy I am actually 230 lbs

https://twitter.com/alexispepin26

Not sure how to embed tweets, but I saw this earlier. He is indeed 230 lbs, which may scare a few NHL scouts. His mobility wasn't the greatest last year and 20+ lbs. can't help that.

I think he was the most complete 16 year old last year, but a lot of kids will catch up this year without skating improvements.

He has the best frame/skill ratio from all Q drafted players in 2012. His skating is not up to par, but that will come with training and games. I can't see Audette passing him due to size, and I can't see other forwards like Nantel passing him.

The only Q drafted forward I can possibly see passing him is Bishop, and I don't think he will due to his offense and size not being up to Pepin. He easily, easily has the Defensive and Skating on Pepin though, and has similar hockey I.Q.

 

[hab 4ever]

I know I have been talking him up a lot but IMO, the only player picked in the 2012 Q draft that can surpass Pépin in the 2014 NHL draft is Julien Nantel

 

[nolongeramember]

Peps definitely got off too slow start but now that he has his first goal in the books has definitely looked more impressive, really excited to see how he pans out.

 

[scoutman1]

so far I am really let down by Pepin from his conditioning to his output.

 

[Mike Mike Caron]

How is he looking in Gatineau?

 

[BondraTime]

He has been the biggest disappointment in my eyes of every prospect. I thought he would be a top 15-20 pick, as his skill and size were incredible last year.

After his showing at the Ivan Hilinka, it started looking bleaker and bleaker.

Still hope for him, but seems I was wrong about him

 

[Mike Mike Caron]

I'm watching Gatineau vs Drumond right now, Pépin looks like he has shed the weight, looks slim.

 

[Joey Moss]

I'm watching Gatineau vs Drumond right now, Pépin looks like he has shed the weight, looks slim.

Yea, I noticed that too. Didn't think he looked as bad as in those photos.

 

[hab 4ever]

Yea, I noticed that too. Didn't think he looked as bad as in those photos.

He has lost 12 pounds since the start of training camp.

His QMJHL profile has even been adjusted to reflect that