Observations:

October 2014 – Paquette played very well during training camp with Tampa Bay and was among the final cuts. Though Paquette didn’t make the Lightning lineup to start the season, he will see time with the big club when injuries arise. Paquette projects to be a Tampa Bay regular as early as next season. Randall Buschmann

February 2014 – Cedric Paquette is a strong, industrious forward with decent size, two-way ability and a surprisingly quick shot. Paquette has started making noise in his first professional season for Syracuse, with 10 goals and 24 points in his last 27 games mostly on the second line. During that same stretch, Paquette has amassed over 60 PIMs as well, which attests to his agitating and pugilistic tendencies. Paquette’s 14 goals leads the team and he’s involved in a three-way tie for points with two former first round draft picks (Namestnikov and Connolly). Paquette didn’t start playing junior hockey until he was 18-years-old and was passed over in the first year of NHL draft eligibility. The next season he wasn’t even ranked by NHL’s Central Scouting Service but it didn’t stop Tampa Bay from selecting him with their 4^th round draft choice in 2012. Concerns in relation to slightly below average skating ability may have been an issue when Paquette was drafted, but hasn’t been a problem since arriving in Syracuse. He’s a work-in-progress and couldn’t be in a better situation right now in Syracuse, in terms of ice time opportunities. The jury is still out on his long-term potential, but his quick ascension as one of Syracuse’s top forwards in his first pro season is encouraging.  Randy Buschmann

Fantasy Outlook: C-

Paquette has some offensive ability, but when he sticks in the NHL, it’ll be because of the physical, gritty style of game he brings. His ceiling is likely as a third line forward at the NHL level with hearty doses of penalty minutes and hits.

Footage:

The unknown Paquette fights the Islander’s golden boy Ryan Strome

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