Tuesday, October 21st marked the first edition of the QMJHL Top Prospect game at the Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet in Sherbrooke. The game saw the best draft-eligible talents from the QMJHL face-off in front of hundreds of scouts from the NHL and the NCAA. Dobber Prospects Draft Team Crossover Scout Eloi Biondo had boots on the ground to give us his thoughts on who stood out in this game.
The most impressive player in the whole game, Xavier Villeneuve was controlling the play from the back end, using his elite mobility, hands and quick thinking to evade forecheckers and carry the puck by himself or make quick and accurate breakout passes. He was incredibly shifty and was handling the puck in a phone booth and slipping himself throughout one or two opponents at once. He activated constantly in the offensive zone and was very confident holding onto the puck longer to create better opportunities. While lacking physical tools at the moment, his brain and raw ability suggest a top 10 prospect.
Tommy Bleyl had a great game generating a lot of offense. He’s very confident with the puck on his stick and has NHL level skating to evade players and create offense off the rush. He uses his mobility in the offensive zone to open up passing or shooting lanes. While not being the tallest or strongest, he uses his mobility well and has a strong stick to defend the rush. he will have to learn to use his teammates more effectively in transition and get stronger but he looks like a solid option in the middle rounds so far.
A re-entry player, Houle was a relentless presence all night long. He used his speed in transition to push the pace and put the defenders on their heels. He was involved in all three zones and constantly put pressure on the forecheck. He didn’t put his name on the scoresheet, but Houle displayed a lot of intriguing pro elements to his game. Despite being 5’11, he could get drafted if he continues to progress.
Rian stood out with his relentless pace and work ethic. His north-south game paired with his impressive speed and strength made him difficult to stop off the rush. He drives the inside and doesn’t hesitate to use his powerful release. He’s also very engaged and useful defensively. While he doesn’t see the ice as good as others, he could project as a bottom 6 forward at the next level and be a top 3 round selection.
Ovcharov can really rip a puck. he scored a great goal shooting right above the shoulder on the strong side of the goalie directly in the top corner. He’s got great straight line speed and uses his size effectively to drop the shoulder and drive the net. His shot is heavy and precise and made the goalie gave up a lot of rebounds resulting in goals against. Nikita will need to diversify his offensive arsenal and decision making but this game was encouraging and showed signs that he might be a pick.
Lecompte, another re-entry player, showcased his ability to hold onto the puck and make plays into the offensive zone, showcasing his vision and puck skills. while being undersized, he played bigger and worked hard along the boards to win puck battles. He was very involved in a lot of sequences defensively, showing great hustle and awareness to break up plays. His smaller stature and limited skating ability make him a long shot for the NHL, but he’s showing great abilities and work ethic that might make him climb up the pro ranks if he continues to progress.
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