Alexandre Texier

October 2018 –Texier has returned to KalPa Kuopio of the SM-liiga for the 2018-2019 season where he is expected to continue his development as one of the top prospects in the Blue Jackets’ pipeline. He is skilled, quick, can put the puck in the net and has lived up to his potential at every level thus far. He has the tools and pedigree to become a top-line player but will need approximately three more years to get there. If he cannot seize that role, expect him to earn a top-six role with the Blue Jackets by then. Frank Pellegrini

December 2017 – Playing five contests for France’s WJC-20 D1A squad Texier has excelled with four assists, three of them coming Sunday evening in a 6-1 victory against Austria. His work with KalPa has also continued to impress with eight goals and four assists in 30 games. Not bad for an 18-year-old in the Finnish adult Liiga. Kevin Wickersham

October 2017 – After a solid start in Finland’s top league with three goals in his first ten contests Texier, predominatly serving on the fourth line, has been held scoreless in his last four. Nonetheless he’s tied for KalPa’s lead in goals as the club has struggled early to an uncharacteristic 3-8-1-2 record, second-worst in the Liiga. Kevin Wickersham

August 2017 – Texier, the first player hailing from the French hockey leagues ever selected in the NHL Entry Draft, agreed to a two-year deal with powerhouse KalPa (37-13-10 last year) of the Finnish Liiga. Still just 17, he’ll continue to develop before potentially moving to North America. Kevin Wickersham

July 2017 – Texier is an amazingly fast, young French senior league prospect with superb agility and puck handling skills. Constantly in motion, he boasts a heavy shot to go with crisp, pinpoint passes he can fire in tight space due to his upper body and wrist strength. Extreme quickness allows him to separate from defenders in no time. Texier’s impressive hockey IQ and on-ice vision, along with the maturity of hanging tough against older competition (including chipping in five goals and five assists during Grenoble’s recent 12-game postseason run), provide intriguing intangibles. Impressive in international play with one goal and seven assists for the French U20 WJC squad, adding two goals and three assists while captaining their U18 WJC club. Some scouts question how his skills may translate to the North American game. Time will tell, but physical play doesn’t seem to deter the 17-year-old. Kevin Wickersham