QUEBEC CITY P.Q. – Well, folks, before you know it, the 2009 NHL Entry Draft will be here on June 26 and 27. To get you ready for the draft, PHN correspondent Serge Poulin, who covers the QMJHL for PHN, takes a look at some of the top QMJHL prospects to watch for at the upcoming draft. Besides the obvious first four or five top prospects that will be in the upcoming 2009 NHL Entry Draft, it might be interesting to discover others some players who will be selected in the first round by NHL teams on . Every scout in the NHL will tell you just how tough it is to try to project a 17 years old development in the future. Let’s have a look at some of the current QMJHL players that might represent a long shot that you fans will hope to see your favorite team select in June. In the QMJHL, the battle for the league’s best defenseman is between Simon Despres of the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Drummondville Voltigeurs Dmitri Kulikov. Another defenseman from the Q who might surprise is Charles-Olivier Rousell from the Shawinigan Cataractes. In Despres’s case, who is ranked 8th by the Central Scouting Service (CSS), scouts seem to think that playing for the Sea Dogs might hurt him since he did not play on a quality team while others might think it gave scouts a chance to see how the Laval native play under difficult circumstances. Tournament play is often the chance scouts see players perform against other players around the same age, but from other countries. When you look the young 6’ 4″, 214 pound defenseman, you are immediately impressed at his stature, the way he handles the puck, and you expect him to show that he can use his physical attributes in the defensive zone. Last summer was the perfect occasion for Despres to show the scouts who went to the Ivan Hlinka tournament to show his skills. Unfortunately for Despres, some scouts came back from the tournament a little disappointed that he didn’t play as expected. Despres is mostly recognized as a defensive-defenseman who can offer a physical presence on the ice. He rarely loses battle along the wall in one-on-one confrontations. He is confident in his ability to move the puck, and makes good decisions with and without the puck. He also makes good first passes out of the defensive zone. It will be interesting to see who will pick him on June 26 and if he will develop into a top four defensemen for the team who selects him. Dmitry Kulikov (ranked 11th overall by CSS), contrary to Despres, is the most offensive defenseman in the QMJHL. His offensive ability is undeniable. Kulikov is a very strong skater with very good puck handling skills. One important factor some teams might look at before running the risk of drafting him is if he will go back to Russia due to not having a transfer agreement with the IIHF. If the fear of it happening is real among NHL teams, it might explain why Despres might be picked as the first QMJHL defenseman taken in the draft. For others, they might be convinced that the Drummondville defenseman will be selected before the others. Kulikov is recognized as having excellent offensive instincts, very good puck handling skills, great vision in the ice, a smooth skater, and he is a dynamic offensive-defenseman who has scored more than a point game during the regular season. Shawinigan fans have had the chance to appreciate the talent of Charles-Olivier Rousell (ranked 36th by CSS). With 4 goals and 10 assists in 14 playoff games, he could be the youngest player to hear his name at the 2009 draft. He has proven that he can be an offensive asset from the blueline for an NHL team. The St. Eustache native possess great offensive instincts and is a great skater with good mobility. His coach used him on the first power play unit and in penalty killing situations. Some scouts would have liked to see him be more physical and add some upper body strength because he is 6 foot, 188 pounds. He will certainly get heavier and will encounter some NHL opponents in near future. These are just some of the best QMJHL defensemen the league has to offer for the upcoming draft. You will certainly hear other names thrown around, but it will most likely be taken in lower rounds. Now let’s have a look at forward position. Jordan Caron (ranked 21st by CSS) plays center for the Rimouski Oceanic and was hampered most of the year by an ankle injury, but he was able to put up some interesting numbers and ended the regular season with 67 points (36g, 31a) in 56 games. He was one of the most dangerous players for Clement Jodoin’s team. What scouts like the most about him is he improved each year since he began his junior career. He played his heart out to help his team, expecially when almost all of his teammates were on the injury list. Most scouts recognize that Caron has the size and ability to play at the next level, and has the makings of a power forward. He is labeled as an average skater and is a big, strong kid who can drive to the net without fear of physical contact. In Philippe Paradis (ranked 26th overall by CSS), several scouts sees plenty of similarities between the young Shawinigan center and Caron. Paradis projects mostly to be a third line center, and is an honest worker who gives all he has whenever his coach asks him to step on the ice. The Normandin Quebec native plays very solid at both ends of the ice. He ended the season with 50 points (19g-31a). Paradis is a strong skater who pays special attention to his defensive zone, and hates to lose battles along the boards for a lose puck. Coaches like that he is efficient on the penalty killing units. Because he played on a veteran laced team, he didn’t get the quality ice time that he deserves, but each time he was on the ice he worked his heart out to help his team win. These are just some of the QMJHL players that are expected to be drafted in the first round by NHL Central Scouting. Will they find any takers on June 26 and 27? You won’t have to wait for long. Before you know it, the draft will be here sooner than later. Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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