10 Most Valuable QMJHL Players - 2012-2013 Season

Mackinnon Prepares for a pressure packed season for a contender this year

There are many marquee talents in the QMJHL this year, and it seems to be an up year as a whole for the Quebec league, and things will get very competitive at the top with teams like Gatineau, Moncton and Blandsville-Boisbriand turning themselvese into contenders this off-season. Following up our standings preview, here is a look at the 10 players who will be the most valuable to their team next year. (under the assumption Huberdeau and Grigorenko are not returning)

#1 - Nathan Mackinnon, Halifax Mooseheads - Centre

Mackinnon is the backbone of a Mooseheads offence that is likely the strongest in the league. The pressure is on for Mackinnon this year, as he is the #1 ranked player the for 2013 NHL draft and has a full year of foolish Crosby comparisons ahead. Mackinnon is likely to be the leading scorer for the current QMJHL favourite Mooseheads and is an electrifying enough talent that there is not a defensive paring in this league strong enough to contain him. With other talent like Drouin, Frk and Abeltshauser also on the team the fact remains that there is no more valuable player in the QMJHL than him.

#2 - Ben Duffy, PEI Rocket - Centre

Duffy leads a PEI rocket team that was awful last year, into this season as one of the only bright spots the franchise have. The Rockets' all time leading scorer is a marquee talent who can create offence for his linemates and did so very well last year, putting up 82 points in 68 games on a weak Rockets team with a -115 goal differencial last year. The former 5th overall pick is ready to dominate the league offenseively, but it may not be for much on a Rockets team that has no players who had more than 50 points returning. The value of Duffy to the Rockets is huge, because if they choose to trade him they will receive a huge boost to their rebuilding efforts. The Rockets could also choose to keep him and try to contend, which is why there is no more pivotal player to a franchise than Ben Duffy.

#3 - Xavier Ouellet, Blainsville-Boisbriand Armada - Defenceman

Ouellet is primed for a big season this year, having been a dominant QMJHL defenceman the last three seasons now. The Red Wings second rounder has a big season coming up, wearing the "C" for the Blainsville-Boisbriand Armada who will be a contender this year. After a good off-season, last years West division-winning Armada will be a strong defensive team again this year, which means that Ouellet will have to lead one of the most defence-oriented teams in the league. Whether they contend or not will be largely in the hands of how arguably the best defenceman in the Q leads, and that is what makes him so valuable to the Armada.

#4 - Alex/ Allain Saulnier, Moncton Wildcats - Forward
I could not really differentiate these two, so I have them slotted as one player. Alex and Allain were almost the only creators of offence for a weak Wildcats team that lacked it heavily last year. That has changed this off-season, adding marquee talent through the import draft and through 'finishing' the Brandon Gormley trade with Shawinigan, trading back their picks for impact players. The twins are overagers this year, which means they should progress from last year, where they were amongst the most dangerous players in the league. If the Saulniers and the new additions can provide the offence to a strong defence in Moncton, watch for the Wildcats to be a powerhouse next year.

#5 - Martin Lefevbre - Quebec Remparts, Defenceman

With so many offensive weapons in Quebec this year, and a quality starter in Francois Brassard the Remparts only question mark lies on defence, where they are young and inexperienced. The Remparts so have Lefevbre though, who a a top-5 defenceman in the entire league heading into this season. He is likely to wear the 'C' for the Remparts and mentor young defencemen Duncan McIntyre and Ryan Culkin, while still being expected to quarterback the powerplay and play tough PK minutes. Lefevbre may not have a huge impact on how the Remparts do in the regular season, but if the post-season rolls around and Remparts have any troubles offensively, Lefevbre will be extremely important.

#6 - Zach O'Brien, Acadie-Bathhurst Titan - Centre

Zach O'Brien will be the leagues premier goal scorer this year, building upon last season where he led the league in goals with 50 in 68 games. O'Briens line of Bissonette-O'Brien-Trudeau carried the Titan last year to a season over .500, an impressive leap over last seasons expectations. The Titan acquired Brandon Hynes this off-season and their young defence corps will be one year older, so if O'Brien can continue to fill the net for the Titan, watch for them to be a surprise contender this year.

#7 - Anton Zlobin, Val d'Or Foreurs - Left Wing

Zlobin had an awesome year for Shawinigan last year, putting up 76 points in 66 games on an offensively deep team. Zlobin was Shawinigans go-to guy up front and scored the Memorial Cup winning goal. This off-season he was traded to Val d'Or for picks, and will be expected to help the Foreurs compete this season. The Foreurs were not really close to competing last season, so it will be interesting to see how much farther Zlobin can push them.

#8 - Etienne Marcoux, Blainsville-Boisbriand Armada - Goaltender

Marcoux has this season with a strong team in front of him to solidify himself as one of, if not the best goalie in the league heading into his draft year. Last season, Marcoux was a top tier goalie posting a .912 SV% and 2.71 GAA while going 28-9-3. The Armada will be contending this year and cannot afford to have Marcoux underperform. If he can bring his 'A' game consistently, the Armada will give teams like Halifax and Quebec a run for their money this year.

#9 - Tomas Hyka, Gatineau Olympiques - Left Wing

Hyka was an outstanding Euro selection by the Olympiques, turning heads last year as a QMJHL rookie. He was one of their only offensive catalysts and looked a step ahead of most defenders. After some serious reloading this off-season, the Olympiques are ready to compete again with Hyka leading the offensive charge. Hyka will help fellow Euro Martin Reway adjust to North American hockey and will be expected to build on his 1.28 PPG last year.

#10 - Zach Fucale, Halifax Mooseheads - Goaltender
Zach Fucale was the biggest overachiever in the QMJHL last year. As a 16 year old goalie, he made the Mooseheads as the back-up and suceeded an injured Anothony Terenzio, going on to break the QMJHL record for wins by a 16 year old with 32. Fucale is known for his rebound control and incredible speed and poise for a young goaltender. He was also co-MVP of the Mooseheads last year and will need to keep up his excellent play to ensure the Mooseheads are able to contend this year.

Honorable Mentions -

Phillipe Danault - Danault will either carry and lead a weak Tigres roster or be traded at the deadline, jump starting their rebuild.

Charles Hudon - Hudon will be the Sags best player this season, and will be expected to dominate the QMJHL offensively

Anthony Duclair - Duclair appears to be the Remparts foremost offensive player heading into a season where they need to score in bunches.

William Carrier - The Screaming Eagles offence will rely heavily on draft-eligible Carrier to produce.

2013 NHL Draft - Top 10 QMJHL Prospects

The 2013 NHL draft already possesses some interesting storylines, including Nathan Mackinnon and Seth Jones fighting for the #1 ranking and the QMJHL emerging as a dominant producer of prospects for this draft.

This year could be a very strong one for the Q in terms of 1st round NHL picks, with 6 players already steadily ranked in the top 30 players for the draft in Mackinnon, Drouin, Erne, Duclair, Fucale and Sorensen.

Here is my personal top 10 prospects for the 2013 NHL draft:


#1 - Nathan Mackinnon - C - Halifax Mooseheads - Viewings - 9 live, 4 video

Nathan Mackinnon is the consensus #1 player out of the QMJHL heading into the 2013 draft, and is quite often ranked 1st overall on scouting websites. Mackinnon has long been known by scouts, but was finally given a chance to play with the best juniors in the world this year. Mackinnon responded very well, putting up 78 points in 59 games with the Halifax Mooseheads, being the Mooseheads go to guy offensively. Mackinnon has world-class skating ability, with an excellent first few steps and a powerful stride. He looks and plays bigger than his 5'11, 180 pound listing and has a very underrated physical game, similar to Alex Ovechkin. Though his defensive game is still being refined, Mackinnon shows a high compete level in both ends and has the rare ability to absolutely take over games, evidenced by his performances against Quebec in December and his home opener in September against Acadie-Bathurst. The aspects of his game that need developing are his ability to slow down the play and make a proper read with the puck and to avoid turnovers caused by him overhandling the puck. Expect Nathan to be picked 1st overall next June barring a regressing season or heavy pressure from his friend Seth Jones.

#2 - Jonathan Drouin - LW - Halifax Mooseheads - Viewings - 5 live, 4 video

Jonathan Drouin certainly had a interesting season in 2011-2012, starting his campaign in Lac St. Louis in an effort to keep his NCAA eligibility. Drouin then joined the Mooseheads around Christmas putting up a respectable 29 points in 33 games then having a monster playoffs putting up 26 points in 17 games and showing a physical edge that seemed to be missing in the regular season. Drouin is a pass first player, who sees and thinks the game very well. He has average skating, but is very slippery and agile with the puck. Drouin looks small on the ice for being the same listed height as Mackinnon but has upped his weight to 190 over the summer training with Gary Roberts. Expect him to step into the spotlight with Mackinnon in their draft year.

#3 - Nick Sorensen - RW - Quebec Remparts - Viewings - 2 live, 2 video

Nick Sorensen is absolutely the wildcard of this group, playing only 9 games last season before a season-ending knee injury. Sorensen showed a lot of promise in that small sample size, but his ruptured ACL and LCL left scouts wondering what could have been. There remains many question marks with Sorensen, whose status is somewhat up in the air with the other 2 outstanding Euros likely to end up in Quebec in him, Nikita Kucherov and Mikhail Grigorenko. If Grigorenko returns, one must be dealt within the week, and considering Kucherov and Grigorenkos chemistry it would appear he could be the odd man out. However, Sorensen is likely to have a great season in the Q this year regardless of where he plays. He has a good stride, is quite agile and plays a smart two-way game positionally. Sorensen is a natural finisher with a knack in front of the net, and seems like the type of player that will only rise with a full seasons worth of exposure to scouts.

#4 - Adam Erne - LW - Quebec Remparts - Viewings - 2 live, 2 video

Sorensens close friend and linemate Adam Erne comes in at #4. Erne is the prototypical powerforward that scouts dream of, bringing size at 6'1 210, physicality and a smart two-way game. He also drives the net and can post very solid numbers, putting up 55 points in 64 games for the Remparts. Erne will have to show some more offensive flair this season to stay ahead of names like Fucale and Duclair.

#5 - Zach Fucale - G - Halifax Mooseheads - Viewings - 9 live, 4 video

Zach Fucale was one of the biggest overachievers in the QMJHL last year, not expected to make the Mooseheads let alone start and break the QMJHL record for most wins by a 16 year old. Fucale filled in early in the season when Anthony Terenzio went down with a concussion and ended up having to start the rest of the season. Fucale was steady in nets all year showing strong rebound control and incredible poise for a goaltender his age. Fucale started 58 games last season, going 32-18-6 with a 3.16 GAA and a .892 SV%. The stats don't quite tell the story with Fucale though, as he is the type of goalie who makes game-changing saves at the perfect time, similar to Martin Brodeur. Fucale's rookie season will be a tough act to follow, so keep your eyes out for a sluggish start from the 17 year old.

#6 - Anthony Duclair - LW - Quebec Remparts - Viewings - 2 live, 2 video

Anthony Duclair is an electrifying player, plain and simple. Duclair possesses world class speed for his age and can stickhandle at full speed with exceptional poise. He has a solid shot with a quick release and when paired with the right linemates can make breath-taking give and go plays. The downside in his games lies mostly in his decision-making, which has been questioned by scouts. While playing at such a quick pace, Duclair is quite turnover-prone and doesn't show the ability to slow things down and read the play offensively. Coming off a season where he posted 31 goals and 35 assists for 66 points in 63 games, Duclair will be expected to address his weaknesses and show a better hockey IQ or you could see him sliding in the rankings.

#7 - William Carrier - LW - Cape Breton Screaming Eagles - Viewings - 3 live, 1 video

William Carrier is the type of player that already plays a pro-style game. He is prone to making the right play and has excellent vision in the offensive zone. Carrier already possesses a big frame at 6' 205lbs. and put up 70 points in 66 games last year. He has a powerful stride and is aggressive in the corners. The only things scouts question with Carrier is his agility and his offensive upside, which should have been improved with his extra development year on players above him. These things are certainly fixable and I could see him as high as #3 in my rankings by seasons end.

#8 - Anthony Mantha - LW - Val d'Or Foreurs - Viewings - 1 live, 0 video

Anothony Mantha is a big, strong athletic power forward at 6'3 195 lbs. who already possesses a pro frame and NHL level skating. These types of prospects certainly don't grow on trees, so Mantha will certainly be coveted early at the draft. Mantha put up 51 points last year for the Foreurs and won Bronze with Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka. After that tournament, Mantha got to play all situations and is likely to play even more this year on a stronger Foreurs squad. He is likely to play top line minutes with Zlobin, so watch for a boom or bust season from Mantha.

#9 - Matt Murphy - D - Val d'Or Foreurs - 1 live, 0 video

Matt Murphy is a responsible two-way defenseman who picks his spots offensively. He shows a great understanding of the game and uses his high hockey IQ to play in all situations. Murphy is a good skater who can back-skate with even the fastest forwards on the rush and delivers the occasional open ice hit. Murphys quiet but efficient game will likely endear him to scouts at the Ivan Hlinka where he has a good chance of making the national U-18 team this week at tryouts.

#10 - Nikolas Brouillard - D - Drummondville Voltigeurs - Viewings - 0

Brouillard is a dynamic offensive defenseman, who is light on his feet and always ready to join the rush offensively. Brouillard turned heads this year when he made the Voltigeurs as a 4th round pick and developed into their clear powerplay quarterback throughout the year. He posted excellent numbers as a rookie, putting up 25 points in 61 games as a diminuitive 5'10 150lb defenseman. Brouillard has all the skills necessary to become a top 60 pick in next years draft, but being so small he will have to really put on a show to fufill that potential.


Honorable Mentions

Jeremy Gregoire - F, Chicoutimi - Excellent two-way centre who plays like Chris Drury, skating concerns are big enough to keep him out of my top 10. - Viewings - 2 video

Martin Reway - F, Gatineau - 17 year old Czech Republic native posted great numbers in home league and has great skating and puck skills, could rocket up my rankings with strong showings to start the season. - Viewings - 0
Samuel Morin - D, Rimouski - 6'5 defensive defenseman skates very well for his age and size, uses his reach well but possesses little offensive upside. - Viewings - 1 live, 1 video