| Daniel Michaud | Niagara Icedogs | OHL | L | C | 6’2″ | 192 | Oshawa Generals | 2019 | Burlington, ON | 2003 | 2022-2023: F2021-2022: C+2020-2021: C |
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran, February 22, 2023: There’s a lot to like about his game and how it will translate to professional hockey. First he’s averaging almost two minutes more ice time per game during 2022/23 than he did last year, and most importantly for his future in pro hockey his penalty killing time on ice is up over a full minute to 2:20 per game. I also like that so far during the 22/23 season 139 of his shot attempts have come from inside the house and 45 of his shots on goal coming from within feet of the crease. This added element of being a net front presence has led to him scoring 14 goals from the top of the crease with 4 of those coming on the power play. The thing that still stings me is that as an 03 who comes in at 6’2″ and 190lbs he’s still winning under 50% of his puck battles. Maybe he’s still growing into himself and gaining strength, but that puck battle winning percentage will need to go go up if he has a chance to be a pro.
Neutral Zone’s Paul O’Hagan: He showed good puck composure along the walls in his defensive zone and made good decisions in the transition to offense. He has excellent hands, puck skills, and ability to make plays with limited time and space.
Neutral Zone NHL, July 4, 2022: Why an NHL draft pick, he is a 6’2″ left-shot forward who can play both center and wing. Why not an NHL draft pick, as a 2003 it has taken him longer to adjust to the OHL than we thought it would. He only attempted 167 total shots in 2021/22 and he won 42% of his puck battles.
Neutral Zone’s Paul O’Hagan, May 2021: Michaud is a lanky Oshawa Generals forward played a limited role in his rookie season with the Generals. He played a fourth line role on a deep Generals team but his skill and offensive creativity did shine through at times this season. Michaud has always shown good skill in tight checking situations with his long reach and deceptive hands. Like most young centers in minor hockey Michaud was moved into a role on the wing in his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League. He showed good puck composure along the walls in his defensive zone and made good decisions in the transition to offense. He has excellent hands, puck skills, and ability to make plays with limited time and space.
Neutral Zone’s Paul O’Hagan, September 2020: In games viewed in March of 2020, prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, Michaud saw limited action on the wing for the Generals. He is a large body at 6.02 and presented challenges for defenders around the net when he used his size and reach to get into good shooting lanes. He handled pressure on the forecheck well and minimized mistakes in his defensive zone. He moved pucks well in transition but needs to continue to work on his overall footspeed to develop his game further. Michaud in our view was one of the most improved all around offensive players in the age group in his Minor Midget year and has all the tools to continue this trend. As he develops his strength and speed, the combination of his length and offensive creativity make him a player with good upside. The key to his upside will be developing an improved first step. This should come naturally as he matures physically.
OHL Gold Cup, May 2019: Michaud is a big bodied forward with skill and deceiving speed. His reach allows him to put pucks out of range for opposing defenders and create space for himself in tough areas like offensive corners. He easily pulls pucks through and around defenders creating scoring opportunities for himself and his team. An offensive threat on most shifts at the Gold Cup. Michaud elevated his play significantly playing with more skilled players. OHL Team: Oshawa Generals – 2nd Round, 23rd Overall Grade: B+
OHL Draft Top 40 Movers after OHL Cup, March 2019: Michaud showed in the second half of the season why many thought he would be a top offensive threat in the age group. Great skill in tight with his reach and deceptive speed. Michaud has excellent hands, puck skills, and ability to make plays with limited time and space. The first half of the season bad body language and frustration raised our concerns but these issues were corrected as the season progressed. Michaud in our view was one of the most improved all around offensive players in the age group in the second half leading his team offensively in the OMHA playoffs and OHL Cup.
2018 Minor Midget International Silver Stick, December 2018: Michaud is the go-to guy on the Red Devils front end but often only scratches the surface with his ability. He is tall and lanky and has a long, smooth stride and sees the ice well enough to slow it down and let the play develop. With some added strength to his game, Michaud will improve as a whole. A player with a big, strong frame and strong net front presence the puck seems to find his stick in good scoring areas.
Toronto Titans Minor Midget Tournament, September 2018: Michaud is a skilled lanky forward who plays with pace and skates well. Michaud has a long powerful stride and accelerates quickly. His long reach and smooth stickhandling makes it difficult or defenders. He also has a very high IQ away from puck so it always ends up back on his stick. We liked his support of pucks in both ends and his play in the 200 foot game.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images