| Daniel Michaud | Quinte Red Devils U15 | OMHA-ETA | L | F | 6’2″ | 176 | Oshawa Generals | 2019 | Bellville, ON | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
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