Looking back at some of the New Englanders who were selected in the 2019 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s American Entry Draft and seeing how their game is progressing towards becoming a 2021 NHL Draft prospect
Charlottetown Islanders Selected JP with the 13th overall.
JP Turner (4.25 Star Amateur Rating, 2021 NHL Grade — B) Forward
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, April 2020: Second-year pee-wee was the first time I saw JP play and he’s been a fun player to watch develop. His energy is infectious, and his teammates have always looked to him as a leader. Even as a young kid it was obvious that players on both teams were drawn to him. He still has the same energy on the ice, but he might not realize the impact he can have on his teammates as a leader just yet. I am saying this as a compliment, not in any way a negative, because I think he’s only starting to understand that he is a leader and has the ability to take charge or take over games and situations. Anyway, as a young player people questioned his skating. Well, as you would expect a leader to do, he accepted the challenge rather than bitch or moan and it is obvious that he has worked very hard to change his technique. This past year it was easy to see that he’s got a longer more powerful stride and a nice strong base. And you can see from our earlier reports that our Neutral Zone scouts had concerns over his lateral mobility or agility. Again, to me it’s obvious that JP put in the time and his edge work has improved. To tell you the truth, I think his explosiveness coming out of turns or stops has turned into a real asset. He’s a player who’s just as fast with the puck as he is without it and he’s very nimble in tight spaces after absorbing a check. He obviously still must get stronger and continue training, but for me JP’s skating is only going to continue improving over the next few years and there are a lot of other areas of his game that I really like. He is direct and initiates contact. There are players who are not afraid of contact and there are players who initiate contact. JP initiates contact and he is good at it. As a puck carrier he will run into a defender to get them off balance and then spin away to generate space for himself. This type of “move” makes him very tough to contain during the cycle and his improved lateral quickness allows him to attack the net consistently. Looking forward, 2020-21 will be a different kind of year for JP. Opponents are going to be setting up game plans to stop him. They are going to try to rattle him. Be hard on him and try to get him distracted or knock him off his game. But you know what? I think JP will be ready for it. He’s got the mentality to respond and excel. I’m really looking forward to watching how another (extended) off season of training is going to positively impact his skating and overall game. He’s going to come out of the 2020 off season more motivated and, I believe, focused on having a strong Fall and trying win a New England Prep School Championship rather than impressing the NHL scouts and improving his draft stock. But I feel this is what makes JP such an interesting prospect and I think NHL teams will be paying close attention too.
Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic, January 2020: JP is one of the best players in NE prep hockey. The 2003 played direct, tough and can score. He is a constant threat in the offensive zone to score because he has little desire to play on the perimeter. Here, he won lots of pucks in traffic. On day one, he spun around and fired a rocket off the cross-bar. His shot is lethal as his release is quick, his shot is hard and accurate. On the second day, he went hard on the forecheck, took the puck from the defensemen and wet to the net where he buried. He has an elusive element and strong stride to play through traffic. We liked how he was able to stop and start while protecting the puck along the wall to shake defenders. He wheeled from the corner and off the cycle and ripped pucks on net. His vision is very good and he made sharp passes but his strength is that he can score. It’s a valuable commodity these days. He has improved. His skating keeps getting better and he played with a ton of confidence here.
NZ All Star Teams USA Select 16’s, July 2019: JP was selected to the Neutral Zone All-Star Team at the Select 16 National Camp.
Mass Festival Final 40 (2003s), May 2019: The UNH commit can score. last time we saw him in Prep, he played a bit 5v5 but was out for every PP. Here we liked that he is starting to figure out his feet. Why is that important to Team NZ? Because JP is a hockey player; he makes plays. The more pucks he can get to, the more plays he can make. Went end to end here and showed real pace. Moved well without the puck and is a threat to fire one home from anywhere below the dots. He has some size and strength and does well on the wall. He should have a great prep season and should lead Team NZ Mass in shots on net and GWGs.
Mass Festival 2003s, May 2019: JP plays a power game. He is a big strong forward that plays physical and completes at high speed. He is fast in on the forecheck and takes good angles to pressure the puck. He is good in the corners and uses his body and strength to create space. Has a good set of hands which allow him to attack defenders. He has a strong shot which he hides well in stride and snaps on the net. He is smart and finds the soft areas in the offensive zone. At times plays too fast and will need to slow his game down to make more skill plays as he moves to the next level. Strong weekend overall and certainly one of the more noticeable players here. Grade: A- College: UNH
Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic, December 2018: Not yet a featured player, Turner played power play and popped two goals in the first game including one on the man-up. He is a scorer, can snap it home and looked strong/prepared after an excellent bantam season in 2017-18. He picked pucks from the wall and scrums with ease. Used his body well on the cycle and always looked to the net. Can drag and fire and his line had some of the best shifts on the second day as he worked with Heinke and Shamburger. The 2003 was a factor here and that says a lot. Good sense up the ice with a scorer’s blade. Took an offensive slash which should not happen but overall, he looked prepared and made plays as a younger player.
MA Tier 1 Midget Playoffs U16, November 2018: Big, strong power winger that gets up and down the ice well. He plays a heavy game and is physical in all situations. Plays direct and fights through traffic to get to the net. Scored two goals in the semi’s on similar plays off 2-1’s. He has above average skill with the puck and can make defenders miss in space. He is rugged along the wall and doesn’t hesitate to play in the dirty areas. Will need to continue getting quicker and being more mobile side-to-side but has as much upside as anyone here. Grade: A-
HPHL/Beast Showcase U16, October 2018: JP played his typical game here. He is strong and works hard in each zone. Heavy on the puck and willing to play physical, he created offense through the neutral zone and on zone entries. At times he will rush plays and force the puck into areas. Good set of hands that allow him to make plays in space. Above average shooter that picks spots easily. Grade: B
ECC Labor Day Showcase (U16s), September 2018: Turner is a quick attacker with excellent footwork but we loved his willingness to hit everything that moved. He played a really physical game playing up by a year for the River Rats and refused to give an inch if it meant separating the opponent from the puck. He also showed very good vision: keeping his head up to find narrow spaces that he could exploit the defense. His style of play where he slashes through the neutral zone and offensive zone will be a great fit for Avon Old Farms. Grade: B+
MA Festival (2003s), May 2018: Turner was one of the top three forwards here (Hughes and Delay). He is direct, strong and skilled. Speed to separate on the rush and was a terror on the forecheck. Has a nasty side to his game that makes him tough to compete against. Has clever hands and wants the puck. Finds seams to make clean zone entries and can score from anywhere in the zone. Created back pressure and then took pucks away and transitioned quickly. There were times he played too much 1v1 and he took and offensive zone penalty. Not enough to keep him from a high grade as the totality of his game was impressive. National Camp Selection
U14 Nationals, April 2018: Turner has a strong frame, balanced stride and very good hockey sense. He stayed around the play and made his teammates better here. Strong on the puck with real awareness of his offensive options. Mixed it up along the wall and in the crease. His game is consistent. His puck touches are good and he can shoot and pass. He is not overwhelming but the totality of his game made him effective. Nice upside as he can play a lot of different ways, in every situation and up and down the roster as he moves up in levels. Some forwards to remember for the 2021 NHL Draft who competed in this National Championship: Anthony Agostinelli, Nikita Tarasevich, Davis Codd, Jack Hughes, Ryan St. Louis, Colby Saganiuk, Peter Reynolds, Sasha Pastujov, Dylan Duke, Tyler Haskins, Ty Voit and Sam Lipkin.
Boston Breakout Bantam (2003s), September 2017: JP is a polished forward for a bantam. Looks to be around 5’10 but he has already developed a good A-frame and shields the puck well from smaller opponents. He has a clock in his head and knows when to get rid of the puck via a touch pass if he sees pressure. His skating stride is fluid and long, his strides enable him to take more ice than his opponents. One to watch as he enters 2018. Vincent Gould, Nicholas Royster, Will Gaca, Carson Scott, Billy Mrowka, CJ Monturio, Coleman Jenkins, Michael Cataldo, Kyle Kudrna, Ethan Ullrick, Will Winemaster, Calvin Briscoe and Matt Pederson are all sleeper prospects who performed well at the Boston Breakout.
ECC Labor Day (2003s), September 2017: One of the most effective players we saw all weekend. He plays the full 200 feet. He has a great stick and rocket of shot, and he competes harder than anyone on the ice. He wins every battle, he is one of the bigger kids, and he plays that way. He will be a player to keep your eye on at the MIAA level this year.
2003 Crimson Combine, August 2017: Started off slow, but we started to notice him as the game went on. Big body who loves the puck on his stick, good hands and speed who can get by defenders. Plays the full 200 feet and supports the puck very well all over the ice. Gets to open space for his linemates. 2019 QMJHL Selections Ryan St. Louis, Matthew Copponi, Billy Norcross, Paul Davey, Timmy Delay, Jack Hughes, Matthew McGroarty, Patrick Morrissey and goaltender Nick Bevilacqua made their mark at the Combine. Interestingly, 2019 QMJHL #2 overall selection Anthony Cafarelli and 2004 birth year Michael Callow were on Neutral Zone’s honorable mention list.