The QMJHL has implemented a great initiative to kickstart the action and keep players safe by confining players to play in a “bubble” at the Centre Videotron. There will be two games played daily, allowing the Quebec based teams in the QMJHL to catch up on missed games during the month of October. First game I’ve had the chance to catch is between the Blainville Armada and the Victoriaville Tigers. Below are the top 10 performers who stood out during the game:
| Mathias Laferriere | Lac St-Louis Predateurs Espoir | Midget | R | F | 6’2″ | 181 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | Outremont, QC | 2017-2018: C+ |
A very cerebral player who constantly has his head on a swivel looking to make plays. Already signed by the Blues as a 6 th round pick, I believe they found a diamond in the rough in this prospect. There are no significant flaws in his game as Laferriere is sound in every aspect- protects the puck well, makes quick passes, thinks the game quickly and makes players around him better. In this game, he had two beautiful first assists where he set up two of his linemates at the goal mouth of the net. His second assist was pretty picking up the puck off the cycle behind the net and quickly slinged one cross crease for a tap in. In a normal year he would be competing in the AHL however given the circumstances he will season his game in the junior ranks. If there is one area of his game needing improvement is competing at all moments and raising his intensity level.
| Luke Henman | Dartmouth Whalers Bantam | NSMBHL | L | F | 6’0″ | 159 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | Dartmouth, NS, NS | 2018-2019: C+ |
A veteran of over 200 games in the QMJHL is the leader who guides this offense. A former Carolina Hurricanes draft pick, who chose to let him walk away, Henman is now a free agent- who will be highly touted. He’s started the season off extremely hot averaging 2 points per game using his size, creativity and awareness to capitalize on opportunities. Although he only banked 1 assist in this one, he was extremely dominant physically where he fought off defenseman to keep plays alive and set up his linemates for top quality scoring chances. Contrary to last year, he was also shooting the puck a lot more where he had a couple of grade A scoring chances. An aspect of his game which was holding him back was his skating- there is visible improvement in this area as his stride is now fluent, he’s lower to the ice and is overall more powerful in his stride. I’m a huge fan of this player and expect him to have a big year where he will sign an NHL contract
| Mikhail Abramov | CSKA Moskva | Russia U18 | L | F | 6’0″ | 185 | Victoriaville Tigers | Moscow, RUS | 2001 | 2018-2019: C+ |
Electric offensively, the Maple Leafs prospect is a recruit who fits the mold of what their organization strives for. Abramov values puck possession who continuously makes plays establishing himself as a threat every time he touches the puck. His skating is well rounded with above average edgework often shifting opponents and creating that space needed to threat the needle or put a puck on net. Scored a beautiful goal in this one where he carried the puck with speed through the neutral, attacked the defenseman with a curl and drag move, finishing it off by firing one far side. A work of art. Abramov will be an interesting player to follow during the World Junior Championship, where Russia will rely on him as an offensive catalyst.
| Pier-Olivier Roy | Levis Chevaliers | QMAAA | L | D | 5’9″ | 175 | Victoriaville Tigers | Not yet rated |
Their top pick in the 2020 QMJHL draft in June, Roy projects as an extremely solid prospect and a top junior defenseman. Roy will not blow you away with his skating (although sound technically) his shot or his puck skills however his high level hockey sense and anticipation are bar none. There were times throughout the game where he looked beat off a check or on a one on one play but somehow managed to get a stick on the puck or the right body position to get in front of the opposing player. His feet are always up ice which is a good sign as he is conscious to never caught out of position. With the puck he shows a high level of maturity and poise where he’s not afraid to hold onto the puck for an extra second to make the right play. There was a play where he deceptively looked across the ice and lateralled a pass to his winger on the strong side. His strongest aspect is his ability to read the play where he can beat the forecheck and dish an outlet puck up ice. This is an extremely valuable skill which goes unnoticed, although forwards on your team know the value of a quick puck moving defenseman. If he can bulk up and add some physicality to his game, he will become a reliable defenseman at the pro level.
| Zachary Roy | Chateauguay Grenadiers | QMAAA | R | F | 6’0″ | 187 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2018 | 2019-2020: C |
A player who was passed over the last draft, Zachary Roy has had a strong start to the season potting some points on the board. There no denying Roy’s strength which is his rocket wrist shot displaying his prowess in this one by scoring two beautiful goals from the slot. The first goal was off a broken play in the offensive zone where he received a puck on the top of the circles on a two on two rush, unleashing a shot far side through a screen leaving the goalie helpless. His second of the night came midway through the second period where he received a puck downlow before surprising the goalie with a quick far side perfectly placed shot. If Roy can continue to find the right spots around the zone he will find a lot of success in the QMJHL ranks. For this to translate to the Pros’ he will need to work on his explosive strides to beat defenders and checkers to lose puck and get open in the quiet areas.
| Miguel Tourigny | Trois-Rivières Estacades | QMAAA | R | D | 5’7″ | 157 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2018 | Victoriaville, QC, CAN, QC | 2019-2020: C+ |
Another player who was overlooked during the last draft, where I thought a team would take a chance on him due to his smooth skating and puck handling ability. I understand teams did no draft him as he’s undersized and not sure how he will fit in at the next level. Although the doubts, there’s no denying his ability where he’s been producing at a point per game pace early in the season, scoring a beautiful backhand goal in this contest. Tourigny made a nice read in the offensive zone, attacked the open seam in the middle of the ice and roofed a perfectly placed backhand far side. If Tourigny can work on his defensive game (strong on puck, winning battles, grittier along the boards) it can round out his game and make him a better two-way defenseman.
| Yaroslav Likhachev | Lokomotiv-Yaroslavl | Russia U17 | R | F | 5’10” | 170 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | Yaroslavl | 2001 | 2020-2021: C |
Rounding out a dominant top line with Laferriere and Henman, Likhachev brings a scorer’s touch with his deadly accurate shot and crafty skill work ability in tight spaces. Likhachev finished the night with a goal but was dangerous every time he touched the puck. When playing with top linemates, Likhachev will be a threat this year possessing one of the quickest releases in the league. If he can stay consistent, battle for pucks and focus in on his defensive responsibilities he can undoubtedly become a solid future prospect.
| Brooklyn Kalmikov | College Esther Blondin | QMAAA | L | F | 6’0″ | 163 | Cape Breton Eagles | 2017 | St. John’s, NL | 2001 | 2018-2019: C |
After coming to Victoriaville last year in a trade midway through the season, Kalmikov has shown great chemistry with Abramov. He thinks the offensive side of the game extremely well where he’s constantly buzzing in the offensive zone hopping on loose pucks or find an open linemate with a quick pass. His lateral movement is excellent relying on sharp turns to spin off defenseman to beat defenders down low. I admire his willingness to take the puck to open space and get a quick opportunity on net catching goalies off guard. He did earn a nice assist in the game after fighting off an opponent in the neutral zone before handing it off to Abramov. Following Kalmikov’s progressions throughout the year will be interesting- staying consistent in his game play is key to his success.
| Nicolas Daigle | Levis Chevaliers | QMAAA | L | F | 5’9″ | 163 | Victoriaville Tigers | Thetford Mines, QC | 2020-2021: C |
A draft eligible prospect, Daigle will be relied on for heavy minutes from this Tigres squad. Used in many situations, Daigle is extremely versatile and demonstrates some nice traits to his game. His two-way game sticks out to me where he’s willing to battle down low in his own end and dig out loose pucks to help his defenseman. On the power play he’s used on the half wall where he’s in charge of setting up the attack on one of the power plays acting as more of a distributor than a passer. In order to get drafted, we will need to see more offensively before establishing himself as a premier two-way pivot in the pros.
| Alexis Gendron | Lac St-Louis Grenadiers | Midget | L | F | 5’8″ | 157 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | Coteau-du-Lac, QC | 2021-2022: C+ |
A tireless worker, Gendron caught my eye in this one. Along with Roy, his line was extremely active on the night accounting for 3 out of the team’s five goals. Gendron is a player coaches love to have in the lineup as he competes every shift- hard on pucks, wins stick battles and is first on the forecheck. In this contest Gendron imposed himself physically often beating defenseman to loose pucks allowing his team to maintain possession. Gendron keeps plays simple by winning puck battles, protecting the puck and using his quick skating ability to beat defenseman. A couple of times throughout the game, he would chip the puck on zone entries and win races to loose pucks. This is a great quality to have and does not go unnoticed amongst the coaching staff. Another draft eligible who will battle every night to prove he belongs.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Game Evaluation: Sotiri Athanasopoulos