| Brayden Schmitt | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | R | D | 5’11” | 161 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2020 | Truro, NS | 2021-2022: C+ |
The right shot defender is comfortable playing on either the left or right side. He may be under 6′ tall, but he uses a long stick and a hidden poke check to make himself seem larger while defending. Schmitt is very comfortable pulling pucks off the wall or poor passes out of his feet and his first touch is smooth. In offensive situations he scans the ice before receiving the puck and he does not need to stickhandle before sending the puck up ice to his forwards. He shows nice game awareness when jumping into the play and understands that he can be an effective defenseman by moving his feet to create a distraction for opposing forwards when they backcheck. We like his shoulder width base which allows him to win net front battles and knock opposing forwards off balance through continued contact. Schmitt is a smart two-way defenseman who is strong on his feet right now. We feel with continued training he has the skating base that will carry an additional 20 to 25 pounds and we could be looking at a defenseman who can contribute at both ends of the ice in professional hockey.
| Alexis Gendron | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | L | C | 5’10” | 174 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2019 | Coteau-du-Lac, QC | 2021-2022: C+ |
Gendron is a smooth skating explosive left shot forward who can play all three positions up front. When backchecking into the defensive zone he shows good recognition as to who the F1, F2 or F3 is and he easily adjusts to his coverage position. He plays with his stick on the ice and shows good hand eye coordination when getting his stick on elevated pucks or sauce passes. We like that he stops hard on pucks in transition or when forechecking, as well as how he shows a quick hard first step and cross under to create separation while on offense or containment while defending. Gendron does not let anyone off the hook choosing to finish his checks with authority and consistently beating his man into the play or open ice. He has strong hands and passes the puck with pace. We feel his abrasiveness and attention to detail make him a potential penalty killer in professional hockey. The December 2003 in his first year of NHL Draft eligibility.
| Jonathan Fauchon | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | L | C | 5’10” | 165 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2020 | Sainte-Claire, QC | 2021-2022: C |
Jonathon Fauchon is an averaged sized left shot center. Defensively he is very reliable away from the puck and not only works hard to stay on the defensive side of the puck in battles, he keeps his head on a swivel and shows a very quick stick that will help his defensemen in corner containment. Fauchon is an inside edge skater with a long stride as well as an inside edge glide. In neutral zone transition we like how he cleanly pivots so that he is always facing the puck with a prepared stick. He is a player who has never put up gaudy numbers at lower levels so we do not expect him to put up huge numbers in the QMJHL, but we do expect him to play smart two-way hockey and that is what he does on a very consistent basis.
| Colby Huggan | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | L | C | 5’11” | 141 | Cape Breton Eagles | 2020 | Charlottetown, PE | 2004 | Long Term Player Watch |
Physically Huggan is still very light weighing in at only 141 pounds, but that does not deter him from getting involved along the walls, engaging in front of the opponent’s net and winning battles in all three zones. He is a player who has been able to score at lower levels so when we watch him we are thinking what will we he look like when or if he is able to put on twenty, thirty or even 40 pounds. We like his knee bend, long stride with a toe push and how his glide blade returns flat upon returning. Because of this we feel he will be able to carry the extra weight and still be able to play at an effective pace. We also really like his awareness away from the puck. As a forechecker he does not blindly chase pucks all over the zone. He reads where is linemates are and when he is a the F1 or F2 Huggan does an excellent job of judging his width and depth to ensure he does not get caught up ice causing an odd man rush. In the defensive zone his stick placement deters passes to the slot and when his point man receives a pass his routes to apply pressure force pucks to be thrown to the corner. None of these things seem like game changers unless you’re a coach looking for dependable players who consistently make the right plays to help the team win. We think Huggan is an extreme long shot to be drafted, but we also feel that NHL teams should be paying attention to the 141 pound winger who is very smart.
| Charles Edward Gravel | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | R | G | 6’0″ | 181 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2020 | Levis, QC | 2021-2022: C |
The right catching Gravel is 6’0″ cerebral goalie who relies on his game awareness and anticipation to be in position early to make saves. He plays at the top of his crease and is quick laterally. As an undersized goalie there are times when multiple passes through the royal road can get him too far out of his crease, but Gravel will make the saves you expect a goalie to make.
| Alexis Brisson | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | L | LW | 6’1″ | 185 | Rimouski Océanic | 2019 | Montreal, QC | 2003 | Not yet rated |
The December 2003 plays an honest straight forward game. Brisson has a pro styled frame and looks to be very strong on the puck while cycling. In the offensive zone he plays with his head on a swivel and is very good at getting lost in the high slot or losing his defender by getting into the weakside dot lane. We love his ability to be in the bumper and one touch passes back to the defenseman or to open linemates along the goal line. Brisson has a pro frame right now and we feel with added strength he could compete in professional hockey.
| Mikael Denis | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | L | LW | 5’11” | 175 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2019 | Rivière-du-Loup, QC | Not yet rated |
Denis plays an honest straight forward game and he has the ability to effectively play left or right side. He finishes his checks, stops on pucks and shows very good awareness when he is away from the puck. Denis shows some wiggle through the neutral zone as well as showing that he can roll off contact while cycling the puck below the goal line.
| Antoine Roy | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | L | C | 6’1″ | 185 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2020 | Not yet rated |
Roy has an NHL frame. He finishes his checks and beats his man off the wall back into the play. In the defensive zone he is willing to block shots and will maintain line-ups. He is adjusting to life in the QMJHL and looks to be gaining confidence, but we feel the inside edge skater will need to continue adding strength to his lanky frame to really make a push for a professional career.
| Philippe Fauchon | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | R | D/F | 5’8″ | 163 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2020 | Levis, QC | Not yet rated |
The right shot Philippe Fauchon is a fleet footed skater who has real jump in his stride. He is both quick in all directions as well has having straight line speed. The stocky and powerful 2004 is still adjusting to life in major junior hockey, but his pace will keep him in the line-up.
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