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QMJHL: Cape Breton’s NHL Prospects vs Gatineau

Played on Dec 8, 2022

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Game Played in Centre 200

Scout: Ian Moran

Francois-James ButeauCape Breton EaglesQMJHLLD6’4″205Cape Breton Eagles | 2020Blainville, QC20042022-2023: C+2021-2022: C+

Game Rating

B-

1 Viewing

Comments: Buteau is a 6’4′ 205lbs left shot defender in his second year of draft eligibility. In this game he totaled 21:05 of ice time including a team high 5:26 while short handed, which was 1:13 more than his next closest teammate. As a penalty killer he used his wing span to force poor dumps and poor decisions at his defensive blueline. He was also willing to maintain shooting lanes and he intentionally baited shooters into believing they could get their shot through which allowed him to block shots. By our count he had 4 blocked shots while shorthanded and two 200′ clears. Buteau has the frame to be an NHLer and we would think that NHL scouts will be paying close attention to him this year as he is a player who probably won’t impact your team on the score sheet, but he could impact your penalty kill unit. Buteau finished the game -1, with zero hits, 1 shot blocked, 6 giveaways, 6 takeaways and he won 78% of his 9 puck battles.

Tomas LavoieCape Breton EaglesQMJHLRD6’3″209Cape Breton Eagles | 2022Repentigny, QC20062023-2024: B

Game Rating

C

1 Viewing

Comments: The 6’3′ 209 pound right shot 2006 played 5:28 in total ice time through two periods. he finished with one takeaway and won 50% of his 4 puck battles. His season average is 18:21 TOI so we will be looking to see if the former #1 overall OMJHL selection was injured.

Luke PattersonCape Breton EaglesQMJHLLF6’1″184Cape Breton Eagles | 2022Moncton, NB2005Not yet rated

Game Rating

B-

1 Viewing

Comments: Patterson is a lanky left shot forward who primarily played right wing. He has an “A frame” skating base and quick stride. He finished -2 in this game with both goals coming on point shots from Gatineau’s left defenseman. On both shots Patterson failed to maintain the shooting lane to potentially block the shot. He totaled 14:54 of ice time including 0:59 on the power play and 0:16 while shorthanded. Patterson had two grade “A” scoring opportunities. The first came as a result of pressuring the defenseman as the F1 on the forecheck and second coming on a partial breakaway where he pulled up in the dot lane for a snap shot. He had 6 giveaways, 3 takeaways and won 36% of his 14 puck battles.

Cam SquiresCape Breton EaglesQMJHLRRW6’0″161Calgary Hitmen | 2021Charlottetown, PE20052022-2023: C+

Game Rating

B

1 Viewing

Comments: Squires in an average sized right wing who played on Cape Breton’s top unit. In this game he totaled 15:26 in ice time including 1:51 while on the power play and 0:14 while shorthanded. He had four grade “A” scoring opportunities and finished with 1 goal which came on a quick stick one-timer in the slot. On line rushes he showed the awareness to change pace as the puck carrier and to find the open ice for scoring opportunities when he was not. His release was quick showing the ability to shoot while his feet were moving and to fire bullets through screens. He had 11 giveaways, 5 takeaways and won 22% of his 9 puck battles.

Owen ArnoldCape Breton EaglesQMJHLRD6’5″201Acadie-Bathhurst Titan | 2021Quispamsis, NB20052022-2023: C+

Game Rating

C

1 Viewing

Comments: Arnold is 6’5′ 200lbs right shot defender playing in his first QMJHL season. He earned 6:48 in total ice time and finished -1. As he continues to develop he will need to continue to improve his foot speed, but he has quiet skating base and a smooth glide with a deep knee bend. There are times when he gets his shoulders out over his toes a bit too much while defending, but er feel with added core strength this can be corrected. At this point he is quite raw and long term project, but his deep knee’d skating base could make an NHL development coach love working with him. He will need to live in the gym, on the track and increase his level of mean to have an increased shot at an NHL career.

Xavier DaigleCape Breton EaglesQMJHLLD6’0″175Cape Breton Eagles | 2021St. Apollinaire, QC20052022-2023: C

Game Rating

B

1 Viewing

Comments: Daigle is a slightly below average sized left shot defender with game awareness to play both side equally as well. In this game he totaled 18:53 of ice time including 1:51 while on the power play and 3:06 on shorthanded. The power play failed to get set up while he was on the ice. but it appeared that he would be running his strongside left flank. As a killer he engaged in boxing out as early as possible and was more than willing to battle for the ice at the top of the crease. He finished the game with zero points, an even +/-, zero shots, 4 giveaways, 12 takeaways and he won 92% of his 13 puck battles.

Charles BoutinCape Breton EaglesQMJHLLC5’10”181Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2019Quebec City, QC2003Not yet rated

Game Rating

B

1 Viewing

Comments: Boutin earned 21:37 in TOI including 3:27 while on the power play and 3:39 while shorthanded. He had one grade ‘A’ scoring opportunity that came off a power play line rush. On the play the left shot attacked the offensive zone as the puck carrier on his off wing and gave a pass to the middle drive in the slot. Boutin then opened up to give himself a better shooting angle and when he got the pass back he ripped a one-timer into the open cage. He received four minutes in penalties including a hooking penalty while in the offensive zone on the power play. Boutin went 16/29 on face-offs, had 1 hit, 6 giveaways, 4 takeaways and won 42% of his 12 puck battles. At this point in his career Boutin is on his second team and playing in his third QMJHL season. We currently do not see him as a potential NHL free agent or draft pick.

Ivan IvanCape Breton EaglesQMJHLLC5’11”190Cape Breton Eagles | 2019Ostrava20022019-2020: C

Game Rating

B+

1 Viewing

Comments: Ivan totaled 26:58 in ice time including 3:36 while on the power play and 4:07 while shorthanded. He played primarily the left flank on the power play, but mid-way through a power play in the third period he rotated to the top of the umbrella and stayed there. Ivan finished with two power play assists with the fist coming off of a line rush where he was the middle drive. On the play he received a pass from his right, got his eyes up to sell the catch & release snap shot and then slid a perfect pass back to his right for a one-timer. On his second assist Ivan won a loose puck battle below the offensive goal and made an outlet pass to the point. The goal was scored because Ivan showed the awareness to box out the opposing defender as they raced to the net which gave the goal scorer a clear shooting option as he came down the dot lane. Although he did not score he had five shots on net, including two grade ‘A’ opportunities that came off the rush. Ivan did show the ability to shoot through screens and to shoot while his feet were moving. He finished 19/26 on face-offs and had 7 giveaways, 11 takeaways and won 53% of his 19 puck battles. Ivan has the skating ability to play professional hockey, but we feel he needs to continue adding strength and power to increase the probability of him earning a NHL contract at some point in the future.

Angelo FullertonCape Breton EaglesQMJHLLLW6’3″201Cape Breton Eagles | 2022Quispamsis, NB20052022-2023: C

Game Rating

C

1 Viewing

Comments: Fullerton is a 6’3′ left shot forward who is playing in his QMJHL rookie season. He has a long powerful stride and a deep skating base. He totaled 7:14 in ice time including 0:52 on the power play. During a cycle midway through the first period he found the quiet area in the high slot and let a bullet snap shot fly high glove. He finished the game with 2 giveaways, 1 takeaway and he won 25% of his four puck battles. As a 2005 who was drafted at #163 in the 2022 QMJHL Draft we feel Fullerton a late bloomer to keep watching.

Logo Courtesy of Cape Brenton Eagles

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