| Antonin Verreault | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | L | LW | 5’8″ | 163 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2020 | Mirabel, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Verreault is not only a skilled goal scoring winger, he is a highly competitive player who hates to lose any sort of battles for loose pucks. The undersized forward plays with pace through the neutral zone while doing an excellent job to change speeds manipulating the opposing defender’s gap control. When the defenders back off the line Verreault has the edge control to cut hard to the vacated open in ice in the middle looking for scoring options. If the defender is playing a tight gap, he has the power and continues to generate speed through a hard cross-under to drive wide and beat his opponent to the far post. When firing the puck with his feet moving Verreault has a deceptive release point and shows the puck skills to delay his shot until the goalie makes the first move. He is not a penalty killer for Gatineau this year, but he is a regular and key contributor to the power play and we feel this is where he will be used as a professional too where his puck poise and anticipation will be effective.
| Tristan Luneau | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 174 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2020 | Trois Rivieres, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: A- |
The former University of Wisconsin commit, Luneau is a 6’2″ 175 pound defenseman who shows high levels of confidence while under pressure. He retrieves loose pucks with his head on a swivel while deceptively looking one way with the plan to the other. There are times when he shows a bit too much confidence when trying to make backhand breakout passes from below his goal line, but we feel this is an area that will develop and mature out of his game through caching and time. The lanky right shot has quick feet from stand still, a deep knee bend and good stride frequency, but we feel through an off-ice commitment to training that his skating will improve and he has the potential to be a National League top 4 defenseman. Luneau has a rocket of a one-timer that has made him a fixture on the Olympiques power play and we feel this will continue into professional hockey. After being the captain at Trois Rivières Estacades during the 2019-20 season, the 2004 is an assistant captain during his second season in the QMJHL. Luneau is a high end prospect who will be watched heavily through the second half of the season.
Ville de Saguenay: CCM Midget AAA Challenge, February 10, 2020: Luneau is one of if not the top defender at the tournament and considered by many to be the top prospect of this years QMJHL draft. He’s a general on the ice who can dictate the pace of the game. Possesses the full complement of skills to become a defensive star. A polished skater who can go end to end with a smooth stride, head up, and the instinct to stay away from a guy trying to stop him. Very smooth, skilled hands with great puck touch, tape to tape passes and good zip when he moves the puck. On the point, he can disperse pucks to his teammates or rip one-time shots with power. Cerebral defenseman who thinks the game at a high clip. He’s able to read the forecheck to either spin off of pressure to beat someone with his skating or fire a quick pass to his open forward. He was chosen on the winter youth Olympic games. College: Wisconsin Grade A
Canada Youth Olympic Team (U-15) VS Lac St-Louis Lions, January 16, 2020: Touted as Canada’s top defenseman, Luneau displayed his skating and puck handling abilities that make him so effective. He effortlessly zips cross ice passes to forwards cutting or to his D partner. He’s able to lug the puck up ice without holding onto the puck for too long to either make a play to his forwards or getting the puck deep when there’s no room to skate. He played on the first unit power play as the quarterback, complementing Fantilli and Savoie very nicely. Although his talent is beyond, he showed hesitation at times in this game unlike his usual self. There were times where he got rid of the puck quick, most notably on the offensive blue line, where he normally shows poise. Had a terrible giveaway when his shot got blocked and the Lions went back and scored. I expect Luneau to re-group and establish himself as the go-to defenseman for Canada throughout the tournament.
| Samuel Savoie | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | L | C | 5’10” | 190 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2020 | Dieppe, NB | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
Savoie is a hard nosed competitive left shot forward who is at his best when he is initiating contact and beating his man off the wall back into the open ice. While on the forecheck he hunts pucks and opponents with sole intent of creating a turnover or exploding through the defender and trying to put them into the third row. Savioe out works his opponents for loose pucks and then shows the self awareness to move the puck quickly to an open teammate. He then moves his feet beating them to the valuable open ice where he is ready with a prepared stick that is ready to fight for rebound opportunities. We feel that although he might not be the prettiest player who makes every week’s top 10 plays, Savoie plays with an edge and a passion that is needed to succeed in professional hockey.
| Noah Warren | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | R | D | 6’5″ | 215 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2020 | St. Jean sur Richelieu, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Warren is a massive right shot defender who literally destroys everything he touches in the the QMJHL after he makes body contact. He defends with tight gaps and shows the timing to step up early in the neutral zone or at defensive blue line to be disruptive and end a line rush. Warren does not need to cross-over while pivoting, but right now his skating base might be a little to bit wide. We feel that through an NHL development coach’s help, he will be able to consistently bring his skates to shoulder width apart which will allow for more power and a quicker recovery. In the defensive zone Warren plays with his stick on the ice and easily clears lanes. Simply, he a large right shot defender with a lot going for him and we feel he is an National League development coach’s dream. We expect him to be drafted, play another year in the QMJHL working on his puck skills and confidence before embarking on a professional career that will include time in the American League before he earns an opportunity for time in the NHL.
| Emerik Despatie | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 176 | Quebec Ramparts | 2019 | Gatineau, QC | 2003 | Not yet rated |
The 6’1″ Despatie shows very good anticipation, especially while killing penalties, and he is very explosive laterally. We like how he is prepared to move laterally by using his inside to explode across the crease, but he has the body control to not lean or adjust his shoulders. Overall he is most effective when playing at the top of his crease and giving the shooters very little to look at, but Despatie shows the body control to not get himself sliding all over the defensive zone.
| Charles Antoine Lavallee | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | L | LW | 6’1″ | 194 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2021 | Quebec, QC | 2004 | Not yet rated |
The big strong left shot forward is still quite raw after spending last year playing New England prep school hockey for Rice Memorial. He plays a straight forward game where he likes to be in front of the opposing team’s net digging for rebounds and looking for loose pucks. Lavallee is a player we will watch for having more of an impact during the second half of the season.
| Julien Paille | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | L | F | 6’0″ | 176 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2019 | Sherbrooke, QC | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Julien Paille was a ninth round pick by Gatineau in the 2019 QMJHL Draft and he is currently averaging over 11:00 per game for the Olympiques this year. Overall he is still adjusting to the QMJHL, but we love the fact that he was a late round pick who is carving out five on five ice for himself this year. At lower levels Paille has always had a nose for the net and a knack for scoring goals so we will be looking for his game to grow as his adjustment continues.
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