| Nathan Gaucher | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | R | C | 6’3″ | 207 | Quebec Remparts | 2019 | Longueuil, QC | 2003 | 2021-2022: A- |
Gaucher has everything that an NHL team wants on their roster. The 6’3″ power forward has nice speed and explosiveness as well as the skating base that will allow him to carry a more powerful lower half. On zone entries he is comfortable carrying the puck in all three lanes and understands how to attack the opposing defenders to make them feel uncomfortable. Gaucher has the strength to be a middle drive that carries defenders to the net with him as well as showing the skill and offensive awareness to make deft plays on bouncing rebounds. He is currently a key contributor in five on five situations as well as both of the special teams units and is averaging just over 18:00 minutes per-game. Gaucher is a physical presence who has the mindset to run opponents over when it is appropriate, but also has the awareness to not run all over the ice looking for that huge hit. Currently he is in his third QMJHL season and after having 31 points in 30 games last season, Gaucher has 28 points in 32 games including a career high 16 goals. The one area that has us hesitant from being an “A” grade is that he is only winning 45% of his puck battles and we feel that at 6’3″ 200 pounds that in Major Junior hockey he should be winning more battles.
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts as of December 20, 2021 Season stats: Games played 32, Goals 16 Assists 2, Points 28, plus/minus +10, Penalty Minutes 28, Penalties Drawn 16, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 18:12, Power play time 02:32, Short-handed time 01:52, Shots 5.1, %Shots on goal 57%, Puck battles 14, %Puck battles won 45%, Hits 1.16, Hits against 0.47
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts vs Halifax Mooseheads, February 29, 2020: A late 2003 birth date, Gaucher will only be eligible for the 2022 draft. Nonetheless he can hold his own using his big strong frame to out muscle his much older opponents. Although he’s younger than everyone, Gaucher plays a mean, in your face type of game making it difficult to play against him. Gaucher potted a nice goal in this one putting home a rebound after a Malatesta shot. With time his handles, edge work and overall confidence with the puck will improve giving Gauthier that offensive flair as well. He already has 11 goals showing he has that hockey IQ and knowledge to find the back of the net. Look for Gaucher to develop into an effective 2 way power forward. Game Score: B+, Draft Projection 2022: 2nd -3rd round, NHL Comparison: Josh Anderson. Game Evaluation: Sotiri Athanasopoulos
Quebec Midget AAA Challenge, January 13, 2019: After starting the season off slow Gaucher is starting to grow into his mold as an offensive power forward. With already great physical abilities, Gaucher is a fluent skater who finishes his checks and opens up space for his linemates. Gaucher is powerful with a mean streak to him, which makes him an intriguing prospect. With all that being said, Gaucher also has a soft touch around the net where he scored a couple of nifty goals in the showcase. If he can stay consistent in using his strengths in what makes him effective, he will be a high pick in the upcoming draft.
Drummondville Midget Espoir Tournament, December 14, 2017: Tied for first in points on his team Nathan is a big, strong power forward who likes to create space for his linemates. He draws players to him and is able to find his open teammates. He should shoot the puck a little more. Grade: B+
| Vsevolod Komarov | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 176 | Quebec Remparts | 2021 | Chelyabinsk, RUS | 2004 | Long Term Player Watch |
Komarov is an above average sized right shot defensive defenseman playing in his rookie season in the QMJHL. He has a wide skating base that allows him to be strong through contact and protect the puck when under a heavy forecheck. Komarov is definitely not a dangler, but he does have the puck poise and shows the stick blade manipulation by looking opposing forwards off to create passing lanes in transition. Although we feel he is a physical presence in front of his net and when eliminating the cycle we feel as he continues to mature and train we feel Komarov will need to continue focusing on his first step and explosiveness so that he will be able to compete against larger quicker players in professional hockey. At this point we feel we will continue to watch Rempart games before giving Komarov an NHL Draft grade.
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts as of December 20, 2021 Season stats: Games played 23, Goals 2 Assists 3, Points 5, plus/minus +11, Penalty Minutes 20, Penalties Drawn 2, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 15:30, Power play time 01:00, Short-handed time 0:17, Shots 3, %Shots on goal 44%, Puck battles 9, %Puck battles won 59%, Hits 0.43, Hits against 0.43
| William Rousseau | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 183 | Quebec Remparts | 2019 | Trois Rivieres, QC | 2003 | 2021-2022: C |
After having to adjust to the pace of major junior Rousseau is having a nice start to year two. His save percentage has risen from 0.833% in 2020-21 to a very nice 0.919% in 2021-22. Rousseau is an athletic butterfly goalie who stays low and relies on his quick reflexes. When reading odd man rushes he is patient and tries to outwait opposing puck carriers forcing them to make the first move. Rousseau plays at the top of his crease and has good rebound control. We feel he is long shot to be drafted, but his year over year improvement is something that we will continue to watch.
| Samuel Lachance | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 194 | Quebec Remparts | 2020 | Rosemère, QC | 2004 | Not yet rated |
After playing zero games during the 2020-21 season Samuel LaChance is a physically mature left shot defender currently in first season with the Remparts. He is still adjusting to the pace and decision making, but physically has the tools to be a very effective junior player.
| Theo Rochette | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | L | C | 5’10” | 168 | Chicoutimi Sagueens | 2018 | Neuchatel | 2002 | 2021-2022: B- |
Even though Neutral Zone has had Rochette as a “B-” NHL rating for the previous two drafts, he has not been selected. This year we feel the same. With or without the puck he is a highly skilled playmaking center who processes the game quickly. We love his ability to handle poor passes into his feet still maintaining his speed with his eyes up looking to make the next play. Rochette has the puck skills and ability to make plays while the is anywhere in his stickhandling range. This skill allows him to change the release point on both his passes and his snapshot. He has leadership qualities having worn an “A” last season and the “C” this year. Again we understand that this is his third year of draft eligibility, but offense wins games and puts fans in the building so we will be keeping Rochette as a “B-” for the 2022 NHL Draft.
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts as of December 20, 2021 Season stats: Games played 32, Goals 15 Assists 27, Points 42, plus/minus +9, Penalty Minutes 14, Penalties Drawn 10, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 20:14, Power play time 03:17, Short-handed time 0:22, Shots 4.3, %Shots on goal 57%, Face-offs won 48%, Puck battles 13, %Puck battles won 48%, Hits 0.16, Hits against 0.56
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts vs Halifax Mooseheads, February 29, 2020: When seeing Rochette in early January, he was coming off his mono sickness which kept him out for a couple of weeks. He looked like a different player in this one showing assertiveness with the puck, confidence with his touches and stronger on his feet. There is no doubting Rochette’s talent with the puck especially his vision and crisp accuracy. Rochette was noticeable all night and at times had the puck on a string slinging cross ice, cross box passes right on the tape. Laterally, he’s shifty on his skates and can bounce around to create space especially on the top of the circles off cycles or off the half wall once he sees some room. Luck in this game was not on his side missing a couple of great opportunities or having his linemates miss a couple of nice set ups back door. On the power play he set up a nice goal when he found his teammate across the box giving him an open shot to the net, having the net front player bang home the rebound. Rochette however does not have blazing speed off his first couple of steps and lacks that explosive breakaway speed. He’ll need to bulk up his frame to give him an extra edge on his players most notably when battling in the corners. If Rochette can play with a little more sandpaper, grit or some edge he can be an extremely solid player at the next level. Game Score: B+ Draft, Projection 2020: 3-5th round, NHL Comparison: Mats Zuccarello. Game Evaluation: Sotiri Athanasopoulos
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts NHL Prospects, February 11, 2020: Rochette is a talented skater and an important center for a young Québec team. He is a talented play maker–setting up teammates for scoring chances at even strength, and really showcasing his puck moving ability on the Power play–where every puck runs through him. His assist in this game came on the PP. He carried pucks in on the rush with good head-fakes and skating, and led the breakout on the PP. Rochette has a high skill level and play making ability, and is rightfully Ranked 64th for North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, likely to be taken in the first few rounds in June. Game Grade: B Game Evaluation: William White
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts vs Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, January 3, 2020: This was our first viewing since his trade to Quebec. Rochette, a highly touted prospect for the upcoming draft, Rochette did not have one of his better games in this one. Rochette was most noticeable on the half wall on the power play where much of the plays started from him. He slinged a couple of nice passes cross box along with some nice soft feeds to the man in the bumper position. It’s evident that the talent is there- he understands the game well, his vision is elite and his awareness with and without the puck is quality. However, in this game he did not show much compete or a sense of urgency in his play. His skating is average, with decent edge work in tight areas. On a positive note this is always an area he can work on- he will need to gain strength in his lower body which will allow him to fight off checks or beat defenseman wide on zone entries. After being traded by Chicoutimi, Rochette is adjusting to the new system and style of play of the Remparts. Rochette has had a rough start to the season as well missing time due to mono. Hopefully he can bring his game to another level in the latter half of the season. Game Grade: B
QMJHL: Chicoutimi Saguenéens NHL Prospects, December 11, 2019: The smaller center-iceman has good speed and a mind for getting to scoring areas offensively. His stride is a little different, and he sort of bobs up and down sometimes when he skates, but it doesn’t affect his quickness. He spent time on the penalty kill–giving good pressure on the PK, and actually getting his best scoring chance a man down. He had a good stick on the fore-check, and worked hard to get back defensively. He stayed with his guy down low as the center, though he did get out-muscled on occasion, including winning only 3 of his 9 draws. He had two quality chances, and finished with 4 shots on net. There are things to like about this young player. Game Grade: B-
| Mikael Huchette | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | R | C | 6’3″ | 196 | Quebec Remparts | 2019 | Saint Hyacinthe, QC | 2003 | Long Term Player Watch |
Huchette is a big strong right shot center who is at his best when in close quarters battling for ice and winning loose pucks. He shows nice awareness and timing when providing support during transition by staying below the puck and having the ability to receive hard passes on his forehand or backhand. We also like his ability to one-touch passes, either into space or hard onto a teammate’s stick. Huchette has a quick stick around the offensive net and can one-time shots with authority. As he continues to develop his game we feel Huchette will need to work on the return of his glide leg after his stride. He is a powerful skater with a nice long stride, but we feel there are times (especially when fatigued) that he returns his skate lading on his inside edge which takes away from his speed and skating efficiency. At lower levels Huchette has always been a player who can score and we see no reason why that can not continue at higher levels with improved skating mechanics and footwork.
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts as of December 20, 2021 Season stats: Games played 27, Goals 5 Assists 11, Points 16, plus/minus 11, Penalty Minutes 8, Penalties Drawn 7, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 15:51, Power play time 02:38, Short-handed time 02:14, Shots 2.8, %Shots on goal 67%, Face-offs won 53%, Puck battles 13, %Puck battles won 50%, Hits 0.33, Hits against 0.74
Quebec Midget AAA Challenge, January 13, 2019: Big body who gets the puck in deep and goes to work. Hard on pucks and good on the cycle where he focuses on winning all his puck battles. Made a couple of big plays in the defensive zone playing hard on his wing and getting the puck out. A knock on Huchette is his skating stride where he does not generate a lot of power or speed. If he can improve his speed and leg strength, he can become a solid power forward.
Drummondville Midget Espoir Tournament, December 14, 2017: Huchette tied for the team lead in point and leading the team in assists, Mikael was a big part of the younger Quebec blue team winning bronze this weekend. He’s strong on the puck. He has a good shot. He uses his size and power behind each one. He uses his body to protect the puck and find his open man. Really fun player to watch this weekend. Grade: A
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