The world of junior hockey is a fascinating place for fans — following the product often means a mutual interest in not only seeing your preferred team win a championship, but to also see the future stars of the NHL before they skate in "the show."
Earlier this month, 26 QMJHLers were given a good sign that their dreams may not be so far out of reach. NHL Central Scouting released its "players to watch" list, a ranking of names based on their potential to be picked in the 2020 NHL draft. Those receiving an "A" rating are considered to be potential first-round picks, "B" rated players have the potential to be chosen in rounds two and three, while those with a "C" grade are currently expected to be tabbed in rounds four through six — though plenty can change before the June's selection process.
Four "Q" players are considered A listers: Halifax defenseman Justin Barron, Chicoutimi forward Hendrix Lapierre, Saint John defenseman Jérémie Poirier, and Rimouski forward Alexis Lafrenière, who has long been considered the consensus number one choice for June's draft. Poirier is one of a league-leading five Sea Dogs on the list, joined by C-listed teammates Charlie Desroches, Josh Lawrence, Dawson Stairs, and William Villeneuve. (The Eagles have two C-ranked skaters — forwards Ryan Francis and Ivan Ivan).
Of course, Central Scouting is just one resource for tracking NHL prospects. Sam Cosentino, a colour commentator for Sportsnet's CHL coverage, placed seven QMJHLers in his first round — adding Shawinigan forwards Vasily Ponomarev and Mavrik Bourque along with Chicoutimi's Théo Rochette. Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News put all seven in the first round in his pre-season ranking. Craig Button ranked Ponomarev along with the four "A"-listed players, but additionally included Charlottetown's Lukas Cormier in his first round.
Thirty-six QMJHL talents have already taken that step as drafted players who have their professional rights belonging to NHL clubs. Only three Q teams this year can't claim an NHL-drafted player: Acadie-Bathurst, Drummondville, and Gatineau. (Of the three, Bathurst is the only one also without a player on the CSR list for the 2020 draft.)
Twenty-one of the NHL's 31 teams have draft picks playing in this league this season. No organization has more representation than the current Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, holding the rights to four QMJHL players — goaltender Colten Ellis (Rimouski), and forwards Jérémy Michel (Val-d'Or), Mathias Laferrière (Cape Breton), and Nikita Alexandrov (Charlottetown). Laferrière and Alexandrov have already inked entry-level contracts with the Blues.
Another St. Louis draftee is proof that being drafted isn't everything. Val-d'Or's David Noël was chosen by St. Louis in 2017 but the Blues elected not to sign him, making him a free agent as of June of 2019. Noël suffered a setback in 2018-19 when he suffered a serious eye injury but did return to the Foreurs lineup and is the club's captain this year, hopefully on the road to a career in pro hockey.
D'Artagnan Joly, also picked in the 2017 NHL draft (by Calgary), was unable to land a spot in the QMJHL this year, the odd man out in Rimouski's 20-year-old situation. The younger brother of former Eagle Michael Joly, D'Artagnan has signed on to join the Trenton Golden Hawks of the OJHL Jr. A circuit.
On the flip side of stories like Joly and Noël are those who are initially passed over by NHL clubs but then later find their way into a big league organization. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard was passed over in two straight NHL drafts before he captained the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to the 2019 Memorial Cup. Harvey-Pinard then had a busy off-season, being traded to his hometown Chicoutimi Saguenéens and then being selected by the Montreal Canadiens.
Jeremy McKenna was another forward who was passed over in multiple NHL drafts but was signed by the Calgary Flames AHL squad in Stockton. McKenna ultimately wasn't able to crack this year's roster and, rather than report to the ECHL, elected to return to Moncton. Between McKenna's return and the late arrival of Swedish defenseman Axel Andersson, a Boston Bruins prospect, an infusion of talent from the pros has made Moncton one of the favourites to win the President's Cup.
Rest assured, fans across the league will be watching as all these stars chase both personal and team success, as there is never a shortage of intriguing storylines in a season of a junior hockey.
Patrick McNeil is the play-by-play announcer with the Cape Breton Eagles. If you didn't know he was a Washington Nationals fan, someone probably told you in the last week. Email him at [email protected], or Twitter: @cbse_pbp
