NHL Draft season is underway, and what better time to take a sneak-peak into some of the best the QMJHL have to offer who might hear their name called next weekend.
D Marcus Kearsey - Charlottetown Islanders
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Marcus Kearsey, a former winner of the award for the QMJHL's top defensive rookie, is one of those players where the production doesn't match his rankings. Despite being ranked as the 180th by Central Scouting for all North American skaters, the left shot defendesman's first year eligible leading 49 point season should be one teams might swoon over. Kearsey is a mobile offensive defenseman with great passing and admirable defensive effort. He's got great surface level defending too, often breaking up zone entries by sheer will. That said, he'll need to add size to continue to be effective once he turns pro, especially considering he's a bit on the smaller side.
D Jan Golicic - Gatineau Olympiques
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfc8iE5lqsk[/embed]
VIDEO: Jan Golicic two point (1+1) game vs Val D'Or
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Speaking of left shot defenseman, Jan Golicic is a curious case. Standing at 6-foot-6, Golicic is a towering shutdown defenseman who played big minutes with the Olympiques. He's a tough customer, with a whole arsenal of ways to "blow up" his man, from swatting pucks away to the occasional hip check. The Slovenian stalwart isn't a slouch on offense either, putting up 29 points across 65 games this year. His production stems from his combination of proficient passing, great hands and a willingness to jump into the play offensively. Internationally, he was a dominant force for Slovenia at the Division ll U-18 World's, scoring 10 points across only five games and being named the tournament's top defenseman, clinching gold and a promotion. Golicic offers solid skating for a big man, but would ideally need to work on getting it to the next gear to neutralize rush chances. Golicic is a very raw prospect, but might have the physical tools and potential upside to make It a real shame if his name goes uncalled this weekend.
C Eliot L'Italien - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jb1l0CnDNA[/embed]
VIDEO: Eliot L'Italien two assist night in playoffs
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Every year there's guys who get drafted that don't have stats that wow, but sometimes end up carving out roles at the NHL level. Eliot L'Italien may be one of them this year. The former QMJHL 8th overall selection's 20 points across 46 games seems disappointing on it's face, but it's his forechecking and defensive play that should get teams interested. He's got a good motor, pressures hard on forechecks and with a keen ability to pickpocket the puck clean off of guys blades. L'Italien doesn't miss many defensive assignments and will often support his defensemen, unlike many top junior prospects. Offensively, he's crash and bang power forward -- driving the net, battling around the crease and looking for tips and rebounds. He's also uses his speed to support or drive play on the rush. This playoffs saw his production level up, potting 5 assists over 7 games.
RW Logan Crosby - Halifax Mooseheads
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvqw1UqSwyY[/embed]
VIDEO: Logan Crosby 3 point night against Acadie-Bathurst Titan
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If Sidney Crosby was 'The Next One', then the best way to sum up Logan Crosby is 'The Unlucky One.' Missing over half the season due to various injuries, Crosby was able to pot 22 points in just 33 games. What makes that more impressive is that he put up those numbers while averaging middle-six minutes on a stacked Mooseheads team. He's a smart passer, but also has the size and shot to play more like a power forward. Should he have a healthy year and more icetime, Crosby could be a major breakout candidate for the 2024-25 QMJHL season.
The first round of the NHL draft will be airing June 28th, 2024 at 7:00 PM EST, and the following rounds throughout June 29th.