Having some fun this morning – here’s AP’s first round QMJHL Mock Draft. Very limited viewings of QC kids, so this has a lot of shots in the dark but why not! Best of luck to all NL-born players. Link to watch round 1 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw9IuGDZ2k4
Pick 1 (Sherbrooke): Ethan Gauthier (F). Sherbrooke couldn’t put the puck in the ocean last year; Gauthier adds instant offence.
Pick 2 (Drummondville): Alexis Bourque (F). The Volts made a big splash a couple days ago to land this pick. Kids a sniper.
Pick 3 (Baie Comeau): Vincent Collard (F). The Drakkar add some meat up front
Pick 4 (Rimouski): Luke Coughlin (D). I am very high on this kid, I think he’s a top-5 talent. Great skater, plays with an edge, PP QB.
Pick 5 (Halifax): Tyler Peddle (F). High-end talent who scored about 300 goals in U15 AAA with the Novas. Maybe a few less than 300. But hey.
Pick 6 (Halifax): Dylan Mackinnon (D). Justin Barron’s eventual replacement. Big, strong righty who carries the puck well. Doesn’t mind the rough going either!
Pick 7 (BLB): M.O Beaudry (D). Top-rated D in Quebec.
Pick 8 (Cape Breton): Emile Perron (D). A defenceman to a team who gave up a sh*t tonne of goals in 2020-21. Makes sense.
Pick 9 (Shawinigan): Matis Ouellet (F). Best player available strategy for the Cats this draft, as they are already shaping up to be a wagon in 2021-22
Pick 10 (Rimouski): Nathan Baril (F). The Oceanic should just set up a tent at the podium tonight, as they select 4 times on Day 1.
Pick 11 (Drummondville): Matteo Rotondi (D). A Hitmen alum (Shortall) replaced by a Hitmen alum. Not to mention Rotondi is rock solid.
Pick 12 (Rimouski): Mathieu Cataford (F). I can hear the announcer now…. “GOAL SCORED BY CAT-AHH-FAHHH”
Pick 13 (BLB): Emmanuel Vermette (F): The Armada balance out their first round with a value pick at 13
Pick 14 (Victoriaville): Justin Boisselle (F). The champs replace Shawn Element on the wing with this pick
Pick 15 (Rimouski): Jesse Carriere (D). Rimouski continue overhauling their lineup. Would not be surprised to see this pick be a winger though
Pick 16 (Bathurst): Justin Gendron (F). A Moncton boy drives up the highway; highly-skilled forward. Not my type, but I see the intrigue and so will the Titan.
Pick 17 (Drummondville): Mael St-Denis (F). Top-rated forward available to help replace the departures of Simoneau and Dufour this off-season.
Pick 18 (BLB): Jake Todd (F). Patrick Kane player comp! Uses space well, the Armada lose 2 C’s due to age, and this guy is a smart one.
Pick 19 (Rouyn-Noranda): Thomas Hebert (D). Brad Yetman’s first pick as head coach.
Pick 20 (Saint John): Bradley Nadeau (F). The ‘Dogs lose Leonard, Kotkov and just traded Girouard to CB. They fill a positional need with a player who – I believe – is the most electrifying forward in the Maritime provinces.