Zadina, Dobson top the Q class
Screaming Eagles goaltender Mandolese rated one of league’s 10 best draft eligibles
Two teams could steal the show for the QMJHL at next weekend’s NHL draft in Dallas.
The Halifax Mooseheads and Drummondville Voltigeurs are stocked with prospects and could see as many as a combined 10 players drafted. According to the scouts I’ve spoken to there’s a realistic chance seven of the first Quebec league players off the board will be from those teams. Here are the top 10 Q players heading into the two-day derby:
1. Filip Zadina, RW, Halifax Mooseheads: Most expect the Czech sniper to go third overall to the Montreal Canadiens, although there is a group of four or five other players who are also being considered for that spot. He will almost certainly go in the top five and there’s an above-average chance he goes directly to the NHL in 2018-19.
2. Noah Dobson, D, Bathurst Titan: The player most scouts compare the Prince Edward Island native to is Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is a fluid skater who has an exceptionally high IQ and was an assistant captain on the team that won the Memorial Cup, so there’s a lot to like. Dobson started the year as a potential high second-rounder but is now being mentioned as a possible top 5 pick.
3. Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville Voltigeurs: A weak crop of centres available will help his draft position but some worry
he may top out as a secondline pivot because of his low goal totals this year. That said, he is smart, skilled, defensively responsible and a terrific character player, so he’s also a safe pick.
4. Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax Mooseheads: Unlike the centre position, defence is overflowing with high-end players this year and that could negatively impact the Truro native’s fate. But his undeniable tools will only be overlooked for so long on draft weekend.
5. Bo Groulx, C, Halifax
Mooseheads: He may not be the flashiest guy but he gets the job done in a variety of fundamental ways. A team looking for a big, strong, twoway player for the middle of its lineup will get value with Groulx.
6. Xavier Bernard, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs: At sixfoot-three and 209 pounds, the surprisingly agile defender has the raw base required to be an intriguing project. He made tremendous strides in his allaround play during Dominique Ducharme’s two years as coach in Drummondville.
7. Nicolas Beaudin, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs: Not receiving an invitation to play in this year’s CHL Top Prospects game must have inspired him because he took his game to another level down the stretch and in the playoffs. He’s a shade under six feet tall so he had to work harder to prove himself.
8. Olivier Rodrigue, G, Drummondville Voltigeurs: This is the strongest crop of Quebec league netminders in years and Rodrigue has the slight edge over a few others. He had outstanding numbers in Drummondville but also played well for Canada on
the international stage.
9. Kevin Mandolese, G, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles: Many scouts believe Mandolese has the best base to evolve into a No. 1 goalie at the pro level. Screaming Eagles management also cleared the crease for him to be the starter this year so he’s in a good development situation.
10. Vladislav Kotkov, LW, Chicoutimi Saguneens: The sixfoot-four winger’s massive wingspan and soft hands make him irresistible to some scouts. The Russian finished second in team scoring as a Q rookie.