‘Relentless’ Sens prospect Batherson shoots to top of QMJHL scoring race
On a day when the Ottawa Senators were about to again try to contain the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL draft, head coach Guy Boucher raved about the guy chosen 121st. Understandably so. As of Friday afternoon, Senators prospect Drake Batherson had an eight-point lead in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring race and had six more goals than any other QMJHL player.
He also had 17 more points than his next highest scoring teammate with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
When Boucher was asked if he was surprised that Batherson had 17 goals and 12 assists in the first 15 games of the regular season, he replied with an adamant no.
“He had an outstanding camp,” Boucher said. “It was just tougher once he got to the exhibition (games). He wasn’t bad, but it was a little too much for him at that time. He had been probably the revelation of camp until then, so I’m not surprised at all.”
With the enthusiastic endorsement of chief amateur scout Trent Mann and amateur scout Don Boyd, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion snapped up Batherson after taking Shane Bowers in the first round and Alex Formenton in the second. At six-foot-one and 183 pounds, Batherson is shaping up to be the diamond in the rough of the 2017 lottery, which kicked off with the Devils making Nico Hischier the top pick.
In Boucher’s opinion, Batherson, a right-handed shooting centre, projects to be a very good pro.
“First of all, he’s got the No. 1 criteria for the NHL ... he’s got high high-end speed,” Boucher said. “He’s a big guy, he’s tough, he’s re- lentless, he’s physical and he’s got great hands and good vision.
“It’s a rare package because of his size. You see a lot of fast guys and you see skill, but having that skill and that speed on that type of body, that’s a rarity. Big time.”