If you had to draft 2 defensemen in the first two rounds at the next draft to build a team. Who would they be and why?
2022 QMJHL Draft
- Thread starter Wintersun
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If you had to draft 2 defensemen in the first two rounds at the next draft to build a team. Who would they be and why?
I'll give you the three guys that I have in my top 10...
Owen Phillips
Xavier Veilleux
Spencer Gill
Those 3 I think you can build around and will be solid top pairing defenders.
Gill has that poise, vision and execution that is so high level already, and he's not even close to being physically mature. He has a lot of room to grow still, get stronger and faster, but he is a very smart player that plays the game correctly, very clean game.
Phillips is that big two-way defenseman who skates really well and has the skill and offense to be a game changer eventually. The tools are too good to pass up.
Veilleux is another two-way guy who plays with a drive to be a game changer every shift. His contributions on a shift to shift are very good and although his game could be cleaned up a little bit, there's significant upside at both ends and I feel he's already very solid defensively and physical, tough to play against, and very good in transition, can both skate and move the puck really well.
Then I have 3 other defensemen ranked in my first round right now and they are Julien Lanthier, Marcus Kearsey and Jeremie Richard.
Then in rounds 2 and 3, a lot of Quebec guys and not many maritime defensemen for me.
Has anyone on this made a list of rounds 2-6. I think the top round is pretty obvious for the most part. Wondering about some mid prospects, depth etc. so if anyone has anything for me on rounds 2-6 let me know.
Phillips may be a risky pick for a team on a rebuilding mode since he's playing in the US and may have an interest for the NCAA route. For a team that can afford to postpone their pick to the next year, it could be a better fit in my opinion.
Well done Wintersun, I think Richard and Kearsey will be 2nd round picks and you could see Waugh slide into the 2nd round as well. Ramsey has been getting much attention in NS, I think he will be up there...but not as high as the guys liste...likely a late 3rd early 4th.
I would expect at least Adam Fortier-Gendron to sneak in the first round, and maybe one or two other highly valued Quebec defensemen. Even Ramsay could go in round 1 to be honest. That said, I have my preferences as I listed them above. Those are the 6 first round defensemen on my personal list.
Waugh is somewhere in my late second round as well.
What does everyone think about the forwards now that the D have been discussed !!! There’s a bunch of talented forwards rated A in initial rankings from the maritimes , especially from Nova Scotia 4 really high end forwards , Peitzche, Kennedy , Shields , and Miller , thoughts ????
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I might get some backlash but I firmly believe Miller is overrated. I do not think his game will transfer over. Watch a full game and you can see his D game has a lot of holes.
Not a fan of Shields either ! His game might be good against his own age but I don’t think his game will transfer either
I am a huge advocate for the Mount and I always will be, but it is clear to see that certain people as well as advisors where in the ears of certain Central Scouts. And frankly it pisses me off The 4 players selected should of been 2 from the U18#2 team in Fraser & Croft plus Fletcher & Benner from the U17’s I said before the CSR listing this year was a joke and I believe it. The 4 that were picked are all playing U17 and are all playing with there own age group they don’t compete or battle with anyone bigger or stronger. They will be in the same boat come next year when they won’t be able to transfer Over either. What I like about Fraser & Croft is they battle everyday with older stronger guys making them stronger each day in getting ready for next year and Transitioning their game. Yes Flecther & Benner play U17 but I believe Fletcher plays a very smart physical game who is ready for the next level. I know Grandy is leading their team but I believe Fletcher is the better choice. & Benner is playing some of the best hockey, with a stellar GAA and SV% to date.
So if you guys dislike Miller and shields , what do you think about Kennedy and Peitzche who both play U18 . Everyone has a right to there own opinion as am I , I don’t think the prep and Qmjhl care where the players come from there looking for the best available at the time of there pick to fill there needs , but it’s clear some are rattled and clearly have something invested in the prep schools especially the mount !!!!
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I think Phillips is going to have a huge year next year as well don’t hate me I just don’t like Scheels I think he’s small and I think he’s overrated and I don’t think he’s ready for the next level you’re right I do like to prep schools maybe I shouldn’t but I do it’s personal preference I don’t have kids myself I’ve said it before but I have watched a lot of these kids grow up playing in Minor Hockey and I have seen a lot of these kids get screwed over they could’ve easily played in the highest level in her home clubs I think kids like the ones I mentioned deserve that opportunity if they were playing in their home clubs right now they’d be tearing it up but we honestly don’t know because we don’t have an opportunity to watch them play in their home clubs but they are playing for a prep school they are the youngest in a U18 team playing a competing in battling a practicing with all the stronger guys every single day I think of nothing else that definitely warrants a look
Who were the 4 Mount players that made the CSR list? Im surprised there were 4. As far as the 4 NS players I like them all. Shields might be smaller now but he’s good and will figure it out wherever he goes. Miller is good whether it translates to Q level right away not sure. Reece is physically mature enough to have a shot at playing and Kennedy is smart enough to play soon.
I’m not as high on the Moncton players listed. I like Gill the others I’m not as high on as some are. Good players but not first or second rounders in my opinion.
I like all the U18 PEI players listed.
I’m not as high on the Moncton players listed. I like Gill the others I’m not as high on as some are. Good players but not first or second rounders in my opinion.
I like all the U18 PEI players listed.
Phillips, Vieulleux, and Gill are also at the top of my list in terms of projectable defenseman making an impact at the next level. They all have tremendous upside and are very composed with high IQ. Some of the other Maritime D on the CSR are very skilled at U18 but will take longer to adapt to Major Junior. Up front Arsenault and Kennedy are my front runners, haven't seen Shield in the last 24 months enough to comment. Smith at RNS is also a big body with skill. In net, if Nico Boudreau from the Moose plays on a top caliber team in the Atlantic Canada he would have impressive numbers and be talked about more. The team in front of him is not helping his draft stock but he is very technically sound with good size.
Playing meaningful games in the 2nd half of the season is critical for many of these players. No CCM challenge or Ice Jam matching best on best will be detrimental for Atlantic talent just like it was for much of the 2005 contingent last year. Q teams were all in attendance at CCM challenge in Quebec prior to the shut down and it elevated a few 05's on to rosters for the 2nd half of the season. Meanwhile, not a single drafted Maritime player got called up despite many having solid showings in the U18 leagues. I expect we will see the same with Quebec draft eligible players moving up in the next version of the CSR.
Playing meaningful games in the 2nd half of the season is critical for many of these players. No CCM challenge or Ice Jam matching best on best will be detrimental for Atlantic talent just like it was for much of the 2005 contingent last year. Q teams were all in attendance at CCM challenge in Quebec prior to the shut down and it elevated a few 05's on to rosters for the 2nd half of the season. Meanwhile, not a single drafted Maritime player got called up despite many having solid showings in the U18 leagues. I expect we will see the same with Quebec draft eligible players moving up in the next version of the CSR.
I look at Shields this way....if he was in the NS U18 league I feel he would be as good as any 06 Forward they have. If he was playing on the Mount, specifically Mount #2 , the 06 players on that Team would be well behind him. The kid is good, he is playing U15, but he is putting up some serious #'s in a strong northeast league and when he competes on the National stage at US events, he still does well.
Northern Moose have 2 goalies ranked in the top 3 in Atlantic Canada...Savoie and Boudreau, both are very good, Savoie coming in at 6 2" is going to get a lot of attention as well come draft day.
Northern Moose have 2 goalies ranked in the top 3 in Atlantic Canada...Savoie and Boudreau, both are very good, Savoie coming in at 6 2" is going to get a lot of attention as well come draft day.
I agree with a lot of this. But do I feel he is the way above the U18 #2 mount kids no. And I will tell you why. He is a great player and would be the best 06 on that team no doubt. But with that said, he played in the Mount showcase this summer and did little to nothing. On the other hand a player like Tyler Wood another 06 with South Kent had a very good showcase. He was dominant with the puck while using his size to his advantage even against older competition.
I was not comparing Shields to Wood and I put even less stock in what happened at the Mount Showcase this past summer, it was barely pond hockey at times with the gap in talent. The u15 loop that Shields plays in is good hockey, that's all I am saying. Good hockey and he is having success at that level.
One thing Shields and Wood have in common is they are both playing alot of good hockey right now with there US teams, I hope the Quebec and Maritime boys get back in action soon.
From the maritime born forwards, I have Wood, Shields, Peitzsche and Kennedy in the first round. I have Miller, Arsenault, Smith in the second round. Then it gets a bit tough for me in round 3-4 for maritime forwards. Unexpectedly, Leard may be next on my board, not sure in which round exactly.
I think Boudreau is a top 5 goalie in the draft and is worth picking with a late second rounder.
It is a bit of a weaker crop this year in Quebec, not as deep and not as many high-end players at the top. The best player is arguably a goalie in D'aigle. That said, some guys should could rise.
So if your saying that the Mount Showcase was like watching pond hockey and the talent was good, and we are telling you Shields didn’t stand out in the showcase that would be the same as saying he didn’t stand out in pond hockey. So if he can’t stand out in pond hockey how do you expect a kid to stand out in the Q. I heard a lot about that showcase and I heard Shield was scared of the bigger players wouldn’t go to the net. He had no bad check and looked lazy if that’s what you want representing the Q then your must think the Q is weak pond hock also
I agree with your list for the most part. Although I have a hard time training my Brian, and agreeing to what you are saying in regards to the U18#2 team
I especially don’t like the fact that you basically said that the U18#2 team at the Mount are filler players. That’s a lot of money to be a filler player, and for this I don’t agree. Yes I agree that the rosters are not fair, but I don’t agree that the U17 have the better 06’s. Most of the U17 games are against U17 or U16 players. Both these teams have only played each other once and that was at the start of the year. A lot has changed in the first half, and yes the U17 team has some good players but they are no better than the 2 06’s representing U18#2 team in Croft and fraser. These kids compete and battle everyday in practice with bigger stronger players. Honestly I can’t wait till the second half to get going so they can prove themselves. These kids might not be top rounders but I do have them going in the draft at some point. I am so discussed with the amount of hate towards the prep school. Remember these kids live on Social media. How would you feel if you were up for the Draft and every time something gets mentioned about the Mount it is always negative. It’s great to see lists out there but don’t count these kids out just because there is a #2 at the end of their team name. I personally think it was selfish and degrading to add a number to this team instead of a team name. #No heart #no class.
But these kids deserve as much of a look then anyone
Croft has 6 points in 19 games
Fraser has 8 points in 19 games
At the U18 level there are kids who are on the CSR list with 3 points in 29 games etc. so that’s why I believe preps schools get over looked compared to AAA teams and it needs to stop !
I especially don’t like the fact that you basically said that the U18#2 team at the Mount are filler players. That’s a lot of money to be a filler player, and for this I don’t agree. Yes I agree that the rosters are not fair, but I don’t agree that the U17 have the better 06’s. Most of the U17 games are against U17 or U16 players. Both these teams have only played each other once and that was at the start of the year. A lot has changed in the first half, and yes the U17 team has some good players but they are no better than the 2 06’s representing U18#2 team in Croft and fraser. These kids compete and battle everyday in practice with bigger stronger players. Honestly I can’t wait till the second half to get going so they can prove themselves. These kids might not be top rounders but I do have them going in the draft at some point. I am so discussed with the amount of hate towards the prep school. Remember these kids live on Social media. How would you feel if you were up for the Draft and every time something gets mentioned about the Mount it is always negative. It’s great to see lists out there but don’t count these kids out just because there is a #2 at the end of their team name. I personally think it was selfish and degrading to add a number to this team instead of a team name. #No heart #no class.
But these kids deserve as much of a look then anyone
Croft has 6 points in 19 games
Fraser has 8 points in 19 games
At the U18 level there are kids who are on the CSR list with 3 points in 29 games etc. so that’s why I believe preps schools get over looked compared to AAA teams and it needs to stop !
