Sim is OHL eligible. He might opt in to the OHL draft like his brother Landon did.On Tuesday, November 29th, HockeyProspect.com released our initial Top 30 Atlantic Player Rankings list for the 2023 QMJHL Draft. These rankings include 30 players from the Maritimes who are eligible for the 2023 QMJHL Draft, coming from all areas of Atlantic Canada.
Atlantic Canada Initial Ranking For The 2023 QMJHL Draft - HockeyProspect.com
On Tuesday, November 29th, HockeyProspect.com released our initial Top 30 Atlantic Player Rankings list for the 2023 QMJHL Draft. These rankings include 30hockeyprospect.com
Featured on this list are 13 players evolving in the NSU18MHL, 8 players evolving in the NBPEIMU18HL, 3 players evolving in Canadian prep schools and 6 players evolving in the USA.
At the top of the list is Zachary Wheeler, who played as an underage forward with the Moncton Flyers last year and won the Telus Cup. He is what you would call a complete package at center with good size and incredible hockey sense. Wheeler currently leads the NBPEIMU18HL in points and plays a strong two-way game that relies on his ability to anticipate plays, win puck battles and execute plays accurately and quickly. Wheeler has a high skill level, high-end vision and an accurate shot.
Coming in second place is left-hand shot Owen Conrad, currently playing for the Weeks Major in the NSU18MHL. Conrad has been gifted with tools that very few defenseman at that age possess. 6’2” defenseman who skate like the wind, have skills and can play a physical game are a rare breed and teams always line up to find that type of minute-eating two-way defensemen.
The third player on our list is Lane Sim, also of the Weeks Major in the NSU18MHL, a small but very dynamic offensive center who is shifty and fast and puts defenders on their heels by pushing the pace constantly. He is very skilled, highly competitive and tries to generate offense every time he steps on the ice. Sim clearly has the potential to be a top point producer at the QMJHL level.
Other players featured in the top five are Brady Peddle from Bishop Kearney Selects and Liam Kilfoil from the Buffalo Regals. Peddle is a good size two-way defenseman who plays a simple but effective game on 200 feet. He is hard to play against with his high-end skating, his solid defensive stick and his physical game. Peddle distributes the puck well and plays a smart game with low risk. Liam Kilfoil is a two-way center with great skating ability who likes to carry the puck up ice and is a threat both as a shooter and a playmaker. Both these players have the potential to become key cogs on a future contending QMJHL team.
You can find the full Top 30 Atlantic Player Rankings for the 2023 QMJHL Draft below:View attachment 614631
2023 QMJHL Draft
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GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
Is this actually confirmed?
Sim would without a doubt be OHL bound if that was the case.
I tried reaching out to the family to get a defini answer but got no answer back.
Both Sim kids are OHL eligible because their dad played in the OHL.
The CHL has a legacy rule that says that any kid is eligible for the league based on the geographical territory they are established in, but can gain a second (or even third) eligibility if their father played in a different league.
This rule is what made Jeremy Brodeur eligible for the OHL draft (from NJ) and Anthony Brodeur able to sign with the Gatineau Olympiques without waivers.
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
Appriciate the insight - I didn’t know this. you’re awesome for providing this information.
Hockey Nova Scotia will have Christmas Camps on Dec 21-23 before they make final rosters.
New to the forum here!! Very interesting info, love it !
Any thoughts on CCM Challenge that was over past weekend? Quebec teams vs the east coast ones that were there? Allot of 2007 in these? From my glimpse at the tournament, east coast didn't do to well. Were these teams that had good rankings in their respective leagues?
Heard that every single Q teams had scouts at games. Must of been interesting.
Any thoughts on CCM Challenge that was over past weekend? Quebec teams vs the east coast ones that were there? Allot of 2007 in these? From my glimpse at the tournament, east coast didn't do to well. Were these teams that had good rankings in their respective leagues?
Heard that every single Q teams had scouts at games. Must of been interesting.
Maritime teams were not doing good at all.
4 teams, there were 1 won and 11 lose. Only Saint John 6:5 won one game.
I know it does not automatically means that these guys will be drafted 1st round, but some on these Qc names are questionable. I guess between a A and B there isn't that much difference and teams don't really have to "respect" their ranking...but as long as you are drafted at any round, you're privileged.
Don't think their list is off my much. A few arguable names here and there but other than that... I can justify pretty much every player there getting drafted in the first two rounds, which is what the A rating stands for. Also, some of the lower As and high Bs are probably in the same range but you have to make the cut somewhere and those players will move around as the season continues.
How do you compare this draft (high end talent/depth/OFF-DEF) with those that took place in the last few years ?
Don't think the top end is that strong to be honest. Of course, they'll be great players at the Q level but it feels like you get into ''not guaranteed impact player'' territory pretty early too... i'd say after 12 players or so...
I'd say depth wise, it's about average. The one thing that worries me is that in terms of defensemen, almost all the better ones are at 5'09 or under. A lot of small, offensive minded defenseman but not many guys you could describe as shutdown, especially in Quebec.
The other worry I have is that the top goalies could look to go NCAA instead of the Q route.
To be honest, I was quite high on this age group going into the season but it hasn't panned out as much as I would have thought.
We are halfway through the season and like every year, some guys will step up in the second half and I'll probably end up thinking this is a very fine draft at the end of the day. It happened to me last year.
Obviously, when I'm saying it's not that strong of a draft, it doesn't mean that the players in it aren't going to be good. Every draft brings a lot of good players to the league but I don't think it's a class with superior quality than normal, and so far the 2008s make me feel the same way even though it's early.
The 2007's are thin on D, but there is some really good forwards, although there is not a lot of size there.
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
Losing all the top talent to the NCAA doesn’t help matters.
Xavier Veilleux
Sacha Boisvert
Zachary Morin
Lane Sim I believe will go through the OHL draft too.
It’s only going to continue to get worse too.
Veilleux committed to Harvard, no league can compete against such an institution nobody would decline that offer no matter what!
Boisvert didn't he started playing in US at an early age? Why come back if he already tasted what US University can offer?
Morin, not committed anywhere yet, could just be bells and whistle to make sure he's drafted early.
How are you comparing Q vs OHL vs NCAA ? Q and OHL same offer...NCAA great if you can get full scholarship, getting partial scholarship can be quite expensive for parents if not resident.
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
I’m not comparing the two - If I Was a parent in Quebec or the Maritimes - I’d be pushing my kid to go USHL/NCAA too - Quebec league is just so diluted now and has struggled to churn out talent the past 10 or so years consistently.
It's a tough decision indeed once they hit that period, but the Q also pays (grants) for education up to University. They do have to understand that hockey is a great tool, but education will be their sure bet in life.
Hockey wise, not sure NCAA is better than the Q but the overall NCAA package is quite tempting.
