C Raphael Lavoie (2019, 38th, EDM; claimed by VGK; claimed by EDM)

[biturbo19]

He reminds me of Jeff Carter. There's not really another NHL player like Lavoie other than Carter IMO. Big, fast, right-handed, great shooter and hands.

I like Dach from the WHL as well, he's also 6'3-6'4, skates well, physical, and a great playmaker. Not sure which one I like more, but if you want big, speedy, skilled forwards, this is the draft for it.

Yep. This is the comparison i always seem to land on watching Lavoie. Whether he ultimately ends up in the middle like Carter or not, i'm not sure at this point...but their physical tools and style of play feel bang on to me.

Lavoie is a big goal-scoring dude with great anticipation and a great shot...but the thing that really impresses me is how sneaky smooth he can be with quick puck distribution on the fly. He's not a real "playmaker" ragging the puck around dissecting things, but there are some flashes of really high level awareness to the way he works short area passes, give 'n go plays, and he keeps his head up enough to see backdoor plays developing. Doesn't seem to get the same sort of "tunnel vision" a lot of pure goal-scoring wingers do.

 

[lakai17]

Me and old Craig Button are high on this dog. He doesn’t dangle fancy but he drives the play to the net.

 

[EnglishJet]

Missed last nights game with a displaced vertebrae, seeing a specialist about it this week. Apparently tweaked it preseason but hoped it would ease. It hasn’t so he’s seeking help. Hopefully he’s not out too long but backs are fickle things...

 

[EnglishJet]

Just an update, he saw the specialist and surgery isn't required. He is back in the lineup tonight and has been giving a fitness regimes to put this behind him.

 

[Frk It]

He reminds me of Rick Nash. Probably not quite as talented, but gives me a similar vibe.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

8 goals in 8 games so far this year.

 

[cmcneil02]

11 goals in 13 games best in the league right now! He makes plays look so easy and clean. Sometimes he does too much and will try to dangle you but he’s a great playmaker, stickhander, beautiful shot, great size, great physical game, very mature, pretty much every category fits into Lavoies gameplay. He definitely learned from guys like Hischier, Zadina, etc in the past. He’s doing amazing.

 

[bert]

Me and old Craig Button are high on this dog. He doesn’t dangle fancy but he drives the play to the net.

All he does is score, always around the puck with a heavy shot. Whats not to like?

 

[North Country]

Am I crazy for seeing him as the 3rd pick?

 

[Dominance]

Am I crazy for seeing him as the 3rd pick?

Maybe a little bit, but those who have him outside of the top-10 are off their rocker. That combination of shooting ability, skating, size, and just absolute determination to put the puck in the net will entice every GM. He’s also more effective without the puck than most of the C’s he should be compared to, and his ability to distribute is underrated IMO.

 

[cmcneil02]

Am I crazy for seeing him as the 3rd pick?

Kind of. I definitely see him being a Top 10 drafty. If he keeps up the scoring momentum he’s been having and has an amazing season on the Mooseheads overall it’s possible. It’s really on what the NHL organization sees in the player and how they’d contribute. He’s a winger so he could go anywhere. Only time can tell.

 

[newfy]

Kind of. I definitely see him being a Top 10 drafty. If he keeps up the scoring momentum he’s been having and has an amazing season on the Mooseheads overall it’s possible. It’s really on what the NHL organization sees in the player and how they’d contribute. He’s a winger so he could go anywhere. Only time can tell.

You think hes pretty well locked in as a winger at this point?

Also it must suck as a fan of the Mooseheads not getting Zadina back this year. With him and Lavoie plus other late first/early second type prospects like McIsaac and Groulx they would have to be by far the favourite for the mem cup

 

[cmcneil02]

You think hes pretty well locked in as a winger at this point?

Also it must suck as a fan of the Mooseheads not getting Zadina back this year. With him and Lavoie plus other late first/early second type prospects like McIsaac and Groulx they would have to be by far the favourite for the mem cup

Yeah he’s been playing wing with Ducks Prospect Antoine Morand at Center and Islanders Prospect Arnaud Durandeau on the wing all season so I’m sure he’s locked in as a winger at this point but I’ve seen him play all around the ice like a Center-men but haven’t seen him take the face offs. Yeah it’s unfortunate we couldn’t get Zadina back because we’d have quite the stacked roster if he did come back. He loved the organization as well and was sad to leave because he wanted to play in the memorial cup but i’m happy to see him doing well in the AHL. We’re fortunate to still have 8 NHL Prospects, 3 Draft Eligibles 2019, and 2 Draft Eligibles 2020 though. We’re pretty much set. But only one can imagine how they’d play with Zadina on the roster. But back to Lavoie. I don’t see him moving he’s got 11G so far and if he keeps lighting up goals he could have 50-60G by the end of the season if he keeps it up which would be pretty insane. Also this kid was drafted in Round 2 of the QMJHL draft and was cut from the team in the rebuild season when he should’ve played. This outburst is pretty crazy.

 

[cmcneil02]

Pretty awesome article - 2019 Draft Diary: Raphael Lavoie

 

[TT1]

If teams project him to be a C in the NHL he'll be a top 10 and possibly even a top 5 pick, hes the complete package.

 

[cmcneil02]

Has been scoreless for quite a few weeks after having a goal outburst. Been putting up a lot more assists lately. Few line movements are in the process for Halifax to see what works best. He currently sits 6th in the lead with shots on net though with 78 shots in 18 games! Hope we can see something from him in the CAN/RUS Series.

 

[Tube Skates]

Kid is a natural goal scorer. Once they start going in again he'll be fine. Over the last few games he's been one on one with the goalie about eight times. Kid has incredible moves but the goalies are playing him good right now. Trying to be to fine and shooting wide or high as well.

 

[cmcneil02]

Really disappointing me right now. Might slip out of Round 1 with the way he’s been playing lately. Had such a great start to the season now he’s been taking penalties, misplaying the puck, etc. Hope he can get back into the way he’s always played. He didn’t have an extremely bad Can/Russia Series though he played on the first line. Just isn’t a player I’ve been eyeing on anymore.

 

[BondraTime]

Really disappointing me right now. Might slip out of Round 1 with the way he’s been playing lately. Had such a great start to the season now he’s been taking penalties, misplaying the puck, etc. Hope he can get back into the way he’s always played. He didn’t have an extremely bad Can/Russia Series though he played on the first line. Just isn’t a player I’ve been eyeing on anymore.

0% chance

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Really disappointing me right now. Might slip out of Round 1 with the way he’s been playing lately. Had such a great start to the season now he’s been taking penalties, misplaying the puck, etc. Hope he can get back into the way he’s always played. He didn’t have an extremely bad Can/Russia Series though he played on the first line. Just isn’t a player I’ve been eyeing on anymore.

Let's calm it down a little bit here lol. He is going through a bit of a cold stretch. He will be fine and there is zero chance he slips from the 1st round.

 

[cmcneil02]

Okay maybe I’m overreacting just have seen poor performance lately. Lol

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I don't get the hype personally. He is a fine prospect but I don't see him better than Mantha in his draft year.

 

[Intangir]

Like many other QMJHL stars, Lavoie was trash against the Russians. Looked outmatched, slow and had difficulty keeping up with the play out there.

I know, it's a small sample size against actually a pretty good team, but his play in those games and the way he's (mis)handling the puck and his positioning (defense AND offense) in the QMJHL recently isn't a good sign for his draft status (and might be the sign of slightly below-average NHL hockey IQ). Right now, he's slipped towards the late first-round for me and must pick his game up or risk missing out on the first round entirely (and the juicy bonuses alongside it).

 

[Riggins]

Any updates on his play from the past couple months? At his size and being one of the older players in this draft I'd have thought he would be putting up better numbers in the Q. He has been hovering a little over a point per game and his goal production is pretty much on par with last year.

 

[slumpy43]

Saw him play in the Canada-Russia series and was very impressed with his east/west game as well as the skating ability he demonstrated for such big guy. There were a lot of good players there and was IMO the best QMJHL player in that game. Unfortunately, it's just a n=1 sample size...