F Leo Braillard - Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL (2023 undrafted)

[GermanSpitfire]

Leo Braillard - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Leo Braillard, 2005-07-05 La Chaux-de-Fonds, SUI Switzerland. Most recently in the WHL with Lethbridge Hurricanes. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Swiss-born forward has had a good Hlinka all things considered, I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on the player cause I can't seem to find much about him online. He had a good year in the Swiss u20 league going close to PPG and went 36th in the Import draft so he seems like an intriguing player. Can anyone help?

CHL Rights: Shawinigan Cataractes

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[pgfan66]

Leo Braillard - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Leo Braillard, 2005-07-05 La Chaux-de-Fonds, SUI Switzerland. Most recently in the WHL with Lethbridge Hurricanes. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Swiss-born forward has had a good Hlinka all things considered, I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on the player cause I can't seem to find much about him online. He had a good year in the Swiss u20 league going close to PPG and went 36th in the Import draft so he seems like an intriguing player. Can anyone help?

CHL Rights: Shawinigan Cataractes

I watched quite a few of his games and liked one area of his game but thought he has major flaws.

The good:
He’s extremely smart. He does an excellent job getting open in the OZ for scoring chances. He reads the ice really well and has great timing to get into openings. He’s also strong on the breakout and through the NZ, getting open to receive pucks and enter the OZ.

Unfortunately, there’s a huge “but”:
BUT… he’s quite small and his feet are really slow for a player his size. He’ll get open nicely through the NZ but will turn the puck over because he lacks speed. It’s quite frustrating at times. The second big flaw is that I think his shot is below average.

While bigger weaknesses aren’t a game changer when it comes to 16/17 year olds, Braillard’s weaknesses do worry me because they basically destroy his ability to use his biggest strength to his advantage.

In conclusion: hockey sense is the most important skill. If Braillard can significantly improve his foot speed and shot – which is entirely possible – he has good upside. But if he can’t, he’ll be an average player in Europe.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I watched quite a few of his games and liked one area of his game but thought he has major flaws.

The good:
He’s extremely smart. He does an excellent job getting open in the OZ for scoring chances. He reads the ice really well and has great timing to get into openings. He’s also strong on the breakout and through the NZ, getting open to receive pucks and enter the OZ.

Unfortunately, there’s a huge “but”:
BUT… he’s quite small and his feet are really slow for a player his size. He’ll get open nicely through the NZ but will turn the puck over because he lacks speed. It’s quite frustrating at times. The second big flaw is that I think his shot is below average.

While bigger weaknesses aren’t a game changer when it comes to 16/17 year olds, Braillard’s weaknesses do worry me because they basically destroy his ability to use his biggest strength to his advantage.

In conclusion: hockey sense is the most important skill. If Braillard can significantly improve his foot speed and shot – which is entirely possible – he has good upside. But if he can’t, he’ll be an average player in Europe.

Appreciate the insight.

I wonder which direction will be best for him then?

 

[pgfan66]

Appreciate the insight.

I wonder which direction will be best for him then?

Definitely the Q, in my opinion. If he makes it there and takes the next step, he can be a draft prospect. If he doesn’t, it’ll be a good experience for him and he can go back home to carve out a pro career there.

 

[Speyer]

I haven't seen him in action enough to make an assessment of particular skills, but I would argue that statwise he has been a pretty proficient goalscorer at every level that he played. He was almost at goal per game pace in both the Swiss U17 and U20 leagues last year. And then at the Ivan Hlinka he was tied for second in goals in the group stage as well with 4. Of course there are many other factors when it comes to goalscoring than just shooting skills but its still noticeable.

 

[Hinterland]

Didn't want to commit to Shawinigan for next season so he's gonna stay in Switzerland. I hope Biel promised him some pro action. He better get pro experience in soon. Otherwise he most likely won't crack the WJC20 roster. If he stays with the U20 Elites then it will be a lost year for him.

 

[Kuracmugger]

He stays in switzerland for this year and has started nicely into the season with 10 points in 6 games. I think he‘s injured at the moment since he didn’t play the last games. I really hope he trains with Biel’s first team and gets some games atleast at the end of the season. If he has a good u18 tournament in spring an maybe plays for the swiss u20, what i doubt since he plays u20 elit. He die play for the men’s team in the friendly games in summer so the chance is there he gets some games.

 

[Kuracmugger]

He moved to NA and played for shawinigan i hope he performs well in NA if not i really lose faith in switzerland‘s hockey system…

 

[Hinterland]

He moved to NA and played for shawinigan i hope he performs well in NA if not i really lose faith in switzerland‘s hockey system…

Was an idiot move not to commit right away if Biel had zero intention of giving him NL time. Much more difficult to get used to the league and the team now than in the summer and it cost him important development time. Playing U20 in Switzerland was a waste of time. Stupid.

 

[Speyer]

Was an idiot move not to commit right away if Biel had zero intention of giving him NL time. Much more difficult to get used to the league and the team now than in the summer and it cost him important development time. Playing U20 in Switzerland was a waste of time. Stupid.

Agreed. Shawinigan actually has a quite weak forward group this year so his chances to get a good spot in the line up would have been better than with other teams. Maybe he can still acclimate himself to the league on the fly. But looking how our other players are doing in the CHL I am not overly optimistic. Biel is also pretty stupid in betting on Bärtschi instead of Braillard. No wonder Bichsel decided to leave in his draft season.

 

[Hinterland]

Agreed. Shawinigan actually has a quite weak forward group this year so his chances to get a good spot in the line up would have been better than with other teams. Maybe he can still acclimate himself to the league on the fly. But looking how our other players are doing in the CHL I am not overly optimistic. Biel is also pretty stupid in betting on Bärtschi instead of Braillard. No wonder Bichsel decided to leave in his draft season.

Yeah. It's always tough to earn icetime on a team with existing structures. This all while getting used to the smaller ice. Would have been easier to attend camp and get the same chance as everybody else. But yeah. Hope he sticks.

 

[Kuracmugger]

Yeah. It's always tough to earn icetime on a team with existing structures. This all while getting used to the smaller ice. Would have been easier to attend camp and get the same chance as everybody else. But yeah. Hope he sticks.

He had an assist in his first game so atleast he got on the score sheet right away. Not as other swiss players playing overseas like kimo gruber…

 

[Seb]

That name, WOW. Poor guy.

 

[Hinterland]

Apparently he's out of Shawinigan. I know he wasn't good enough last season but actually had a good start this season. Not sure Barbashev is gonna have much more of an impact this season and even if, Braillard is younger and no overager like Barbashev.

I thought Shawinigan would either give up on Klima or trade Barbashev. Braillard was kinda in between. But well, it is what it is. We'll have to see where he lands.

 

[Speyer]

Apparently he's out of Shawinigan. I know he wasn't good enough last season but actually had a good start this season. Not sure Barbashev is gonna have much more of an impact this season and even if, Braillard is younger and no overager like Barbashev.

I thought Shawinigan would either give up on Klima or trade Barbashev. Braillard was kinda in between. But well, it is what it is. We'll have to see where he lands.

Would another CHL team need to give up assets to aquire him?

 

[Hinterland]

Claimed by Lethbridge. Not a bad spot to land at this point. Glad Braillard gets another chance. Wasn't good enough last season but I felt like he was sharp so far this season.

PS, I don't know how I feel about Bill Peters coaching kids. He's a good coach so I get why Lethbridge would want him but if he really did what cost him his NHL gig back at the time then I don't know. Is he deserving of another chance in NA hockey? Maybe, I can't tell. In any way, I'd feel better if he got the chance working with men, not kids.

 

[pgfan66]

Claimed by Lethbridge. Not a bad spot to land at this point. Glad Braillard gets another chance. Wasn't good enough last season but I felt like he was sharp so far this season.

He may not be a high-end import but I think he’s a great pickup for Lethbridge.

 

[Hinterland]

He may not be a high-end import but I think he’s a great pickup for Lethbridge.

Same birthyear as Knoester but a better player. They're born in 05 so they could be with Lethbridge for at least another year.

 

[Hinterland]

Had two primary PP assists in his Lethbridge debut vs Red Deer tonight and was the 2nd star of the game. 1st star might be tough to get with the Hurricanes and a goalie like Harrison Meneghin on the team

 

[Hinterland]

The Braillard show continues. Two more assists for Braillard in a rather unnecessary 3-4 loss vs Calgary. If he keeps this up he's absolutely gonna get drafted as an overager.

I think Braillard and Lethbridge are a very good match. Lethbridge is a good team with an outstanding goalie and rocksolid, physically strong Defenders and Centers. However, they did not have a player like Braillard, someone who can really make stuff happen with soft hands and elite vision.

Braillard actually should have more points. He was all over the ice in both games. However, he also has to watch out not land in the doghouse. I don't think Bill Peters was necessarily happy with everything he saw from Braillard. He really needs him to spark his offense and especially the PP (4 PP goals in two games with Braillard, just 7 previously) but Braillard is still relatively soft along the boards and his positioning against the puck is sometimes far from ideal. He's probably gonna get some time as he's on a new team and has to get used to a new coach, new teammates and a new system but there's also lots of room for improvement still.

 

[Hinterland]

Was back on topline for the entire game after getting bumped down to the 3rd line during last game. Scored his 1st WHL goal vs the defending champions Seattle Thunderbirds. The trio of Braillard, Brayden Edwards and Miguel Marques was very dominant but not very efficient, therefore only contributed the one goal. Braillard had at least one more high danger chance from the slot, Edwards had lots of quality chances and both of them hit the post as well. Luckily didn't matter as Lethbridge won 5-0.

 

[Hinterland]

Scored in all six games he played for Lethbridge (3G+6A=9P).

 

[Speyer]

This is a prime example of how much team context can impact the success of euro import in the CHL. Hopefully some of the future Swiss prospects and their agents will take note from this and evaluate a possible move to the CHL a bit more carefully than it has been done before. If you look at interviews of such prospects from the last few years you can't help but get the impression that some of those players are just reporting blindly to the teams that picked them in the import draft. While there are always uncertainties with such endeavours, I feel like doing the most basic research could definitely avoid some major career setbacks for our junior talent.

Good for Braillard to be turning it around though. He was always a prospect that had pro upside in my opinion. Good for the Swiss team in the upcoming WJC too.

 

[Hinterland]

This is a prime example of how much team context can impact the success of euro import in the CHL. Hopefully some of the future Swiss prospects and their agents will take note from this and evaluate a possible move to the CHL a bit more carefully than it has been done before. If you look at interviews of such prospects from the last few years you can't help but get the impression that some of those players are just reporting blindly to the teams that picked them in the import draft. While there are always uncertainties with such endeavours, I feel like doing the most basic research could definitely avoid some major career setbacks for our junior talent.

Good for Braillard to be turning it around though. He was always a prospect that had pro upside in my opinion. Good for the Swiss team in the upcoming WJC too.

For as long as the Swiss junior leagues are trash, you just don't have many options as a high profile Swiss born prospect. Also, the CHL leagues are the world's top junior leagues. If you're prepared to go abroad as a kid and are ready for everything that comes with it then you should absolutely take the chance and I don't know how much you can really evaluate before. Playing on a bad team in the CHL can be tough but you're more likely to get quality TOI.

If you get a chance to play SL or NL early on my general recommendation would be to stay in Switzerland but if not, I think leaving for NA (or Sweden as a really good option) is better than to play U20 elites. I don't think playing U20 elites is ideal for your draft year but surely you should move on post draft.

I think if you go to NA you just need to be determined to put the work in even if things don't go your way. Braillard certainly did that. His first year wasn't good enough but he was ready for the 2nd and didn't give up even after getting waived.

In Braillard's case I think Shawinigan just made a mistake. Barbashev is a good player in his own right but so is Braillard and he had a good start to the season in Shawinigan as well. Also, Shawinigan isn't a contender and Braillard is two years younger. Even if they were a contender, keeping Braillard over Barbashev would have allowed them to dress an extra overager.

Anyway, no harm done for Braillard. Lethbridge isn't necessarily a contender either but probably has better odds for a playoff run than Shawinigan just because the team is more solid and has a better goalie. The WHL might also be the most wide open of CHL leagues this year. In any way, Braillard is just exactly what Lethbridge needed because they didn't really have a similar player besides Miguel Marques. I think the Hurricanes probably have to break them up but eventually but Marques and Braillard are certainly a lot to handle for opponents at the moment.

 

[Speyer]

For as long as the Swiss junior leagues are trash, you just don't have many options as a high profile Swiss born prospect. Also, the CHL leagues are the world's top junior leagues. If you're prepared to go abroad as a kid and are ready for everything that comes with it then you should absolutely take the chance and I don't know how much you can really evaluate before. Playing on a bad team in the CHL can be tough but you're more likely to get quality TOI.

If you get a chance to play SL or NL early on my general recommendation would be to stay in Switzerland but if not, I think leaving for NA (or Sweden as a really good option) is better than to play U20 elites. I don't think playing U20 elites is ideal for your draft year but surely you should move on post draft.

I think if you go to NA you just need to be determined to put the work in even if things don't go your way. Braillard certainly did that. His first year wasn't good enough but he was ready for the 2nd and didn't give up even after getting waived.

In Braillard's case I think Shawinigan just made a mistake. Barbashev is a good player in his own right but so is Braillard and he had a good start to the season in Shawinigan as well. Also, Shawinigan isn't a contender and Braillard is two years younger. Even if they were a contender, keeping Braillard over Barbashev would have allowed them to dress an extra overager.

Anyway, no harm done for Braillard. Lethbridge isn't necessarily a contender either but probably has better odds for a playoff run than Shawinigan just because the team is more solid and has a better goalie. The WHL might also be the most wide open of CHL leagues this year. In any way, Braillard is just exactly what Lethbridge needed because they didn't really have a similar player besides Miguel Marques. I think the Hurricanes probably have to break them up but eventually but Marques and Braillard are certainly a lot to handle for opponents at the moment.

Well the Swedish and Finnish U20 league are options though. If you are good enough to gain interest from a CHL team you are probably good enough to be attractive to "scandinavian" teams as well. Its not like only Swiss blue chip prospect played in either market in the last few years. And yes I do think that playing on a terrible CHL team that is just starting on a rebuild can hinder your career even worse than staying in the Swiss U20 league, even though this option is a less than alternative. The same applies for joining a very strong CHL team too though, where ice time is sparse. If you destroy the Swiss U20 league there is at least the chance to get SL time mid season or advance your standing within your team in regard to the next available NL spot on the roster. Of course your draft standing will suffer if you go this route but most of those prospects will never get a sniff at the NHL anyway.

I wasn't trying to imply that Braillards stint in Shawinigan was a model example for this though. Kimo Grubers and Noah Délemonts adventures in Canada are much more representative for this kind of scenario. Braillards spike in production just shows how much team context matters, therefore the comparison.