Road to the 2021 NHL Draft | Top 10 Prospects of March
With its New Brunswick teams finally returning to action in recent days, the QMJHL has now fully resumed its season in what’s known as the “new normal”. But despite many teams being sidelined for over a month, some Maritimes-based players have still been turning heads in the shortened season.
Here’s a look at some notable prospects currently playing in Eastern Canada, listed in alphabetical order.
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Zach Biggar | D | Acadie-Bathurst Titan
Zach Biggar isn’t the flashiest player on the ice but don’t worry, NHL scouts are certainly taking notice. The strong skating 18-year-old is an intelligent puck mover and high character defender that will do just about anything to defend and win hockey games. The hard-nosed defenceman seldomly loses puck battles and is extremely versatile given his ability to play both sides of the ice with relative ease.
The Titan rookie processes the game extremely well, has a very active stick defensively and an accurate first pass. He has great offensive instincts and jumps into the play when the opportunity presents itself. All signs point to Biggar’s offensive numbers increasing here until the end of the regular season with the addition of his new partner, three-year QMJHL veteran and shutdown specialist, Jaxon Bellamy.
Cole Huckins | C/LW | Acadie-Bathurst Titan
After playing center for his entire rookie season, Cole Huckins is now adjusting to life as a winger in the QMJHL and the sophomore forward has made the transition look easy. With 19 points in 18 games this season, the Fredericton, New Brunswick product has continuously put up great offensive numbers for the Titan while showcasing his versatility. The 17-year-old possesses many of the tools required to be a high scoring power forward at the next level.
Huckins has tremendous vision, a heavy accurate shot and great puck skills in traffic. At 6’3’’and over 200 pounds, he skates very well for his size, but will have to continue to refine his agility and explosiveness to reach his full potential at the next level. Players of his stature often take more time to develop, but the rangy forward has already drawn comparisons to Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn with his gritty style of play.
Riley Kidney | C | Acadie-Bathurst Titan
School is always in session when Riley Kidney takes the ice. The Enfield, Nova Scotia product is one of the smartest players in the QMJHL. Riley Kidney plays a similar style of game to that of Russian superstar and Hockey Hall of Famer Igor Larionov since he loves to outsmart his opponents on a nightly basis. Like most skilled players, there is just no way to game plan against a high hockey IQ like Kidney’s.
The 17-year-old is an ultra-competitive and gifted playmaker who has an incredible knack at finding the open man from anywhere on the ice. At 5’11 and 168 pounds, the centerman will have to get stronger and more explosive to reach his full potential at the pro level. In 18 games this season, the centerman has scored five goals while adding 12 assists.
Cameron MacDonald | C | Saint John Sea Dogs
All signs point to Cameron MacDonald surging up NHL draft boards as the Halifax, Nova Scotia native is quickly becoming one of the best 200-foot players in the QMJHL. The 17-year-old’s compete level and attention to detail have NHL scouts intrigued, with every one of them looking for intangibles that will translate to the pro game.
The Sea Dogs rookie skates extremely well and has great instincts with and without the puck. He possesses a deceptive release and can score from anywhere on the ice. As proof that the centerman play a well-rounded game, Sea Dogs Head Coach Greg Gilbert has relied heavily on the youngster’s line to log big minutes in every situation this season.
Robert Orr | RW| Halifax Mooseheads
The Beaconsfield, Quebec native came to the QMJHL soon after the Mooseheads acquired him in a trade last June and he hasn’t disappointed since joining the Halifax franchise. Orr currently leads all QMJHL rookies with 11 goals and sits third in the rookie scoring race with 23 points in 31 games.
The 17-year-old has tremendous breakaway speed and edge control to go with a fantastic release and outstanding vision. A skilled but gritty forward, he doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas of the ice to create time and space for his linemates. Orr plays a lot bigger than his 5’11’’, 176-pound frame but, like many other prospects his age, he will have to keep getting stronger and put on some muscle to reach his full potential at the next level.
Oscar Plandowski | D | Charlottetown Islanders
Oscar Plandowski continues to be difference maker for the Charlottetown Islanders since the Halifax, Nova Scotia product has blossomed into one of the best transitional two-way defenders in the QMJHL. The 17-year-old isn’t lighting the world on fire offensively with only three goals and nine assists in 30 games, but he has worked extremely hard on his shot from the point which definitely adds another dimension to his game.
Plandowski’s true impact comes in the fact that he continues to be amongst the leaders for time on ice as the gifted skater plays in every situation for Jim Hulton’s squad. One stat that shouldn’t be overlooked is his plus/minus differential that currently sits at +17 this season, one of the best in the league.
Peter Reynolds | C | Saint John Sea Dogs
Peter Reynolds continues to be one of New Brunswick’s top players for his age group. The Sea Dogs first line centre is a gifted playmaker that isn’t scared to get to the middle or the dirty areas of the ice to create offence. The 18-year-old rookie does everything at top speed and is starting to drive the net with more regularity.
At 5’10’’ and 167 pounds, Reynolds will have to get stronger and put on more muscle to ensure he wins more one-on-one puck battles at the next level. In the first 19 games of his QMJHL career, the forward has seven goals and eight assists. As he continues to settle in with his newly acquired linemates, Reynold’s draft stock will no doubt continue to soar as the season progresses.
Connor Trenholm | C | Cape Breton Eagles
Cape Breton Eagles forward Connor Trenholm could very well become a difference-maker at the pro level. The 17-year-old Eagles Assistant Captain is not only known for his leadership, but he’s also known to be a dominant force in the defensive zone. His compete level is off the charts and he possesses solid puck skills with tremendous instincts for the game.
The Eagles sophomore forward might not be flashy with his play, but he has all the makings of strong checking two-way forward at the pro level. His tremendous work ethic and strong positional play has led Trenholm to eight goals and seven assists this season. The best is yet to come for Trenholm, who continues develop and improve on a yearly basis.
William Trudeau | D | Charlottetown Islanders
William Trudeau is often the forgotten man among the Charlottetown Islanders d-corps, but that doesn’t mean he’s being overlooked by NHL scouts. The smooth skating defenceman continues to be a difference maker for the Islanders as a reliable two-way presence that takes great pride in playing the game the right way.
The 18-year-old blueliner from Varennes, Quebec, has terrific poise with the puck in all three zones and will take a hit to make a play. In 30 games this season the skilled blueliner has scored seven goals and added 18 assists, all while maintaining a whopping +31 ratio, good for second best in the QMJHL. At 6’1’’ and 190 pounds, Trudeau has a great frame to continue gaining muscle and strength.
Cameron Whynot | D | Halifax Mooseheads
There hasn’t been a ton of attention directed towards the Kentville, Nova Scotia product this season which has been surprising given his impressive play. The skilled blueliner is having a breakout season, scoring five goals while adding 16 assists in 27 games. The sophomore defender is also a solid +7 and continues to log significant minutes in every situation.
A solid skater with above average passing skills, Whynot has all the tools to be an effective transitional defenceman at the pro level. His play in all three zones will continue to skyrocket due in large part to his confidence and experience, meaning that the sky is the limit for the 17-year-old highly touted blueliner.
