The Panthers were able to select the Sea Dogs sniper third overall after the Edmonton Oilers drafted Ryan Nugent-Hopkins first and the Colorado Avalanche took Gabriel Landeskog second.
Simon Despres was previously the highest Sea Dog ever selected by going 30th overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.
The Panthers finished dead last in the Eastern Conference last year and had a record of 30-40-12.
Entering the draft, Huberdeau was ranked third by Central Scouting, International Scouting Services, and TSN. He was ranked fourth by Puck Prospectus and fifth by The Hockey News.
Huberdeau was selected by the Sea Dogs with the final pick (18th overall) of the 2009 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft. He was rumored to be taking the college hockey route but eventually joined the Sea Dogs.
He arrived in Saint John without much fanfare, playing in 61 games in his rookie season and recorded 15 goals and 20 assists. It wasn’t until the 2010 post-season that he started to turn some heads with his exceptional play. In 21 playoff games Huberdeau registered 11 goals and seven assists as Saint John fell to the Moncton Wildcats in a six game President’s Cup final.
In his second season, Huberdeau got off to a hot start and never stopped, rocketing up the draft rankings as the season progressed. He finished the year with 43 goals and 62 assists in 67 regular season games and added another 16 goals and 14 assists in 19 playoff games.
Along with playing in the Subway Super Series and CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this past season, he helped Saint John win the President’s Cup and the Memorial Cup and was named the Most Valuable Player in each.
More on the selection following the draft…
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