Notebook: The Predictions Are In

Long story short: most QMJHL followers are predicting the Sea Dogs-Drakkar series to go six games but not many are picking Saint John to win.

Here are some first round predictions from around the interweb.

• Willy Palov of the Chronicle Herald has Baie-Comeau winning in six games.
• Mike Sanderson of Buzzing the Net has the Drakkar taking it in six games.
• Nobody at Parlons Junior has Saint John winning this series.
• Francois Parenteau of La Presse thinks the Drakkar will advance with a six game series win.
• Jean-Francois Plante of Le Droit predicts the Drakkar to win in six games.
• Mikael Lalancette of TVA Sports believes Baie-Comeau will win in six games.

Game one of the Sea Dogs-Drakkar series is tonight at 8:30 p.m. AST.

PLAYOFF NUMBERS

Here’s a nice chart of the first round matchups.

Nous connaissons enfin le portrait officiel des séries dans la LHJMQ. #SériesLHJMQ #LHJMQ pic.twitter.com/BLUpF5ehuy
— Guillaume Villemaire (@GVillemaire13) March 22, 2015

AMONG THE TOP 10

Sea Dogs defenseman Thomas Chabot made Buzzing the Net’s list of top 10 NHL Draft prospects to watch in the CHL playoffs this year.

“While racking up 12 goals and 41 points in 66 games, he developed quality offensive abilities, especially a good first pass, and the know-how to read plays well in all three zones,” writes Kelly Friesen.

Chabot ended the regular season with two goals and four assists in his past five games.

ON THE HOT LIST

Jake Massie, a Sea Dogs prospect who committed to UMass Amherst this week, has cracked The Hockey News’ Hot List.

“An intriguing prospect due to the fact he was playing Quebec high school hockey last year, Massie is a lanky blueliner with smarts who can really skate. He’ll return to the Wildcats next season in preparation for college; he just committed to UMass recently,” writes Ryan Kennedy of THN.

Massie, a 1997-born d-man selected by Saint John in the fifth round of the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, had five goals and 15 assists in 34 games with Kimball Union Academy this past season. He is ranked 81^st by Central Scouting amongst North American skaters for the upcoming NHL Draft.

GALIEV RANKED 7^TH

In The Hockey News’ annual Future Watch magazine, former Sea Dogs forward Stanislav Galiev is ranked seventh in the Washington Capitals system.

Galiev is finally producing at the American Hockey Level, recording 23 goals and 19 assists in 58 games with the Hershey Bears this season. He had seven points in 33 career AHL games before the year began.

“Finally had his breakthrough year in AHL,” writes Brian McNally. “Stayed healthy and productive.”

                         

BRUCE SMITH ARTICLE

ChristianWeek has an article on Bruce Smith, the Sea Dogs’ chaplain. He also serves as the director for HMI Atlantic Division, coordinating the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Maritime Hockey League Chaplaincy.

MOCK DRAFTS

NHL.com released their latest first round mock drafts on Wednesday. Sea Dogs defensemen Thomas Chabot and Jakub Zboril are both predicted to be first round selections.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation