Poirier a projected first rounder in preliminary NHL Draft rankings

HALIFAX - While all NHL Draft eyes will be focused on Alexis Lafreniere and the Rimouski Oceanic this season, the Saint John Sea Dogs defence will be worth watching as well.

In The Athletic's pre-season rankings of the 31 prospects available for the 2020 NHL Draft, Sea Dogs defenceman Jeremie Poirier is ranked 21st. Fellow Dogs d-men William Villeneuve and Charlie DesRoches were mentioned as players to keep an eye on.

Poirier's name has been hovering around the midway mark of the first round in many draft publications. In Future Considerations' preliminary rankings, the d-man was ranked 17th followed by DesRoches at No. 38, Josh Lawrence at No. 46, Villeneuve at No. 47 and Brady Burns at No. 86.

In a recent ranking produced by The Hockey Writers, Poirier was ranked at No. 31, Villeneuve at No. 78, DesRoches at No. 79 and Joona Lehmus at No. 80.

While the Sea Dogs may not have a highly elite player like Lafreniere on their roster (or so it appears, anyway), they make up for that NHL Draft eligible talent in depth. Saint John could have a strong year at the NHL Draft, much like they did in 2011 when five players (Jonathan Huberdeau, Nathan Beaulieu, Zack Phillips, Tomas Jurco and Ryan Tesink) were taken and in 2015 when seven (Jakub Zboril, Thomas Chabot, Samuel Dove-McFalls, Mathieu Joseph, Spencer Smallman, Bokondji Imama and Adam Marsh) Dogs heard their names called.

Beside Lafreniere and Poirier, other QMJHL players being placed in the first round in preliminary rankings include Justin Barron (Halifax), Hendrix Lapierre (Chicoutimi), Dawson Mercer (Drummondville), Mavrik Bourque (Shawinigan) and Theo Rochette (Chicoutimi).