The first round of the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft takes place virtually on Friday night.
While the draft will look much different than it usually does, the concept remains the same: teams need to have success on Friday and Saturday if they want to have success on the ice in the future.
On that note, here’s a look at this year’s first round mock draft, which features 20 picks due to Val-d’Or and Victoriaville receiving compensation.
1. Gatineau – Tristan Luneau (D)
Luneau has been the consensus No. 1 pick throughout the season and all signs suggest Gatineau will waste no time in selecting him first overall. Luneau is a gifted offensive defenseman with excellent speed and skill. Luneau has a verbal commitment with the University of Wisconsin, so we’ll see how that plays out.
2. Gatineau – Antonin Verreault (F)
After selecting the best overall player and a defenseman, the Olympiques could turn to the best forward in the draft in Verreault. Verreault is described as a dynamic and versatile winger or center. He has a very high hockey IQ and is skilled with the puck on his stick. Verreault also posses a strong and accurate shot.
3. Saint John – Samuel Savoie (F)
Another dynamic and very skilled forward which adds to the depth of the Sea Dogs existing core. Savoie has excellent speed to go along with a strong shot with a quick release.
4. Gatineau – Michael Mastrodomenico (D)
The Olympiques will continue to grow their defense stable with the addition of Mastrodomenico. Another real intelligent and smooth skating defender who sees the ice exceptionally well. Mastrodomenico can break the puck out on his own or make a heads-up breakout pass on the tape of his teammates.
5. Quebec – Luke Woodworth (F)
The Remparts add an elite level playmaking center. Woodworth can find his teammates with crisp passes through traffic. His vision and hockey IQ are exceptional. He’s a small forward but he has speed and can use it to beat defenders.
6. Val-d’Or – Maveric Lamoureux (D)
Lamoureux already has good size at 6’4” and 171 lbs. Despite his size, he’s also an excellent skater with a good hard shot. Lamoureux is also a physical player often intimidating opposing forwards in the corners. The Foreurs have a solid stable of defenders that will help elevate Lamoureux’s overall game.
7. Victoriaville – Leighton Carruthers (F)
The Tigres will look to add a big strong power forward to the mix. Carruthers has size, speed, and a great shot making him a lethal mix on the ice.
8. Val-d’Or – Justin Cote (F)
After adding a big defenseman, the Foreurs will add a small forward with all kinds of skill. At 5’5” and 139 lbs., Cote is one of the smallest players in the draft but also one of the most skilled. An excellent skater; elite level shot; and he can use his speed and skill to beat defenders one-on-one.
9. Shawinigan – Pier-Olivier Roy (D)
The Cataractes will look to build on their defense, taking the top left-handed defender in the draft. Roy is an offensive defenseman who is great with the puck on his stick and make good clean passes by using his excellent vision.
10. Rouyn-Noranda – Vincent Fillion (G)
Rouyn-Noranda likes their goaltenders and waste no time selecting the top ranked goaltender in the draft. Fillion has decent size and controls his rebounds very well. He projects to be a talented starting goaltender in the QMJHL.
11. Victoriaville – Noah Warren (D)
Warren already had great size at 6’4” and 203 lbs. Warren is a big, strong, and physical defender that wins a lot of his one-on-one battles. For a player with his size, he has good skating ability.
12. Drummondville – Yoan Loshing (F)
Loshing has elite level skating and an elite level shot. The opinions vary on where he should be ranked but his speed and skill are undeniable. Loshing also likes to play a physical game and won’t shy away from contact.
13. Gatineau – Michael Lastarza (F)
The Olympiques use their fourth pick of the opening round taking a flyer on Lastarza who we’ve seen ranked as high as No. 2 in the draft. Lastarza had a very good season with Shattuck St. Mary’s and signed a tender with Waterloo of the USHL for next season. Lastarza is a good skater with excellent hockey IQ and skill.
14. Halifax – Charles-Edward Gravel (G)
Keeping it in the family, the Mooseheads will look to the cousin of current Moose goaltender Alexis Gravel by adding Charles-Edward Gravel. Gravel is a very technical goaltender who likes to challenge shooters.
15. Saint John – Evan Nause (D)
Nause was selected sixth overall in last year’s draft by the Foreurs. The Sea Dogs have plenty of depth and can afford to take a chance here on Nause, who’s a left-handed defender that is considered more of a puck moving defenseman. He is a very good skater with excellent vision.
16. Acadie-Bathurst – Dylan Andrews (F)
Andrews is considered a skilled playmaking center with excellent vision and passing ability. Despite being touted as a playmaker, Andrews also has a very quick and accurate shot.
17. Cape Breton – Ryan Hopkins (D)
After spending last season at Stanstead College Prep, the Eagles will hope to convince Hopkins that Sydney is the place for him. Hopkins can log big minutes and is considered a power play specialist. Hopkins is strong on his skates with good hand-eye coordination.
18. Halifax – James Swan (F)
Swan is an interesting prospect and seems like a good fit for the Mooseheads. Swan is a skilled forward with lots of speed and energy.
19. Drummondville – Jonathan Fauchon (F)
Fauchon is a two-way forward that can contribute in any situation. Fauchon is one of those players who has a real strong understanding and does everything well. Coaches love having a guy they can trust like Fauchon.
20. Blainville-Boisbriand – Emanuelson Charbonneau-Joseph (D)
Another big strong defender in Charbonneau-Joseph will add to a good defense core with the Armada. He likes to play a rough, tough, and physical style game
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