Notebook: Who will draft Nause?

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft is less than two weeks away, which means speculation and conversation about this year's virtual event is heating up.

One of the big questions heading into draft weekend is this: where will Evan Nause end up?

Nause, a Riverview, NB native, was taken sixth overall by the Val-d'Or Foreurs in last year's Entry Draft but did not report to the club (which is why the Foreurs have been compensated with the sixth overall pick in this year's draft). Although he remains uncommitted to a NCAA team at this time, it's believed college hockey remains very much an option.

The 17-year-old spent two seasons with Newbridge Academy before spending the 2019-20 campaign with the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede, recording a respectable three goals and 14 assists in 44 games as a rookie.

Since Nause is a Maritimer who spent last season in the USHL and has apparent NCAA intentions, there's obviously been speculation that the Sea Dogs could select the d-man in this year's Entry Draft. It's just speculation at this time, but when you have players like Peter Reynolds leaving NCAA commitments to sign with your club, this talk is going to happen.

Nause would obviously fit well into Saint John's core even though he'll be joining a crowded blue line. It would also give Saint John an even more impressive group of 2003-born players with Nause joining Reynolds, Joshua Roy, Charles Savoie and potentially Cameron MacDonald.

Saint John currently has the third and 15th overall picks in the first round of this year's Entry Draft.

BOUTHILLIER STILL UNSIGNED
It continues to look unlikely that the Toronto Maple Leafs will sign Zachary Bouthillier before the June 1 deadline. According to the very reliable CapFriendly, that June 1 deadline is still in place despite the hockey calendar being a mess.

While many calendar dates this off-season are still up in the air, the 'Must Sign By' date of June 1st for certain drafted players is still in effect.

Here is the list of players that each club must sign by next Monday at 5:00pm ET, otherwise they will lose their signing rights. pic.twitter.com/x4WxJ9tUfR

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) May 25, 2020

Bouthillier was a seventh-round pick of the Leafs in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Alexis Gravel, who will be entering his overage season, is not expected to be signed by the Chicago Blackhawks.

MEM CUP REPLAYS
The CHL announced last week that it will be rebroadcasting Memorial Cup championship games played between 2010 and 2019 on CHL.ca over the next few weeks.

The rebroadcast of the 2011 championship contest, played between the Sea Dogs and Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, will air this Thursday.

If you can't wait until then, the entire game is available on YouTube.



GATINEAU RINK UPDATE
Some new images from inside Gatineau's new rink, scheduled to open at some point in 2021.

Quelques membres de l'organisation ont pu visiter le nouvel amphithéâtre cet après-midi. Voici quelques photos que le groupe a pu prendre 🤩 📷 #bientôt pic.twitter.com/eNeG0iimo3

— Olympiques Gatineau (@LesOlympiques) May 20, 2020