After speculation that the Sea Dogs may move the third overall selection, the team kept the choice and landed forward Leighton Carruthers of the Halifax McDonald's. With their second pick of the first round, Saint John selected defenseman Nathan Drapeau from the Collège Notre-Dame Albatros with the 15th overall selection.
Carruthers, who won't turn 16 until next month, recorded 18 goals and 19 assists in 35 games with the McDonald's last season. He added nine goals and six assists in 10 post-season games.
Carruthers, listed at 5'11" and 199 lbs., was ranked fourth overall by HockeyProspect.com and 11th by QMJHL Central Scouting.
"His frame is major junior ready, he’s strong and has a great first few strides," writes HockeyProspect.com. "Carruthers is definitely more of a shooter than a playmaker (and) he has a lethal release."
Carruthers played with Cam MacDonald on the Halifax Gulls Major Bantom team in 2017-18.
Previous forwards to be selected this high in the draft by the Sea Dogs include Nathan Noel (third overall - 2013), Joe Veleno (first overall - 2015) and Joshua Roy (first overall - 2019). Saint John's first five picks in last year's draft were all forwards.
Drapeau, meanwhile, registered seven goals and seven assists in 41 games with midget AAA Notre Dame. Drapeau won't turn 16 until late December.
Listed at 5'10" and 175 lbs., Drapeau was ranked 17th by HockeyProspect.com and 30th by Central Scouting.
"A very good defenseman with a bright future for any team that will have the chance to draft him," writes HockeyProspect.com.Extrêmement fier d'être sélectionné par les @SJSeaDogs ! Can't wait to get things started! pic.twitter.com/gpXbaXrSJk— Nathan Drapeau (@nathan_drapeau) June 6, 2020
The Sea Dogs have selected 15th overall twice previously, drafting forward Josh Lawrence in 2018 and forward Julien Tessier in 2014.
The QMJHL Entry Draft continues Saturday morning with rounds 2-14. Saint John currently has two picks in the second round.
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