Notebook: More draft rankings

QMJHL

MONCTON – Fredericton forward Tynan Lawrence tops Puck Preps' rankings for this year's QMJHL Entry Draft.

Puck Preps lists the likelihood of Lawrence taking the college hockey route at 90%. He'll hear his name called at some point this weekend – it's just a matter of when.

Keeping with our 2024 QMJHL Draft Ranking unveil we present our final Top Ten of the year!

The list includes a slew of players from @lsllionsaaa @EstacadesMAAA @VikingsAAA among others! pic.twitter.com/5zM450aKhm

— Puck Preps Eastern Canada (@PuckPrepsEastCa) June 4, 2024

"If he were to report, which seems improbable since has tendered in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Lawrence has the all the tools to be a premiere #1 center in the QMJHL, including the smarts, skill and defensive acumen," writes Auston Robson of Puck Preps. "In my opinion, he’ll be the biggest wildcard on draft day."

Interestingly, Puck Preps lists forward Maddox Dagenais at No. 7. Dagenais, who was ranked No. 1 by QMJHL Central Scouting, is expected to be picked first overall on Friday night.

BOOTS JOINS WILDCATS

Paul Boutilier is back in the QMJHL.

The Moncton Wildcats announced Wednesday that Boutilier has joined the club's hockey operations staff as a defense consultant. 

“I am thrilled to add Paul 'Boots' Boutilier to our development staff in Moncton," said Wildcats general manager and director of hockey operations Taylor MacDougall in a news release. "His experience and work in player development is revered across the hockey world, but more importantly he is a person whose values and ideologies around player development are aligned with ours. He will play an integral role in our organization, and I couldn’t be more excited for him to begin working with our current players and prospects."

Boutilier is a former Sea Dogs assistant coach, helping the club win the 2017 President Cup. He was a defense consultant with Saint John in 2022 – where he worked with now Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall – and helped the club win the Memorial Cup.

NEW HOME FOR DESPRES

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Simon Despres, who will turn 33 in July, is still playing.

Despres signed with the EIHL's Glasgow Clan this past week. It'll be his second year in the league after appearing in 44 games with the Nottingham Panthers in 2023-24.

“As for Glasgow as a city, I love to explore new parts of the world so it definitely appealed to me to come to Glasgow, learn about the culture and go for hikes in the Highlands," Despres said in a news release. 

“I have some unfinished business in the EIHL and want to win it all this upcoming season. Anything less will not be satisfying to me.”

You can also "own and loan" Despres' Glasgow jersey for this upcoming season.

Despres hasn't played in North America since the 2018-19 season. Concussions ended his NHL career, playing his final games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2016-17.

Despres, the first overall pick in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft, spent four seasons with the Sea Dogs, helping the team win the Memorial Cup in 2011.

MOCK DRAFT

The Wildcast conducted their annual QMJHL mock draft, which included making picks for Saint John's two first round selections.

MAJOR RENOVATIONS

Major renovations could be coming to the QMJHL's worst arena.

Saltwire reports that the Eastlink Centre is hoping to do a $30 million renovations – pending city hall approval – that would see the arena's capacity expanded to 5,200 seats, 10 new luxury boxes added and an upper level concourse created.

The renovations would not interfere with the Islanders' schedule, allowing them to play in the building while work is being done.

If this all gets approved, Charlottetown would become a contender to host a Memorial Cup. The Islanders, despite playing in what is widely considered the league's worst building, have been quite successful on and off the ice over the past decade.

In related news, L'Express reports that the Drummondville Voltigeurs would like to try and host a Memorial Cup once their arena renovations are completed. Like Charlottetown, they are still waiting on final government approvals before moving forward.

OTHER THINGS

• The Hockey Writers ranks Sea Dogs forward Eriks Mateiko as the third best NHL Draft prospect available from the QMJHL, placing him behind Rimouski's Spencer Gill and Chicoutimi's Maxim Masse.
• NHL.com has a profile on Mateiko.
• The Ottawa Citizen reports that the Senators are trying to trade former Sea Dogs forward Mathieu Joseph.
• Former Sea Dogs defenseman Marcus Tesink has re-signed with the EIHL's Guilford Flames.
• In the Maritime Hockey League, former Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Casey was traded from the Fredericton Red Wings to the Valley Wildcats.
• Le Soleil reports that top QMJHL draft prospect Maddox Dagenais will attend this weekend's draft in person – a good sign that he'll report to the league.
• Simon Sports now owns 100% of the Halifax Mooseheads. They initially purchased 84.5% of the team.
• Ottawa Senators prospect Jorian Donovan is a Memorial Cup champion after helping the Saginaw Spirit defeat the London Knights on Sunday. Donovan was a member of the 2022 Hamilton Bulldogs team that lost to the Sea Dogs in the Memorial Cup final in Saint John.
• St-Francois-de-Madawaska native Josh Nadeau, a forward with the University of Maine, will attend Montreal Canadiens development camp, reports Mark Divver.
• Cape Breton's Centre 200 is getting a new scoreboard.
• UQTR is bidding to host the 2026 and 2027 University Cup tournaments. If awarded, the event would be held at Colisee Videotron, which is home of the ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions.