HUBERDEAU GOES 5th IN KHL DRAFT

If Jonathan Huberdeau suddenly decides to jump to KHL ranks, he’ll be playing for the HC Vityaz Chekhov.

In today’s Kontinental Hockey League Junior Draft, Huberdeau was selected fifth overall by the Russian team. From the KHL’s official Twitter feed:

Huberdeau’s Russian teammate Stanislav Galiev tweeted this morning, “Congrats to my teammate Huberdeau to drafted by KHL today! 5th overall. Are you kidding me KHL?”

The full results of the draft can be found here. Other QMJHL players drafted were Chicoutimi goaltender Christopher Gibson and Drummondville's Sean Couturier - who went 133rd overall.

From the Wikipedia page of the 2011 KHL Draft:

The 2011 KHL Junior Draft will be the third entry draft held by the Kontinental Hockey League, taking place on May 28, 2011 in Mytishchi Arena. Ice hockey players from around the world aged between 17 and 21 years of age will be selected. Players eligible to take part in the draft must not have an active contract with a KHL, MHL or VHL team. A total of 371 players will participate in the draft, 171 of these playing in Russia, 100 in Europe and 100 in North America.

Every year some top National Hockey League prospects are selected in the draft. Some of the players drafted in the past include Zach Kassian, Eric Gudbranson, Taylor Hall, and Olivier Roy.

VIDEO: Draft profiles

NHL.com has been posting some draft profiles over the past few weeks of some top prospects. Several Sea Dogs are featured and someone has been kind enough to put them on YouTube.

Tomas Jurco:

MOCK DRAFT TIME

NHL.com posted some mock drafts the other day following the very exciting National Hockey League Draft Lottery. As expected, the Saint John Sea Dogs were represented quite well.

Here are the results from three different NHL.com writers:

Mike G. Morreale
#4. New Jersey Devils – Jonathan Huberdeau
Retooling for new coach starts with a 105-point forward who might have best set of hands of 2011 class

#8. Columbus Blue Jackets – Nathan Beaulieu
Top-rated bluer line from the QMJHL is a transitional dynamo possessing speed, poise and a great shot

#20. Winnipeg Jets Phoenix Coyotes – Zack Phillips
Time to load up on centers; a solid skater with edge was second on team in scoring (38 goals, 95 points)

Adam Kimelman
#6. Ottawa Senators – Jonathan Huberdeau
Senators need scoring and Huberdeau filled the nets this season -- 43 goals in 67 games

#9. Boston Bruins – Nathan Beaulieu
Has good size (6-2, 174) and high level of offensive skill

#18. Chicago Blackhawks - Tomas Jurco
Hawks fans will find Jurco is more than just the guy with the fancy puck skills in all those videos

#21. Ottawa Senators – Zack Phillips
There's a reason Saint John was top team in CHL; Sens are smart to grab two of their best

Steven Hoffner
#3. Florida Panthers – Nathan Beaulieu
Something Panthers have missed since Jay Bouwmeester left: big, solid D-man who can run PP

#6. Ottawa Senators – Jonathan Huberdeau
Speedy forward with lightning-quick hands to help team in need of goals

#17. Montreal Canadiens – Zack Phillips
Racked up 95 points in 67 games in the QMJHL

#19. Edmonton Oilers – Tomas Jurco
Ridiculous hands and imagination, would complement Edmonton's youth movement

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

OFFICIAL SCHEDULE
The QMJHL released the official schedule for the Saint John Sea Dogs – Victoriaville Tigres quarter-final playoff series. It is the same schedule as the one reported on the Tigres’ Facebook page yesterday.

Here it is (all times local):

2011-04-08 VICTORIAVILLE VS. SAINT JOHN - 7:30 pm
2011-04-09 VICTORIAVILLE VS. SAINT JOHN - 7:00 pm
2011-04-12 SAINT JOHN VS. VICTORIAVILLE - 7:00 pm
2011-04-13 SAINT JOHN VS. VICTORIAVILLE - 7:00 pm
2011-04-15 SAINT JOHN VS. VICTORIAVILLE - 7:00 pm
2011-04-18 VICTORIAVILLE VS. SAINT JOHN - 7:00 pm
2011-04-19 VICTORIAVILLE VS. SAINT JOHN - 7:00 pm

CUSTOM GOAL HORN
The goal horn at Harbour Station had a different tune to it in the final game of the regular season after Michael Kirkpatrick scored. A video labeled “Michael Kirkpatrick Custom Goal Horn" has popped up on YouTube.



Pretty good tune.

ON THE RISE
Central Scouting had some meetings this weekend to discuss their final rankings for upcoming NHL Entry Draft. Among the things discussed were about the top defensemen available for the draft. That list, of course, includes Sea Dog Nathan Beaulieu.

"Nathan is a fluid skater, hard worker and reads the play well," Central Scouting's Chris Bordeleau, who specializes in the QMJHL, told NHL.com, via Fox News. "We thought he should have had more points than he had (45 points in 65 games), but overall he has the NHL quickness already. That's what is really important at this stage."

Beaulieu was ranked ninth among North American players in Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

- Thanks to Eric for the link.

RED LINE REPORT: Huberdeau is Q's top prospect

Some big news out of the hockey prospect world today as USA Today released the latest Red Line Report list of top prospects for the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

The big news: the top prospect from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is no longer Drummondville Voltigeurs forward Sean Couturier.

“Just continues to take his game to new levels we never thought he would approach so soon,” reads the report on Saint John Sea Dogs forward Jonathan Huberdeau. “He has now ascended the throne as the Quebec League's top prospect.”

Red Line as Huberdeau going fifth overall in the draft while Couturier, who at this time last year was projected by most to be going first overall, has slipped all the way to eighth.

From USA Today:

While the drumbeat has been slowly building for Huberdeau the past three months, he simply has elevated his game to a level we did not expect to see out of him this year. And we can no longer deny what our gut is telling us: He has passed Sean Couturier as the Quebec League's top prospect. Couturier is in his third full year in the Q and far more physically developed than Huberdeau. Yet Huberdeau, in his second Q season, is the more assertive and aggressive player, and we believe he's performing at a higher level right now than Couturier was at this time last year when he won the Quebec League scoring crown.

Huberdeau has been an incredible story this season. He has gone from some scouting websites and agencies not having him going in the opening round to a top-10 pick this June. As Red Line points out, the draft is all over the map this year. There is no clear No. 1, top-five, or top-10.

Huberdeau, who doesn’t turn 18 until June 4, has 102 points this season while Couturier has 95. The Sea Dogs have been one of, if the most scouted team in the Canadian Hockey League this season while Couturier was a given an opportunity to impress at the World Juniors.

A long playoff run and a possible trip the Memorial Cup would surely help maintain Huberdeau’s rise up the rankings.

The latest International Scouting Services rankings were released this week as well. Huberdeau cracked the top-10 and his projected to go ninth overall. ISS has Couturier ranked as the fourth best prospect.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

2011 DRAFT TRACKER

SALLOWS BIG ON SEA DOGS
Scout Dan Sallows continues to produce one of the best draft websites on the interweb. Last week, at the midway point of hockey season, Sallows did up a mock up draft that featured three Saint John Sea Dogs going on the opening round.

Sallows selected Jonathan Huberdeau to go eighth overall to the Buffalo Sabres.

I think they’d be best served to select athletic defenseman Dougie Hamilton or talented center Jonathan Huberdeau, with the edge going to Huberdeau. Buffalo has had success with drafting talented french forwards in the past, so history may just repeat itself.

Nathan Beaulieu is predicted to go 18th overall to the Colorado Avalanche.

Nathan Beaulieu isn’t a huge risk, considering he has some offensive potential that is off the charts, but the 6-foot-3, 191-pound blueliner may need some seasoning (ala Alex Pietrangelo) before he makes an impact. Not that the Av’s would be concerned as they are heading in the right direction and have nothing but time on their hands to let their prospects develop.

Sallows also selected Zack Phillips to go in the opening round to the Montreal Canadiens19th overall.

The Canadiens will most likely be looking for a big, skilled center, and 6-foot-1, 181-pound Zack Phillips would fit the bill. Another talented Sea Dog that has been lights out thus far this season, and it doesn’t hurt he plays in the Q either, so the Habs scouts see him a lot.

BEAULIEU AND HUBERDEAU SPEAK
Following their extraordinary display at the Top Prospects Game, The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy caught up with two Sea Dogs, Jonathan Huberdeau and Nathan Beaulieu, to talk about their experience and more.

The video can be seen on THN’s website.

Props to Al for sending this in.

YOUNG GUNS GETTING IT DONE

Another big win for the Saint John Sea Dogs last night produced another big game for a talented trio of players.

The line of Jonathan Huberdeau, Zach Phillips, and Tomas Jurco combined for four goals and six assists in a 7-2 road win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan last night.

The “Bachelor Line,” as Sea Dogs play-by-play man Tim Roszell has coined them, has produced well all season. But in the last six games – all wins for Saint John – the line has taken it up a notch.

Here is a look at their production during the Sea Dogs’ six game winning streak:

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

DELISLE PLAYING TONIGHT
Steven Delisle is expected to suit up for his first professional hockey game tonight with the Central Hockey League’s Fort Wayne Komets, reports The Journal Gazette.

The 20-year old defenseman had spent the earlier portion of the 2010-11 campaign with American Hockey League’s Springfield Falcons but had not played in a game.

If you haven’t heard, his rights were traded to Saint John last week from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in exchange for a 12th round draft pick in the 2012 QMJHL Entry Draft. At the moment, it looks unlikely that he will return to junior for an overage season. But crazier things have happened.

"If he comes great, it's just an asset we have,” said Sea Dogs associate coach and director of hockey operations Mike Kelly said to the Telegraph-Journal on Monday. “If he doesn't, then he doesn't. At the very least, we have control over where he goes if he comes back (to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). Right now, he's focused on being a professional hockey player.''

Judging by the comments sections of a few Fort Wayne newspapers, Komets fans are in panic mode after a disappointing start to the season. They sit last in the Turner Conference with a 2-6-1 record.

SEA DOGS TOP POWER RANKINGS

After earning 17 of a possible 18 points in their last nine games, the Sea Dogs are the toped ranked QMJHL team in this week’s edition of the Open Ice Hockey Power Rankings.

Only the Sea Dogs, Lewiston Maineiacs, and Shawinigan Cataractes were 2-0-0-0 last week.

The rankings are calculated using a formula based on weekly and season long play.

7 DOGS MAKE CENTRAL SCOUTING LIST

After much anticipation from fans, scouts, and wannabe scouts, National Hockey League Central Scouting released their preliminary rankings for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft this morning.

Not surprisingly, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League portion of the rankings was dominated by Saint John Sea Dogs players. A total of seven players appeared on the list of the league’s top 25 skaters entering draft eligibility with five of them being placed in the top 10.

"It's going to be a better year than the past couple, but I've seen some of the kids in Ontario and they're looking pretty good, too," Central Scouting's Chris Bordeleau, who scouts the QMJHL, told NHL.com. "We can't get too overly excited. I'm kind of prudent, because it's happened before. I don't want to get too excited too early, but the top 15 players out of the 'Q' are looking all decent."

Drummondville Voltigeurs forward Sean Couturier, who many have pegged as the first overall pick in this June’s draft in Minnesota, was the top ranked QMJHL skater.

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

MORE DRAFT RANKINGS
DanSallows.com is probably the most underrated website in hockey right now. Swallows, a hockey scout, has unreal coverage of NHL prospects with very, very in depth coverage.

Last week, Sallows dove into the 2011 NHL Draft and listed his top 50 prospects. Included on the list, of course, were Jonathan Huberdeau (8th), Tomas Jurco (17th), and Nathan Beaulieu (34th). Surprisingly, rather than Zach Phillips binge placed on the list as the fourth Sea Dog, Ryan Tesink came in at 44th.

“Reminds me a little of Jonathan Toews on the ics, as he plays a very good complete game, and is a dependable two-way forward,” writes Sallows. “He can beat you all over the ice with his determination and smarts. Off to an incredible start with 3 goals and 9 points to go with a +10 rating after his first 4 games with the Sea Dogs.”

TURK ON ‘INSIDE THE Q’
Sea Dogs Head Coach Gerard Gallant was on the QMJHL radio program “Inside the Q” last week and can be heard on the Q website.

NO TIMETABLE FOR SAUVE’S RETURN
According to the QMI News Agency (via the Toronto Sun), there has been no timetable set for Yann Sauve’s return to the ice after being hit by a car in downtown Vancouver during Canucks rookie camp. It was later declared that the former/current Sea Dogs defenseman suffered a concussion.

“He has been riding a stationary bicycle to remain in game shape but has not yet been cleared to skate,” reported the agency last Thursday.

Sauve did not take part in any of Canucks main camp. He is expected to play with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose this season but is eligible to return to Saint John as a 20-year old.

SPORTSNET STUFF
Rogers Sportsnet junior hockey columnist Patrick King returned from his summer vacation, blessing us with an edition of “burning question” around the Canadian Hockey League.

“Which team will win the right to host the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup,” writes King in question two. “Shawinigan, Cape Breton, Halifax and Saint John each filed letters of intent to host the tournament. Each has something working in its favour with Saint John rumoured to have an inside track. The hosting rights will be awarded in April of this season.”

EAGLES GOING ALL OUT
Speaking of the 2012 Memorial Cup bid, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles are going all out with their bid already.

Check out THIS FACEBOOK ALBUM for more pictures.

JURCO FINALLY GETTING NOTICED
Well, it’s about time.

Tomas Jurco’s amazing shootout from last season in Cape Breton is finally getting the attention that it deserves. As a result, there has no doubt been some buzz created over the Sea Dogs’ star sophomore Slovakian (trying saying that five times fast).

The article, posted on Yahoo! Sports’ junior hockey ‘Buzzing The Net’, already has 10 comments, 79 shares on Facebook, and 13 tweets on Twitter.

COUTURIER BEATS DOGS; WINS THIRD STAR OF THE WEEK
Sean Couturier recorded a goal and two assists in Drummondville’s epic 7-6 comeback win over Saint John on Saturday night at Marcel Dionne Centre, helping him earn the Telus third star of the week.

Moncton Wildcat twin brothers Allain and Alex Saulnier were named the first and second star, respectively, this week.

BACK IN BLACK
As we mentioned yesterday, the Halifax Mooseheads will be bringing back their black ‘Halifax’scripted jerseys after a year’s absence on Friday night when they host Saint John. Due to regulations set by Reebok and the CHL, no teams were allowed to wear third jerseys last season.

The first 2,500 fans at the Metro Centre will be given a “Back in Black” Mooseheads t-shirt.

BABY PENS CAMP
Former Sea Dog Nick Petersen appears to be having a solid training camp with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

“Nick Petersen didn’t stand out in NHL camp, but compared to AHL players today, he looked very skilled,” writes baby Pens reporter Jonathan Bombulie on his blog. “Good hands.”

The Penguins play their first pre-season game tonight against the Syracuse Crunch.

HOWES FIGHTIN’ WITH THOMAS
Former Sea Dogs sniper Scott Howes is looking to once again land a gig in the American Hockey League. After graduating from Saint John as an overager at the end of the 2007-08 season, Howes played in five games with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose before being demoted to the ECHL.

Now, Howes is fighting alongside Sea Dogs captain Mike Thomas for a job on the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons. The Barons held their first scrimmage this afternoon.

Howes played with the East Coast Hockey League’s Victoria Salmon Kings last year, recording 12 goals and 14 assists in 47 games. He also helped score one of best goals of the year in Victoria. Along with it being TSN’s ‘highlight of the night’, the play has over one million views on YouTube.

2011 DRAFT TRACKER

JURCO MAKES THE PLAYS OF THE WEEK
Miraculously, the QMJHL website has managed to get back up and (partially) operating. Despite technical difficulties galore, the Mazda Plays of the Week have been posted and they include a Tomas Jurco highlight from last weekend.

THREE DOGS MAKE THIS LIST
The Hockey Writers’ Christopher Ralph recently released his early Top 60 draft rankings for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

Sea Dogs forward Tomas Jurco was the highest rated Saint John player, coming in at number nine.

Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu came it a number 18 while forward Jonathan Huberdeau was ranked 21st.

PALOV PICKS FOUR
The Chronicle Herald’s Willy Palov released his top 10 list of QMJHL draft eligible players for the draft. Not surprisingly, Drummondville’s Sean Couturier was ranked first.

Tomas Jurco came in at the two position.

The second-year Slovak forward has the early goal scoring lead in the league, with five in his first two games. He had a solid season in 2009-10 but wasn’t given much first-line duty because the Sea Dogs were so stacked with veterans. He could blossom with more prime ice time as a sophomore.

Jonathan Huberdeau was picked as the third best prospect.

He too had to scratch and claw for playing time last year but will be given every opportunity to thrive this year. He’s already tied for the league scoring lead with six points in his first two games.

Nathan Beaulieu was ranked fourth.

Yes, that’s three Saint John players in a row. The son of former Saint John head coach Jacques Beaulieu has excellent hockey sense and plays a well-rounded game.

And lastly, Zach Phillips comes in at number nine.

The Fredericton native gives the Sea Dogs four of the top nine prospects at this point, which is pretty remarkable. Phillips has already proven he is a good athlete but must now show he can put up the numbers. Scouts want to see his production measure up to his promise.

BEAULIEU, JURCO SORT OF MAKE McKENZIE’S TOP 10
TSN’s Bob McKenzie released his first top 10 rankings for the upcoming NHL Draft. The pre-season rankings were made through a survey a scouts. McKenzie’s rankings are usually the most accurate and insightful come draft day.

Although no Sea Dogs made the list, two were given an honorable mention.

Other prospects who also received consideration include: Portland Winterhawk winger Ty Rattie; Slovak forward Tomas Jurco of the Saint John Sea Dogs, U.S. Under-18 defenceman Connnor Murphy, U.S. under-18 forward Tyler Biggs; Vancouver Giant defenceman David Musil, Boston University offensive freshman forward Matt Nieto and fellow Californian, Kelowna forward Shane McColgan; Soo Greyhound forward Daniel Catenacci; Oshawa General forward Lucas Lessio; Belleville Bull winger Austen Brassard; and Saint John Sea Dog defenceman Nathan Beaulieu.

“Unbelievably, 27 prospects received at least one vote in the survey, where scouts were asked to rank their top 10 pre-season prospects and two honorable mentions,” writes McKenzie. “That is, by far, the most prospects who have received top 10 consideration in the pre-season Top 10 survey.”

PHILLIPS STUFF
Zach Phillips is prepared for the upcoming season – his final campaign before his draft year.

"It's always your dream since you're a little kid to get drafted into the NHL and make it to the NHL, but it always seems so far in the future," Phillips said to TheDaily Gleaner.

"But now that it's this close, it's kind of crazy. This season is the season that I need to perform in. It's what I've been working for all my life."

2011 DRAFT TRACKER

Throughout the 2010-11 hockey season, four names will pop up frequently whenever the 2011 National Hockey League Draft is brought up in Saint John. To keep fans updated, we will be posting links and excerpts from any publication that features top prospects Nathan Beaulieu, Jonathan Huberdeau, Tomas Jurco, and Zach Phillips.

If you find any articles, blog posts, or videos featuring any member of the Sea Dogs’ “big four,” send us the info at stationnation@yahoo.ca.

NATHAN BEAULIEU

THN HOT LIST
The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy named Beaulieu the best prospect at the NHL’s Research, Development, and Orientation Camp that was held last week in Toronto.

An excellent two-way defender who knows when to rush the puck and when to pull back, Beaulieu has a chance to make a great name for himself this season on a young and talented Dogs squad. A former defense partner of Vancouver second-rounder Yann Sauve, Beaulieu picked his battery mate’s brain during their time together.

“I was like a sponge,” Beaulieu said. “There are a lot of key things about him that got him drafted so high.”

But Beaulieu could go even higher. His plus-43 rating last year was a franchise record and the fact he has to wait almost an extra year to be drafted (he’s a late birthday) doesn’t faze him.

“This year I could have an even better year,” Beaulieu noted. “I have one more year to develop. There are more positives than negatives.”

The Sea Dogs defenceman also noted that he and his father/former Sea Dogs Head Coach and General Manager Jacques Beaulieu stay close.

“We’d talk after every game,” Beaulieu said. “He was always there for me, just like a father should be.”

CRASH THE CREASE
A scouting report on Beaulieu from Crash The Crease.

Beaulieu is Sea Dog number three and the only defenseman on this list. A solid puck mover with good size, Beaulieu is an almost text book offensive defenseman. He registers solid numbers on the Saint John powerplay, has a decent release on his shot and ably joins the rush. Not a defensive defenseman by any stretch, Beaulieu will take criticisms for the size of his frame and his offensive ability. He’s got some toughness and has been known to occasionally drop the gloves. It’s tough to see Beaulieu as a first rounder when better prospects like Saskatoon’s Stefan Elliot have fallen into the second round in recent years.

BRUINS 2011 DRAFT WATCH
Part if in depth scouting report on Beaulieu from Bruins 2011 Draft Watch.

He's a smooth skater with nice acceleration and an ability to rev it up into another gear, and is a player who isn't afraid to jump up into the play. A strong puck-moving defenseman, he uses a combination of vision, hockey intellect and good hands to set the breakout and help his team with the transition game. Beaulieu is also willing to fight when the opportunity presents, and isn't bad in that regard, with a flamethrower style and a willingness to stand in and take punches to give 'em.

JONATHAN HUBERDEAU

THN HOT LIST
Huberdeau was named the sixth best player at the NHL’s RDO Camp by THN.

With basically the exact same frame as Nugent-Hopkins, Huberdeau, naturally, has to put on some weight himself, but he does bring great instincts to the ice and some nice quickness. Huberdeau was also a member of Canada’s gold medal Ivan Hlinka team and certainly did his part along the way. Draft eligible in 2011.

CRASH THE CREASE
A scouting report on Huberdeau from Crash The Crease.

Huberdeau is the second of four Saint John Sea Dogs on this list. Unlike teammate Tomas Jurco, Huberdeau is a more methodical player who reads and anticipates the movement of the play well. His lanky frame, quick release wrist shot and hockey sense bring to mind recent Q graduate Derick Brassard. It’s easier to see Huberdeau as a playmaker as opposed to a finisher at the NHL level, though he certainly has goal scoring upside. He’ll have to get bigger if he wants to be a reliable offensive option at the next level. Some scouts have him in their early top ten, but I see him more reliably as a 12-16 pick right now.

BRUINS 2011 DRAFT WATCH
Part of in depth scouting report on Huberdeau from Bruins 2011 Draft Watch.

As you might expect, his lack of solid mass and strength works against him at this stage of his development, as he can be pushed off the puck easily and tends to retreat into perimeter mode when the hitting picks up. This player is going to be an interesting one to follow, because his overall game is not all that strong even with his high-end offensive upside. If he struggles with play in all three zones or doesn't show the kind of commitment scouts want to see in terms of going to the traffic areas and being willing to take hits to make plays, you could see a precipitous drop over the course of the year. As it stands right now, however, he's so skilled offensively, that you could make a case that he needs to be No. 3, possibly even No. 2 on the Quebec list, but concerns about his overall package move him down a tad.

TOMAS JURCO

CRASH THE CREASE
A scouting report on Jurco from Crash The Crease:

Watching the Slovak import, one thing leaps out at you. He’s got a skating style that’s a dead ringer for countryman Marian Hossa. But that’s about where the comparisons between the two players would end. Jurco is more of a complimentary player than Hossa, relying on his pure offensive tools to create offence rather than the hockey sense that allows Hossa to dissect a team’s defence. Jurco is less of a puck possession player than an offensive weapon who creates chances off the rush using his superior skating and hands. He definitely projects as a solid second line goal scorer at the next level.

BRUINS 2011 DRAFT WATCH
Part of in depth scouting report on Jurco from Bruins 2011 Draft Watch.

Although only average in size (6-0, 180) Jurco skates extremely well, with some real elusiveness and slippery moves. An excellent puckhandler with a bevy of moves, he can also really rip the biscuit as evidenced by his 26 goals as a rookie last year. Another late December '92 birthdate, he's a little older and more mature than a good percentage of the competition, so Jurco should take a quantum leap in his production and play this season. He's made the cultural transition and speaks pretty good English, so watch for Jurco, with minimal distractions, to be one of the more electrifying players on the Q circuit this year.

ZACH PHILLIPS

CRASH THE CREASE
A scouting report on Phillips from Crash The Crease.

Phillips is the fourth Sea Dog on this list and he gives the impression this year of a player not dissimilar to Justin Shugg from the Windsor Spitfires of last season. Like Shugg, Phillips is a late birthday playing on a loaded team. It’s tough to come up with a real trademark skillset that Phillips has that commands your attention. Is he a good offensive player? Yes, but he doesn’t create the way Huberdeau does or explode the way Jurco can. So, playing with superior talents may inflate his stats but he might also suffer by comparison. Like Garret Meurs in the OHL, Phillips lack of an evident flaw might have him more highly regarded as a likely NHLer for a team looking for a pick in the neighbourhood of a safe third/ second line tweener.