QMJHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

14Feb

Anton Zlobin(18) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#173 overall), Russian-born rookie right wing Anton Zlobin(18) has been tearing up the score sheet on every level he’s played leading up to his recall from ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers to direct farm club Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In his 9 games in double A hockey he posted the usual point-per-game (or better) production with 4 goals and 5 assists.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 198 lbs. forward knows how to find his space on the ice.

He skated in 186 QMJHL games through 3 seasons scoring 92 goals and 120 assists for a mammoth 212 points. He also concluded his career in juniors at a stellar +61 rating and won a Memorial Cup with Shawinigan Cataractes in 2012.

The just turning 21-year old was quick to sign a three-year entry level contract and turn pro after his selection.

In 28 AHL games he has yet to completely catch fire with 5 goals and 4 assists but at a +10 he’s on the ice a good amount of the time when the puck goes in the net, which will likely lead to more opportunities for him to connect.

10Jan

Cédric Paquette(17) Syracuse Crunch

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Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#101 overall) rookie center Cedric Paquette(17) has to be loving life since being a surprise selection and deciding to turn pro after only two seasons in juniors with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

On reassignment to minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch, he’s being used in every possible game situation: 5-on-5, power plays and penalty kills.

The ice time is definitely paying off as he has 11 goals and 13 assists in 36 games with a +5 rating.

In his pair of campaigns in the QMJHL, he was easily a point-per-game player but also never shies away from the rough stuff as his penalty minutes indicate.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through the 2016 season, the 20-year old is already paying dividends for the parent club that chose him on a hunch, and his future is looking quite bright.

27Dec

Petr Straka (24)

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Czech Republic-born rookie right wing Petr Straka(24) was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#55 overall) but went unsigned until Philadelphia Flyers stepped in with a 3-year entry level deal for the 2009/2010 QMJHL Rookie Of The Year.

In four seasons of junior hockey he was a point-per-game producer (97-111-208 in 212 contests).

He attended a pair of Blue Jackets‘ training camps but they remained under-impressed allowing him to explore other options.

The seemingly smaller than he measures, 6’ 195 lbs. forward starts his first pro season with minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, where in 28 AHL games he has put up 5 goals and 10 assists with a +1 rating on a team that’s just below the playoff bubble.

At just 21-years old, he looks to be a player that has all the promise to explode on the score sheet but for now he’s maybe playing his game a bit under the NHL radar.

26Nov

Stefan Matteau(18) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#29 overall), left wing Stefan Matteau(18) was given quite the opportunity to step right into the big league at age 18 after competing in only half a season in the QMJHL with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Waiting for the lockout to thaw, he was invited to training camp with the chance to make the squad and did just that.

After 17 games, with his first pro goal and a pair of assists to his credit, it was decided to return him to his junior hockey team to play out the remainder of the season; although the situation went amiss and he ended up abruptly leaving the team during their playoff run.

His playing rights were traded to Rimouski Oceanic, but the 6’3″ 215 lbs. player was determined to turn pro and stick with the parent club or start his official rookie season with their minor league affilate Albany Devils.

The latter occurred when he was reassigned to the farm club to continue his development.

In 18 AHL games the built like a power forward has a conservative 3 goals and 4 assists, while seemingly still adjusting to the higher level of play.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal last season, the first campaign of the contract was accounted for in his somewhat tumultuous 2012/2013.

The big 19-year old will likely figure out pretty quickly what it’s going to take for him to jump to the next level permanently and become a fixture in the league but will probably need to pay attention to some good coaching and could use a great veteran mentor.

03Oct

Gabriel Levesque(12) Quad City Mallards

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3rd year undrafted center Gabriel Levesque(12) decides to switch up his hockey landscape, leaving Stockton Thunder to join the lower Central Hockey League Quad City Mallards for the 2013/2014 season.

The very small but speedy forward with good hands skated in the ECHL for his first two campaigns registering 18 goals and 42 assists in 94 games.

He also suited up for another 27 Kelly Cup Playoff games with the team going all the way to the Finals last season.

At only 5’7″ 160 lbs. there’s no doubt he could be viewed as a bit of a punching bag out there but has proven he can strike gold on the score sheet.

In four years of QMJHL he lit the lamp for almost a point per game production and in his last season was the league’s assist leader putting up 70 helpers and 38 goals through 68 games.

He started his pro career on an invite to Worcester Sharks‘ training camp but was quickly sent down.

There’s little doubt the 23-year old will put up big numbers and likely either transition back to a higher level of play or look overseas to continue his quest.

23Sep

Marc-Andre Cliche(22) Colorado Avalanche

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Colorado Avalanche claimed 7th year center Marc-Andre Cliche(22) off waivers from Los Angeles Kings.

He’s on the 2nd year of his current contract which pays him a one-way salary regardless of getting reassigned to a minor league affiliate.

The seemingly under-sized 6′ 205 lbs. forward was Manchester Monarchs‘ captain for the last three seasons and has skated in 341 AHL games with the team scoring 68 goals and 83 assists. He also owns a highly accountable +19 rating.

In his last two years of junior hockey with Lewiston Maineiacs, he was also team captain leading them to the 2007 QMJHL Championship.

He’s only been recalled for a single NHL game but could find his way to becoming a regular in the parent club’s lineup like former teammate Richard Clune did once Nashville Predators pulled him out from the Kings‘ prospect system.

The 26-year old former New York Rangers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft (#56 overall) will definitely be looking to getting into his new training camp and prove he’s ready to become a full-time member in the big league. His tenacious, never-say-quit playing style and endless ability to stick up for teammates will definitely help his case.

See related: 10/11-11

06Aug

Jacob Lagace (83)

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4th year unrestricted free agent left wing Jacob Lagace(83) signs on for the 2013/2014 season with Orlando Solar Bears.

He just wrapped up his 3-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres that saw him skate 120 AHL games (20-23-43) with Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans and 70 in the ECHL (16-26-42) with Greenville Road Warriors and Bakersfield Condors.

He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#134 overall).

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward posted his best numbers in 2012/2013 with 16 goals and 20 assists last season with Bakersfield only reassignment but only had four AHL appearances.

He was a scoring machine in 3 junior hockey campaigns in the QMJHL with 90 markers and 114 helpers in 191 games.

The 23-year old should be able to surpass his high marks with a full season in the ECHL but he could also be on the short list for a recall.

30Jul

Joel Champagne(24) Braehead Clan

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In somewhat of an interesting pro hockey move, third year center Joel Champagne(24) signs to play with Braehead Clan of the EIHL for 2013/2014.

He won the Kelly Cup Championship last season with Reading Royals, playing pretty much all of the regular season and playoff games on reassignment from Hershey Bears. Technically he was signed to an AHL contract last season but never recalled. His ECHL numbers were decent: 18+31=49 points and then put up another 3 goals and 5 assists in 21 postseason match ups.

The 6’4″ 217 lbs. XL forward was originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#129 overall) but signed his first deal with Milwaukee Admirals. He had 6 goals and 6 assists in 55 games with a +4 rating. He also played a 6 games with their affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones and put up 5 goals and 3 assists.

It’s maybe just that the 23-year has yet to find his place to show his abilities but as a more than a point per game player in his final three years of juniors in the QMJHL, he’s definitely shown the ability to connect and should be able to light the lamp like crazy in the English pro league.

10Jun

Francis Pare(9) Grand Rapids Griffins

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Detroit Red Wings‘ undrafted fifth year right wing, Francis Pare(9) scored the winning goal for minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins in game 2 of the 2013 Calder Cup Finals to help give his team a 2-0 series lead.

Appearing in all 20 postseasons contests, he has 3 goals and 9 assists. 2 of his strikes came on the power play, including the recent game-winner.

In 68 2012/2013 regular season outings he notched 22 goals and 22 assists

He is currently in the final campaign of his 2-year contract extension, which he signed as his tw0-year entry level deal was wrapping up.

In his first year as a pro he signed a one-year agreement with the Griffins.

He has played in 363 AHL games, all with Grand Rapids, scoring 102 goals and 135 assists with a +19 rating.

The 5’10” 191 lbs. forward had an outstanding junior career registering 1.12 points per game over 4 seasons in the QMJHL. He was selected league MVP in his final season.

The soon-to-be 26-year old enters his first off season as an unrestricted free agent. He has yet to skate in an NHL game but we have to think his chances of re-upping one more time are good, unless he feels the need to explore the market.