Some Quick Highlights From Last Night's CHL Top Prospects Game
Before I get started here, yes, I realize that there is only a very small niche of people who actually care about this game. But for the 5 or 6 of you out there that do care, well this is for you. Because while there was no actual NHL action being played last night, the future of the league was on full display as Team Cherry took on Team Orr in the CHL Top Prospects game. A game that featured 8 of the top 10 ranked North American skaters. And for people who aren’t familiar with this game, just think of it as the McDonald’s All American game or something like that. Because I’d say at least 20 of the kids playing in this game last night will be drafted in the 1st round at this upcoming summer’s NHL Entry Draft. So here are a few guys who stood out of the crowd.
Pierre-Luc Dubois – Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) – 7th Ranked NA Skater
Every year in this game, there’s 1 kid who really ups their draft stock. Dubois was most likely going to be a 1st round pick anyway this summer but with a point on all 3 goals for Team Orr (1G, 2A), there was no doubt that he was the best player out there. The kid has a ton of size for a 17 year old and he’s also got a ton of speed for a bigger guy. Through 46 games this year in the QMJHL, he’s racked up 68 points and as you can tell from the couple plays above, it’s because he goes hard to the net. Now the other guy who had 3 points for Team Orr last night…
Pascal Laberge – Victoriaville Tigers (QMJHL) – 31st Ranked NA Skater
I mean, that move was just sick. Great hands and a crazy quick release. It wasn’t a bad night for the QMJHL last night. They may have only had 8 guys in the game (20 OHL, 13 WHL) but they had the top two scorers of the night in Dubois and Laberge and I thought the goalie who looked the best for the time he played was Evan Fitzpatrick (2nd ranked NA goalie for Sherbrooke). Laberge’s game is smooth and he’s not a guy who is going to be NHL ready for another couple of seasons, but just store the name away in the back of your brain. Because eventually he’ll crack an NHL lineup and he’ll be driving goaltenders crazy with that release.
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Jakob Chychrun – Sarnia Sting (OHL) – 2nd Ranked NA Skater
There’s a reason why Sarnia defenseman Jakob Chychrun is the 2nd ranked North American skater. The kid is big, he’s a vocal defenseman and leads well on the ice, and he can move. He wasn’t overly dominant last night but you can see flashes in his game and there’s a few intangibles he has that separates him from the pack. I mean, that haircut just screams “elite level prospect”. He’s a Florida boy and his dad used to be a Flyer, he’s the nephew of Luke Richardson. If the Flyers weren’t already set with prospects at the blue line, I’d be all over him.
Michael McLeod – Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) – 6th Ranked NA Skater
Biggest thing I saw from this kid last night was speed. Lots and lots of hot, nasty, bad ass speed. He was all over the ice and treats the neutral zone like a stick of butter.
Obviously top ranked Matthew Tkachuk (son of Keith) looked big and strong out there last night. Like Chychrun, he wasn’t overly dominant but you can tell why he’s going to be a top pick this summer. I would do almost anything for the Flyers to end up in the 4-6 hole to try to make a play on Tkachuk at the draft. I don’t care how they have to get there, I just need that kid to be in an Orange jersey.
Michael Buble, big hockey guy.
Buble is actually a part-owner of the Vancouver Giants, which explains why he was in the building last night. But when the voice of Christmas is saying that hockey is the greatest game in the world, well that carries a lot of validity to it.
Don Cherry, always dressed to impress.
