Montreal Juniors Toolbox

The Montreal Juniors are retooling their lineup for the upcoming season, something the organization felt they had to do after the loss of key veterans such as Angelo Esposito, T.J. Brennan and Matt Fillier. However, that does not mean that they are not looking to be competitive this season. Among the key players in their lineup is a trio of solid prospects in St. Louis Blues draft pick Jake Allen, and 2010 NHL Entry Draft eligible Guillaume Asselin and Louis-Marc Aubry. McKeen's correspondent Rick Springhetti looks at these players as well as a few other Montreal Juniors.

Guillaume Asselin (2010), RW, Montreal

Pure sniper who does not miss many scoring opportunities .. right-handed forward who posses a hard wristshot that he releases very quickly - sometimes off his left-leg catching opposing goaltenders off-guard .. always seems to be just in the right spot to maximize his scoring chances .. while he will never be a great puck distributor, he is learning to better use his teammates .. not playing with as much bite in terms of physical play as last season but then again, is used in more offensive situations .. has a tendency of floating around in the offensive zone, something that will have to improve if he is expected to be a go-to-guy on a winning team .. while he does not have great offensive numbers, the Juniors also don't have a top-line center that can complement his game.

Louis-Marc Aubry (2010), C, Montreal

Son of former NHLer Pierre Aubry, Louis-Marc is an honest player who will do the little things that are needed to win .. although not aggressive, Aubry does use his size to his advantage in the offensive and defensive zone .. showing a lot more confidence this season when carrying the puck and making plays .. coordination is also much-improved especially in terms of footwork after a growth spurt of 5 inches in less than two years .. not a great skater, his first few strides are especially labored but keeps up just fine once he get's going .. choppy stickhandler who has trouble releasing the puck when taking a shot, he tends to score on second and third chances or when going to the net and getting to the rebounds .. very solid defensive player who uses his smarts and long wingspan to diminish the options of the opposition .. is very good in the faceoff circle and is still improving .. coaching staff is happy with his work ethic and smart play.

Eliezer Sherbatov (2010), LW, Montreal

Israeli-born forward who was not even playing junior hockey last season .. development was delayed by three operations on his knee before the age of 16 .. small forward that can really move in all directions at quick speeds .. one of the better skaters with an excellent technique, which should not be surprising as his mom is a skating instructor in Montreal's West Island .. not shy when it comes to physical play, although he does not initiate much of it .. physically, he has very good strength that he developed by training with his brothers who run a mixed-martial arts center .. difficult to contain along the boards, as he manages to keep his feet moving even when being hit leading to opposing players to have to hook and hold him to contain him .. plays a selfish game by either not spotting or even looking for open teammates, but is improving quickly in this area .. needs to work on his shot, as he manages to get most of his goals when he is near the opposing net .. not too bad in his own zone when he uses his speed to pressure the puckcarrier, but lacks understanding of proper positioning to eliminate or cut down on passing lanes.

Xavier Ouellet (2011), D, Montreal

First-round pick of the Juniors at the 2009 QJMHL entry draft, Ouellet is a smooth skater that moves effortlessly in all directions .. lateral movement is especially impressive, as he catches opponents who don't know him well .. very confident with the puck but due to his lack of experience at this level, he may want to play a more conservative game especially when pressured .. receives powerplay time due to his ability to distribute the puck, and his ability to skate up the ice with it .. runs into problems when the play becomes physical, but this may improve as he continues to grow and get stronger .. is effective when he plays the puck instead of the man .. never initiates physical contact along the boards or in front the net .. suffered a broken wrist in mid-October and will miss up to two months.

Jake Allen (StL), G, Montreal

Season after season, Allen continues to impress with his quiet confidence .. although his statistics do not seem as impressive as last season, he is facing more difficult shots with a younger team in front of him .. no worries though, as Allen thrives under pressure .. has very quick lateral movement while still managing to keep his balance .. even in movement, he still keeps his head up facing the puck .. one of the better stickhandlers around the net with better than average passing skills .. general consensus is that he will be traded during the Christmas holidays to a contending team.

Jean-Francois Berube (LA), G, Montreal

Had some off-nights upon his return from the Los Angeles Kings training camp .. admitted that he may have been overconfident .. well-positioned goaltender that looks to cut angles quickly .. most effective when he stays back and lets the puck hit him .. manages to control his rebounds well .. runs into trouble when he let's in a goal early in the game, as he seems to get off his game .. with Jake Allen likely gone by mid-season, Berube will be looked upon to carry the load for the Juniors this year and the next.