QMJHL: Older Picks Solidify Draft Class

The prognostication heading into the NHL Draft in Raleigh, North Carolina, was that beyond the first two selections anything could happen. As it turned out, the same could be said for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's finish in the two-day event as fans and scouts alike were taken aback after the consensus top two picks, Alexandre Picard and Bruce Graham.

Considered to be the weakest draft-eligible class for the QMJHL in years, it came to the surprise of many that a total of 27 players from the predominantly French league were chosen in the NHL Entry Draft held on June 26th. This is the second most since 1999 - a record 41 were taken in 1998. An impressive 38 were taken last year at the draft hosted in Nashville.

The biggest surprises of the day involved selections of players in their supplementary years of eligibility. A total of six players taken from the 'Q' were eligible in 2002, and an additional three were available in 2001. Gabriel Bouthillette, Pierre-Luc Letourneau, Martin Houle, Jonathan Paiement, Sylvain Michaud, and Jonathan-Michel Boutin could all have been picked in 2002. Houle was named this season's Goaltender of the Year, and Paiement who could potentially have a pro career ahead of him, was a first team all-star on defence.

Adam Pardy, a 20-year old role player, has been available in both of the past two drafts and went in the sixth round to the Calgary Flames (the Flames showed a similar tendency to select older players with the Brandon Prust pick). Eric Neilson, who will enter his twenties in mid-August, was chosen in the fifth round by the Kings. Martin Vagner, who was chosen in the first round by the Dallas Stars in 2001, was the only draft re-entry. The native of the Czech Republic has struggled in North America and was taken in the 9th round, 268th overall, by the host Carolina Hurricanes.

Shocking activities in the way of risers and fallers were also prevalent in Raleigh. The Halifax Mooseheads' talented forward Jan Steber, who may have lost ground due to his inconsistent and often mediocre play in 2003/04, fell to the eighth round and was scooped up by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Julien Ellis-Plante, named the QMJHL's best rookie netminder, fell to the sixth round where he was taken by the Canucks.

Among the risers, McKeens' 20th ranked QMJHL prospect Nick Fugere of the Gatineau Olympiques was snatched up in the fourth round by the Nashville Predators. The Shawinigan Cataractes Justin Vienneau and Quebec Remparts' Stephane Goulet were also selected, despite missing from numerous lists. Both were chosen in the seventh round by the Columbus Bluejackets and Edmonton Oilers, respectively.

While examining the aftermath it is definite that the Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers had their scouts dispersed across the east coast. Each took home a group of three impressive QMJHL prospects in the draft. The Flyers focused on two-way qualities by taking the Rockets' David Laliberte, Mooseheads' bullish forward Frederik Cabana, and Screaming Eagles' netminder Martin Houle. Columbus went the offensive route in selecting the league's top draft hopeful, Alexandre Picard of the Lewiston MAINEiacs, as well as the league champion Gatineau Olympiques' speedy dynamo Petr Pohl while adding toughness with the Shawinigan Cataractes' Justin Vienneau.

If anything, the consistent inclination on the teams' part to opt for older, more proven players was indicative of the draft's (and the Quebec league's) overall mediocrity. By that virtue, it was ironic that there was such a great lack of Euro overager selections, but there isn't any doubt that after all the explosive talent was off the table, many teams decided to go for surer, more proven picks instead of splitting hairs with the younger talents like Olivier Latendresse.

1 (8) Columbus Alexandre Picard, Lewiston

2 (51) NY Rangers Bruce Graham, Moncton

2 (64) Boston Martins Karsums, Moncton

2 (65) Tampa Bay Mark Tobin, Rimouski

4 (107) Nashville Nick Fugere, Gatineau

4 (114) Minnesota Patrick Bordeleau, Val D'Or

4 (124) Philadelphia David Laliberte, PEI

4 (129) San Jose Jason Churchill, Halifax

5 (130) Pittsburgh Michal Sersen, Rimouski

5 (133) Columbus Petr Pohl, Gatineau

5 (143) Los Angeles Eric Neilson, Rimouski

5 (161) Minnesota Jean-Claude Sawyer, Cape Breton

6 (171) Philadelphia Frederik Cabana, Halifax

6 (173) Calgary Adam Pardy, Cape Breton

6 (181) Montreal Loic Lacasse, Baie Comeau

6 (189) Vancouver Julien Ellis-Plante, Shawinigan

7 (198) Columbus Justin Vienneau, Shawinigan

7 (203) Anaheim Gabriel Bouthillette, Gatineau

7 (208) Edmonton Stephane Goulet, Quebec City

7 (216) New Jersey Pierre-Luc Leblond, Baie Comeau

8 (232) Philadelphia Martin Houle Cape, Breton

8 (247) NY Rangers Jonathan Paiement, Lewiston

8 (252) Toronto Jan Steber, Halifax

9 (268) Carolina Martin Vagner, Gatineau

9 (276) NY Islanders Sylvain Michaud, Drummondville

9 (277) St. Louis Jonathan Boutin, Shawinigan

9 (278) Montreal Alex Dulac-Lemelin, Baie Comeau