QMJHL: One-way Pohl

Game-day notes on a few key Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft prospects including Peter Pohl, Julien Ellis and Frederik Cabana.

Petr Pohl (2004), RW, Gatineau

The Czech native is in his first year in North America, and is quite possibly the QMJHL’s most exciting player after Sidney Crosby … a smooth skater who moves the puck extremely well … possesses strong instincts as a puckcarrier … a highly-skilled player who can beat defensemen and goalies one-on-one with his speed and stickhandling … compliments skills with intelligence and creativity … anticipates the game remarkably well and always knows where his linemates are … loves to handle the puck … possesses strong finishing skills … conversely, his overall play suffers due to his lack of physical strength and questionable commitment to defense … Pohl has attempted to increase his physical involvement, but, at 5-11 and 170 pounds, needs to add more muscle to be effective in this area … his lack of strength hurts his ability to help out in his own zone … although he has shown defensive improvement since September, he still has a long way to go … lacks the initiative to fight for the puck at times … also developing a reputation for attempting to draw penalties by embellishing his dives … needs to show more poise on a consistent basis as he can sometimes panic and make poor decisions when pressured.

Olivier Labelle (2004), RW, Gatineau

An assistant captain on one of the top teams in the QMJHL, despite just approaching his draft year … a very trustworthy player who is used in all key situations … could potentially be a solid role player at the next level … his wealth of playoff experience, including a solid Memorial Cup performance, makes him attractive to scouts … always aggressively pursues the puckcarrier and exhibits superb coverage of the points in the defensive zone … a dedicated backchecker … a thorn in the side of opposing goalscorers as he is constantly glued to his man … works hard in the corners … never shies away from heavy traffic areas … a team player … although defense is his forte, he can surprise from time to time with his creativity close to the net … however, it is important not to overstate his offensive capabilities, though the awareness is definitely there … his offensive abilities are not at elite levels and his upside may be limited, but still it’s tough to imagine the Olympiques having gone to the Memorial Cup last year without his contributions.

Frederik Cabana (2004), RW, Halifax

The 6-0, 180 pound Quebec native is a strong, bullish winger with relentless work habits and a dedication to team objectives … his style of play is reminiscent of former Val D’or center Steve Begin … a strong, two-way forward … an ‘old school’ player who grinds along the boards and shows his fearlessness night after night … displays surprisingly creative playmaking in the offensive zone, despite not possessing particularly ‘eye-catching’ skills or skating abilities … not a particularly smooth skater or puckhandler, yet seems to get the job done … strong on the puck and is among the better backcheckers in the ‘Q’ … the Fleurimont, Quebec native also owns a good shot, while his accuracy is a definite asset.

Jimmy Sharrow (ATL), D, Halifax

Similar to Rico Fata at the same age, this Framingham, Mass native can burn anyone in the league with his explosive speed, yet his hockey sense is still well-below average … consistently makes poor decisions even when not under any pressure … can have all the time in the world and still choose the wrong option … seems to lack focus at times as if his mind was elsewhere … nevertheless, despite his weaknesses, he does possess NHL-caliber speed as well as an excellent offensive skill set … must continue to refine his defensive-zone coverage, which can be very suspect at times … should improve in this area once he adds more muscle to his lanky frame.

Julien Ellis (2004), G, Shawinigan

The top stopper available this summer from the QMJHL goaltending factory … boasts quick reflexes and works hard to stay square to the shooter … covers the bottom half of net well … possesses good side-to-side lateral movement … does not stray from his crease too often … covers his angles well … like most butterfly-style goalies, Ellis tends to play on his knees a bit too much, although this is not a major criticism … not overly flashy nor active, he relies more on his strong positioning and can make difficult saves look easy as a result.

Phillippe Roberge (2004), G, Rouyn-Noranda

If a goaltender can be described as dynamic, the 17-year-old Roberge certainly fits the bill … always in constant motion, while his reaction times are as quick as they come … while these are great assets, Roberge does have some areas that need improvement …he does not fill the net as well as he could and his poor lateral pad movements consistently lead to trouble … he also spends a significant amount of time on his knees … must work on being more patient and staying on his feet longer as shooters are starting to figure out that he goes down on the majority of shots … still a raw project who, given his exceptional quickness, could still develop into a top-end prospect with the proper guidance.

Brent Aubin (2004), RW, Rouyn-Noranda

In spite of his young age and lack of size (5-foot-9), Aubin is still one of the Huskies most effective players … a catalyst who makes things happen whenever he’s on the ice … a very intelligent player with exceptional puckhandling skills … able to set up teammates with well-placed passes in the offensive zone … smart on the cycle and displays superb patience, never rushing his decisions and holding the puck until an opening arises … overall, a very dangerous offensive player whose lack of stature will factor into his draft position.