Prospect Spotlight: Texier Rounding Out His Game For France

Selected with the 45th pick in last June's NHL Draft, when the Blue Jackets traded up to get him, center Alexadre Texier was supposed to make his debut in the IIHF Men's World Championship last May in Paris, in front of French fans.
Instead, the product of Grenoble, France, was hurt in exhibition play and missed the tournament with a shoulder injury.

"He made a young guy's mistake," said Dave Henderson, France's longtime head coach. "He got hit and instead of just taking it on his shoulder, he put his elbow up and dislocated his shoulder. But, we have seen so much more improvement from him since then in all areas of his game. Every practice, every game he gets better."
Texier has begun to show that improvement at the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship in Denmark. Starting out as France's third-line center in Group A competition in Copenhagen, the 18-year old pivot had a tough go of it in the first few games.
Then, he was named France's player of the game in a 3-1 loss to Slovakia last Thursday and Henderson rewarded his effort by moving him up to second-line center the next day. Texier responded with three primary assists in France's 5-2 victory against Austria, including one no-look drop pass that slid between his skates and the skates of a trailing defender.
It was France's second win in the tournament and the first good glimpse at the potential that exists in Texier, who's seen by some as the best French hockey prospect the country has ever produced. There's good reason for that logic, too.
After playing in the top French professional league at age 17, Texier spent this past season in the Finnish Elite League with KalPa, scoring 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points in 53 games. He had another goal and assist in six playoff games, and his development as a player was clear to Henderson - who's noticed how much Texier has benefited from playing against older, more skilled players.
"He's more aware in the defensive zone than when he was here with us last year and we're seeing that aspect develop more and more every day," Henderson said. "We also see a lot of fight in him. He gets hit, but he doesn't just take it. He's more aggressive himself now. He's better with his stick recovering pucks and is still developing offensively, finding the guys that are open and finding extra time for his teammates to be able to make a great pass or scoring opportunity."
Henderson started out using the 6-foot-1, 190-pound centermanm, known for his quick release and smooth skating, on France's third line for one main reason. He didn't want to put too much pressure on Texier right away.
"We're trying to bring him along slowly, so he doesn't feel like he has to be the go-to guy yet," Henderson said. "He's doing a good job this year and set up some really nice goals and is getting more and more comfortable with his role. We've also given him some time on the power play. We just want to take things slow with him, give him a little bit more responsibility at a time and not burn him out. If you put too much pressure on him too soon, it's not good for a young guy."
Henderson also put that line together with Texier's development in mind. His linemates were Floran Douay, a left wing who plays in the Swiss league, and right wing Valentin Claireaux, who played against Texier in the Finnish league (Liiga).
"He [was] with two guys that are used to working hard and getting the puck and giving it to someone, so he had the puck a little bit more than he would playing on the first or second line," Henderson said. "It's better for him to have the puck and try to do things with it. Even if he makes a mistake, it doesn't worry me, because it's part of the learning process and, when he's playing with us, he's playing at a higher level than he has the last two seasons, so it's getting him acclimatized to the high level of international hockey - which will help him later on in his career."
It's starting to help him already.
Since being promoted to the second line, Texier still has the puck a lot, while playing with veterans Sacha Treille and Teddy Da Costa. Along with representing France, it's the kind of opportunity he craves, being taught and challenged by more experienced, stronger players on the big stage of the world championship.
"I'm very proud to represent my country and have the chance to play against NHL players every day," Texier said. "I want to have a big role on this team, like I do in Finland, but I have to play more with the puck and play better with my linemates. Against Russia, that was a big challenge, but it's good experience for me. It helps me see what I need to work on to get my game to that level. We know we have to battle every night if we want to win these games, so it's a big, big challenge and a chance to get better."
Based on his experiences this past year, Texier wants to work most on his skating and his strength this offseason.
"I need to work on everything, but especially those two things," he said. "I want to be better everywhere, but it doesn't help me to have a good shot if I can't keep up with my teammates or am not strong enough to protect the puck and battle in the corners."
Henderson said his shot might be Texier's most valuable asset at the moment.
"He just has such a quick release," Henderson said. "He'll be right in the middle of stick-handling or making a play and boom, it's off his stick. He can get rid of it real fast with quick wrists. He's real agile too, like a snake. He's in one place and all of a sudden he's in another place. He's got good control and protects the puck well when it's on his stick. He just continues to get better rand better."
The coach's final thought is what has Blue Jackets fans excited.
"He's a good prospect," Henderson said. "They didn't draft him in the second round for nothing."