Beyond Lafreniere: Quebec well-represented in the Class of 2020

[Please note that none of the scouts quoted in the following article are affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens or the team's scouting staff and none of the information presented has been reviewed or endorsed by the organization's hockey operations department.]
MONTREAL -- There's little doubt as to which QMJHL player will be the first off the board on Oct. 6.

Scouts agree that Alexis Lafrenière possesses the type of skill set that should lead to good -- if not great -- things in the NHL. And though few have described him with the 'generational talent' tag, there are very good odds that Lafreniere will become a high-impact player in the NHL.
What's more, most draft projections seem to support the theory, as evidenced by his prospect
player card
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But he's not the only player hailing from La Belle Province that has the potential to make an impact in the NHL.
In fact, one of the most highly-touted players from Quebec happens to be the son of former Montreal Canadiens player Yanic Perreault.
Jacob Perreault may not possess his father's elite faceoff skills, but he does happen to own one of the best shots in the entire draft class, as evidenced by 39 goals in 57 games for the Sarnia Sting (OHL) this season. His high volume of goals gives us plenty of video evidence to suggest that he has the ability to accept less-than-perfect passes while quickly turning the play into a high-danger scoring opportunity.

For a team like the Canadiens that is actively looking for more shooting talent, Perreault's skill set seems to fit the bill.
"His skill level is off the charts," said Jérôme Bérubé, Head Scout for HockeyProspect.com. "He's not far from a top-5 player in the draft, in terms of skill."
And though there were some concerns in terms of his skating, those concerns quickly dissipated throughout the year, as they tend to do in developing players. Another common refrain we hear when discussing prospects is a lack of consistency, which has been used to describe Perreault, though, to be perfectly fair, it's been used to describe almost every player not named Ovechkin, McDavid, or Crosby.
"He's one of the best goal-scorers in the draft," said Mike Sanderson, QMJHL scout for McKeen's Hockey. "He has a little bit to learn when it comes to using his speed to beat defenders in certain scenarios, but he has great potential. A pure sniper, really."

Hendrix Lapierre is also turning heads, both when it comes to scouts and opposing defenders.
If Perreault is the pure sniper, Lapierre is the pure playmaker. His top-notch hockey sense allows him to exploit passing lanes, anticipating the play well before it develops.
"Possibly one of the best playmakers in the draft. That's not an overstatement," said Sanderson.
There are some drawbacks in his case, both in terms of the Canadiens' most pressing need -goals- and Lapierre's season, which was cut to just 19 games due to an injury, issues that are impacting his forecasted development curve. However, it's always important to remember that unless you're drafting in the Top-5, you're usually restocking the long-term prospect cupboard rather than filling an immediate hole in the roster.
And while it's true Lapierre tends to overlook scoring situations in favor of setting up his teammates, his passing and hockey IQ should not be overlooked.
"As far as playmakers go in this draft, he's easily in the Top-10, and you could argue he's in the Top-5," said Bérubé. "Thanks to his vision, he can make plays others can't."

Not all Drafts are created equally. Some contain a plethora of studs, others are littered with duds.
When it comes to the 2020 Draft, there are reasons to believe that while the high-end talent isn't necessarily on the same level as previous years, the overall depth, particularly in the first and second rounds, is excellent.
Mavrik Bourque is one of those reasons.
Thanks to his balanced skillset, Bourque makes everyone around him better, showing an ability to draw defenders, opening up high-danger passing lanes in the process.
"When he's on the ice, every single play goes through him," said Bérubé. "His hockey IQ is through the roof."

With 71 points in 49 games, Bourque has already proven he's able to generate a significant amount of offense with the puck, but it's his play away from the puck that has impressed many scouts.
"Dogged determination," said Sanderson. "And when he does have the puck, he is acutely aware of how much open space he's creating."

There's a lot to like about Thomas Bordeleau's game. But first off, let's make something clear: yes, this is the second player on the list that happens to be the son of a Canadiens alumnus. And yes you should feel very old right now.
And though he was born in Texas while his father Sebastien played for the Aeros, Bordeleau development is rooted in Quebec's bantam hockey program.
One of the most intriguing prospects in the draft, Bordeleau relies on impressive speed to generate offense off the rush, a skill he complements with high-end vision and fantastic playmaking.
At 5-foot-9, size has been cited as a red flag in his case, but given the name "Anthony Beauvillier" comes up whenever you discuss Bordeleau's potential, it would be a mistake to judge this book by its diminutive cover.
Tweet from @DraftDynasty1: I wasn't sold at first but I'm starting to be a Thomas Bordeleau believer. He's got every thing. Extremely accurate wrister, very good hands, very good playmaker. He's 5'9" but that doesn't seem to hold him back.He's been the best player on the ice in 3-4 games vs NCAA teams. pic.twitter.com/Zy6FXE4jli
As per usual, scouts want to see more consistency, particularly at 5-on-5, something he'll get a chance to work on once he joins the University of Michigan. But as mid-round picks go, Bordeleau checks all the right boxes.
"He has excellent hands," said Sanderson. "A really, really good stick handler and he has great hockey sense."

The odds are stacked against late-round draft picks making the NHL, but every once in a while, a diamond-in-the-rough can be found.
Just ask Cayden Primeau (199th overall, 2017), Jake Evans (211th overall, 2014), Mark Streit (262nd overall, 2004), Or Jaroslav Halak (277th overall, 2003).
One possible late-round target for the Canadiens happens to be one of the biggest players available in the upcoming draft.
At 6-foot-8, defenceman Louis Crevier's wingspan means he covers a lot of ice, allowing him to excel defensively, particularly in the slot, both at 5-on-5 and on the PK.
He scored just 10 goals last season, but when you consider they were all scored at even-strength, his production is relatively noteworthy.
"Defensively, he's excellent, particularly on the penalty kill," said Bérubé. "And he's still very raw."
His defensive awareness on the penalty kill only leaves one very important question: is Hal Gill available to teach him the famous "Gill block" and, if so, when can he start?

Our final duo leads us to Saint John, where a defensive pairing of Quebec-born players have garnered attention for their contrasting style, and consequently, their chemistry.
William Villeneuve isn't known for his offensive flair, though he did produce 59 points in 64 games last season.
"His hockey sense is skewed towards defensive play, given his pairing," explains Sanderson.
Thanks to an active stick and a penchant for outworking his opponents, Villeneuve has solidified his position as a potential third-round prospect, with the possibility of going a little higher, depending on when the run on defensemen begins.
"Villeneuve never stops," said Bérubé. "He goes all out, all the time."

Playing alongside Villeneuve is none other than Jérémie Poirier, the author of 20 goals last season with the Sea Dogs.
He too is slated to be drafted somewhere between the second and third round, and though he does get beat a little too often to the outside when transitioning back into the defensive zone, he excels at driving the play from the blue line.
"The offensive part of his game is excellent," said Bérubé. "He has really good hands, a really good shot, and is great on the power play."
Learning to play within his abilities will be a big step for Poirier, who has the tendency to choose the risky play over the safe play, but that's exactly what scouts tend to look for in this era of puck-moving defensemen.
You can teach patience, but there's a certain offensive instinct among blue-liners that simply cannot be taught, an instinct that Poirier has in spades.
"When he's playing with confidence, he's great," said Sanderson. "And he's a very good skater."

Dollard-des-Ormeaux native Devon Levi is a collector.
For example, just last season, he grew his collection -which happens to be awards- to a whole new level.
Playing for the Carleton Place Canadians of the CCHL, Levi had the best goals-against average in the league (1.47), the best save percentage (.941), was named the best goaltender, the most valuable player, and the top prospect.
What's more, he was also named the CJHL's top rookie, goaltender, and player of the year.
Oh, and he was the tournament MVP at the WJAC under-19 tournament.
But other than that, he hasn't done much...
As a Northeastern commit, Levi will follow in the path of Primeau, joining Canadiens prospects Jordan Harris and Jayden Struble as they attempt to win a third Beanpot title. Seeing as he's made a habit of collecting silverware in the past, perhaps he should preemptively order a roomier trophy case.

Player Cards courtesy of Mikael Nahabedian, Data Analyst and Scout for McGill Martlets Hockey.