Oilers Update Jonathan Huberdeau, Top 5 Prospects NHL 2011 Draft

He finished the 2010/11 season with 105 points in 67 games.  In the process, he helped the Saint John Sea Dogs win it's first ever C.H.L. Championship this past May and also collected MVP honors during the tournament.  

Meet Jonathan Huberdeau, a 6'1" 168 pound centerman who is arguably slated to go between 3rd and 6th at this years NHL Entry Draft.

Those who have been following Huberdeau will out right draw comparisons to that of Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, due his play making abilities and super quick hands.  

"He’s the type of player who can change the outcome of a game suddenly and quickly,” said scout Chris Bordeleau to NHL.com. “He’s displayed unbelievably quick hands and an ability to set up and score goals. He definitely has NHL hands and playmaking ability.”

 

“Once he puts on 10 or 15 pounds, he should be awesome,” Bordeleau said. “He’s also gritty and does not back down when challenged. As far as I’m concerned, he’s as good as the top three guys.  It’ll be interesting to see where he finishes up at the final meeting. Jonathan is in his first full year in the league and Couturier is in his third."

Edmonton Oilers head scout Stu Macgregor can only echo the same sentiments as Bordeleau. 

"He's only 170 pounds. He needs to get stronger to be able to take his game forward and be able to play in the areas that he likes to play in, which is in and around the net." said Macgregor 

"A very solid second-line player. It depends where he plays. He plays wing now, but he played centre when he first came into the league. What will he be in the NHL? He could be a centre." 

 

Oilers Update - Sean Couturier, Top 5 Prospects NHL 2011 Draft

He stands 6'4", weighs 195 pounds and plays Centre.  Did you hear that Stu MacGregor?  Sean Couturier, is the precise pivot who has been missing in the Oilers line-up since, well...forever.  


Slated to go 4th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the native of Phoenix, Arizona can easily be compared to Big Joe Thornton.  Akin to Thornton, Couturier has size, vision and plays with a serious, physical edge.  

However, what makes really makes Couturier a prized commodity in this years draft was his ability to score 96 points in back to back seasons.  

Moreover in 2009, Couturier won the QMJHL scoring title at the tender age of 17.  A feat which hasn't been matched since some guy name Sidney Crosby did so 6 years ago. 

'We seem to click out there and the passes are on the tape,'' said line-mate Louis Leblanc. ''He protects the puck and sees the ice really well. He's a good overall package.'' 

Couturier is exactly that  "a complete package".  He is very strong on the puck and has all the tools to be sound two-way forward.   

While hockey pundits see Couturier as an offensive forward, the Drummondville Voltigeurs pivot has a lot more to bring.
 
''He played for us last summer at the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka tournament and took on a role as a shut-down centre playing against the best players from all the other countries. said  Team Canada Junior Scout, Al Murray.  "He's shown us at the international level, on the big ice surface, that he can skate and play defensively.

''He brings that to the Quebec league as well as being the leading scorer in the league, so I don't think there's anything that Sean hasn't been able to do at the junior level. He's been on our radar for a number of years."

''It's important for me to play a good defensive game,'' Couturier said. ''That's where all my offence starts...getting the puck out and going on attack."

''You want to be that guy at the end of the game that you can count on defensively to shut down and not get scored on. You always want to be in those key moments.''

Couturier's last statement speaks volumes.  

In 2009, he also posted a remarkable -62 rating.




Next up...Jonathan Huberdeau