Mavrik Bourque looking like a first rounder

By
McKeen’s Hockey,

By
McKeen’s Hockey

Published March 4, 2020 01:04 AM

As the dust settles from the flurry of activity around the trade deadline, as of March 1^st, NHL teams will quietly turn their attention to overage prospects from the CHL that are available to sign to entry level contracts. In this week’s column, Brock Otten profiles six players, two from each CHL league, who will likely earn a contract and may go on to be impact NHL players.

For our weekly 2020 NHL Draft Prospect, Mike Sanderson looks at Mavrik Bourque out of the QMJHL. He is a strong competitor with a high hockey IQ who will become a fan favorite for whichever team lands him in Montreal. He is currently ranked in the middle of the first round and the third forward from the Q on our Mid-Season 2020 NHL Draft Ranking

At the end of this article we have listed all the 2020 NHL Draft eligible prospects we have already introduced to the readers of this column; with links for easy access. If you want to dive deeper, our team are scouting, analyzing and writing about prospects all season at www.mckeenshockey.com

Editor’s Note: Drafting is only half the battle. Dominate all season long with our Season Pass! Use our NEW Lineup Adviser, get our Weekly and Rest-of-Season rankings and projections, track all of your players and more on your way to a championship! Click here for more!

Don’t forget, for everything NHL, check out Rotoworld’s Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_ HK on Twitter.
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2020 NHL DRAFT PROSPECT

Mavrik Bourque, C, 5’10”, 170 lbs

2019-20 Stats: Shawinigan (QMJHL) 49GP-29G-42A-71PTS

By Mike Sanderson, Senior QMJHL Prospect Analyst

Bourque is ranked as a mid-to-late first round pick for good reason: he creates plays and keeps plays in motion with his skills, smarts and effort.

The pint-sized center reminds many of another recent small center out of the Mauricie region of Quebec, and that is current New York Islander Anthony Beauvillier. Beauvillier is a pretty decent comparable to the way Bourque plays, as he is a strong competitor who plays and thinks at high speed. Bourque, like Beauvillier, is more of a playmaker than a scorer, but he is fully able to use his shot to finish plays if called upon. His two greatest assets are his abilities to find and create space for himself, and to keep his feet moving at-all-times.

Last season, the Cataractes were among the thinnest of offensive teams and that allowed Bourque, the third overall pick of the 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft, to flourish with lots of ice time. Bourque made a home on the top line early and stayed in that position all year long, finishing with 54 points in 64 games. He was joined by veteran winger and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Jan Drozg on the top line, with not much behind them, with the exception of an up-and-down year of Arizona hopeful Valentin Nussbaumer.

Shawinigan grabbed some momentum and won two playoff games against the eventual Memorial Cup Champion Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, a team that only lost two other playoff games all year. That series had an 86-point difference in the standings, a QMJHL record, and Shawinigan took two contests thanks in large part to Bourque’s five points.

This year, the Cats are an improved team, and in the mix of the Western Conference, despite losing Nussbaumer to the pro ranks in Switzerland after Christmas. Despite this, Bourque is joined by strong campaigns from fellow youngsters Xavier Bourgault, with 68 points, and Vasily Ponomarev, with 47 points.

Bourque is leading the team in scoring with his 71 points. His detailed game has improved; his faceoff percentage is five points better than last year, his defensive game has picked up, and he has found more ways to contribute away from the scoresheet. Most importantly, he is a force on even strength, where he has 45 points. That is a strong indicator of how well he can adapt to the pro ranks, when the ice tends to get smaller. The absence of Nussbaumer has given even more of the offensive reins to Bourque, and he has flourished, compiling a seven-point game last month.

To further complicate his season, head coach Daniel Renaud was let go from the team last month and replaced by former KHL bench boss and NHL tough guy Gordie Dwyer. In fact, Bourque is yet to play for his new coach, as he hurt his wrist a couple of weeks ago. He is still on the mend for a couple more weeks, but he is set to return just before the playoffs for Shawinigan, who are still in the thick of things in the Western Conference.

Bourque will see his name called on the first day of this June’s Entry Draft and will be a fan favorite quickly for his new team. It won’t be long before he finds a home on that team’s top two lines, either.

PROSPECTS IN THE NEWS – Top CHL Overagers In Line For An NHL Entry Level Contract

By Brock Otten, Senior Canada/OHL Prospect Analyst

Jake Muzzin, Tyler Johnson, Mark Giordano, Jonathan Marchessault, Brenden Dillon, Daniel Girardi. Those are just a few players who were signed as free agents by NHL clubs following their overage year in the CHL. Each year, teams sign at least a half dozen free agents out of the Canadian Hockey League. While many of these players end up as only farm roster depth, some do emerge as legitimate NHL players (even all stars) like those previously listed.

March 1^st generally serves as the opening window for such signings as it is the day that ELC signings slide to the following NHL season. Over the next week or two, it is likely that we see several over-age, CHL free agents ink NHL contracts. As such, here are some names to keep an eye on (two from each CHL league).

Noel Hoefenmayer - Defense - Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

2019-20 Stats: 55GP-23G-52A-75PTS

Originally a 4th round selection by the Arizona Coyotes, they elected not to sign Hoefenmayer last summer and he returned to the OHL for his overage season with the Ottawa 67’s. Playing on a Memorial Cup contender, Hoefenmayer is currently the defenseman scoring leader in the entire CHL and the top candidate for the OHL’s defenseman of the year award. The 6’0, 190lbs, left shot defender has worked hard to improve his play in his own end, his explosiveness, and his overall mobility. However, his bread and butter remain his instincts and decision making when running the point of the power play.

Brett Neumann - Center - Oshawa Generals (OHL)

2019-20 Stats: 60GP-43G-37A-80PTS

If there’s one thing that NHL teams look for it is speed and skating ability and Neumann has that in spades. One of the OHL’s most dynamic and explosive skaters, Neumann has been an offensive catalyst the last two seasons for the Generals. A 45-goal scorer last year, he is on pace to inch close to 50 this year, thanks in part to his high-quality release, nonstop motor, and aforementioned skating ability. Neumann plays in all situations for Oshawa and despite his lack of size (5’9, 175lbs), could carve out a career in the NHL as an energy role player.

Jeremy McKenna - Right Wing - Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

2019-20 Stats: 55GP-38G-39A-77PTS

A 5’10 winger, McKenna has been a QMJHL scoring star the last three seasons with Moncton. Last summer, he signed an AHL contract with Stockton (the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames) but asked to be released so that he could return for one final season with the Wildcats. He had 27 points in 13 February games and finds himself in the top three of goal scoring in the QMJHL (which he finished second in last year). No doubt, he is locked and loaded for a long playoff run with Moncton, especially after they loaded up at the QMJHL deadline. The talented offensive winger is a high-volume shooter and a high-quality mover who is absolutely lethal on the power play because of his quick stick.

Cedric Pare - Center - Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

2019-20 Stats: 61GP-36G-51A-87PTS

Pare is another former NHL draft pick (of Boston) who is playing in his overage season because he did not receive a contract offer last summer. Centering Alexis Lafreniere at times this year, Pare has exploded offensively, obliterating previous career highs as he finds himself near the top of most major scoring categories in the QMJHL. The 6’4, 210lbs forward has the size that NHL teams covet from the center position and he has proven that he can drive the play offensively, even without Lafreniere.

James Hamblin - Left Wing - Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

2019-20 Stats: 59GP-35G-52A-87PTS

One thing that NHL scouts like to see is consistent progression and Hamblin has shown that by steadily improving his offensive production each year in the WHL. The 5’10 winger now finds himself in the top three of Western Hockey League scoring. Hamblin possesses an NHL quality shot and has the speed to make up for his lack of size. Additionally, Hamblin has served as captain of Medicine Hat for the last three seasons, which is a testament to his strong character.

Max Martin - Defense - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

2019-20 Stats: 56GP-12G-43A-55PTS

After winning a WHL championship with the Prince Albert Raiders last year, Martin is now hoping to lead first place Kamloops to that same accomplishment. Hovering around the point per game mark, Martin is one of the highest scoring defenders in the WHL and is currently second among all players (regardless of position) in powerplay assists, a testament to his ability to run the point with the man advantage. The 6’0, left shot defender has also shown a penchant for delivering big hits and is a combined +65 the last two seasons.

HM: Joseph Garreffa (Ottawa, OHL), Jonathan Yantsis (Kitchener, OHL), Alex Olivier-Voyer (Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Felix Robert (Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Nicolas Guay (Rimouski, QMJHL), Zane Franklin (Kamloops, WHL), Jake Christiansen (Everett, WHL)

PAST ROTOWORLD MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL DRAFT PROSPECT REPORTS – In our weekly columns we cover an NHL Draft prospect. Check out what we have written to date here listed by our most recent ranking.

#1 Alexis Lafreniere (October 15^th, 2019)

#2 Quinton Byfield (October 8^th, 2019)

#3 Tim Stutzle (January 21^st, 2020)

#4 Lucas Raymond (October 8^th, 2019)

#5 Alexander Holtz (October 15^th, 2019)

#6 Jamie Drysdale (October 29^th, 2019)

#7 Marco Rossi (November 19^th, 2019)

#8 Cole Perfetti (October 22^nd, 2019)

#9 Connor Zary (November 5^th, 2019)

#10 Jake Sanderson (January 28^th, 2020)

#11 Anton Lundell (October 22^nd, 2019)

#12 Yaroslav Askarov (November 5^th, 2019)