5. LC Jonathan Huberdeau - Saint John (QMJHL)

DOB: Jun. 04/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 171lbs    

Midterm Rank: 7 | League Rank: 2nd QMJHL | Country Rank: 3rd Canada

     Jonathan Huberdeau is the third Saint John Sea Dog profiled in our Top 30 in 30 days. He joins teammates Nathan Beaulieu and Zack Phillips. It is getting repetitive to mention the great season the Sea Dogs had this year winning the QMJHL championship and the Memorial Cup. Jonathan was a huge part of the teams success. He finished 3rd in the league in goals and 3rd in the league in points during the regular season and he finished 2nd in points during the playoffs. Such dominance is not common for 17 year olds in a league usually dominated by 19 and 20 year olds.

     The stats are only a beginning when trying to explain why Jonathan was such a huge part of the Sea Dogs championship run. He scored 43 goals and added 62 assists but it’s not the amount of points he has that is the most impressive, it’s when he came up with those points. The Sea Dogs didn’t trail many times this season but when they did the fans didn’t panic. Huberdeau has time and time again come up with huge plays at the most crucial times for the Sea Dogs.

     There is plenty of evidence there to support it. Not only did Huberdeau have a goal and an assist in the Memorial Cup final game, including the insurance marker to put the intense game away with less than 4 minutes to go in the game but he also had the game winning goal in double over time against Owen Sound which clinched a berth in the final game. His performance earned him tournament MVP. He also contributed immensely in the final game of the QMJHL playoffs trying the game to send it to overtime with under 30 seconds left in regulation. Alexandre Beauregard eventually scored off a turnover to send the Sea Dogs to the national championship.

     Huberdeau’s success comes as no surprise. He lead the Quebec Midget AAA league in scoring as a 15 year old which prompted the Sea Dogs to draft his 18th overall in the first round of the QMJHL draft. He would have been drafted much higher however he was planning on going the NCAA route but the Sea Dogs were able to convince him that major junior was a much better option for a player of his caliber. He then went on to lead all 16 year old players in scoring in his rookie season.

     The Sea Dogs phenom has top notch skill. He sees the ice very well and has terrific hands. He can shoot, pass and deke with the best of ‘em. He also has above average vision and is very creative. In his rookie season in the “Q” he went 6 for 6 in shootouts and 5 for 7 in his sophomore season. That’s a superb 11 for 13 and some of them were even more amazing than his stats. His versatility is another great asset. He has the ability to play wing or center. He’s a natural center but Saint John had a very deep team and he was moved to wing for the most part. NHL scouts feel his size and skill is more suited to play center at the NHL level but it will be up to the lucky team that drafts him what his future holds.

     To conclude, Jonathan has things that you can’t teach such as vision, his 6’1″ frame and his ability to play under pressure. Like most prospects he will need to gain weight and muscle to fill out his 6’1″ frame. His foot speed is something else he’ll continue working on but with elite prospects like him you really have to be picky to find flaws in his game.

Pros: Hands and hockey sense
Cons: Foot speed and lack of weight
Skill-set Comparison: Jason Spezza

Tags: 2011 nhl draft prospects, Jonathan Huberdeau, Scouting Report