A Look At This Year's Top Prospects

By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

Over the next few days we’ll have a look at some of the top prospects for the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft. Our friends at HockeyProspect.com have once again created an excellent guide for the draft and we’ll be looking at some of their thoughts on these top players. For a more in depth look at their rankings and player reviews you can purchase the guide for $20. It’s a must purchase for QMJHL hockey fans that want an even more in depth look at the players for Saturday’s draft.

Maxime Comtois - LW - Chateauguay Grenadiers (LHMAAAQ) - 6’0” 176lbs

A very dangerous offensive weapon for the Chateauguay Grenadiers, Comtois combines an excellent wrist shot with pinpoint accuracy and shoots from anywhere. He’s very good one on one with defenders in the offensive zone. As strong as Comtois is at scoring goals he’s an exceptional playmaker often finding open teammates with tape-to-tape passing, making him even more dangerous as an elite offensive player. Overall his skating is good but an area that Comtois will be looking to improve upon as he could improve on his speed and explosiveness. Comtois should have no trouble cracking a QMJHL roster next season with his size and skill set.

Antoine Morand - C - Chateauguay Grenadiers (LHMAAAQ) - 5’9” 156lbs

Morand is the teammate of top ranked forward Maxime Comtois and often spent time on the ice at the same time. Morand is without a doubt one of the top skaters in the entire draft, using his speed to often burn defenders and pressures on the forecheck. He’s not the biggest forward but doesn’t let his size deter him from going to the dirty areas of the ice. Morand is more of a playmaker with excellent vision, but he can still finish with an excellent wrist shot and a quick release. He’s a very responsible player that will work hard at both ends of the ice - including killing penalties.

Shane Bowers - LW/C - Halifax Macs (MSMMHL) - 6’ 0” 162lbs

Bowers is the top ranked player from Atlantic Canada and could hear his name called first on Saturday morning by the Saint John Sea Dogs. GM Darrell Young is very familiar with Bowers having coached him in the past in lacrosse and Nova Scotia prospects. Bowers is an excellent skater with top end speed and explosiveness. He has elite level vision and can make plays at top speed, making him a very dangerous offensive weapon. He has great hands, making him dangerous both as a playmaker and a goal scorer. Bowers doesn’t shy away from the physical aspects of the game and is willing to play both ends of the ice.