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Canadiens Draft Options: RW Julien Gauthier

By William Mccomb

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Noah Juulsen on stage with team executives after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Noah Juulsen on stage with team executives after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the Canadiens look to trade down come draft weekend, RW Julien Gauthier could be a prime target at a lower spot.

So far in our draft coverage, we’ve discussed the possibility of the Canadiens trading up to the 4th spot and drafting Pierre-Luc Dubois. We’ve also gone in depth on several options who could be available to the Canadiens at the 9th spot such as center Logan Brown or defenceman Mikhail Segachev.

One thing we haven’t talked about is the possibility the Canadiens look to trade down. We also haven’t talked about who the Canadiens could target with a lower pick. We’ll discuss possible trade scenarios in another article but for now, we’re going to cover the Canadiens first potential target in a trade down scenario, RW Julien Gauthier.

More from A Winning Habit

Draft Rankings/Mock Drafts

Sportsnet – 21st

Draft Site – 20th

ISS – 21st

McKeen’s – 17th

TSN Mock Draft – 19th

Hockey Prospect – 20th

Future Considerations – 21st

Continuing the trend of 2016 top prospects having a hockey lineage, Julien Gauthier is the nephew of long-time NHL defender Denis Gauthier.

It is astounding just how much Julien Gauthier has fallen over the course of this season. After a stellar 2014-15 season where he scored 38 goals and 73 points for Val D’Or, most draft experts pegged Gauthier as a surefire top 10 pick.

Even when the mid-season draft rankings came out, he was still considered a top 10 prospect according to TSN.

Gauthier’s fall from the top stemmed from a relatively disappointing season and a disappointing World Junior Tournament. For Val D’Or, Gauthier’s point total dropped from 73 to just 57. He did manage to score 41 goals but the severe drop off in assists put up red flags regarding his offensive creativity.

Gauthier’s overall drop off in production was quite surprising given Val D’Or scored 293 goals on the season, good for 2nd in the QMJHL. All told, he finished 1st on the team in goals but was 5th in points.

As for the World Juniors, Gauthier struggled to find his place on Team Canada. He played mostly on the 3rd or 4th line. Overall, he tallied just 2 assists in 5 games and was a relative non-factor on the big stage.

Scouting Report

Gauthier is widely believed to be the best power forward prospect in this draft. His unique combination of elite size and goal scoring ability make him a very intriguing prospect. Elite Prospect writer Joe Curtis shares that sentiment in his scouting report:

"An explosive power forward who boasts an elite-level skill package. Takes nothing for granted and plays with hard-nosed work ethic. Tremendous vision and outstanding hockey sense; thrives under pressure and doesn’t stray from the high-percentage play. Willingness to play physical and win battles in his own end makes him a vital asset, stepping up at the game’s key moments. Exceptional skating ability allows him to stay with, if not ahead, of each unfolding play. Refined puckhandling skills allow him to maintain puck control at breakneck speeds. All-in-all, a prolific scorer whose attitude and innate abilities will constantly propel him into dominance"

With all of his skills, Gauthier has drawn comparisons to New York Ranger RW Rick Nash. That is high praise for sure although unlike Nash, their is almost zero chance Gauthier will be able to step into the NHL right away.

Next: Canadiens: Redrafting Last 10 1st Round Picks

Why the Canadiens Should Trade Down For Him

I’ve been a Gauthier fan for most of this season. While others soured on him, I saw a player capable of putting pucks in the net. His 41 goals are impressive, doubly so when you factor in he played just 54 games. By comparison, Pierre-Luc Dubois scored 42 goals in 62 games.

Yes, he likely should have recorded more assists, especially on a high scoring team such as Val D’Or. But as a goal scoring power forward, he’d fit the Canadiens perfectly as a prospect.

Many are projecting Gauthier to go in the 18-21 range. I’m not sold that he’ll last that long. With all of his skills and especially his size, I see a team in the 12-15 range taking a shot at Gauthier.

If the Canadiens are able to trade down to that area while also picking up an extra 2nd round pick, selecting Gauthier could prove to be a wise decision.

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