Three QMJHL Players in Bob MacKenzie's latest draft rankings

Bob McKenzie named his top 30 players for the upcoming draft in a rankings special Tuesday night on TSN. Of the 30 players he named, two currently play in the QMJHL and one is slated to play in the Q next season.

Here are the players named by MacKenzie:

2. Mikhail Grigorenko, F, Quebec Remparts - Grigorenko started the season as a one-dimensional player, and Patrick Roy has turned him into a well rounded player, says MacKenzie. MacKenzie compared Grigorenko to Evgeni Malkin & Pavel Datsyuk. He called him a "200 foot player". He also said some scouts might rather Grigorenko as he's a big center. He noted that Grigorenko hasn't played well since high ankle sprain. He said that if the team with the first overall pick thinks they're close they might take him over Nail Yakupov, because of his two way play.
He also noted that most scouts said they would take Yakupov, but he has talked to some that would rather take Grigorenko. His biggest asset is that he's a big, two-way center, a hot comodity in today's NHL.

24. Martin Frk, F, Halifax. MacKenzie did not speak in depth about Frk, but he has Frk ranked in and around where most have him ranked. No real surprise there.

*25. Stefan Matteau, F, USA. Matteau is not playing in the QMJHL currently, as he is currently with USA Under-18, but he will join the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada next season, where his father is the coach. His ranking is on par with where others have him ranked as well.

jonathan@theqspot.ca

Grigorenko handed golden opportunity by CHL boss

Many fans were left disappointed Wednesday night as potential first overall pick in the upcoming NHL draft, Nail Yakupov, skipped out on the Top Prospects game.

One person who should not have been left disappointed is the player battling Yakupov for first overall. His name is Mikhail Grigorenko.

Grigorenko had a prime opportunity to display his talents in front of hundreds of scouts and have all their eyes on him. If Yakupov had played, Grigorenko still would have been on display, but in a more diluted fashion.

The Top Prospects game is one of the most important games for scouts to evaluate players. Aside from the World Junior Championship, this game is the single biggest indicator of how a player can fare against top competition.

Grigorenko did in fact impress, dazzling scouts with his vision and playmaking skills. There were some criticisms, but that was just white noise.

If Yakupov, a fellow Russian just like Grigorenko, had played, maybe scouts would have been solely focused on him, thus missing out on the brilliance that is Grigorenko.

And now, Grigorenko has been gifted another opportunity to shine, without Yakupov breathing down his neck.

David Branch, president of the CHL, and commissioner of the OHL (Where Yakupov plays), handed down a two game suspension to Yakupov for skipping out on the game.

This may come as a surprise to some, as Yakupov is the OHL’s biggest star, and main attraction, but skipping the game, without sufficient evidence of an injury, means an automatic two game ban. This is similar to the suspension Martin Frk of the Halifax Mooseheads, received for opting to rest, rather than participate for his country in the World Junior Championship.

Grigorenko, who has already played 14 more games than Yakupov, due to injury, needs to capitalize on every opportunity he can. Grigorenko’s points per game is 1.51 compared to Yakupov’s 1.89. That’s a wide margin to make up. That’s why these two games are crucial for Grigorenko.

The suspension to Yakupov could have happened to Grigorenko as well, had he not traveled to Kelowna for the game. But Grigorenko did go, much to the dismay of Remparts Head Coach and General Manager Patrick Roy.

Grigorenko was examined by doctors on site and cleared to play in the game.

And this is what Branch’s problem with the folks in Sarnia was. Had he at least taken the trip, the medical staff on site could have looked at him. If they deemed him not healthy enough to play, no suspension would have been handed down. Clearly though, it was more a case of him not participating, than being injured, as Yakupov was healthy enough to play in Sarnia’s game against Kingston just three days prior to the event.

So, again it is Grigorenko’s time to shine. While it is only a two game suspension, chances are, with Yakupov out, all eyes will again be turned to Grigorenko. If he can have a couple strong games, perhaps scouts will start paying attention to him more and more. Certainly when Yakupov returns, eyes will again be on him. But you can bet Grigorenko will do everything in his power to keep as much of the spotlight on him.

Hopefully the unintentional gift given to him by Branch can be repaid come the NHL draft in June in the form of going first overall.

You can bet Grigorenko would love nothing more.

jonathan@theqspot.ca

Team Orr edges Team Cherry 2-1

Fans at Prospera Place expecting a high scoring affair were surely disappointed in Kelowna tonight, as the Home Hardware Top Prospects game turned into a pure defensive battle.

Team Orr pulled out a nail-biter, 2-1, thanks to a goal by Branden Troock with only 25 seconds left in the third.

Griffin Reinhart scored the other goal for Team Orr, while Rouyn-Noranda defenseman Dillon Fournier replied with the only goal for Team Cherry.

Here’s a quick run down of the players from the QMJHL in the game:

Team Cherry:

Dillon Fournier- Fournier looked very nervous early on, causing a couple turnovers. Fourniers’ weak upper body strength was exploited, after he was unable to move Troock from in front of the net, which caused a screen, leading to Reinhart’s goal from the point. He soon snapped out of it, and showed great hockey sense and poise, following a rebound in front of the net for his goal.

Martin Frk- Frk showed great creativity in this game, a big part of the reason he is ranked 25^th overall in the most recent CSS rankings. He battled very hard in front of the net, and never gave up. That kind of determination should do him well as he transitions to the NHL. All through the game, he showed just how strong he was, isolating the puck from his opponent. The one part of his game I could critique was his weak shot from the point on the powerplay.

Andrew Ryan- Ryan was virtually invisible throughout the entire game. His one big moment was a breakaway with 13 minutes left in the third, a nice backhand, which was denied by Francois Tremblay.

Brandon Whitney- The 6-5 Whitney reminded me so much of Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne in this one. He started off out of position, but had a series of very key saves early on. Whitney did great to take away his opponents angles. In his only goal against, he had zero chance, as he was screened by two players. Whitney made 10 saves in 30 minutes of play.

Team Orr:

Francois Beauvillier- Beauvillier was relentless on both ends of the ice. He was a big reason for the low score in this one. Beauvillier showed no fear in the corners, something scouts should have been very impressed with. He also used his speed very well.

Raphael Bussieres- Bussieres had an extremely strong game, maybe the strongest of all Q players in the game. He showed very solid stick handling skills, he picked his spots to pass. His shots were all very accurate, and his chemistry with Derrick Pouliot was special, given thy had never played together before. His best chance of the game was a breakaway but he was taken down by Matthew Dumba. Most (including I) thought that should have been a penalty. Bussieres got his retribution on Dumba in the third, stepping up to fight Dumba after a hit on Radek Faksa. He did have a couple bad decisions leading to turnovers as well, so he was not perfect.

Mikhail Grigorenko- It is common knowledge that Patrick Roy was not pleased with Grigorenko playing in this game, but I wonder if they had come to a mutual agreement. It did not seem like Grigorenko played as much as you’d expect the number two ranked prospect to play. When Grigorenko was on the ice though, it was magic. Grigorenko showed great vision and patience with the puck. When he was on the ice, he was heads above the rest of the competition.

Tomas Hyka- Hyka impressed me a lot too. He had very nice speed, conserving it as needed as well. Showed a lot of chemistry with Beauvillier, His vision set him apart in my opinion, seeing the game better than anyone. This did get him in trouble a couple times, as he seemed to see too far ahead, leading to a couple turnovers. Hyka showed great ability to lead an effective breakout, and had a couple very nice one-timers.

Francois Tremblay- Tremblay was thrown to the wolves seconds in to him coming into the game. He made a huge save against Danill Zharkov, and then denied Ryan with an even better save. Tremblay isn’t as big as Whitney, but he played just as big.

Grigorenko, Frk named Top Prospect Game alternate captains

Remparts rookie Mikhail Grigorenko

Quebec Remparts super-rookie Mikhail Grigorenko and Halifax Mooseheads player Martin Frk have been named alternate captains for the 2012 Home Hardware NHL Top Prospects game.

Grigorenko, ranked second in the most recent Central Scouting Service rankings, has 60 points in 28 games this season.

Frk was ranked 25th overall in the same rankings and has 11 points in 15 contests, after missing the first half of the season with a head injury.

The top two draft eligible players from the QMJHL will be on opposite sides. Grigorenko will skate with Team Orr, while Frk will be coached by Don Cherry.

Other players from the QMJHL include Victoriaville goaltender Brandon Whitney, Chicoutimi's Charles Hudon and Halifax's Andrew Ryan.

The game takes place Feb. 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C., home of the WHL's Kelowna Rockets.


jonathan@theqspot.ca

Frk finding success in 2012 despite Moosehead struggles

The Halifax Mooseheads struggles in 2012 continued this weekend with losses to both Cape Breton and Saint John.

Friday night at the Metro Center, Cape Breton capitalized on their chances to beat the Mooseheads 4-3 in a game where Halifax outshot their opponents 42-27.

Then Saturday, in Saint John, the Mooseheads were able to keep up with the Sea Dogs until a three goal onslaught in just over three and a half minutes in the third period, ended any ideas of a Halifax victory. However, not all is dark in Moose Country. Despite a slow start, Martin Frk has taken his game to a new level to start 2012.

Frk’s struggles this season have been well documented. He began the pre-season on fire, with six points in three games, until a concussion put him out of action until mid-December. Then a technicality kept him out of action again until after the World Junior Championships. His initial return was lackluster with only one goal in seven games. It was clear he wasn’t in game shape, and it showed. He was slow, and didn’t look nearly as dangerous as he had last season when, as a 16-year-old rookie, he was second on the Mooseheads in scoring with 22 goals and 50 points. His draft ranking plummeted. Some were projecting Frk a top 5 pick in the NHL draft entering his rookie QMJHL campaign to where he sits currently; 25^th North American Skater by CSS, 32^ndoverall by ISS, and 36^th overall on Craig Button’s Craig’s List on TSN.ca.

But while the Mooseheads are having a slow start to 2012, Martin Frk is breaking out. Frk has been held off the scoresheet only once in seven games to start the New Year. In that span he’s had three multi-point games. Frk now has 10 points on the season, five goals and five assists. Nine of those points have come in 2012. If Frk can maintain this torrid pace, he’ll finish the season with 38 points and 19 goals in only 36 games played.

Mikhail Grigorenko, the QMJHL’s top prospect, is first on the ISS rankings and second among North American skaters on the CSS rankings has 26 goals and 59 points in 37 games for the Quebec Remparts this season. Frk’s 2012 pace would put him at 24 goals and 48 points over that same timeline. Not much of difference for someone who’s currently expected to be drafted at least a full round lower this June at the NHL Entry Draft. It was Nathan MacKinnon who was supposed to be the star of Rogers Sportsnet Friday Night Hockey showdown against Chicoutimi, but it was Frk’s highlight-reel goal and NHL ready shot that dominated discussion. Frk is starting to turn some heads again and if he continues his strong play don’t be surprised to hear his name called much earlier than currently expected on draft day this summer.