Habs CHL Prospect Update
Through A Scouts Eyes: Louis Leblanc
As you may or may not be aware, I am attempting to broaden the coverage of your Montreal Canadiens this season by continually checking in on the Habs prospects and draft picks that are playing across the globe.
I have already explored the
Habs Russian Prospects with
Alex Seren Rosso, and have now turned my attention to the team's prospects playing in the Canadian Hockey League.
The CHL comprises all the Major Junior leagues across Canada(OHL, WHL & QMJHL) and with Montreal boasting 5 quality prospects in the CHL, I thought it best to get a scouts opinion on how these young Habs-to-be are progressing.
In order to help us better understand what is going, I contacted
Rick Springhetti a scout for
McKeen's Hockey, who was kind enough to provide an in-depth review of Louis Leblanc, Philippe Lefebvre, Michael Bournival, Brendan Gallagher, Jarred Tinordi and Morgan Ellis.
First up in our review of the Habs CHL prospects is Louis Leblanc.
Like with my current post on
Washington Capitals prospect Stanislav Galiev, I will be presenting each player individually.
My thanks to Rick for providing some excellent insight and for doing the interview, hope you enjoy!
Name: Louis Leblanc
Current Team: Montreal Juniors, QMJHL
Drafted: 1st round, 18th overall, by Bob Gainey in 2009.
SH: Being a 1st round draft pick by the Montreal Canadiens always brings with it a lot of pressure and expectations, but none more so than when you're a local boy. How has Louis held up under the spotlight since the Canadiens drafted him last June? What has he done right, what has he done wrong?
RS: "Louis has handled the spotlight admirably well. It’s not really a surprise considering his intelligence and work ethic away from the rink. Although some have found him a little distant when speaking to him, I found him to be a very focussed young man who is not too concerned by being a “celebrity” and that will only help him. Montreal could be a graveyard for athletes who lose focus on what they need to do to be successful."
SH: A last minute decision, Louis made the jump from Harvard to the Montreal Juniors of the QMJHL this summer, was that the right move for his development?
RS: "Absolutely. Harvard was a good decision for him last year as he needed to get stronger physically. Picking Harvard also helped him avoid the pressure of being the first francophone 1st round pick for the Habs in many years while that was still fresh in peoples minds. Now one year later he has become stronger and he is better equipped mentally to deal with all that comes with being Louis Leblanc in Montreal."
"The only drawback for Leblanc is that the QJMHL is not a place where he can develop his creativity. It’s a league that has become very defensive and conservative in the systems that most teams use, but since he is not projected to become a big-time producer offensively, I am not too concerned about it."
SH: First Louis found success alongside Danny Kristo in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers, then he earned IVY League rookie of the year honors with Harvard in the ECAC and is now thriving in the QMJHL alongside fellow Habs prospect Phil Lefebvre. Not a lot of young players can boast that kind of experience, has his success had anything to do with having played in 3 different, albeit elite, hockey leagues?
RS: "I think it helps. Any experience that you can acquire during your formative years can only help you, be it on the ice, but also off the ice, where he has had to adjust to different cities and experiences."
SH: What are the unique skills that have helped Louis through his development? He's been criticized for not having the best speed, but his hands and vision on offense are constantly lauded, is Leblanc one-dimensional or is there more to Louis than straight offense?
RS: "First and foremost, his work ethic is second to none. His speed is alright, especially straight-ahead. He has good enough hands and makes decisions quickly once he has the puck but his vision is actually his weakest point in my opinion. He is not very creative as he lacks the peripheral vision to bring that aspect to his game, instead, he plays a straightforward game and takes full advantage of breakdowns in the offensive zone. Defensively, the effort is always there and he is getting better all the time. Still has to work on his reads especially against quicker players but that is sure to come with experience. In the NHL, I see him on a secondary scoring line who can play with intensity, but as a winger."
SH: Who does Louis remind you of? What are other fellow scouts saying about Louis?
RS: "I have heard a few names mentioned from John Leclair, to Plekanec, to Bergeron but I disagree with all of those. To me, he reminds me of a young Chris Higgins with better hands and more aggressiveness. The one thing I heard a few scouts say they like about him is his ability to play a lot of roles in a team. He can contribute in an offensive line (although he can’t anchor one himself) or can shine in a defensive role."
SH: In your opinion, has Leblanc done enough to earn a spot on Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Championships?
RS: "I think he has a spot to lose. He can handle pressure, he is coachable and adapts quickly to his environment. I can see him on the team and I can see him wearing a letter too."
Rick's Extra Note:
"One thing that is noticeable when looking at the CHL players that are part of the Canadiens organisation is that so many of them are character players, young men that are already wearing a letter with their perspective teams (Ellis and Bournival are captains, Tinordi was a captain and Leblanc wears an A). I don’t think that it’s an accident."
That's all for now. I will be posting the rest of the prospect reviews over the next week.
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