Look out, here comes Pierre-Luc Dubois.
The Cape Breton Screamin' Eagle forward has skyrocketed to the #1 North American prospect position in the Central Scouting final report card.
Dubois'stock is on the rose as the NHL draft combine approaches.
Dubois was ranked #7 on Central Scouting's midterm list in January. He moved six spots to bounce London Knights power forward MattTkachuk to the #2 slot in their final rankings.
This is HUGE news.
Dubois became the first QMJHL player in more than a decade to be named #1 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft.
Dubois, a 6'2", 202 lb. power forward, is versatile enough to play all three forward spots. However, scouts rave about his shutdown center skills. Dubois was third in the QMJHL with 99 points, fifth with 42Gs and sixth with 57As in 62 games. He also won 50.4% of his draws.
"If you need someone to check the other team's top line and be a shut-down forward, he's a guy who can do that," NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr told NHL.com. "If you need someone to generate scoring opportunities, he has the skill, speed and hands to do that too. He's a very all-around player."
Elsewhere, Arizona born Auston Matthews is the #1 European prospect and number one overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, which will be hosted by the Buffalo Sabres in late June.
Dynamic Finn fowards Patrick Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi are ranked #2 and #3, respectively on the European prospects final list.
Matthews, Laine, and Puljujarvi will be the top three picks in the NHL Draft.
Dubois headlines the next group of top five prospects. All five hail from the U.S. or Canada.
Matthews is American, however, Central Scouting lists him among European skaters because he played professional hockey in the Swiss League this season.
1. Pierre-Luc Dubois, QMJHL Rimouski 2. Matthew Tkachuk, OHL London 3. Alexander Nylander, OHL Mississauga 4. Jakob Chychrun, OHL Sarnia 5. Olli Juolevi, OHL London
Top Five European Skaters
1. Matthews 2. Laine 3.Puljujarvi 4. Asplund 5. Rubstov
I cover the Buffalo Sabres, who will be selecting 8th overall, unless they win the NHL Draft Lottery which will take place on April 30 in Toronto. Buffalo could move into the top three or stay in the 8 hole.
Looking at today's final Central Scouting list, I see Buffalo GM Tim Murray being please as pie that Chychrun and Juolevi have fallen into the bottom five of the first round of the NHL Draft. The meteoric rise of Dubois now shifts Chychrun and Juolevi down the raking where Buffalo will be selecting. Murray is looking for versatile, big, tough, skilled left D. Chychrun and Juolevi would look splendid in Blue and Gold.
This NHL Draft is going to be fun to cover. I'm looking forward to analyzing all of the drama, twists, turns, and excitement. Buffalo will play host once again to the NHL Scouting Combine and the NHL Draft.
My 2016 NHL Draft Top 10 Picks:
1. Matthews 2. Laine 3. Puljujarvi 4. Tkachuk 5. Nylander 6. Dubois 7. Chychrun 8. Juolevi 9. Asplund 10. Rubstov
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