[Sandman]

LW/C Zachary L'Heureux, 5'11"196lbs (Halifax, QMJHL): Picked 3rd overall in 2019, by the Moncton Wildcats. This year, L'Heureux played for a rebuilding Halifax team that finished 13th out of 18 teams, with 19g/20a/39pts,47PIM in 33 games-2nd on the team in scoring. In 2019-20, while playing for Moncton, he led all rookies in the Q with 55gp/20g/33a/53pts,70PIM, playing on an elite team of veterans. L'Heureux plays at a high pace, and is a highly-skilled, aggressive winger who plays a pro game.

Z owns a vast arsenal of quality shots, all of them quick and powerful. He is patient when in position to score, and is a terrific finisher. Thrives in the low slot-he drives the net, and finishes in-tight. One of the highest goals/60 among Q draft eligibles, as well as scoring chances/60-the latter being higher than Lafreniere's in his draft year. His playmaking is excellent as well, with great offensive instincts-he's a soft-touch passer, and can make plays on the fly. Good problem solver-he adjusts quickly to what unfolds in front of him. Very good at creating rebound chances. Z plays with an edge, and does everything it takes to win-he's ultra-competitive and plays like a power-forward. Very tough and mean, strong on the boards, highly physical, and can muscle his way to the net with defenders on him. He thrives in physical games, and not many players are as good as him down low. He's got good puck skills, and is an excellent stickhandler.

L'Heureux exhibits good defensive commitment and awareness- he brings his physicality, aggressiveness and competitiveness with him on the backcheck. Puts pressure on players in the rush. Solid positioning, and won't hesitate to throw an open-ice hit to stop an attacker-breaks up the cycle, and wins pucks with his awareness and physicality. He is a very good skater, and can separate from the pack on the rush. His low center of gravity gives him great balance, making it hard to push him around, and when he has the puck on his stick, few can take it from him. He has good edges and agility, and can change direction quickly.

L'Heureux needs a lot of work on his discipline, as he was suspended 4 times this year. He could stand to improve his long-range passing, as many of these miss the mark. He can be pressured into coughing up the puck, so his puck-control under pressure needs work. Needs to get stronger, and keep building up his skating, as it's not elite. Brad Marchand had 66pts in 68 games in his draft year-just sayin'. We talk a lot about guys like Lucius, and McTavish-I would be just as happy taking this kid at 12.