[united]

Considered
Jakob Pelletier

On a ledge by himself sits Jakob Pelletier. To me, he doesn't have the eye-popping upside Zary and Coronato have, but is also in a league of his own relative to those coming after him on this list with respect to his downside.

Pelletier's season from a public perspective was interesting. On one hand, you have a 7-game sample size with the World watching where he was outstanding and really stood out all over the ice in the World Juniors...but on the other hand you have a 28-game sample size with markedly fewer people watching where he had what can only be classified as a disappointing season offensively: a 19-year-old first-round pick playing on the best team in the defence-optional QMJHL managing just 1.5 points-per-game is pedestrian. That said, as always points aren't everything and context cannot be ignored.

Moving from the Moncton Wildcats to the Daniel Renaud-coached Shawinigan Cataractes, Pelletier found himself thrust into a team that mandates a smothering forecheck coupled with acute attention to detail in the defensive zone - and what a perfect player for the role. According to the excellent site, Pick224, the Cataractes held a 79% even-strength goal share with Pelletier on the ice, 20% better than the 59% mark output by the rest of his dominant team, by way of outscoring opponents 37-10. 10 goals against in 28 games is remarkable. That said, good defence organically leads to offensively opportunity, especially at the major junior level, so his pedestrian offensive output cannot be ignored: long spells of possession against junior-aged defenders without finding a way through is reason for pause. For that reason, at the end of the season my outlook on Pelletier was reduced variance in terms of ceiling versus floor - his bust potential is low - but at the cost of pure offensive ceiling.

Jakob Pelletier
An absolutely relentless forechecker capable of filling in at all three positions (but best suited on the wing) and on all three units, Pelletier is player with no glaring weaknesses in his game. Undersized by tape measure but not by playing style, Pelletier's fearlessness and non-stop motor are reminiscent of fellow "undersized" wingers like Brad Marchand, Brendan Gallagher, and the Flames' own Andrew Mangiapane, as a few examples. I have been an ardent supporter of Pelletier's since the Flames drafted him, however I was left wanting more offensively even applying contextual considerations (great team; highly defensive structure). He could be a Brendan Gallagher-type player, but a player in the Mat Perrault mold is more likely. My hope is he is able to develop another level to his game offensively and I will be watching for that next season. If he does, the Flames have a player with tremendous upside on their hands. And even if he doesn't, the Flames are likely to have a penalty killing mainstay who can competently play all over the lineup for many seasons.

Ceiling: 2nd-line shutdown/possession-dominating winger
Probable: Middle rotation utility player (Style: Mathieu Perrault)
Floor: 4th-line grinder