[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (AB"C" Edition):

RW David Bernier played 5 years in the QMJHL between 1993 and 1999, but despite being drafted by the Oilers in '96, and then the Ducks in '98, his NHL dream never came to fruition. David may yet get the chance to live his dream through his son, RHD Alexis Bernier, who was given the rank of "C" by Central Scouting, pegging him as a potential 4th, or 5th-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The younger Bernier was 2nd in scoring by defensemen this season on the best team in the league, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, and the 26th-highest scoring D in the QMJHL, with 4 goals and 31 points in 67 games. Bernier is currently tied with teammate Niks Feneko for 2nd in playoff scoring by defensemen, with 5 points in 4 games, and his regular-season +38 was 15th in the league. Bernier is a little on the young side, with a June 21st birthday, and stands 6'1", weighing in at 190lbs.

Bernier plays a good two-way game, but isn't elite in any area- he's a minute-munching, all-situations D who plays both special teams. Like his father, Alexis plays an intense, aggressive brand of hockey with an edge. He's ultra competitive with snarl, and applies physicality any chance he gets. His puck game is kept fairly simple, but smart- he doesn't take risks or try to do more than he's capable of, although his breakout passes seem to be a strength, with his ability to connect tape-to-tape with streaking forwards. When handling, he exhibits smooth, fast hands, and has good puck-control and protection skills. In the offensive zone, Bernier has the appearance of a true offensive defenseman with the way he will pinch in from the point- often it's with the objective of getting the puck deep, or keeping the play alive in the zone, but he will also activate in on the weak side for scoring chances. He distributes well from the line, but can also generate opportunities for rebounds and tips by getting shots on net- his shot is hard and heavy, but lacks accuracy. He also has no reservations about joining the rush. Unfortunately, Bernier's skating is a bit of a detriment- it's pretty average, and it needs work in all areas, which may have hurt his numbers and also his draft stock.

Even with his current mobility issues, Bernier still has plenty of upside. He plays a pretty tight defensive game, and manages to keep good gaps- he's able to keep up in man-on-man coverage as well. He kills rushes with his long reach and active stick, and angles opponents towards the boards where he finishes them physically. He covers the net well, roughing up opponents in performance of this task, and plays heavy down low- he hunts down puck-carriers along the boards, dishing out big hits or rub-outs. Bernier will also put his body on the line to block shots, and despite his age, he's a leader, and vocal with teammates on the ice. He's aware of his skating deficiencies, so he employs pro-active positioning to offset those limitations, but he can still be beaten by faster players. There are many who think Bernier's ceiling is that of a 2nd-pairing defenseman in the NHL, and if he can fix his skating, the sky might just be the limit. He could also stand to work on his discipline, as he can sometimes step over the line, and he takes bad penalties that cost his team. I'm thinking 4th, or 5th round.