[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (All the Vowels Edition):

LHC Thomas Desruisseaux might a player who's flying way under the radar for the 2024 NHL Draft. He was selected 11th overall in 2022 by Cape Breton of the QMJHL, but was traded part-way through the 2022-23 season to Chicoutimi, where he has since piled up 90 points in the last 100 regular-season games for the Sageneens. This season, the 5'11",154lb pivot was tied for 13th in the league for assists with 44 ( 2nd for first-time draft-eligibles in the Q), and registered 60 points in 68 games, but is currently tied for points in the playoffs with 8 in just 4 games. Desruisseaux was playing Adam Oates to Maxim Masse' for most of the season, but the duo was split up in late January, and after the split, Desruisseaux went on to produce 26 points in the next 24 games, with better defensive results. He was even named the Q's Player of the Week on March 17th, with 7 points in 2 games.

It's plain to see that Desruisseaux leans heavily towards playmaking, and he is indeed a superb distibutor. He plays at a high pace, and stays active at all times, with a brain that can match the speed of his feet and hands- he reads and reacts quickly, and solves problems on the fly. He has a nice fine touch on his passes- they connect tape-to-tape, with just the right amount of velocity, right to his teammates' wheelhouse. He can connect through traffic, through opponents feet, and over their sticks. He possesses high IQ and vision, is highly creative, and generates high-danger opportunities by identifying passing lanes that others can't see. He's poised and patient, and will hold on to the puck while evading checkers in order to wait for the best option to unfold. Though he isn't quite a burner, he's an effortless skater with a good short-burst, and a separation gear. He wins races to loose pucks, and is shifty and agile on his edges. His hands are rather quick too, and he's an excellent stickhandler, with the ability to protect the puck by angling his body and skates away from checkers, and by carrying close to his feet. Those hands serve him well around the net, as he can score from in-close, and has the 1-on-1 moves to beat goalies- though he needs to better develop and utilize his finishing skills as an extra offensive dimension. He has shown play-driving capabilities in the way he carries the puck through the transition from the defensive zone, through to the offensive zone with clean entries. He can create off the rush, and he can dish in full flight without missing a beat.

Desruisseaux has anticipation and awareness in the defensive zone, but his game in this area has warts. He helps his D down low to win pucks, and has an active stick to disrupt plays, cut into passing lanes, and cause turnovers, but he runs into problems because of his lack of size and strength. He doesn't have much of a physical game to speak of in the first place, but he's overpowered in board battles rather easily, so bulking up and getting stronger is an absolute must. With such a robust passing game, there are plenty of bad passes in the bunch that need to be eliminated, and developing a stronger shooting game will better diversify his offense, and make him less predictable. There are instances where he holds on to the puck for too long and runs out of real estate, which leads to turnovers, throwaways, and bad passes- so getting quicker with his decision-making and playing with more urgency would help. He's not very good in the faceoff circle, and many have suggested that he will need to be switched to the wing when he turns pro. Desruisseaux has plenty of potential, but it's likely long-term potential in his case. I'm thinking 4th or 5th round.