[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 1):

RHC Nathan Quinn (5'10",168lbs)
Quebec (QMJHL): 52gp/ 17g/ 29a/ 46pts, -4, 23 PIM

Right-handed C Nathan Quinn (#56 NA Skaters, #48 by Button) has a lot going for him, including the fact that he's one of the younger players in the draft, with an Aug.29th, 2007 birthday- and he's currently second in scoring for the Quebec Remparts, who are in 14th-place out of 18 teams. He also gets to look forward to attending Northeastern University for the 2026-27 season, thanks to the new rule that allows CHL players to be eligible for the NCAA. Quinn is a well-rounded, all-situations, 3-zone center who may lack dynamism and flash in his mostly north-south game, but he shows glimpses of impressive skill and intelligence. He touches every part of the game in a positive way, puts teammates in advantageous positions consistently, and can drive play.

Quinn's straight-line speed is around average, but he's quick in spurts and light on his skates, making him slippery and elusive and giving him the ability to spin off of checks. He's highly cerebral and economical in his movements, sporting near-elite hockey sense that always keeps him a step or two ahead of the play, and always in position in the right place at the right time. Playmaking is his main forte' in the offensive third, exhibiting keen vision and awareness, with a knack for locating open space to operate out of, and the ability to spot lanes to pass through. He is adept at drawing pressure with patient delays, or the odd drop-pass or cut-back, using the seams he creates to connect with teammates across the ice, or through the crease. Though he is rather slight, he doesn't back down from the rough stuff, with the willingness to compete in the greasy areas and engage his opponents physically- sometimes even throwing thunderous hits. He seems to be a fixture in post-whistle scrums, and is pesky and disruptive on the forecheck. From both a goal-scoring and playmaking standpoint, his net-front presence is one of the pillars of his game. He gets most of his goals in-tight, as his shot is nothing special, and is used mostly as a tool for making plays for his teammates in the form of tips and rebounds. He is not afraid to cut inside to the middle, or go to the front of the net- often timing his appearance to coincide with the puck's arrival. He displays a good motor, with a high workrate, and employs a tenacious, determined approach.

One of Quinn's main calling cards is his detailed and impactful defensive game; he reads the play in his own zone well, and acts proactively to position himself to be able to force errors, cause turnovers, intercept passes, and get inside on opponents. He's highly active, from pressuring the point to supporting his D down low, to defending the front of his net. He is effective in taking away the middle, keeping attacks to the outside. Quinn has quick hands, and is a smooth puckhandler with plenty of slick one-on-one moves to turn defenders inside-out, topped off with some deception to manipulate their movements. He has a number of ways to contribute to transition, using his feet, handling, and deception, as well as his quick-touch passing; once the puck is over the line, he gets to work creating off the rush, and building plays. Scouts who find his offensive game scalable may want to take him as early as the 3rd-round, but he already has a decent NHL floor, due to his advanced own-zone game and puck-movement from defense to offense.