[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 27):

RD Quinn Beauchesne (6'0",187lbs)
Guelph (OHL): 49gp/ 6g/ 18a/ 24pts, -10, 51 PIM

Most of us have probably heard the name Quinn Beauchesne (ranked # 84 NA Skaters, # 73 by McKenzie), seen his name in mocks, or watched him play in last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (3 points in 5 games)- where he got pretty decent reviews, but I didn't come away as a big fan of his. I've been more impressed with him in league play this season, and I thought he performed well at the OHL Top Prospects Game in January, as well as the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge in November- though he didn't get any points in either. Guelph finished the season 19th out of 20 teams, and 14th in goals-scored, so I think it's safe to say that he would have much more impressive stats on a better team. Beauchesne is a two-way defender, and a coveted righty, who plays with an edge, as a Jack-of-all-Trades/ Master-of-None type. He is always in perpetual motion, with above-average speed in a straight-line, but with exceptional lateral mobility to cut across the ice sharply to extinguish rushes. He could perhaps use a better first-step, and an increase in explosiveness is small-areas with cleaner mechanics, but he accelerates quickly to top speed.

Beauchesne is a precise distributor and a high-value puck-mover who specializes in making a sound first-pass, occasionally speeding up the breakout with a long-range outlet; he is constantly looking to create advantages, and tilt the ice in the right direction for his team. He's a standout in retrievals, pre-scanning for options and deftly dodging pressure with deceptive footwork and slick stickhandling maneuvers, and supports his partner well when are the one performing this duty. He is a transitional driver and a frequent participant in the rush, leading the attack up-ice and displaying an aggressive mindset. Beauchesne is blessed with a high hockey IQ and sound hockey sense at both ends, supporting the play in all areas off the puck; he is seemingly always in the thick of the action, but he isn't really a flashy player, and carries no truly dynamic qualities. Though he isn't perfect or mistake-free, he is highly attentive to his defensive duties, showing himself to be a proficient penalty-killer, and as in other areas- he is highly active and covers a ton of ice in each shift. Against the rush, he utilizes his smooth backwards skating and edgework, well-timed poke checks, clever angling, and tight gap control, but he will also step up at the blueline to dole out crushing hits. In the zone, he is physical along the boards and in front of the net (though he can be overpowered by larger opponents at times), and he's a willing shot-blocker. He gets into lanes and picks off passes, but he can lose his man in a crowd and occasionally misses secondary threats. In the other end, he activates into the play frequently, locating soft spots to move through, and will pinch in deep to the net, or to battle below the goal-line. He likes to streak up the wall to keep pucks alive in the zone, deliver a hit, or make a high-danger pass to the slot, and will jump in on the weak side to the hash-marks for a shot on goal. He has a decent shot, but seems to score his goals from below the dots, as opposed to the point.

Beauchesne is a hard-working player with good motor, who can play big minutes in all situations. He is quite physical and a bit mean, and can throw huge open-ice hits- which means he has to drop the gloves from time to time; he fought 6'3" Porter Martone at the OHL Top Prospects Game, and held his own. Going forward, he needs more polish in all areas, as his game looks messy at times, and often fraught with mental mistakes, miscues, throwaways, and uncontrolled play. He is confident enough to attempt riskier plays, but can get himself into trouble, and sometimes tries to do too much, or hangs on to the puck for too long- typical issues for most junior-aged puck-moving defenders. I look forward to seeing what he can do in the next few years. Look for him in the third-round.