[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 44):

RW Olivier Lampron (6'2",176lbs)
Sherbrooke (QMJHL): 57gp/ 9g/ 23a/ 32pts, -13, 32 PIM

Winger Olivier Lampron (ranked #184 NA Skaters) has the pedigree of being a former first-round draft pick, having been chosen 9th-overall in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft by Baie-Comeau, but was traded to the Sherbrooke Phoenix midway through the 2023-24 season. In the current campaign, Lampron finished 6th in scoring for the Phoenix, who were 10th-overall (out of 18 teams) at the end of the regular season, while scoring the 11th-most tallies in the Q, and giving up the 6th-least amount of goals-against. Though he hasn't played since March 5th due to injury, it seemed like he was finally starting to put everything together, having put up 14 points in his last 15 games. Lampron is a skilled, well-rounded, and fairly dynamic winger, with a physical 200-ft game. Other than perhaps his size, his skating is his prime physical asset, with above-average straight-ahead speed, and strong edgework that enables him to dissect defenses in transition and on the cycle, pivot instantaneously, and complete sharp turns. He owns a peppy short-burst to win puck-races, and accelerates up to top speed with haste.

Lampron is a physical player who uses his size effectively to win battles, power his way to the middle of the ice, and to control the boards. He throws hits on the forecheck to dislodge pucks, and causes turnovers with his speed and determination. One of the main signatures of his game is his ability to drive play through transition, both by carrying through exit and entry, or with his ability to complete high-end plays while in full-flight. While flying through the neutral zone, he employs tight puck-protection skills with his long reach and with the angling of his lower-torso, and is blessed with top-shelf puck-skill that allows him to handle in small-areas, and beat opponents one-on-one. In the offensive zone, he attacks the crease on and off the puck, and exerts a strong net-front presence, being hard to move and battling with grit and tenacity to win positioning. While expertly locating gaps in coverage to fill, he cuts inside to the slot for shooting opportunities, and can fire off a hard and heavy wrister. He brings chaos in going to the net to tip pucks, shovel in second-chance opportunities, cause headaches for bewildered defensemen, and provide a moving screen in front of the goalie. He has exhibited fairly good hands in-tight, but with only 9 goals in 57 games, it's quite obvious that he needs serious work on his finishing skills. He exhibits potent hockey sense and sound offensive awareness to always be well-positioned, but he isn't particularly creative; much of his success comes from his willingness to outwork the opposition with his high-end compete, relentless motor, and tenacity, and from the fact that he doesn't mind playing in close-quarters.

Lampron displays acute awareness and anticipation in all three zones, and uses these talents to disrupt his opponents' breakout, and kill rushes in the neutral zone by causing turnovers, forcing steals, and skating through hands. It continues in the defensive zone, where he shows assertiveness and methodical positioning to obstruct lanes, impede passage to the middle, head-off passes, block shots, and rack up steals. He brings grit and physicality to his defensive duties, levying hits to win possession, and break-up plays. Big wingers who can skate and play tight defense are always enticing to scouts, and Lampron seems to be able to play a pro-style game, but his numbers are nowhere near where they should be. This may be due to injuries, or perhaps because of the team he plays for, but either way- there's a strong chance that he may not be drafted. He still has potential though, and if he is chosen this summer- he will have to wait until later rounds.