[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Feb.21st: The Chicoutimi Sagueneens went all-in at the trade deadline in early January to bolster their playoff hopes, acquiring D Tomas Lavoie (2024, 3rd-round, Utah), D Alexis Bernier (2024, 3rd-round, Seattle), D Jordan Tourigny, G Lucas Beckman (2025, 4th-round, Ottawa), C Mavrik Lachance, and C Liam Lefebvre, while giving up a bevy of picks, plus D Xavier Daigle, G Mathias Hernandez, and prospect D Charles Genereux. While C Emile Ricard (6'0",172lbs) has been used all over the top-nine in Chicoutimi at Center and RW (mostly in the middle-six), the acquisitions of Lachance and Lefebvre likely meant that he would be a fixture on the third-line for the foreseeable future on the second-place Sags. Unfortunately, Ricard has been out of action due to injury since January 10; before that, he had contributed 7 goals and 29 points in 39 matches, prorated to nine goals and 38 points in 51 games. With a November 18, 2007 birthday, Ricard is an older player by draft standards, and he's already a grizzled vet in the QMJHL- this being his third full-season in the league. He has the pedigree of being the Cape Breton Eagles' first-round draft-choice in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, before being dealt mid-way through his second year in that organization for two high picks after requesting a trade, but he's #173 for North American Skaters in Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings.

Ricard plays a simple game, free of flashiness or dynamism, plays a fairly straightforward style, and doesn't possess any true high-end traits- other than his work-ethic, and his footspeed. Quick as a deer, his skating is the foundation of his game, displaying overwhelming speed in a straight line that forces defenders back, makes puck-carriers scramble to get away from him on the forecheck, and gives him separation from checkers in transition. With strong edges, he maneuvers effortlessly in small areas, has the ability to make sharp lateral cuts, and pivot on a dime. His relentless energy and motor pushes his quickness up a notch or two, as does his willingness to attack with give-and-go plays. There's nothing too fancy about his puck-skills, but he handles reliably, protects well in traffic, and manages to maintain control under duress by staying strong on the puck. Ricard is a battler, and although he needs to get stronger to win more 50/50 contests, he is always game in confrontations, pursues pucks dilligently, and is fearless in competing in the greasy areas of the ice, showing disruptiveness in all three zones; he isn't big on throwing bodychecks, but will do so when necessary, and can change the momentum of a game with a crushing hit. While he's not a shoot-first player, those who watch him on a more regular basis say that he knows how to create opportunities for himself, shows good spatial awareness, and gets his fair share of quality looks- he is better than his stats suggest, but needs better finish, sharper precision to hit the net more often, and perhaps a better shot. Ricard does a lot of the dirty work for his line in winning possession, foiling breakouts to re-start the cycle, and digging pucks out from the boards- he also has a modicum of vision and hockey sense to facilitate plays, with the passing skill to complete some of the more complicated and difficult feeds at times, to teammates in high-danger. Showing high pace on the backcheck, his speed gives him advantages in off-puck situations, making him a pesky and industrious defensive forward, thereby improving his NHL-floor. Still, scouts might not like his production for his age, and he may have to wait until later rounds to be selected.