Getting a future NHL player in the first round of the NHL draft can be difficult, and it doesn’t get easier later on. Which makes the Vancouver Canucks’ later picks even more important.
The Vancouver Canucks are hoping to execute a quick and easy rebuild. Hitting a home run at fifth overall is certainly an important step, but the later picks are arguably even more important.
While most first-round picks end up being NHL regulars, late-round picks rarely pan out. But, we also see big-time steals in rounds three to seven every year.
Could QMJHL winger D’Artagnan Joly be this year’s edition?
Name: D’Artagnan Joly
Position: Right wing
Shoots: Right
Birthdate: 1999-04-07
Height, weight: 6’2”, 161 lbs
Team, league: Baie-Commeau Drakkar, QMJHL
Stats (from eliteprospects.com):
G
A
P
PIM
+/-
6616324835-10
Rankings:
#99 by Future Considerations
#102 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Risk, Reward: 2/5, 3.5/5
NHL-potential: Top-nine winger
Draft Range: Top 120
Scouting report
"A hard worker who can make plays from the wing with his physical yet skilful game. Joly is a speedy skater who likes to use his speed and body to power past opponents and drive to the net, but he can also play a skilled, flashy game. Likely a playmaker at the next level, but one who can score as well."
Strengths
D’Artagnan Joly is a promising power forward who should only get better as he grows into his frame. At 6-foot-3, he has ideal NHL height, and he knows how to use that to his advantage. Joly finishes his checks, protects the puck and can drive hard to the net. Once he adds some weight and muscle over the next couple of years, he could become extremely tough to play against.
Despite his physical attributes, Joly can also use his speed and excellent puck skills to play more of a flashy, playmaking game. He possesses quick hands that allow him to deke around defenders and either get to the net through traffic or create room for himself and his teammates.
Watching him play, it’s clear that Joly hasn’t settled on one specific player type. He’s physical, he works hard, he plays excellent setup passes and he likes to score himself. Because of that, it’s also difficult to project what kind of player he’ll be at the next level; but at the same time, his versatility and physical attributes make him a very likely NHL player. A lot of Joly’s production comes from being the hardest-working player on the ice, which certainly isn’t a bad thing either.
Weaknesses
Despite Joly’s interesting blend of size, skating and skill, there are some issues with him.
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First of all, he hasn’t been able to translate his tools into production. There are moments when he holds on to the puck for too long or simply doesn’t do the right thing. There is a lot he needs to figure out before becoming a consistent scorer.
Second, despite his size, Joly can look a bit scared on the ice. He knows how to take a hit himself and he does hit frequently, but he’ll always make sure he won’t be on the receiving end. He needs to shake off that fear of being hit and being in the dirty areas, which is an odd thing to point out after complimenting on his physicality.
Last but not least, Joly needs to get better in his own end. He knows his assignments and knows where to be, but he needs to engage more and make sure his man doesn’t get away. This is probably something that can be fixed with time, but it’s worth mentioning right now.
Final Thoughts
Joly has an interesting skillset that, along with his NHL height, definitely makes him an intriguing prospect. However, scouts have some concerns about him and there are likely enough who wouldn’t use their third or even fourth-round selection on him. That said, the third or fourth round is probably where he will be picked, because it’ll be tough to pass up on his toolkit any longer than that.
The Vancouver Canucks own the 95th-overall selection in the fourth round, as well as the 112th pick from the San Jose Sharks, which they received in the Jannik Hansen trade. Joly will be an option in either one of those slots.
However, a lot could depend on Vancouver’s prior picks. The Canucks are hoping to add a playmaking centre as well as a potential power-play quarterback defenseman. If they get those two players in the first three rounds, they could totally go for Joly.
Next: All 2017 NHL Draft Profiles
If they end up deciding they just want the best player available in the first two rounds and, for example, decide Owen Tippett is their guy at fifth overall, they might want to target a center or D-man later on. In that case, they could opt for a prospect like French centre Alexandre Texier instead.