The Official Prospects Thread

[theohall]

Neighbours did not play in Oil Kings 6-3 win last night (2/25). Haven't seen any news as to why.

Bolduc was all zeros, including a missed shootout attempt in Remparts 3-2 win over Shawinigan

[theohall]

Neighbours missed a 2nd straight game. Google Fu still fails to produce any news.

[theohall]

Bolduc puts up a hattie in Remparts 10-4 win over Val-d'Or this afternoon.

3G 1A +2, 7 shots (3 dangerous). Only 1st goal was a PPG. Still 2nd on the team in points. The currently undrafted, undersized (5-10, 168), 20 year old Theo Rochette also had a 4 point game (1G, 3A) and leads the Remparts in points.

[theohall]

Neighbours has missed 4 games with an "upper body injury."

Bolduc's last 3: 4G 2A 15 SOG/8 Dangerous shots +1 (Team stats: 1st in goals, 2nd in SOGs, 2nd in assists, 2nd in points - 2 points from team lead, 3rd in +/-, 1st in PPGs)
6-3 win over Baie-Comeau
4-1 win over Chicoutimi
7-3 loss to Chicoutimi

[theohall]

Bolduc's last 3 games:
Total: 3G 1A 13 SOG +5

0G 0A 4 SOG Even3-2 win over Baie-Comeau Drakkar
3G 1A 6 SOG +4 11-0 win over Blainville-Broisbriand Armada
0G 0A 3 SOG -1 2-9 loss to Rimouski Oceanic

Jake Neighbours is still out with an upper body injury

Colten Ellis update playing for the Worcester Railers
24GP 13-5-4-1 4A (yes assists) GAA 3.03 SV% .911

For comparison here is the other Worcester goalie stats: Ken Appleby 18GP 8-9-0-1 GAA 3.06 SV% .914. So Ellis has the majority of games since being returned to them once the Covid BS ended even though Worcester isn't an official Blues affiliate. The official affiliate for Worcester is the Islanders. Appleby is under contract with the Isles, but he is clearly just a depth goalie having been in the minors since 2015, which is probably why they are allowing Ellis to have the net.

[theohall]

No updates on Neighbours who is still out with an upper body injury

Bolduc added a PPG and PPA on 6 shots (3 dangerous chances) and finished -1 in a 5-3 win last night (Mar 16) over Shawinigan

Season totals: 46GP 33G 32A +35 20PIM 8PPG 6PPA 1SHG 4GWG 170SOG (yes, he is taking almost 5 shots per game). IMO, he will be a huge part of what the Blues need in the future with his shooting mentality.

Colten Ellis did not play in Worcester's last game.

[theohall]

Neighbours is still out with an upper body injury

From Friday night (Mar 18):

Quebec won 6-4 over Chicoutimi
Bolduc was all 0s and -1. Not even a shot on goal,which is rare.

Colten Ellis posted a 23 saves in his first professional career shutout in Railers 3-0 win over the South Carolina Stingrays. This was the 4th straight win for Worcester. This is a 3-in-3 weekend for the Railers, so Ellis should starts Sunday's game.

[theohall]

Worcester lost 3-2 to Newfoundland Sunday (Mar 20). Colten Ellis stopped 28 of 31. All goals were even strength.

Remparts won 5-2 over Chicoutimi Sunday. Bolduc: 0G 2A +2 4SOG. Stop the presses. He's in a 2-game goalless slump.

[theohall]

Neighbours is still out.

Bolduc 1G 1A +1, 5 SOG in Remparts 3-2 win over Gatineau Olympiques. Highlights in the URL. Bolduc's goal is a really nice one - unassisted off a center ice steal.

Colten Ellis did not play last night. He should get the start tonight. Looks like Appleby is getting the 2 games in 3 days weekend this weekend which Ellis had last weekend.

[glen a richter]

Matt Kessel signed his ELC and is reporting to Springfield for the rest of the season. I’m very curious to see where his development goes, could be a later round steal.

[theohall]

From the beginning of this month, Blues signed their 2020 6th round pick, G Will Cranley, to a 3-year entry level contract. He is staying with the Ottawa 67s for the remainder of this season.

I strongly suspect Lindgren will be signed by someone else this off-season, seeing as he's on a 1-year deal and has had an excellent season including his undefeated stint with the Blues. With Hofer, Ellis and now Cranley signed, unless the Blues find a permanent ECHL affiliate, there isn't room for 4 goalies - were Lindgren to be re-signed. Unless they are content having Ellis and Cranley playing for whichever ECHL team are willing to work whomever they can come to an agreement. I'd prefer having Hofer and Lindgren share the net, but at some point Ellis will need to become the AHL backup, instead of playing primarily in the ECHL. Which means someone has to move at some point. Yes, this isn't a huge priority, but it follows the Blues pattern of having enough goalies in development. Heck, who knows what the off-season will bring.

[theohall]

No news on Neighbours.

Bolduc 2G 0A +2 4 SOG in 4-3 OT win over Gatineau Sat Mar 26. 2nd goal was game winner in OT. Highlights in the link. Nice celly on the game-winner.

Colten Ellis stopped 34 of 36 in Worcester Railers 3-2 OT win over Adirondack, also Sat Mar 26th.

[theohall]

Bolduc 3G 1A +4 7SOG in Remparts 8-2 win over Baie-Comeau Wed Mar 30th. His 2nd and 3rd goals are really nice. 2nd is a wrist shot from the right circle to the far top corner. Beautiful shot. 3rd goal - he forechecks forcing his opponent to hurry his pass then turns and goes to the slot. The hurried pass becomes a turnover going to Bolduc's teammate at the blueline who doesn't miss the perfect pass to a wide open Bolduc in the center of the slot.

Season stats (QMJHL Rank):
51GP 39 G (4th) 36 A (19th) 75 PTS (9th) +42 (5th) 8 PPG (22nd) 9 PPA 1 SHG 190 SOG (14th) 91 Dangerous Shots 6 GWG

Remparts are 1 point (79) from 1st place overall in the Q, but the team in 1st (Charlottetown 80), is in the same division with 1 game in hand. Remparts have 5 games remaining, 2 against teams fighting for playoff position, 1 against Sherbrooke (78) who has locked up first in the other division (only have to win 1 of their last 6 games) but could also finish 1st overall, and the remaining 2 against non-contenders.

Patrick Roy, as GM, made trades to make this team a contender, with the biggest acquisition being Bolduc this past off-season. Looks like it worked. He's also head coach which is why he missed the Avs-Blues game super early this season when the Avs were honoring their Cup team.

[theohall]

Remparts win 6-3 over Shawninigan

Bolduc 1G 0A -1 2 SOG

Colten Ellis took a 4-0 loss facing 40 shots on goal as Worcester fell to the Newfoundland Growlers.

[theohall]

Remparts won 6-2 over Sherbrooke (the other current division leader).

Bolduc: 1G 2A +3 4 SOG

Colten Ellis took a 3-1 loss on Sunday for the Railers only stopping 20 of 23 shots

[theohall]

Jake Neighbours news from STLToday

Cannot cut and paste article. Neighbours suffered a shoulder injury. They decided to let him rest to get ready for the Oil Kings playoff run. He will return this weekend for the Oil Kings final 4 games. He is hoping Edmonton reaches the Memorial Cup along with Bolduc's QMJHL Quebec Remparts so they could face each other in that tournament. Both teams are considered among the favorites to win their respective leagues. Armstrong let Neighbours know he was never in danger of being traded before the trade deadline. He was able to join the Blues for their team breakfast in Edmonton this past Friday.

Neighbours scoring this season has him as a point and half per game player (26 GP 15G 26A 41Pts) in the WHL. Just to put this in perspective, the current top 5 point producers in the WHL:

1) 1.58 pts/gm (64 games)
2) 1.50 pts/gm (64 games)
3) 1.75 pts/gm (55 games)
4) 1.42 pts/gm (64 games)
5) 1.54 pts/gm (56 games)
Neighbours 1.58 pts/gm

He is an elite scorer at the WHL level based on points per game. We'll see how the WHL playoffs pan out with Oil Kings having a stacked roster with 10 current NHL draft picks (6 signed to NHL contracts) while 2 of their top scorers, Carter Souch and Josh Williams are both undrafted. Williams is an over-ager and Souch (5'10 165) is undersized. Williams results this season are mostly related to his experience. He may have been drafted last year had he continued producing the way he was before Covid ended their season. Williams will either be a late round pick or signed as a free agent given his production the past 2 seasons.

2021 Scouting report on Josh William from before the draft:

Solid built goal scoring winger who played the season without the luxury of a quality set up man. Goal scoring winger with a high IQ, who finds the soft areas and coverage and ends up getting some nice looks. Very strong and can bull over defenders and strong on the cycle creating looks when he moves out from the corner. Might have the hardest velocity shot in the class, a quick release but only 14 total goals to show for it. The adage is make your own chances, and unfortunately he was unable to surrounded by two different WHL squads

I could easily see the Blues gambling on him even as a UDFA. What's funny is the site the report is from has him projected as a Blues 7th round pick last year.

[WaukeeBlues]

Good work on all the updates, thanks!

[theohall]

With the wins this weekend, Bolduc's Ramparts moved into 1st overall in the Q. When you've given up the fewest goals per game while also being 3rd in scoring, good things tend to happen. Interesting to note their PP is 9th and the PK is 6th, which means they are getting the most from their 5-on-5 play. Another very good thing heading into the playoffs.

[theohall]

Ramparts won 6-3 Thursday night over the Cape Breton Eagles.

Bolduc 0G 1A 2SOG 1/1 in faceoffs.

This keeps the Remparts in 1st overall, 2 points clear of Charlottetown and 5 clear of Sherbrooke. Charlottetown has 1 game in hand, but Quebec holds the ROW tie breaker by 2 wins. All playoff teams have clinched berths in the Q. Remaining games are solely for positioning.

[theohall]

Colten Ellis got shelled again taking a 6-0 loss on 30 shots to Trois-Riviers. What hurts for Worcester is this loss put them one point behind Trois-Riviers and the two are fighting for a playoff position. They face each other again tonight when Ken Applelby (Islanders signee) will get the net, while Ellis should be back in net for the matchup vs last place in the division Adirondack on Sunday.