CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Charlottetown Islanders have more information as they prepare for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft.
Central scouting released its final rankings on Wednesday.
Islanders head coach and general manager Jim Hulton said the rankings are only one part of a team’s arsenal of information used in building its draft board.
“We have to be firm on our list and our beliefs,” he said. “I imagine you’re going to see 18 different teams are going to have 18 different lists that all vary in some capacity from what central is.”
A good example is last year when Cornwall native Jordan Spence, a defenceman with the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals, went in the second round of the draft to the Moncton Wildcats. He was ranked in the fifth round. Spence wasn’t even on the list in his first year of eligibility.
He won the QMJHL’s rookie of the year award after recording 49 points in 68 games and is ranked 59th among North American skaters for the NHL draft, June 21-22 in Vancouver.
The Islanders took Lukas Cormier fourth overall in 2018, but he was ranked 10th.
The Islanders do not have a first-round pick this year as it was used to acquire Alex Dostie from Gatineau for the 2017 run. Charlottetown has two picks in each of the second and third rounds. Their first two picks are scheduled to be 32nd and 33rd overall.
There are many variables for teams at the draft, including positional needs and when they have picks. Hulton said prospects shouldn’t get hung on Wednesday’s report.
“They’re just rankings on paper,” he said.
“It’s no different than the kid who gets drafted – that’s just an invitation to the dance,” he said, referring to training camp. “It comes down to how you perform on the ice.”
Related links
11 Islanders eligible for QMJHL draft
QMJHL release on draft rankings