Jonathan Huderdeau Scouting Report- May 2011

Here are my thoughts on Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers from May. 23, 2011.

JONATHAN HUBERDEAU

TEAM: SAINT JOHN SEA DOGS
LEAGUE: QMJHL
POSITION: CENTRE
BORN: JUNE 3, 1993
HEIGHT: 6’1’’
WEIGHT: 165 LBS.
SHOOTS: LEFT
NUMBER: #11

2010-11 STATS:

REGULAR SEASON/PLAYOFFS
GAMES PLAYED 67 /19
GOALS 43* /16
ASSISTS 62* /14
POINTS 105* /30
PLUS/MINUS 59* /13
PIM 88 /16
PPG 13/
PTS/GAME 1.57/
SHG 3/
FO% 40% (280)/

STRENGTHS:
1. VERY QUICK HANDS & IMPRESSIVE PUCK CONTROL
2. NHL SHOT AND PASS
3. VISION & HOCKEY SENSE

WEAKNESSES & AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT:
1. SIZE AND STRENGTH, NEEDS TO GET BIGGER
2. DEFENSIVE POSITIONING NEEDS WORK
3. TAKES ALOT OF MINOR PENALTIES

SKILL CATEGORY:

FIRST LINE PLAYMAKER

SCOUTING REPORT:

HUBERDEAU HAS MADE THE BIGGEST JUMP AMONG THE 2011 DRAFT ELIGIBLE PLAYERS. HE IS PROJECTED TO GO AS HIGH AS THIRD OVERALL AND ITS WELL DESERVED.

HE IS A VERSATILE PLAYER WHO CAN PLAY BOTH WING AND CENTRE. HE HAS GOOD SIZE AND IS A GOOD SKATER. HE HAS UNBELIEVABLE HANDS AND CAN STICKHANDLE HIS WAY OUT OF ANY SITUATION. HE USES HIS LONG REACH TO DANGLE AROUND DEFENDERS AND OFTEN MAKES IT LOOK EASY.

HIS HOCKEY SENSE AND VISION MAKE HIM AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO WATCH. HE MAKES PASSES THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN MAKE. HIS ELITE PLAYMAKING SKILLS OFTEN RESULT IN WIDE OPEN GIMME GOALS FOR HIS TEAMMATES AND THEY BASICALLY JUST NEED TO KEEP THEIR STICK ON THE ICE AND HE WILL FIND THEM.

HE HAS AN NHL SHOT THAT HE GETS OFF VERY QUICKLY. HE TAKES THE PUCK TO THE NET HARD AND IS WILLING TO SCORE GOALS IN THE DIRTY AREAS. HIS GRITTINESS IS A VERY UNDERRATED PART OF HIS GAME AS HE RARELY BACKS DOWN WHEN CHALLENGED.

IF YOU NEED A BIG GOAL, HUBERDEAU IS THE GUY YOU PUT ON THE ICE. HE WON PLAYOFF MVP AND LED HIS SEA DOGS TO THE PRESIDENTS CUP. HE SHOWS MATURITY AS A LEADER ON HIS TEAM AND GOING TO AN ALL ENGLISH SCHOOL SHOWS HIS COMMITMENT TO GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

HE HAS GOOD SIZE BUT IS LANKY AND NEEDS TO FILL OUT. ONCE HE MATURES PHYSICALLY, HE SHOULD HAVE THE STRENGTH TO HANDLE THE NHL. HIS DEFENSIVE GAME NEEDS SOME WORK AS HES OFTEN OUT OF POSITION AWAY FROM THE PUCK. HE ALSO NEEDS TO LEARN WHEN TO BACK OFF FROM PHYSICAL AGITATION AS HE IS CONSISTENTLY TARGETED BY THE OTHER TEAMS.

BOTTOM LINE: HE WILL BE A SCARY PLAYER.

NHL POTENTIAL:

FIRST LINE IMPACT FORWARD

PLAYER COMPARISON:

A BIGGER CLAUDE GIROUX