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NHL 2016 Draft Radar: Pierre-Luc Dubois

By Sam Blazer

Jun 12, 2016, 17:13 EDTUpdated:

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When you are one of the top player’s in your own league, it puts an enormous amount of pressure on the aforementioned person. Many wither and fade away into obscurity, others rise to the occasion and become a player to be remembered. Pierre-Luc Dubois has a chance to make his own path, it won’t be with the Red Wings but what kind of player are they missing out on?

Dubois is the number one skater in North America according to NHL CS Rankings.

The Stats

The QMJHL has always had a reputation of being a high scoring league, the numbers don’t necessarily back that up but being a top scorer in the league is still very difficult. Dubois was the leading scorer in his draft year and it wasn’t particularly close. He easily went over the point per game plateau that many people seem to look at often. He played on a middling team and helped buoy it. He has all the makings of a star in this league and could very well back it up. Having only come onto the scene very recently as this top flight pick, could it cause some team’s pause?

The Eye Test

Elite Prospects has a couple of scouting reports on Dubois, this first report is from Curtis Joe:

“A phenominal two-way power forward that thrives under pressure. He brings versatility, being able to play as a center or a winger, as well as elite skill and agility. His athleticism is exemplified in his strong skating that allows him to backcheck hard, explode up the ice in-transition, or propel himself up into hits that opponents won’t soon forget. His defensive zone play is excellent; he proactively finds and takes away shooting and passing lanes, and makes it tough on opponents to pinpoint any daylight. When he is on the ice, he is uncontainable and leads the forecheck; he creates the time and space for himself to be creative with the puck and finds a way to get it to the back of the net. He makes the players around him better, serving as an example of what hard work and skill can and will be able to produce. A similarly punishing two-way forward with size and zero deficiencies, Anze Kopitar, is the type of player Dubois will aspire to become at the next level. Pierre-Luc Dubois has the potential to develop into an elite two-way forward that excels as a positive catalyst in every facet of the roles he can play, be it the dynamic scorer, the set-up man, the intimidating power forward, or the defensive-minded shutdown guy. He is the type of player nobody likes to play against.”

This second report from Elite Prospects comes from an unnamed source, yet is just as glowing:

“A top-end talent that impacts all aspects of the game from different angles. May well be the most complete player in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. His multidimensional play and elite offensive prowess reminds scouts a little bit of James Neal. Competitiveness marks his game and he consistently proves to be a high impact player when he is on the ice.”

Scout for Buckeye State Hockey, Paul Berthelot was able to catch Dubois in early February and had this to say about the player:

“This wasn’t Dubois best game. He failed to register a point which is rare for the scorer who averages 1.44 a game. His tools were still evident though. He’s big (6’3) with good hands. He passes the puck well but also has an impressive shot. He has great velocity on it and has the quick release you look for. He played in all situations and was physical. He was fantastic at the CHL Top Prospects Game where he had three points.”

Does he fit in on the Red Wings?

Well, uh, yeah. Any team in the league could use a player like Dubois. He is a player that could be underrated because of how highly touted the other top prospects are right now. He has the ability to be a power forward at the next level and has the physicality that many team’s crave. Playing against weaker competition at the moment may be troublesome as a few teams may feel like he isn’t being challenged enough. If the Red Wings are able to trade up (highly unlikely) Dubois would not be a bad player to target. He is a player that is made in the same mold as Dylan Larkin. Two of those guys skating around the ice doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

Player Oddity

According to a story from the Hockey News, Dubois had a pretty tough time starting out. He had to overcome a bit of a language barrier.

This from THN:

“Dubois’ dad, Eric, was playing hockey in Europe when Pierre-Luc was a tot, so he spent time in England and then Germany. When Pierre-Luc was three, a friend of his dad’s got him on a team for five-year-olds. The first practice didn’t go well.
“They didn’t know who I was and I didn’t speak German,” Dubois said. “I started crying. My dad had to come on the ice and explain that I only spoke French.””