The CHL has long been one of the top talent-developing hockey leagues and has fed the NHL with stars throughout its history. This season is no different.
As we hit the quarter mark of the NHL season, today’s CHL Power Rankings will focus on some of the best and most noteworthy big-league performances from Canadian major junior graduates.
10) Samuel Girard, Colorado Avalanche
Trades are shocking for veteran players, so you can imagine what 18-year-old Girard was thinking when the Predators, Senators and Avalanche completed a three-way deal that saw Girard head to Colorado. Nashville dealt from a position of strength, while the Avs saw an opportunity to add a super skilled, smallish, puck-moving defenceman as part of the package in return for Matt Duchene. Girard has settled in nicely, playing roughly 22 minutes per game
9) Victor Mete, Montreal Canadiens
For a team that has had trouble implementing high draft picks into it’s lineup on a regular basis, the 100th-overall pick from 2016 has had little trouble maintaining a regular spot on Claude Julien’s blue line. The 19-year-old is one of the few bright spots for a team that’s struggled through the first quarter of the season. Mete’s minutes have waned of late, but there’s no doubt he will be a big part of Montreal’s future moving forward.
8) Alex DeBrincat, Chicago Blackhawks
The big question scouts had about DeBrincat was whether his goal scoring and point production would translate from Erie to the NHL? The league is now finding out what former Erie coach Kris Knoblauch knew all along: DeBrincat’s game is translatable. Who’d have ever thought that, through 20 games, DeBrincat would have more goals and as many points as Jonathan Toews?
7) Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
The first-overall pick from 2017 is playing roughly 16 minutes a night for one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The spotlight rarely shines on him like Clayton Keller or Brock Boeser, but quietly Hischier’s putting together a Calder-type rookie season. Even when he’s not producing, he can still be leaned upon to provide responsible minutes.
6) Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Having suffered through an injury-plagued 2016-17 season, Stamkos has rebounded with a vengeance. We’re used to seeing him amongst the league leaders in goals, but we now find him atop the NHL’s assist leaders. He not only makes those around him better, but he makes a really good Tampa Bay team an exceptional team.
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5) Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
Since entering the NHL at 18, Couturier has shown defensive awareness and responsibility well beyond his years. Don’t forget, he also put up big numbers in junior and now that he’s Philadelphia’s No. 1 centre, he’s proving he can put up numbers in the NHL as well. A quarter of the way through the season, Couturier is three goals and 19 points shy of his career highs.
4) Jake Allen, St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are off to a brilliant start and Allen has played a big part in that. Allen played in 61 games a year ago, and he’s pacing to match or exceed that this season. Allen is second in the league in wins and minutes played. His goals-against and save percentage aren’t eye-popping, but the 27-year-old ‘keeper looks poised to get the Blues past their playoff stumbling block.
3) Travis Green, Vancouver Canucks
A quick glance at the standings will show the Vancouver Canucks in a playoff spot. Green took the right path to becoming an NHL coach. He mentored under Mike Johnston in Portland before taking over and guiding his Winterhawks to within a game of winning the 2013 Mastercard Memorial Cup. He then took his time in the AHL, spending four years with Utica to get acquainted with the pro game. While it’s a bit early to be talking playoffs, few prognosticators would’ve given Vancouver a chance this season.
2) Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov has slipped under his torrid goal-per-game pace that he maintained through the first 15 games of the season, but he has put himself in the conversation as one of the 10 best players in the world with his play to date. He’s deadly on the power play, logs defenceman-like minutes and has a knack for scoring big goals. Kucherov is remarkably consistent and durable.
1) Gerrard Gallant, Vegas Golden Knights
Who would’ve thought the Golden Knights would be anywhere near as competitive as they’ve been to this point in the season. Imagine if they had healthy goaltending all season. Gallant has a calming demeanour about him. He demands hard work and attention to detail, but he also allows players to showcase individual skills and talent within that framework. His handling of players allows them to be confident and unafraid to make a mistake as long as it doesn’t happen repeatedly.
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