QMJHL notebook: Barbashev’s back, baby

Photo: Marc Grandmaison

The third week of the season featured a plethora of players returning from NHL training camps. While a few elite prospects—including Winnipeg Jets first rounder Nikolaj Ehlers of the Halifax Mooseheads—are still seeing NHL pre-season action, the majority of prospects are back in major junior. A few of these let their presence be felt with huge performances in their first games. Here’s what you need to know from around the Q:

Maritimes Division

The Moncton Wildcats received a boost with the return of Ivan Barbashev—the 33rd pick of the 2014 draft by the St. Louis Blues—the skilled Russian had a hat trick against the Charlottetown Islanders on Sunday night. Last season he scored 25 goals and 68 points in 48 games. Look for him to improve on those numbers and close to the top of the scoring race in his third season with the Cats. The Wildcats were also active on the trade front, picking up 20-year-old defenceman Dominic Talbot-Tassi from the Blainville-Broisbriand Armada in exchange for a third round pick in the 2016 draft.

Kyle Farrell of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles continues to lead the league in scoring—he’s now up to 10 goals and seven assists, including points in every game. The left winger is from Howie Centre, N.S., just outside of Sydney where the team plays. His teammate Evgeny Svechnikov leads rookie scoring with five goals and 14 points while the team paces the league with 36 goals in seven contests.

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan lost both games versus Charlottetown Islanders by scores of 4-3 this week. Titan center Mark Simpson scored a pair of goals in each game, but his team currently sits in last place, dropping five games in a row after opening the season with a win over Halifax. Four of those losses have been by a lone goal, and the team has 19 goals on the season, so they aren’t as bad as the record suggests.

East Division

After winning first star honours last week, Shawinigan Cataractes goaltender Marvin Cupper came back down to earth. When Quebec Remparts defenceman Cody Donaghey scored a power-play goal in the second period of Friday nights game, he snapped Cupper’s shutout streak at 193:23. The Cataractes won 5-1, but dropped their next game on Sunday night to the Remparts 6-3, with Cupper allowing all six goals.

Marc-Oliveir Roy led the Remparts with a hat trick in their 6-3 win over Shawinigan. The 20-year-old center returned from Edmonton Oilers training camp this week. He was acquired by the Memorial Cup hosts from the Blainville-Broisbriand Armada during the off-season. Tampa Bay second-rounder Adam Erne had a goal and three points in his season debut Sunday. Anthony Duclair continues to impress at New York Rangers camp but should ultimately end up back in Quebec.

Goaltender Phillipe Desrosiers (Dallas) and defenceman Jan Kostalek (Winnipeg) returned to the Rimouski Oceanic this week. Star blueliner Sam Morin remains at Philadelphia Flyers training camp but should return to the Oceanic before the NHL season begins.

West Division

Swiss right winger Kay Schweri has been in a helping mood all season. The rookie only has one goal for the division-leading Sherbrooke Phoenix, but leads the team in scoring thanks to 13 assists. He was selected 35th in the CHL import draft this past spring. The 5-foot-10, 175-lb. playmaker could be a late-round pick in the 2015 NHL draft.

The Gatineau Olympiques are another West Division team led by a European rookie. Russian Trenin Yakov has three goals and 11 points. He also has size (6-foot-2, 179 lb.) to go along with skill. He had a goal and three assists in the team’s 7-2 win over Val-d’Or on Sun-day and had six points in three games this week. Trenin projects to go in the third or fourth round of the NHL draft.

The President Cup hangover for the Val-d’Or Foreurs continues—they have dropped five games in a row after winning their first two. Goaltender and Edmonton Oilers prospect Keven Bouchard is back with the team, but has allowed nine goals in two games. He was yanked during the second period versus the Gatineau Olympiques on Sunday night after allowing four shots past him.

Three Stars of the Week

Christopher Clapton, LW, Rimouski Oceanic The Florida Panthers prospect led his team this week with a hat trick and two assists in a 6-4 win over Drummondville. He added another pair of goals and an assist when the team beat Victoriaville 3-1.

Sebastien Auger, G, Saint John Sea Dogs The netminder stopped all 30 shots he faced from Halifax—including a penalty shot from Philippe Gadoury—on Saturday night to earn his first shutout of the season. On Sunday, he had 50 saves against Chicoutimi. Despite the superhuman performance and still lost in a shootout.

Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau, LW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens The San Jose Sharks prospect has been productive since returning from NHL camp, picking up one goal and seven points in three games. Paquin-Boudreau was traded to the Sagueneens in the off-season to complete the Charles Hudon trade from last season.

2015 NHL Draft Prospect Watch

This week NHL Central Scouting released its preliminary scouting list with players to watch for the 2015 NHL Draft. A total of 37 players from the QMJHL made the list. The Charlottetown Islanders led the way with five, including projected first rounders Filip Chlapik, a center, and right winger Daniel Sprong. Other projected first-rounders include Quebec Remparts goalie Callum Booth, Chicoutimi center Nicolas Roy and Saint John defenceman Jakub Zboril.

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