It’s the 11th time that Team Russia has made its way overseas to challenge the CHL in the Subway Super Series, and Team QMJHL is first in line to try and recapture the series title from the visitors.
Programming note: Watch Team QMJHL take on Team Russia in the first game of the Subway Super Series on Monday, starting at 7 p.m., on Sportsnet East, Ontario and Pacific and listen on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. It airs again on Wednesday at 7 p.m. EST on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific.
This time around, the challenge starts in Gatineau on Monday night featuring a bevy of young talent including Jonathan Drouin, who was a late training camp cut with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Montreal Canadiens’ goaltending prospect, Zachary Fucale, who leads the QMJHL in wins with 15. Drouin will serve as Team QMJHL’s captain.
Here’s a look at NHL drafted players participating in the series, players who are looking forward to hearing their name called at this June’s draft, and players to keep an eye on.
NHL drafted players participating:
Team Russia:
Rushan Rafikov
(187th overall in 2013, Calgary Flames)
Valentin Zykov
(37th overall in 2013, Los Angeles Kings)
Sergey Tolchinsky
(Free agent in 2013, Carolina Hurricanes)
Alexander Delnov
(144th overall in 2012, Florida Panthers)
Team QMJHL:
Zachary Fucale
(36th overall in 2013, Montreal Canadiens)
Dillon Fournier
(48th overall in 2012, Chicago Blackhawks)
Ryan Graves
(110th overall in 2013, New York Rangers)
MacKenzie Weegar
(206th overall in 2013, Florida Panthers)
Justin Hache
(208th overall in 2012, Phoenix Coyotes)
Samuel Morin
(11th overall in 2013, Philadelphia Flyers)
Anthony Mantha
(20th overall in 2013, Detroit Red Wings)
Charles Hudon
(122nd overall in 2012, Montreal Canadiens)
Marc-Olivier Roy
(56th overall in 2013, Edmonton Oilers)
Anthony Duclair
(80th overall in 2013, New York Rangers)
Felix Girard
(95th overall in 2013, Nashville Predators)
Frederik Gauthier
(21st overall in 2013, Toronto Maple Leafs)
Laurent Dauphin
(39th overall in 2013, Phoenix Coyotes)
Jonathan Drouin
(3rd overall in 2013, Tampa Bay Lightning)
William Carrier
(57th overall in 2013, St. Louis Blues)
Jeremy Gregoire
(176th overall in 2013, Montreal Canadiens)
Christopher Clapperton
(122nd overall in 2013, Florida Panthers)
Emile Poirier
(22nd overall in 2013, Calgary Flames)
NHL draft-eligible players participating:
Note: ‘A’ rankings are prospects expected to be drafted in the first round, ‘B’ rankings in the second to third round, and ‘C’ rankings in the fourth to sixth (rankings according to NHL Central Scouting).
Team Russia
F Ivan Barbashev
(Moncton, QMJHL, A)
F Nikita Scherbak
(Saskatoon, WHL, A)
F Nikolay Goldobin
(Sarnia, OHL, B)
G Igor Shesterkin
(Spartak, Moscow, B)
D Vladislav Gavrikov
(Loko Yaroslavl, B)
F Vladimir Tkachyov
(Omskiye Yastreby, Omsk, B)
D Aleksandr Mikulovic
(Niagara, OHL, C)
Team QMJHL
D Alexis Vanier
(Baie-Comeau, QMJHL, B)
F Daniel Audette
(Sherbrooke, QMJHL, B)
Keep an eye on…
Team Russia: Ivan Barbashev
Barbashev is a player most Q fans already know quite well. The talented 6-foot-1 centre is one of two A-ranked skaters for the Russians, and his North American exposure has only helped that standing. Barbashev has 11 goals and 31 points through 23 games in the high-scoring QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats.
Scouts rave about his versatility at both the wing and at centre, and they quite often mention his compete level as one of the strongest in the draft. NHL Central Scouting’s Troy Dumville told NHL.com that “He definitely can play that physical game and he’s got good size… (and) I don’t see him playing that physical game night in and night out, but at the same time he’s capable of it.”
Team QMJHL: Emile Poirier
Playing as the hometown darling in Gatineau, Poirier is adjusting to life on a stronger Olympiques team, but he has resumed right where he left off last year in leading the team in points. The big winger has at least two points in three of his last four games, and is trying to silence his naysayers who question his consistency to both put up numbers and play 200 feet. Calgary drafted the forward ahead of his predicted draft slot by the International Scouting Services (he was ranked 46th but went 22nd). Poirier is tied for fourth in the QMJHL points race.
Poirier will surely draw a large ovation from the Gatineau faithful on Monday night.
