The success of the Val-d’Or Foreurs this season depends on which version of the team shows up. Last season, fresh off a President Cup trophy, the Foreurs started the season in the basement of the West Division. The season ended with them red-hot, winning 12 straight in the final two months of the season.
Scoring goals was never an issue, they finished second in the league with 283, keeping them out was the problem. The Foreurs allowed 266 goals, third-worst in the league. With the return of all the major offensive weapons from last season, goals once again should flow liberally, but Val-d’Or needs to tighten up on the back end.
Prediction
Second in the West Division. They can score, but can they keep the puck out of the net?
Forwards
The forward squad that helped Val-d’Or score the second most goals in the Q is back with just as much firepower again this season. Leading scorer Anthony Richard (selected in 100th overall by the Nashville Predators in June) returns along side Anthony Beauregard and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nicolas Aubé-Kubel. The top trio are on the small size — all 5-foot-11 or less — but loaded with creativity and speed.
It’s a different story with Julien Gauthier, a 6-foot-4, 224-pound power-forward who scored 38 goals in his third season. Gauthier is draft eligible this season with first-round potential.
Val-d’Or’s top two forward draft picks, Cole Rafuse (20th overall) and hometown pick Adam Cheezo (43rd overall) both cracked the opening day roster.
Defence
Defence was a weakness for Val-d’Or last season, but should improve this year with a more experienced group void of rookies. Carl Tremblay came over from the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in a draft day trade. The 20-year-old provides leadership, size and some offence that makes up for the departure of Jérémie Fraser.
Olivier Galipeau, Val-d’Or’s first-round selection in 2013, took a step forward in his sophomore season with 20 points and is the captain this season.
Czech d-man Daniel Krenzelok returns for a sophomore season and could play for his national team at the world juniors.
Goaltending
Relying on an eighth-round pick as the starting goaltender wasn’t the plan last season, especially with an NHL prospect on the roster. But inconsistent play from Keven Bouchard (traded to Bai-Comeau in the offseason) meant Etienne Montpetit played 40 regular season games and was the starter in the playoffs. This season he’ll share the net with Dereck Baribeau. The 6-foot-5, 184-pound Baribeau was the top rated goalie in the draft, and the Foreurs traded up in the first round to nab him at 5th overall.
Dereck Baribeau the first goaltender picked at #5. VD obviously high on him to trade up as taking a goalie in round 1 can be risky #QDraft
— Patrick McNeil (@CBSE_pbp) June 6, 2015
NHL prospect watch Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, RW, Philadelphia Flyers (2014, 48th overall) Aubé-Kubel enters his final season of after an 80-point breakout season featuring 38 goals. He brings explosive energy to every shift, working hard and skating fast on both ends of the rink. Aubé-Kubel is dangerous with the puck on his stick and will run over the opposition to pry the puck loose. Before heading to Philadelphia for rookie camp, he scored three goals in the season’s opening weekend.
Watching Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Impressive straight line speed, shiftiness along the glass, and his wrist shots have some real snap. #Flyers
— Anthony Mingioni (@AnthonyMingioni) July 10, 2015
NHL draft watch
Julien Gauthier, RW
A 38-goal sophomore season for Gauthier caught the attention of Team Canada scouts. As a 17-year-old, he was the youngest player at the world junior summer development camp in Calgary this summer. He has sky-high potential this season as he possesses a scary blend of size and skill. At 6-foot-4, 224-pounds, the power-forward is destined for the first round of the NHL draft.
