It’ll be a challenge for the Moncton Wildcats to match last year’s success after finishing tops in the Maritimes Division with 95 points. The franchise’s winningest goaltender, Alex Dubeau, finished his junior career and is replaced by two inexperienced netminders in Zachary Fortin and Sébastien Dupré.
Ivan Barbashev, the team’s top goal-scorer last season with 45, joins the pro ranks in the St. Louis Blues system. Top scoring D-man, Dominic Talbot-Tassi, is also gone. Despite losing some key pieces, the Wildcats still have core that’s tough to play against and can score. They need to tighten up defensively to go further in the playoffs after being swept by the Québec Remparts in the semi-finals and allowing 20 goals in the process.
Prediction
Fourth in the Maritimes Division. Missing key components from last season will hurt; must tighten up defensively in big games.
Forwards
Conor Garland led the QMJHL in points last season with 129. He’s back with the Wildcats this season, but without linemate Barbashev. Even without Barbashev’s firepower and size, the forward group has scoring depth.
Cameron Askew, a 6-foot-2, 204-lb. centre, excelled in his first year in Moncton after being buried on the Drummondville Voltiguers roster the season before. The opportunity to be a top-line centre is there, but Askew must find consistency. His NHL Draft ranking plummeted—he went undrafted—but will attend New York Rangers rookie camp.
Twins Kevin and Kelly Klima, sons of former NHLer Petr Klima, impressed in training camp and could bring some magic chemistry to the lineup this season. Moncton’s first draft selection in the Q draft, Mika Cyr (29th overall), didn’t make the team out of camp but is still in the team’s future plans.
Former London Knights free agents Kevin and Kelly Klima, sons of former NHLer Petr Klima, are at camp with the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
— Brendan Ross (@RossyYoungblood) August 25, 2015
Defence
Jacob Sweeney’s offensive skills bloomed last year. He scored 17 goals, shattering his previous best of three the season before. The 6-foot-4, 213-pounder’s points combined with his defensive ability make him a threat in all zones. Zachary Malatesta, an 11th-round gem from 2013, had a 29-point rookie season and brings a mix of skill and grit to the blueline.
German Maximilian Glassl, selected 77nd overall in the CHL Import Draft, joins the team after playing for the German world junior team and EC Salzburg in Austria last season.
GM Roger Shannon of @monctonwildcats on 2nd-round pick, German d-man Maximilian Glassl: "He sees the ice well and likes the open ice hits."
— Sean Hatchard (@TTSeanHatchard) June 30, 2015
Goaltending
After a year away from the QMJHL, 20-year-old Zachary Fortin joins the Moncton Wildcats. Last season he played Junior A in Alberta after playing for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2013-14. He’s joined by Sébastien Dupré, the team’s fifth-rounder from last season who spent last season in the QCHL. There’s uncertainty in the crease with a duo featuring two goalies who weren’t in the league last season.
NHL prospect watch
Conor Garland, RW, Arizona Coyotes (2015, 123rd overall)
Garland scored the same number of points as fellow Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome, who was drafted 120 slots earlier with the third overall pick. The biggest knock on Garland is his small size. The 5-foot-8, 168-lb. winger is fast, can turn on a dime and is hard to contain. He’ll look to show the 129 points weren’t a fluke.
NHL Draft watch
Liam Murphy, C
The first American selected in the 2014 Q draft, Murphy scored 12 points in 51 games in a support role as a rookie. The 6-foot-2, 210-lb centre is a power-forward who could be in for a big season in his draft year if he sees more ice time.