The defending President Cup champions will find it difficult to repeat as champions after the team peaked into perfect form last season. With so many veterans moving on, the team’s depth has been depleted. They didn’t sell the farm to go on a deep run last season, so the Océanic shouldn’t drop too far down the standings.
Prediction
Second in the East Division. The offence isn’t as scary as last season, but solid goaltending and a huge blueline will help the defending champs.
Forwards
Michael Joly returns to the Océanic for his fourth season. Last year, he was a point-per-game player, slightly regressing from the point totals of the season before. He stepped up his game in the President Cup final, scoring five times including the series winner in double overtime of game seven. He’ll get a look by the Toronto Maple Leafs at training camp before returning to lead the Océanic offence.
The Océanic used the Import Draft to refresh their forward depth with two players from the Czech Republic; winger Matous Belohorsky (52nd overall) and Nicolas Werbik (112th). Alex-Olivier Voyer, the 15th selection of the Q draft last June, made the team and scored a goal in his debut.
Samuel Laberge had a 15-goal rookie season and could emerge as a top goal-scorer this season. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound winger received a training camp invite by the Los Angelas Kings.
Defence
Size has been the defining characteristic of the Rimouski Océanic blueline the past few seasons. While the departure of Samuel Morin leaves a 6-foot-7 hole, this year’s squad is once again huge. All eight members of the blueline are at least 6-foot-1, with the exception of 5-foot-10 rookie Dominic Cormier.
The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Evan Scott joins Rimouski after playing the previous three seasons in Shawinigan. He brings size and toughness along with defensive responsibility on the penalty kill.
Montreal Canadiens prospect Simon Bourque (2015, 177th overall) should see time on the top powerplay unit and build on the 38 points of his sophomore season.
Goaltending
When Louis-Philip Guindon joined Rimouski from Drummondville at the trade deadline, it looked like he was merely going to back up established starter Philippe Desrosiers. Guindon ended up playing in 15 playoff games, winning 11, and was a crucial piece of the President Cup winning squad.
The 20-year-old will mentor rookie Charles-Antoine Poirier-Turcot, a mid-round pick by Rimouski in 2014.
NHL prospect watch
Simon Bourque, D, Montreal Canadiens (2015, 177th overall)
After icing a squad full of NHL draft picks, Simon Bourque is the lone Océanic player drafted by an NHL team. He’s back in Rimouski after a short stint at Montreal Canadiens training camp. Not an overly physical defender, the 6-foot-1, 189-pound blue liner uses his finesse to make plays happen. He should see more power play time this season, boosting his point potential.
Simon Bourque was a possible 3rd rounder but fell to 177th? #AlmostBourque …it’s back
— L’Icône (@HabsIcon) June 27, 2015
NHL draft watch
Matous Belohorsky, LW
Czech winger Matous Belohorsky is in Rimouski for his first season of North American hockey. Last year in the Czech under-18 league, he had seven goals. A relatively unknown quantity, he’ll have a chance to carve out a big role with the Océanic right away.
