– Daniel Michaud –
Quinte Red Devils (ETA) | Center | 2019 OHL Draft Eligible
Belleville, Ontario | February 14, 2003
Daniel Michaud is a crafty forward with excellent puck skills and a knack for finding the right place at the right time. Considered to be one of the top 2003-born prospects coming out of the ETA this year, Michaud will likely challenge for the title of scoring champion this year with his combination of goal-scoring potential and playmaking prowess.
Related: Check out our 2019 OHL Draft Ranking: October Top-20
In his first taste of action for the 2018-19 campaign, Michaud displayed a strong north-south game and an ability to lead Quinte’s offence by generating scoring chances on a regular basis. After a slow start to the tournament, the Red Devils would finish 2-2-0 and miss the playoff round, while Michaud led his team with three goals and six points.
Strengths:
- Hockey Sense
- Skating
- Shot
Daniel Michaud’s game revolves around his hockey IQ, in which he exhibits superior intelligence of developing situations and the positioning of everyone else on the ice. He displays excellent vision with slick passes through traffic, finding his teammates just as they arrive on the spot.
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Michaud is a quick and shifty skater with above-average agility. He has promising top-end speed and is able to skate by defencemen on the outside. He also excels at cycling the puck in order to maintain puck possession and buy time for his teammates. Michaud has a strong shot with a quick release, as well as creative hands which can make defenders and goaltenders alike look silly.
Area of Improvement:
- Lower-Body Strength
If there’s one area which could push Michaud to the next level, it would be his lower-body strength. He has room to improve in protecting the puck, as well as in board battles for the puck. If Michaud was slightly stronger on his feet with more leverage to brush off opponents, he would be that much more effective.
With an already smooth stride, this may come along naturally as Michaud continues to grow and mature, but it’s an area to focus on this year for sure. The benefits from being able to protect and battle for the puck are endless, just look at how often Connor McDavid uses it in his game in order to be truly dominant.
Future Potential:
Michaud currently appears to be one of the top players from the ETA region for the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, with dynamic offensive abilities and responsible defensive awareness to boot. Michaud should be a contender to lead his league in scoring and currently projects as a top-50 prospect for next year’s draft. He should be able to jump straight into the OHL for the 2019-20 season.
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