Post by hockeyfan99 on Jul 28, 2006 7:06:19 GMT -5
Bourdon hopes to
buck QMJHL trend
By Shane Malloy | NHL.com Corespondent
July 27, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jumping from the frying pan into the fire. That's the scenario Luc Bourdon faces once he dons a Vancouver Canuck jersey for the first time in the regular season.
Bourdon, the 10th-overall pick in the 2005 Entry Draft, has received rave reviews from scouts and pundits alike from his play in the junior ranks and at the World Junior Championship. But bringing young defenseman along quickly always comes with a certain amount of risk. Still, most observers believe Bourdon has the capability to make the jump.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound defenseman, still only 19, hails from Shippagan, New Brunswick has only three year of junior hockey under his belt, but has the demeanor of a veteran. Perhaps it has been his recent exposure of high-pressure situations like the World Junior Championships and the Memorial Cup that has allowed Bourdon to excel at a quicker pace.
"Both the WJC and the Memorial Cup gave me confidence that I can play at a high level," Bourdon said. "Hopefully I can bring that to the Canucks this year."
An ankle injury limited Bourdon's play with with Val-d'Or and Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season. Still, Bourdon posted 28 points in 30 games, accenting the fact he may be ready to move beyond the junior ranks, especially now that the ankle injury has healed.
"The ankle is fine, and every day it gets better," he said. "It is just a matter of getting my full flexibility back. It affected me during the Memorial Cup, but I dealt with it since my team needed me and I know I will be back healthy soon."
As far as training camps goes, Bourdon will turn in his best efforts and let the chips fall where they may.
"Obviously I come here with a different approach, earn my spot," he said. "My goal is to just work hard like I did in last camp and everything will work itself out.
"The best thing for me is to stay focused and do the simple things well and learn the rest of the game slowly and do things to be successful."
Bourdon will enter camp familiar with new Canucks coach Alain Vigneault since he was the coach of the Canucks' AHL affiliate last season.
"I spoke to him a little bit last training camp and he seems like a great guy," Bourdon said. "The Canucks are in goods hands."
History has not been kind to Quebec League defensemen selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. Between 1995 and 2005 only six QMJHL defensemen have been chosen in the first round. Of that group, only one has played more than 350 NHL games -- Denis Gauthier, who was chosen by Calgary in 1996 and has suited up for 446 games.
Luc Bourdon is hoping to change the perception of defensemen drafted from the QMJHL.
The unfortunate heart ailment of the Red Wings' Jiri Fischer has cut his career short at 305 games. He played only QMJHL two seasons and thus is barely considered among the group. The trio of Mathieu Biron, Mario Larocque, and Matthieu Descoteaux did not live up to expectations.
Knowing this dubious history, Bourdon did not feel any extra pressure to make amends for QMJHL defensemen.
"Not really. I had a good season last year and the experience at the WJC, where I had a strong tournament, and use that and not worry about the past."
Looking back, Bourdon could not see any particular reason why QMJHL defensemen have struggled to find a place in the NHL, when there had been so many in past years.
"Sometimes those things come and go," Bourdon said. "It is hard to say. We have great defenseman in the QMJHL, like the WHL and OHL, and I know I am not the only one coming, so maybe it is our turn again."
Bourdon seems bent on bucking the trend and carving his own path. It is the hope of the Canucks and Bourdon that history does not repeat itself and he starts a new trend of elite defenseman to come out of the "Q". If his 2005-06 season is any indicator, then Bourdon could be the beacon for the next generation.
buck QMJHL trend
By Shane Malloy | NHL.com Corespondent
July 27, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jumping from the frying pan into the fire. That's the scenario Luc Bourdon faces once he dons a Vancouver Canuck jersey for the first time in the regular season.
Bourdon, the 10th-overall pick in the 2005 Entry Draft, has received rave reviews from scouts and pundits alike from his play in the junior ranks and at the World Junior Championship. But bringing young defenseman along quickly always comes with a certain amount of risk. Still, most observers believe Bourdon has the capability to make the jump.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound defenseman, still only 19, hails from Shippagan, New Brunswick has only three year of junior hockey under his belt, but has the demeanor of a veteran. Perhaps it has been his recent exposure of high-pressure situations like the World Junior Championships and the Memorial Cup that has allowed Bourdon to excel at a quicker pace.
"Both the WJC and the Memorial Cup gave me confidence that I can play at a high level," Bourdon said. "Hopefully I can bring that to the Canucks this year."
An ankle injury limited Bourdon's play with with Val-d'Or and Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season. Still, Bourdon posted 28 points in 30 games, accenting the fact he may be ready to move beyond the junior ranks, especially now that the ankle injury has healed.
"The ankle is fine, and every day it gets better," he said. "It is just a matter of getting my full flexibility back. It affected me during the Memorial Cup, but I dealt with it since my team needed me and I know I will be back healthy soon."
As far as training camps goes, Bourdon will turn in his best efforts and let the chips fall where they may.
"Obviously I come here with a different approach, earn my spot," he said. "My goal is to just work hard like I did in last camp and everything will work itself out.
"The best thing for me is to stay focused and do the simple things well and learn the rest of the game slowly and do things to be successful."
Bourdon will enter camp familiar with new Canucks coach Alain Vigneault since he was the coach of the Canucks' AHL affiliate last season.
"I spoke to him a little bit last training camp and he seems like a great guy," Bourdon said. "The Canucks are in goods hands."
History has not been kind to Quebec League defensemen selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. Between 1995 and 2005 only six QMJHL defensemen have been chosen in the first round. Of that group, only one has played more than 350 NHL games -- Denis Gauthier, who was chosen by Calgary in 1996 and has suited up for 446 games.
Luc Bourdon is hoping to change the perception of defensemen drafted from the QMJHL.
The unfortunate heart ailment of the Red Wings' Jiri Fischer has cut his career short at 305 games. He played only QMJHL two seasons and thus is barely considered among the group. The trio of Mathieu Biron, Mario Larocque, and Matthieu Descoteaux did not live up to expectations.
Knowing this dubious history, Bourdon did not feel any extra pressure to make amends for QMJHL defensemen.
"Not really. I had a good season last year and the experience at the WJC, where I had a strong tournament, and use that and not worry about the past."
Looking back, Bourdon could not see any particular reason why QMJHL defensemen have struggled to find a place in the NHL, when there had been so many in past years.
"Sometimes those things come and go," Bourdon said. "It is hard to say. We have great defenseman in the QMJHL, like the WHL and OHL, and I know I am not the only one coming, so maybe it is our turn again."
Bourdon seems bent on bucking the trend and carving his own path. It is the hope of the Canucks and Bourdon that history does not repeat itself and he starts a new trend of elite defenseman to come out of the "Q". If his 2005-06 season is any indicator, then Bourdon could be the beacon for the next generation.