Five Defencemen to Watch at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Wednesday - June 24, 2009 
Charles-Olivier Roussel headlines a list of five Canadian Hockey League defencemen that are ranked in the second round by NHL Central Scouting for the upcoming 2009 NHL Entry Draft that begins Friday June 26, 2009, at 7:00 pm in Montreal, Quebec. All five defencemen competed at the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Charles-Olivier Roussel – Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) Charles-Olivier Roussel scored 11 goals and 33 assists for 44 points in 68 games and added 18 points in 21 playoff games for the Cataractes that lost in the President Cup final this season. A third overall pick in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft, Roussel competed at the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge and was named a second team all-star. He also played for Team Quebec at the 2008 World Under-18 Hockey Challenge. Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Charles-Olivier Roussel Éric Gélinas– Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL) Éric Gélinas scored 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points in 67 games for the MAINEiacs this season. He finished fifth on the team in scoring but led all defencemen. Last season he was named an RDS Mid Season Rookie after being selected 16th overall at the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft. Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Éric Gélinas Brayden McNabb – Kootenay Ice (WHL) Brayden McNabb scored 10 goals and 26 assists for 36 points in 67 games for the Ice, finishing second on the club in scoring for defencemen. His 140 penalty minutes were the second highest total on the team. He won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge competing with Team West. Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Brayden McNabb Tyson Barrie – Kelowna Rockets (WHL) Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Tyson Barrie Taylor Doherty – Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) Taylor Doherty scored two goals and 18 assists for 20 points and played in all 68 games for the Frontenacs this season. His 140 penalty minutes led the club and put him 13th overall in the league. Doherty was Kingston’s nominee for OHL Scholastic Player of the Year and has won two gold medals, one with Team Canada at the 2008 Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the other with Team Ontario at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Taylor Doherty |