LHJMQ draft prospects Julien Gauthier and Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Stéphane Leroux of RDS has an interview with Julien Gauthier of Les Foreurs de Val d'Or, and Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.  Kind of neat to have both of them on the ice on camera together before the game, since they're both highly-rated draft prospects for this June's NHL draft, with Monsieur Leroux cautiously allowing that they should go in the Top 12.

Both are well trained in the clichés and platitudes required of hockey players, explain that while they're rivals for the draft, they're actually good friends, knowing each other from various tournaments and camps over the years.

So, Julien Gauthier’s season so far:

43 39 10 49 20

…and Pierre-Luc Dubois’:

55 35 47 82 91

…with the numbers being GP, G, A, P, PIM.

Julien Gauthier has fewer GP’s, since he was part of the WJC Team Canada. Lots of goals, but only 10 assists? That’s quite the disparity.

Does anyone remember any CHL player having the same kind of stat line, with so many more goals than assists? Offhand, I can’t think of anyone.

What could be the reason behind this? Is he the New Age Tim Kerr, just bats pucks in from in close, but not much of a passer or anything?  Not racking up assists because every time he touches the puck he's firing it at the net, no matter what?

Julien Gauthier is a big right-shot right winger, an organizational need, but is Pierre-Luc Dubois the better prospect?  If based on the points total, it would appear so, that he's a better playmaker, a more rounded player.

But goal-scoring and size being such prized assets in the NHL nowadays, young Mr. Gauthier will be hard to resist for NHL teams.  Add in that he's the nephew of former NHL defenceman Denis Gauthier, part of the famous family of bodybuilders and pro wrestlers, and you have a potentially irresistible combo, with NHL scouts' current affinity for bloodlines.

I'm just glad I don't have to make these decisions, choose between Mark Napier and Mike Bossy, Doug Wickenheiser and Denis Savard, Simon Gagné and Éric Chouinard.  Because right now I have an unblemished record.

[Addendum]

The Screaming Eagles won 8-1 against les Foreurs, with Pierre-Luc Dubois tallying 2 goals and 3 assists, while Julien Gauthier was held pointless and finished -2.  Advantage, Dubois.