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2011 Draft Profile: Sean Couturier

2011 IIHF World U20 Championship - Day Four

BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 29: Sean Couturier #7 of Canada skates against Lars Volden #25 of Norway during the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship game between Canada and Norway on December 29, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. Canada won 10-1. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

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Sean Couturier is a big body center who has excellent vision and hands. He’s responsible in his own zone, can grind with the best of them, and is one of the best face-off guys in this year’s draft. If this were the pre-lockout NHL, scouts would be drooling all over him (more than they are) because of his combination of size and skill.

Before the season started, Couturier competing for the #1 overall spot in the draft; he was the only underager to make Team Canada’s World Junior Championship team as well. But concerns about his skating ability knocked him down a peg from the likes of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jonathan Huberdeau.

Comparisons for Couturier have ranged from Jason Allison to Joe Thornton. He’s a big player who just looks like he’d be a dominant force with his playmaking ability. Unfortunately, like Thornton he doesn’t always use his big body to his advantage. A truly talented player, he should be able to make it in the NHL—but if he can improve his skating, he’ll be able to thrive. It hasn’t been a problem so far.

Height: 6’4”
Weight: 197 lbs
Position: Center
Team: Drummondville (QMJHL)


  • 2008-09: 9 goals and 22 assists (31 points) in 58 games
  • 2009-10: 41 goals and 55 assists (96 points) in 68 games
  • 2010-11: 36 goals and 60 assists (96 points) in 58 games

Rankings

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING#6TH SKATER (NA)
TSN5TH OVERALL
INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES4TH OVERALL
THE HOCKEY NEWS4TH OVERALL


From NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards

“Sean has excellent puckhandling and playmaking ability; he sees the ice and reads the play very well . . . He’s extremely smart and gets himself into good scoring position. He plays a solid two-way game and is very responsible defensively.”

From International Scouting Services:

“He is an extremely smart and skilled playmaking center. He sees the ice well, knows where team mates are at all times; his passing is exceptional plus he is extremely dangerous in close. He creates offense and makes player better around him.”