Alex Turcotte

Skating:

Great- Quick strides, good top end speed. Makes him a relentless checker at both ends of the ice.

Passing/Handling:

Good- Isn’t much of a play driver, but is almost always tape to tape with his passes. Doesn’t create too many turnovers.

Shooting:

Good- Quick release when on the rush. He scores a lot of his goals by going to the front of the net for tips or rebounds.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

IQ (Panic meter): Low panic- Very little panic in his game, shows good patience with and without the puck.

Forechecking:

Excellent- Strong forechecker due to his strong skating ability. Uses his body and his stick to knock his opponents off the puck.

Defense:

Excellent- High work ethic and relentless checking. Plays hard along the boards and wins puck battles. Loves to pressure his opponents to force turnovers.

Best Asset:

Net front presence and work ethic.

Biggest Concern:

Offensive upside- While he’s a very good two-way player, I do have concerns about how much of an impact he will have offensively at the NHL level.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Top 6 winger- Best case scenario, he translates his offensive game and becomes an excellent 2nd line center who can score 50-70 points, while also earning some time on both special teams units.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

2C

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Middle to bottom 6 winger- Worst case scenario, he becomes a reliable middle to bottom 6 center/winger with defensive responsibilities.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

3C/4C

Stylistic Comparable:

Brandon Hagel

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Turcotte is an great two-way center with a strong net front presence and good playmaking. He's a relentless checker at both ends of the ice, mainly due to his excellent skating ability. He loves to generate his scoring chances working hard down low, and going to the front of the net for tips and rebounds. While he may be a top 5 pick in the 2019 Draft, I do have concerns about his offensive game as he isn't necessarily elite in any category. However, he should be able to carve himself a role at the NHL level as a very good two-way forward with time on both special teams units.