I've already ranked my top 2010-born forwards for the QMJHL Draft. Now, it's time to look at defensemen and goalies.
The first round of the QMJHL Draft begins this Friday, while the rest of the rounds follow on Saturday.
A friendly reminder: the QMJHL has regional rights to Quebec, Atlantic Canada and New England, making it a huge event for locals.
The '10s will be picked most, as it's their first time being draft eligible, but '09s, '08s and '07s will still be picked throughout the draft.
As I made clear in my '10s forwards story, I'm treating QMJHL Draft coverage as if I've just been named general manager of the New England Hockey Journal Minutemen, a new QMJHL team based around Boston. No, I'm not changing the name.
I'm ranking players based on numerous factors. That will continue here with defensemen and goalies.
Let's dive in.
DEFENSEMEN
1. Logan Cotter
St. Mark’s, 8/10/2010, D, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass.
USHL: Green Bay Gamblers tenderÂ
Green Bay tendered Cotter, so he's slated to play there for at least the next two seasons. Still, Cotter is a tier above the rest of the defensemen in New England right now. His skating is elite, he's physical and an offensive weapon, too. I wouldn't be shocked if a QMJHL team snagged him early in the hopes that they somehow end up with him in the future.
2. Brendan Martin
St. Sebastian’s, 1/20/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Dedham, Mass.
USHL: Round 11, Sioux City MusketeersÂ
I was stunned that Martin fell to the 11th round of the USHL Draft. He put up 13 points in 27 games for St. Sebastian's this winter as a do-it-all guy. He's a great skater and impacts every facet of the game, and should only get better. Given that he fell further than I thought he would in the USHL Draft, he's someone I'd begin to think about taking late in Round 2 of the QMJHL Draft.
3. Tyler Poti
Winchendon, 5/20/10, D, left shot, 6-3/179
Hometown: Sandwich, Mass.
USHL: Round 15, Cedar Rapids RoughRidersÂ
Poti also fell quite a bit in the USHL Draft. There are lots of hockey folks who love Poti and are high on him. Because he's his size at this age, there's still quite a way to go in his development — and that's fine. When he starts to hit his stride and potential, he could be the kind of defenseman that every team is looking for. I could see a QMJHL team snagging him in the early to middle rounds for that reason.
READ MORE:Â How a new NCAA rule could cause seismic changes to college hockey and the levels below itÂ
4. Mason Stonacek
Mount St. Charles, 12/26/2010, D, left shot, 5-10/161
Hometown: Stamford, Conn.
USHL: Round 6, Dubuque Fighting SaintsÂ
Stonacek is No. 4 and not No. 2 or 3 in this because of where he was drafted by Dubuque, which was relatively high. As a QMJHL general manager, however, I would view Stonacek as a better fit for the QMJHL and not be too worried about where he went in the USHL Draft. Stonacek is a do-it-all force who can fly, generate offense and has a great stick when defending in his own zone. He had 42 points in 59 games for Mount's 15O team this winter.
5. Jake Donatelli
St. George’s, 1/4/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Barrington, R.I.
USHL: Round 13, Sioux City MusketeersÂ
I was also stunned that Donatelli fell as far as he did in the USHL Draft, which is why I would be inclined to take him a whole lot earlier in this draft. He had a strong season as a puck-moving, offensive defenseman for St. George's this winter with 21 points in 26 games. He's a great skater who is a breakout machine and eludes forechecking pressure well. His game fits more with the QMJHL, too.
6. Sam Fishbone
St. Sebastian’s, 4/5/2010, D, right shot, 5-8/155
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
USHL: Round 5, Sioux Falls StampedeÂ
Fishbone is a puck-moving, offensive wizard who is an electric skater, but he ranks at No. 6 because of how high he was taken in the USHL Draft. He had a huge year with St. Sebastian's, ranking second on the team in points with 29 in 27 games. The big thing Fishbone has going for him in the eyes of QMJHL teams: Like Donatelli, his game might also be better suited for the QMJHL, since he's so offensive.
7. Nick Ware
Belmont Hill, 1/5/2010, D, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Weymouth, Mass.
USHL: Round 8, Omaha LancersÂ
Ware is a fantastic puck-moving defenseman who can be relied on in any situation. He's not flashy, but he gets the job done, which is why he's a relatively safe projection to have success and staying power in junior hockey. After being snagged in the middle rounds of the USHL Draft by the Omaha Lancers, I'd assume he's also a middle-round pick in the QMJHL Draft. He had 23 assists for Belmont Hill this winter.
8. Mason Wohlers
BK Selects, 5/20/2010, D, right shot, 6-0/165
Hometown: Somers, Conn.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
Because Wohlers wasn't picked in the USHL Draft, which was shocking, I'd be taking Wohlers in a middle round of this draft. He's got the size and physicality to make an impact at the next level. Add in his puck-moving abilities and how he picks his spots to join the rush, and there's offensive upside, too. Wohlers provides a lot of value for a QMJHL team.
READ MORE: Rob O'Gara hired as Taft boys hockey head coach
9. Brodie Anderson
Cushing, 5/7/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/150
Hometown: Wayland, Mass.
USHL: Round 9, Dubuque Fighting SaintsÂ
The name of the game with Anderson is reliable. Reliable when breaking pucks out, reliable when defending the rush, reliable when defending the cycle, reliable with the puck at the offensive blue line — you get the point. He had 11 points in 31 games for Cushing this past winter and will be at Masters Academy next season. He was a middle-round pick in the USHL Draft, so I can't imagine that would give a QMJHL team hesitation in picking him.
10. Kasen Walsh
Nobles, 4/24/2010, D, left shot, 5-11/155
Hometown: Warwick, R.I.
USHL: Round 5, Muskegon LumberjacksÂ
If you're looking for flashing, dazzling offense, Walsh isn't your guy. But if you're looking for a reliable shutdown defenseman, Walsh is most definitely your guy. He has a great stick and is committed to staying on top of opposing forwards in his zone to prevent chances. He's a nice skater who makes smart plays when the puck is on his stick, too. I actually think Walsh's game is well-suited for the USHL, but he's still very much worth a middle-round pick in the QMJHL.
11. Ben Beaudry
Mid Fairfield, 8/22/2010, D, right shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Sturbridge, Mass.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
Beaudry is a physical, shutdown defenseman in every sense. He has fantastic gap control and a great stick when defending both the rush and in his own zone. He's unafraid of physicality, too. While that might work better in the USHL in the future, no USHL team drafted him. I'm taking him as a late-round steal in this draft.
12. Ryan Porter
Dexter Southfield, 6/4/2010, D, left shot, 5-8/155
Hometown: Hanover, Mass.
USHL: Round 7, Sioux Falls StampedeÂ
Porter got buried at times at Dexter because of the veteran depth the Shields had on defense. But when Porter did play, he showed flashes of what he can be against older talent. He's a very good skater who carries the puck well. There's clearly potential with Porter, and Sioux Falls certainly saw it when they took him in the seventh round. He'll be an intriguing pick in the QMJHL, too.
13. Matt Coccaro
Mid Fairfield, 4/26/2010, D, right shot, 5-9/146
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
Coccaro went undrafted in the USHL, so there's value in him potentially coming to the QMJHL team that drafts him down the road. He's a great skater and a good puck mover who had a good 15O season for Mid Fairfield this winter.
READ MORE: What Carter Meyer leaving the U.S. NTDP says about the state of hockey
14. Alex Guo
Belmont Hill, 5/5/2010, D, left shot, 5-11/176
Hometown: Weston, Mass.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
Guo is a very good puck-mover and skater. He had solid production for Belmont Hill this past winter with 10 points in 31 games. As he grows into bigger roles at Belmont Hill, that production should go up, which should position him for better junior hockey success.
15. Jorden Marzi
Rivers, 3/4/2010, D, left shot, 5-10/158
Hometown: Hopkinton, Mass.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
Marzi had a quiet winter with Rivers, putting up two goals and an assist in 25 games, mostly playing forward. But Marzi is such a dynamic skater and shows flashes of being a physical, puck-mover that if he can put that together consistently, he could be a great late-round flier pick for a team.
GOALIES
1. Jaxson Fleming
Catholic Memorial, 5/14/2010, G, catches left, 6-1/256
Hometown: Waltham, Mass.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
It's extremely difficult to draft first-year eligible goalies in juniors. Only two — Justin Lee (Newton, Mass.) and Kamden Jackson (Manchester, N.H.) — were picked out of New England in the QMJHL Draft last year. Fleming went undrafted in the USHL, but his size and the sheer amount of action he's had over the last two seasons with Catholic Memorial, the Minuteman Flames and Boston Junior Eagles.
2. Will Torres
Rivers, 4/21/2010, G, catches left, 5-10/140
Hometown: Framingham, Mass.
USHL: Round 15, Sioux City MusketeersÂ
Torres was the lone local goalie taken in the USHL Draft, going late to Sioux City. He had a strong sophomore year at Rivers with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Sure, he's not the biggest goalie. But he's fantastic under pressure and is technically sound. He always seems to make the big save, and will be at Masters Academy next season.
3. Senji Kimura
Phillips Andover, 3/16/2010, G, catches left, 6-1/165
Hometown: Brattleboro, Vt.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
Taking Kimura is a bit of a bet. While he hardly played for Andover this past season as a freshman, he should be their starter next season and has the tools to be really good. At his size and with his athleticism, he projects to be a good '10 goalie for a while.
4. Jesse Bernardinelli
St. John's Prep, 3/4/2010, G, catches right, 6-2/159
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
Bernardinelli's athleticism stands out most, as he can get to any shot and is never down and out. He was a star for the Miltia's 15O team in the fall and followed it up with a strong high school season, splitting the net at St. John's Prep.
READ MORE: 25 local '10 forwards to watch for the 2026 QMJHL Draft
5. Ethan Lazdowsky
Frederick Gunn, 7/12/2010, G, catches left, 6-2/176
Hometown: Norton, Mass.
USHL: Not draftedÂ
Lazdowsky was the backup for Frederick Gunn this season and was strong with the Militia in the fall. His size makes him an interesting potential QMJHL prospect to track.
