• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Monitoring so many games involving 2018 draft prospects each night can be tedious. But every once in a while,
something reminds you why you enjoy doing this. It's when you see what a player like Cedric Desruisseaux did on Thursday. In an otherwise light schedule, Desruisseaux had what is arguably the best showing by any draft-eligible prospect this season. You can read
all about it below, but let's just say he definitely improved his draft stock even though he doesn't have NHL size at only 5-foot-7.
Not many games on the schedule Thursday, so there's only room for three on this list:
OLIVIER BOURRET -- The Cape Breton left wing continued his recent surge with two assists in the Screaming Eagles' 3-2 win over Victoriaville. He had the primary helper on the goal that made it 2-0 at 19:13 of the first. He then picked up the primary assist on the eventual game-winner -- a power-play goal at 16:51 of the second period that gave Cape Breton a 3-0 lead. Bourret has five points in his last two QMJHL games after registering only two in his first 13.
CEDRIC DESRUISSEAUX -- What a night. Desruisseaux had a natural hat trick plus one assist as visiting Drummondville rolled over Sherbrooke 7-3. The No. 1 star as he recorded his first career QMJHL hat trick and four-point game. Yes, he is small, and odds are that he won't be drafted, but this night was special. All four points came in the second period. He started with the primary assist on a goal at 2:36 that pulled Drummondville into a 3-3 tie. Then he erupted for goals at the 5:35, 8:39, and 17:56 marks. When the dust settled, the Voltigeurs were firmly in control with a 6-3 lead. Desruisseaux now has 12 in 13 games.
AMIR MIFTAKHOV
-- Perhaps the best draft-eligible goalie in Russia, Miftakhov made 26
saves in Kazan's 2-1 MHL victory over Omsk. Russia's No. 1 goalie at the
Hlinka Memorial in August, Miftakhov has won three of his last four
starts. More impressive, he has not allowed more than two goals in any
of his five games started since returning from the Russian Under-18 team's series against the Czechs. He has a .951 save percentage over those five starts.
(Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)