January 11th, 2008
Brodeur cracks NHL Central Scouting mid-season rankings
A towering 6'5" frame, steady defensive play and a willingness to improve has resulted in Cape Breton Screaming Eagles blue-liner Mathieu Brodeur being included in the NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings.
The rankings have Brodeur in the fourth round, No. 95 overall, among North American skaters. North American goalies, European skaters and European goalies are ranked separately.
But unlike the Oscars, it’s not just an honour to be nominated. His early spot among the best up-and-coming players is just an initial step of fulfilling a life-long dream of playing in the NHL.
“When I was a kid, I was watching the NHL and it’s a dream that’s not come true because I’m not there yet, but it’s one step forward,” said Brodeur, one of only a handful of players remaining at the rink following team practice at Centre 200, Thursday. The 17-year-old was an imposing presence at nearly 6’7” with skates still on his feet and likely has some growing to do.
Brodeur admits when he arrived in Cape Breton for training camp in August, he was vying to be the team’s fifth or sixth defenceman. But he’s been among the top four blue-line spots on the team this season playing the stay-at-home role.
The Saint-Eustache, Que., native has one goal and four assists in 45 games in his rookie season. He’s been on the radar of a number of NHL scouts who have attended games at Centre 200 this season, as one scout made an early comparison between Brodeur and Florida Panthers blue-liner Jay Bouwmeester.
I think they gave me the chance and gave me confidence,” said Brodeur of the coaching staff. He was selected by Cape Breton in the fourth round, No. 71 overall, in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft. “I took the chance that I had and I just play my best every night and hope for the best.”
One thing Brodeur wants to do is put some muscle on his frame. He hopes to increase his weight from 190 pounds to 200-210 pounds for training camp next season and plans on perfecting his skating and decision making on the ice. He’s using the rankings as motivation to improve his game. “I think I just want to prove they didn’t make a mistake putting me there,” he said. “I want to prove that I can be in the first, second or third round.”
Brodeur and his Screaming Eagles teammates host Dominion native Taylor Lambke and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Centre 200 tonight at 7 p.m.
Cape Breton (24-16-3-3, 54 points) sit in third spot in the Eastern Division standings after dropping a 5-2 decision to the second-place Halifax Mooseheads (26-12-0-4, 56 points). Both clubs are chasing the Saint John Sea Dogs (27-12-1-2, 57 points), who sit in top spot.
But the loss of forward Robert Slaney, who will be out for two weeks with an injured right MCL after being hit by Moosehead David Bouchard Wednesday night, has come at a bad time for the Screaming Eagles. They’ll play their second game of a seven-game homestand tonight and are trying to turn things around after dropping six of their last seven games.
Cape Breton is 3-5-1-1 in their last 10 contests.
“It’s certainly bad timing because he’s a big part of this team,” said head coach and general manager Pascal Vincent, of Slaney. “Five-on-five, special teams, his leadership — but it opens the door to someone else to step up because you never know what can happen in the playoffs and we need to know who can do what.”
Sunday, Cape Breton hosts Eskasoni’s Ashton Bernard and the Shawinigan Cataractes at 4 p.m. It’s the only regular season meeting between the two teams at Centre 200.
