Blue Jackets draft Pierre-Luc Dubois 3rd overall
The Columbus Blue Jackets selected forward Pierre-Luc Dubois with the third overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Position: Left Wing
Height: 6-3
Weight: 202 pounds
Age: 17
Club: Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P | ES GPG | ES PPG | ES GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 42 | 57 | 99 | 0.468 | 1.048 | 66.667 |
(Even-strength stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)
Dubois was NHL Central Scouting's top-ranked North American skater ahead of the draft, having shot up to No. 1 after a midterm ranking of seventh. After scoring only 10 goals in 54 games in his first season with Cape Breton, Dubois exploded in 2015-16, finishing with 42 goals, 99 points, and 112 penalty minutes in 65 games. He had seven goals and 12 points in 12 playoff games.
A "dynamic two-way winger," according to Elite Prospects, Dubois plays in all situations and possesses above-average hockey IQ. He's been compared to NHLers like James Neal and Patrick Marleau.
Dubois isn't as physical a player as many would hope considering his size, and his skating is thought to be his biggest downside.