Scouting Report
EVALUATED 24/08/2022
Brayden Olafson
Head of Eastern Canada Scouting
In contrast to many of his peers, while playing in Cape Breton Cam Squires received ample opportunity in all situations to develop his game at the QMJHL pace. His M.O. certainly leans to the offensive side of his game as he exhibits a good tendency to read and anticipate opportunities to break out of the defensive zone and lead his teams rush as possession changes. Having the opportunity to play alongside Ivan Ivan for at certain points in the year gave Squires an excellent example to follow, as well as a bit of a possession cushion. He has a tendency to position himself very high in the defensive zone which is something that helps his transition game, but seems to make things more challenging for his defensemen. Shooting is a bona-fide strength of Squires’, who exhibits little hesitation in executing a quick and powerful shot when the puck comes to him in the offensive zone. He’s not a volume shooter, per se, but he does tend to sneak around and find good position in the offensive zone while playing without the puck, quite regularly. At the moment it seems that he’s working on developing himself into an offensive catalyst for the Eagles. Looking further ahead I think it would be valuable to see another gear from him, so to speak. Increasing the effectiveness of his forechecking, by incorporating sharper adjustments and staying aware of his position in passing lanes, as well as supporting the defensive zone play a bit lower are both elements that I think will bring coveted depth to his game.
Skating
8Puck Skills
8Hockey IQ
8Playmaking
8Scoring
7.5Physicality
7Defense
7Overall
7.64Scouting Report
EVALUATED 06/06/2021 Brayden Olafson
Head of Eastern Canada Scouting
The Mount Academy forward is bound to be a divisive option come draft day in the QMJHL. His skill with the puck is undeniable, however, on occasion, Squires struggles with putting everything together to culminate his exceptional strengths. In addition to owning a skillset of impressive patience and athleticism that contribute to his reputation as a playmaker, Squires is one of the most adaptable puck handers among Maritime draft-eligibles. His ability to improvise on the fly once seamlessly collecting possession of the puck is a skill that he has honed quite well and can be seen throughout either of these clips. Despite his obvious skill, it’s apparent that the 16-year-old still has some room to improve his finishing ability. Nonetheless, his strengths with the puck are a valuable attribute, and something that should not only garner draft-day attention, but also lead to a future of contributing on an offensively-focused line in the QMJHL.
Skating
8Puck Skills
8.5Hockey IQ
8Playmaking
8Scoring
7.5Physicality
8Defense
8Overall
8.00Game Reports
EVALUATED Brayden Olafson
Head of Eastern Canada Scouting
Half-way through his first season of NHL draft eligibility, Cam Squires has been an offensive leader among the young and developing Cape Breton Eagles roster. Through this game, the reasons for Squires regular production were apparent, as were the reasons why I think they'll continue to be effective long-term in the QMJHL and possibly beyond. While Squires has sprouted vertically, he's still got plenty of room to fill out his muscle mass, yet playing in the middle of the ice you wouldn't dare label him as being timid or cautious. After gathering pucks in stride, either in open ice or along the boards, Squires identifies his skating lanes quickly and moves through the neutral zone with deception and speed. When he's confronted with traffic, he has a variety of tools such as speed modulation - reigning in or adding with crossovers, getting low for physical leverage, or adaptive avoidance with his long reach, each of which have made him a successful transition player.
Player Card
- All Data is derived via 5v5 per 60 minutes rate displayed in percentile format.
- Data Courtesy of In Slat.
SIGNED:
Cape Breton Eagles
14/09/2021
LEAGUE PREDICTION
-
CHL
Confirmed
100%
TEAM PREDICTION
-
Cape Breton Eagles
Confirmed
100%
TIMELINE
- 2021
14/09/2021
Cape Breton Eagles Sign Cam Squires
- 2021
05/06/2021
Cape Breton Eagles Draft Cam Squires