Projection: Top-Line Centerman

Strengths: Processing and Playmaking Ability, Off-Puck Pursuit, Catch and Release Technique

Development Opportunities: Stride Mechanics

Scantlebury was our top-rated prospect throughout the majority of the year and still may be my favourite prospect in this entire draft class. His ability to impact the game positively in all three zones is outstanding, combining detailed and mature habits beyond his years that allows him to disrupt play and help facilitate zone exits from his own end while also playing a large role as a puck-carrier in his teams transition game. As a centerman he’s consistently engaged low in his own zone to help out his defenders and provide a numbers advantage in puck battles while also hounding puck-carriers and killing cycle plays as a consequence. In the offensive zone he is relentless in his off-puck pursuit, often forcing turnovers by pressuring opposing defenders before making a quick decision off his puck touch to feed the middle of the ice and create a dangerous chance. He’s one of the premiere playmakers in this entire draft class as well, with the ability to spot options through traffic and thread pucks through seams while operating at top speed. His ability to catch hard passes in stride and fire them off with accuracy in a single motion makes him a dangerous threat off-puck as well, further adding to his already dangerous offensive arsenal.

I want to preface this by saying I don’t believe Scantlebury is a bad skater by any means, in fact I think he utilizes crossovers extremely well in transition to build speed and push back defenders to gain the offensive line with control. Where I think his skating could use some improvement is in his stride, which limits the amount of ice he covers in a singular push and at times limits his ability to gain separation from defenders as he traverses up the ice with the puck. Unlocking this would add a dynamism to his game that I think would help him further dominate at the next level.

I thought Scantlebury started off the tournament a little quietly, looking a tad bit uncomfortable on the wing before beginning to dominate midway through when he was moved to the middle of the ice. His dogged puck pursuit in the offensive zone helped extend his lines possession time immensely by hounding opposing defenders relentlessly and forcing them off the puck with a quick stick check. His processing ability really shone through here from time to time, as he seems to know where he wants to put the puck immediately on his touches along the perimeter, given the opposing team no time to react and thus creating chances in the middle of the ice. As a puck-carrier off the rush he was so good at drawing pressure towards himself along the flanks, creating space in the middle of the ice before threading a pass through a seam to the inside. He has the ability to see through layers of defenders as well, which was made apparent by a few really impressive downhill feeds from the top of the zone that made their way through traffic and lead to a chance in tight. He was equally impressive on the defensive side of things, often acting as the first man back on the backcheck to nullify odd-man rushes and supporting the play down low as a centerman to kill cycle plays and facilitate breakouts out of his own zone.

Throughout the Saints’ three games of this tournament, Scantlebury was the clear driving force of the team. His consistent effort and high pace play style made him a constant threat whenever he was on the ice. Scantlebury registered 4 points in the 3 Saints’ contests, however it was his straight line, high-energy gameplay that really stood out. He constantly keeps his feet moving, wins foot races, and rarely loses a battle for the puck. He was an annoyance for opposing defensemen on the forecheck, breaking up passes, stealing pucks, finishing checks, and causing chaos in the o-zone, making it difficult for the opponents to ever get a clean exit. His speed and effort allow him to draw penalties while being such a disruptive player and his presence can be felt each shift. With the puck he keeps his game simple yet effective. Scantlebury did not try and force plays, instead just made the right ones which allowed him to create plenty of offensive chances. Scantlebury has signed a tendered agreement with the Chicago Steel, only adding to the excitement surrounding his name.

Just outside the top 5, James Scantlebury was an extremely impressive player who had a short run at the Nationals playing only 3 games but still demonstrated his elite talent and processing ability by powering his team’s offense and generating countless scoring opportunities. The way he maneuvers with the puck is so fluid, he has an explosive stride that allows him to accelerate quickly up the ice using small but quick handles off the puck keep it out of reach of defenders while continuing to attack with speed. He uses such smooth cuts and spins to create space for himself when under pressure that allows him to keep his momentum with the puck and not have to constantly stop and start to shake defenders. His moves on the ice always seem to be calculated as he pulls off simultaneous moves, one after the other, around and through opponents pulling them out of position before slipping a pass through sticks to an open teammate or when he’s given the space, let off his incredibly accurate shot using a drag technique where the puck whips off the blade of his stick. He does such a great job at disguising his passes to his teammates while roaming around the offensive zone as he processes the game at such an elite level that the split second a seam opens up to deliver a pass, he’s ready to slip the puck unsuspectingly past defenders making him such a dangerous player with the puck on his stick. In this event, he was able to show his ability to take over games in certain instances, but he wasn’t able to capitalize as often as he had all year.

Get used to hearing the name James Scantlebury, our 2nd-ranked Canadian skater and our top player from Eastern Canada. Hailing from Châteauguay, Quebec, Scantlebury headed south of the border this season to suit up for the Bishop Kearney Selects where he’s currently torching the 14U AAA circuit with 121 points in 50 games. What makes him such a special player is his ability to process the game and execute at high speeds, whether it be baiting defenders towards him to create space for teammates or reading the body positioning of defenders to exploit them one on one. His offensive toolkit really is overflowing in abundance, as he possesses the triple-threat ability to either beat defenders with speed, thread pucks through traffic to hit a teammate in stride or score from a distance with his impressive shooting mechanics. At this juncture, Scantlebury is the cream of the crop for what seems to be a rather impressive 2009-born class from Eastern Canada.

All the tools that make Scantlebury such a coveted skater in this year’s QMJHL draft were put on display throughout this game. He showed off his dangerous release early on, nearly opening the scoring on a quick catch-and-release shot from in tight that just missed over the crossbar but all throughout, I thought he did an excellent job at creating quality scoring chances for both himself and his teammates using his tactical approach to the game. He showcased his ability to manipulate defenders with the puck on his stick on numerous occasions, drawing them out of their spots and towards the perimeter to open up seams, which he instantly took advantage of, resulting in a handful of high quality looks for his teammates including an impressive saucer pass through the neutral zone that landed right onto the tape of Armit to send him in on a breakaway for what would eventually be the cup-clinching goal. I found that he was effectively supporting play in all three zones as well, whether that meant helping out his defenseman along the walls to ensure clean zone exits or finding open space inside the offensive zone to make himself an option for puck carriers, he used his exceptional hockey sense along with his dynamic puck skills to be one of the more impactful players in this game.

Scantlebury finally looked like himself at this event after being moved to center, finishing the game with 3 points while generating a plethora of chances for himself and his linemates. He scored the game’s first goal off a slick catch and release shot from mid-range that was placed perfectly over the goaltender’s glove into the top right corner. He was connecting on more of his passes to the middle of the ice in this one, helping create slot chances by spotting options through traffic and threading pucks through sticks and bodies. More often than not he was the first man back on the backcheck, helping nullify odd-man rushes and even stick checking puck-carriers from behind to initiate counterattacks. He was engaged and effective in his own zone as well, often situating himself below the goal line to provide support in puck battles and help facilitate breakouts for his team. He scored his second goal late in the game by driving to the net and taking advantage of a mishap in front by banging home a loose puck in the crease area.

It was quiet and pretty ineffective first two periods for Scantlebury in this one before coming alive in the third period. At his best he was generating puck touches for himself in the offensive by outracing and outmuscling defenders to loose pucks, drawing pressure towards himself then firing a pass through traffic to an open teammate. He was doing great work on the backcheck, often being the first man back and stick lifting puck-carriers to initiate counterattacks. His quick processing ability was on full display late in the final frame, batting down pucks along the perimeter and finding his open options quickly to create dangerous chances in the slot. He was rewarded for his efforts late in the game when he found his way to the front of the net and took advantage of a mishap and scored into an open net.

Scantlebury put together a highlight reel performance in this game, flashing his game-breaking skill at every opportunity. He kicked off the night with a dazzling through-the-legs move before bursting wide and finding a seam pass to the interior for the Saints opening tally. He added a goal before the period was up with a blistering snipe top shelf from the high slot. There isn’t much to pick a part in his game as he is already a complete offensive talent with a myriad of ways to beat a defensive structure. His hands and puck control open so many more opportunities for him that your average player. He plucks pucks from scrums and turns it into offence quickly, creating scoring chances from the most mundane board battles. Beyond the highlight reel plays he showed nice instincts off puck, forechecking with purpose, grinding below the goal line, and parking himself in passing lanes to break up opposition chances. I think his ultimate potential lies in how much strength he can add to his smaller frame and if he can gain an extra gear in his good but not great stride.

Constantly moving his feet and competing all over the ice, Scantlebury was a force and dangerous every shift. He plays in straight lines, keeps his game simple, and outworks the competition. Scantlebury was disruptive, deflecting pucks, lifting sticks, and being pesky all game. He has great hands and is creative in the o-zone when buying time and space for himself, finding lanes for seam passes and shots. His speed allowed him to draw a penalty late in the game, leading to the game winning goal for the Saints. He finished the game with 2 assists.

While it wasn’t the greatest game from Scantlebury, you can strongly see his willingness to drive the play and really try and make an impact on the game. He does that all while being the youngest player on his team. He always wants the puck on his stick and when he gets going up ice, he is not easy to stop. He used creative touch passes out to flanks and made little dekes through sticks in stride simply to just try and make a play out of nothing. While East Coast’s defence really locked things down and kept James contained, it was hard to ignore the flashes of brilliance in his game.

The first of a 3-headed dragon that kept the BK Selects in this one, James Scantlebury was arguably a top-2 player in this game, and is evidently the most talented, but didn’t get the breaks necessary to put the puck in the back of the net as much as you would hope. He opened up the scoring with a great wrister from the slot, with an extra stick handle to freeze the goalie and change the angle, little plays like that when in prime scoring locations, a level of confidence and skill to not overhandle the puck, yet make small changes to increase chances of success are partly what make him such a special player. His ability to skate the puck was on display all game long. Whether it be 2-line transition rushes, backing off the entire defensive line, or making unbelievable smooth cuts and turns with the puck deep in the offensive zone, slipping away from checkers, and centering a pass to linemate Gianfranco D’Agata. Between D’Agata and himself, they practically drove offensive possession for the Selects, darting in-and-out of coverage, there were plenty of good looks spread out amongst the two with quick puck movement and execution of what appeared to be set plays. Later in the game as the clock ticked away on the Selects, Scantlebury took it upon himself a bit more to flaunt his skill and try and make a difference late. He did just about everything but score down the stretch, with the goaltender making some great saves on him, his curl-and-drag shot was seen a few times, entering the zone with speed, using the defender as a screen, and ripping the puck from the middle-lane of his body onto the net. Not for a lack of effort, Scantlebury ends this one with 1 goal and 1 assist.

Scantlebury was the obvious standout in this one as our #2 ranked 2009-born skater in North America. He’s such an explosive skater who was demands the attention of the other team when he roams around the zone with the puck which allowed him to slide passes through to open teammates in front of the net plenty of times during the game but to no avail. He processes the game at such a high-speed, his moves are so calculated that when he touched the puck it seemed as if he already knew the next 2-3 maneuvers that he would use to slip through the defenders and create a scoring chance while seemingly having the puck on a string, tapping it through players sticks and pushing it slightly ahead to avoid stick checks. He created a lot of scoring chances for himself in this game and after a few missed shot attempts, he was able to find the back of the net on a powerplay where he picked the top corner on the short side for a beautiful snipe. Scantlebury was by far the most dangerous and dynamic player on the ice in this one.

Scantlebury was the obvious standout in this one as our #2 ranked 2009-born skater in North America. He’s such an explosive skater who was demands the attention of the other team when he roams around the zone with the puck which allowed him to slide passes through to open teammates in front of the net plenty of times during the game but to no avail. He processes the game at such a high-speed, his moves are so calculated that when he touched the puck it seemed as if he already knew the next 2-3 maneuvers that he would use to slip through the defenders and create a scoring chance while seemingly having the puck on a string, tapping it through players sticks and pushing it slightly ahead to avoid stick checks. He created a lot of scoring chances for himself in this game and after a few missed shot attempts, he was able to find the back of the net on a powerplay where he picked the top corner on the short side for a beautiful snipe. Scantlebury was by far the most dangerous and dynamic player on the ice in this one.