Projection: Top-Nine Scoring Winger

Strengths: Puck Skills, Skating, Shooting

Development Opportunities: Shift-to-Shift Consistency, Physical Engagement

Gagnon is one of the more intriguing players in this entire class, measuring in at 6’3 and 165 lbs while boasting a plethora of skill. He’s up there with the deadliest 1v1 attackers in this draft, often leveraging his reach and puck skills to bait defenders before pulling it around them to break to the outside before making a hard drive to the net. The way he uses his skating is impressive, consistently shifting his gears to freeze before blowing past defenders while operating off the rush. He’s one of the premiere shooters in this class as well, demonstrating the ability to overpower goaltenders with his release and accuracy from aa majority of spots in the offensive zone.

Gagnon is one of those players with boom or bust potential, but his play in the latter half of the season and the playoffs has made me more optimistic of the latter. He still has plenty of room to grow into his 6’3 frame, which will allow him to build strength and perhaps incorporate more of a power element into his game. There will have to be more consistency on a shift-to-shift basis if he wants to be as effective as he can be in the QMJHL.

Gagnon was one of the better shooters throughout the entirety of camp, scoring a couple of goals in impressive fashion throughout. He’s a tall and lanky forward who possess great power in his stride, making him a handful to take on when he’s attacking in a straight-line and forcing defenders back on their heels. He showed a good understanding of spacing in his attacking method from time to time, often driving the middle of the ice and allowing defenders to converge on him before executing a drop pass to a linemate up high who could then operate in open ice. Gagnon was at his most dangerous when he received a puck at full speed and had the adequate space to fire a shot off while in motion. The accuracy and velocity he possesses while moving at top speed allowed him to be a threat from outside the slot, sometimes overpowering goaltenders and picking his spots from a distance.

Gagnon had himself a productive Cross Border Challenge, finishing with 6 points in 4 games and proving difficult to contain with the puck on his stick attacking downhill. Some of his best moments came while he was attacking in a straight-line off the rush, often pushing back defender and using his size and reach to hold onto pucks as he set up play in the offensive zone. He was quite difficult to contain around the perimeter as well, using stop and starts to freeze defenders before exploding from a standstill to work his way into space. He also helped facilitate a few controlled entries in transition by scanning prior to reception and connecting on one touch feeds that hit teammates in stride and allowed them to attack into the zone with speed.