Guillaume Brisebois: Colorado Avalanche 2015 NHL Draft Prospect

By Nadia Archuleta | Jun 17, 2015

Guillaume Brisebois: Colorado Avalanche 2015 NHL Draft Prospect

The 2014-15 season was unfortunately cut short for the Colorado Avalanche. That means that here at Mile High Sticking, we have a long off-season ahead of us. While the off-season is filled with all different kinds of articles, regarding the playoffs (that we are unfortunately not a part of), Avalanche season reviews, and many other things, it also gives us time to focus on the Colorado Avalanche 2015 NHL Draft.

So, let’s look at a willowy two-way defenseman with great skating, Guillaume Brisebois.

Guillaume Brisebois, Colorado Avalanche Draft Prospect

View image | gettyimages.com

Position: Defenseman

Shoots: Left

Height/weight: 6’2″ and 172 pounds

Team: Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Stats:

GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
63	4	24	28	34	-40

Pro comparison: Kyle Quincey

NHL potential: second pairing, penalty kill

Risk: 2.5/5 Reward: 3.5/5

Draft range: 41 to 65, NHL.com = #41 N.A. skaters

Guillaume Brisebois Scouting Report

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Guillaume Brisebois is scouted as a two-way defenseman, but he’s more along the lines of a sharp skating shut-down defenseman who likes to pinch into the play. Unlike most defenseman, Brisebois actually does not possess a bomb of a shot. While his slapshot is good, he seems hesitant to employ it.

That said, Guillaume Brisebois has sharp puck handling skills. He makes spot-on passes, and his wrist shot is equally accurate. He’s an agile skater helped in no small part by his willowy frame — it’s great for stamina, but he could stand to bulk up for the more physical nature of the game. He does have good stamina to play big minutes in the game.

For those reasons, I compare him to former Avalanche — and current Detroit Red Wing — defenseman Kyle Quincey. Brisebois can be a bit inconsistent, but his skating and hockey IQ help make up for it.

Brisebois is also a leader, serving as captain for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. The Titan is a bad team, by the way, finishing dead last in the QMJHL, which explains Brisebois’ -40 statistic.

Guillaume Brisebois is renowned for having excellent hockey vision, especially for one so young. He admitted to Yahoo! Sports an area that needs work in his game:

"“I want to improve my physical game. I have to work on it. And my battling.”"

Brisebois can move the puck up the ice, though, and that’s a plus for a defenseman.

Fit with the Colorado Avalanche

What team doesn’t need a smart defenseman who can move the puck up the ice? In fact, the latter is exactly what the Colorado Avalanche need, a puck handling defenseman.

Guillaume Brisebois will probably be like most defensemen, taking at least three to five years to develop. In fact, he may spend a couple more years at the QMJHL level and may need at least three years in the AHL to build his professional game. As a 17-year-old — he turns 18 in late July — he’s still very early on in his hockey development.

The Colorado Avalanche have the #40 pick in the second round. It’s hard to say they ought to use that on a defenseman who might not make the team for at least five years, if ever. However, if Brisebois is still available in the third round, Colorado definitely should snap him up.

Next: RFA Right Wings for the Avs

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