Daniel Audette THW Close-Up:
Date of birth: 5/6/1996
Place of birth: Buffalo, New York
Ht: 5’9″ Wt: 176 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: C
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2014
THW The Next Ones Rankings (January 2014): 43
Other Rankings:
THW War Room Rankings (April): 116
ISS: not ranked
Future Considerations: not ranked
Craig Button: not ranked
CS Final Rankings for North American skaters: 75
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Another undersized forward who makes up for it in skill is Sherbrooke Phoenix forward, Daniel Audette. Audette is the son of, Donald Audette who played 13 NHL seasons as an undersized forward. Daniel swift on his skates and continuously moves his legs to be open for passes. A gifted stickhandler, Audette is known to put up points wherever he plays and scored 76 points in 68 games.
He’s going to need to take some time before an NHL club decides to give him a chance in the pros though. He’s almost nonexistent when it comes to defense. Granted he’s goal scorer, but as a center, you need to be able to play both sides of the puck. His size doesn’t allow him to be overly physical either.
Where Will He End Up In June:
I think Daniel Audette will be taken in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft.
Scout’s Honor:
“Audette is a speedy scorer with plenty of offensive upside. Still, his explosive nature and puck handling ability make Audette a very intriguing prospect in 2014. The smallish pivot, however, lacks the size, strength and physical maturity desired in a center. (October 2013)“
Aaron Vickers – Future Considerations
“His bloodlines and elusiveness put the undersized Audette on scout’s radar because of his skill,speed and heart. His skating base, and lower body strength make him strong on the puck and a guy who plays big and is a scoring threat at a moment’s notice. Reads the ice and can handle the puck at his top gear, but also he can go laterally with sharp cuts and stop/starts to get loose. His vision allows him to slip away and act on the room he has made for himself, as he passes the puck extremely well and also works hard in his own end back checking. Looks like a good long term selection who may help a team down the road. “
Bill Placzek – Draftsite.com
Statistics:
International Tournaments:
Audette has played for Team Canada four times. He’s won a bronze, silver, and gold medal.
Bio/Interview(s)/Links:
Interview with Buzzing the Net
ETA:
4-5 years
Risk/Reward Analysis:
Risk: 3/5 Reward: 4/5
NHL Potential:
2nd or 3rd line scoring center utlized on the powerplay
Strengths:
Creativity
Slick stickhandling
Speed
Passing ability
Finds open ice
Quick release
Powerful shot
Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:
Size
Defensive awareness
Physicality
Fantasy Hockey Potential:
Offensive: 7/10 Defensive: 2/10
NHL Player Comparison:
– NHL comparison: Danny Briere
Videos:
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THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph