New Jersey Devils Prospects Update: Strong in the Q Edition

As the postseason begins across multiple leagues, we look at two Devils prospects who finished in the Top 10 in PPG in the QMJHL.

Two in the Q

A lot has been written on this page about forwards Matyas Melovsky and Cam Squires and for good reason. Now that the QMJHL’s regular season has ended, it’s worth taking a look at the seasons of the top two point-getters in the New Jersey Devils prospect pool.

Matyas Melovsky

Matyas Melovsky broke out this season in a big way. In fact, if it were not for Mikhail Yegorov’s meteoric rise after taking over the starter’s net for Boston University, Melovsky would likely be the Devils the most-improved player in their pool. Melovsky finished fourth in points per game in the QMJHL (8th in total points) this year with 1.46, more than highly-touted linemate Justin Poirier. The physical two-way forward’s 26 goals was second amongst all Devils prospects and his 83 points led the pool by eight over Cam Squires.

Not surprisingly, Melovsky led his team, Baie-Comeau Drakkar in points, assists, and points per game. Baie-Comeau will play the Cape Breton Eagles in the first round of the playoffs this year starting on March 28th.

Cam Squires

Leading those Cape Breton Eagles in offense this year again was Cam Squires, who finished the season with 75 points in 58 games, earning him 10th place in the entire QMJHL in points per game. It was only three points more than Squires put up last season, but impressively, these totals were in eight less games, as Squires lost some time due to suspension. Squires is already signed by the Devils and will likely be a staple for the Utica Comets next season.

The Devils had two stars of the QMJHL this year, one already signed, the other hopefully to be inked this summer. While success in the Q, especially in a D+2 season, is not guaranteed success in the NHL, it is something to built from. Melovsky plays a physical two-way game, which should also translate in the higher levels, and Cam Squires has the motor of a high-energy forward. If either player is able to maintain some of their scoring touch from juniors, they could have very solid careers.

Around the Pool:

• The NCAA Men’s Hockey bracket has been officially announced. The biggest match-up to watch for Devils fans is Boston University (Yegorov, LaChance) taking on Ohio State on March 27th.
• KHL playoffs begin March 26th. Here’s a look at that bracket. Most notably, Arseni Gritsyuk and SKA St. Petersburg will play Dynamo Moscow in the first round.
• The Finnish Liiga has their playoffs in full swing and it looks like things are about to get interesting.

• Goaltender Jakub Malek finished the season top of the Liiga with a 2.09 GAA to go along with a 15-11-6 record, four shutouts and a top five in the league .910 SV%. It will be interesting to see what he does in North America next season.
• Forward Josh Filmon is 2nd on the Adirondack Thunder with 32 points in 56 games after a horrendous start to the season. Still, it would be nice to see him perform to this level with the Comets.
• Lastly, Devils defensive prospect, Anton Silayev is a beast.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Post them if you got them.