With the No. 5 selection in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft the Los Angeles Kings selected USA center Alex Turcotte.
We have our pre-Draft scouting report on Turcotte up here:
And here’s some additional info you need to know:
More from some of our top NHL scouting sources re: Kings and Turcotte
“Alex is a highly competitive center that plays in both ends of ice, he attacks the game with and without puck. Has high level intangibles….he wills himself to areas to have success.”
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) June 22, 2019
Yannetti on media call – Turcotte is potential 2C, leads with compete, has intangibles, maybe a future captain, excellent skating, good first step, play making over scoring, does have secondary scoring ability, really good two way player, mature game, has physicality, accountable
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) June 22, 2019
Los Angeles gets a powerful skater with a huge competitive streak in Alex Turcotte. He’s heading to the University of Wisconsin next season, coached by former King Tony Granato
— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) June 22, 2019
I’m a huge Turcotte fan. He’s incredibly smart, he’s skilled and plays a complete game. Be happy @LAKings fans. #NHLDraft
— Mark Edwards (@MarkEdwardsHP) June 22, 2019
Vitals from Central Scouting Combine
Height: 5’11.25
Weight: 186 lbs.
Handedness: Left
Date of Birth: 2/26/2001
Team: USNTDP U-18
League: USDP
Position: Center
Statistics
Regular Season
2018-19 Season: 37 GP, 27 G, 35 A, 62 Pts, 22 PIM
Tournaments
U-18 (USA): 7 GP, 4 G, 5 A, 9 Pts, 4 PIM
Awards for 2018-19 Season:
U18 WJC Bronze Medal
Scouting Reports:
From the Draft Analyst
“Powerful center with excellent playmaking abilities and game-changing speed who has the potential to become a top-line pivot in the NHL. Turcotte, whose father Alfie was a first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1983, was a key contributor for both the NTDP’s under-17 and under-18 programs two seasons, including a midseason promotion to the latter where he produced 16 points in 19 games in a limited role. This season, the Illinois native dealt with varying injuries such as a concussion that limited his time. He still averaged nearly two points per game with or without Jack Hughes in the lineup. Turcotte is a low-maintenance center in that he can excel in both optimal and non-optimal conditions, plus handle physicality better than most offensive forwards. He is a fast, agile skater with a wide, powerful stride and the balance of a seasoned NHL power forward. Getting knocked off the puck while he’s either static or moving is something you rarely see. ”
EliteProspects
Exceptional hockey sense, impressive skating and compete-level. There is a lot to like about Turcotte. He is a very gifted playmaker, but has a also a fine release and goal scoring ability. Can be used in most situations and plays a very complete game. (EP 2019)
From Future Considerations
“A skilled two-way forward, Turcotte has an amazing top speed that allows him to create many controlled zone entries.He owns great acceleration and agility, which makes him deadly on the breakout and in the neutral zone. Though it looks like he’s still getting used to his legs, his skating is effective and powerful allowing him to break through contact and drive to the net or down low. With both great speed and puck protection, he passes defensemen on the outside with ease at high speed. He pushes the pace of play and carries the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive end at full speed. He’s big and lanky with a good amount of power that enables him to be a dominant force with the puck. An exciting player to watch, he boasts nice hands and can beat opponents one-on-one with creative stick work. He has the ability to spread the ice and draw defenders over to him, while then firing cross-ice passes to set up teammates for scoring chances. Not afraid to be a net-front presence, he shows he’s willing to do anything to score and win. He has some filthy mitts and he can pull off incredible moves to create space for himself. He’s very competitive and he will battle with intensity for every loose puck. He backchecks with intensity as well, and is very involved in the defensive side of the game.”
From McKeen’s
“It seems so long ago now that Alex Turcotte was the mystery man of this year’s star-studded USNTDP class. He played in one SHL game on October 28, once again on December 19, and finally joined the lineup for good in mid-January. In his first two games following his lengthy layoff (it was due to a lower body injury), he put up seven points. He never slowed down, and his scoring rate was – by a long shot – the best on the USNTDP the rest of the way. Yes, even greater than Jack Hughes.
Of course, his reputation preceded him, as Turcotte was one of the more decorated members of the previous year’s UNSTDP U-17 squad, joining Hughes, Cole Caufield, Cam York, and Spencer Knight on the American WU18 tournament entry. And he did really well, too, putting up five points in a Silver Medal winning effort and showcasing a dynamic game featuring some of the slickest mitts around. As he regained health in 2019, it was very easy to see that not only did he not lose any of his previous luster, but that he was even better than anticipated.
We already mentioned his hands, but let’s dwell on them a bit more. He is an immensely talented puck mover and specializes in creating dangerous zone entries that lead to quick strike scoring chances. He is just as liable to cut through multiple layers of a defense as he is to creatively dish off to a linemate in a better position. Sometimes he will skate into the slot himself, and other
times he will cycle behind the net and create a scoring chance from there.Turcotte would not be able to turn those skills into so many points were it not also for his high-end hockey IQ and motor. He shows advanced game awareness in all three zones and can be utilized in all manner of game situations, including key defensive zone shifts and penalty kills. He reads plays like a pro and anticipated far more than he reacts.”
From HockeyProspect
“Turcotte’s defining attribute is his hockey-sense. He’s one of the smartest players in this draft and as a result is one of the safest projectable players in this class. His hockey IQ allows him to execute plays at a higher rate than any other forward on the program. His puck management is one of the main reasons why we have ranked him above the other high-end forwards featured in the program, with the exception of Hughes. His awareness allows him to have a high-panic threshold which allows him to assess his options rapidly which has resulted in him turning the puck over less frequently then some of the other higher-end players featured in the program. Away from the play, he’s adept at putting himself in good position to receive passes in traffic, and is very good in his own end of the ice, using his superior positioning to intercept passes and block shooting lanes. Additionally, his anticipation allows him to recognize transitional play quickly, and recognize openings. His playmaking ability and vision both compliment his ability to read the ice, where he’s capable of making high-end passes at full speed and from stationary positions on the powerplay. Although he plays a more stream-lined game at times than some other high-ranked forwards, he still has a lot of skill but reserves it for the appropriate play, which speaks to his hockey-sense. Although Alex has a thicker-frame, it doesn’t prevent him from getting around the ice due to impressive skating mechanics. He moves very efficiently and doesn’t’ have much in the way of wasted movement with his upper-frame, furthermore he’s a powerful kid which allows him to get up to an impressive top-gear very quickly since he can accelerate rapidly. Due to his hockey-sense and skating, he’s efficient when changing his pace of play. This compliments his motor well, as he’s shown a very good level of consistency with his compete level in most of our viewings. His compete extends to the forecheck where he battles effectively, using his frame to weighheavy on defenses and his anticipation to take away passing lanes, resulting in increased pressure. He also uses his frame to penetrate defenses and get into heavy traffic areas around the goal-line, where he uses his hockey-sense to anticipate rebounds and loose pucks at a good-level.”
Highlights:
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