6 replies to this topic

[titanium2]

Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Vitals: 6'0'' / 184 lbs.
Birthdate: September 8, 1991
Hometown: St-Fabien, Quebec
Acquired: Detroit's fourth choice (90th overall) in the 2009 draft
CSS Ranking: 62nd North American skater (2009)
Contract: None (must sign by June 1, 2011)
RWC Says: Offensive Defenseman

SCOUT COMMENTS
"He's a high-end skater. Like all kids, he's got to get stronger, but we like his skating ability. He can take the puck and go end-to-end anytime he wants." — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2009) ... "His skating is so good — forward, backward, left, right. He can do anything with his feet ... He's a good offensive defenseman. He just needs to get some muscle on him, but he has all the assets to be a good hockey player." — Oceanic GM Yannick Dumais (June 2009).

STRENGTHS
World-class skater who glides around the ice with smooth strides and breathtaking acceleration ... Great puck-carrier ... Good vision and offensive instincts ... Has the skill-set of a future power-play quarterback ... Makes an honest defensive effort.

WEAKNESSES
Drastically slender for a hockey player and needs more muscle ... Often overmatched defensively, despite good intentions ... Doesn't do well in the corners or in front because he's not strong enough to win battles ... Not physical ... Struggles when he isn't playing with confidence.

PROJECTION
The Red Wings took a gamble on Fournier because he's a world-class skater. The rest of his game needs to catch up, but he could evolve into an offensive defenseman. He still needs plenty of work, but after a great season in 2009-10, he's on the right track to earn a contract with the Red Wings. He should be able to elevate himself into QMJHL all-star territory in 2010-11.

Edited by titanium2, 17 September 2010 - 10:38 PM.

[titanium2]

Thread from General Discussion on his draft day.

http://www.letsgowin...t-90th-overall/

[titanium2]

http://blog.mlive.co...amp_assess.html

54 Gleason Fournier

Pluses: Piche’s “wonder twin”—they played together in Rimouski, and are nearly inseparable during the Wings’ camp—is bigger at 6’0” or 6’1” and 180 lbs, a much, much better skater, with a smooth and efficient stride, he can lug the puck up ice like a top-pair power play quarterback or fire off hard, smart passes and heavy shots, his positioning is superb, his head’s up all the time and while he’s not a particularly physical player, he can get the job done and his poke check has improved dramatically over the last season.

Minuses: Sometimes Fournier’s dazzling and fantastic, and at other times, he’s either invisible or eminently beatable. At least at the Wings’ camps, I’ve seen little to no consistency in his game. When he’s on, he showcases top-four potential and absolutely dazzles, but when he’s off, he looks like a big, skinny kid who’s more content to goof off with his friend than improve his skills or, perhaps more importantly, bulk up so that he makes up the significant amount of ground he has to cover to catch up in the physical conditioning department.

Potential “upside”: This is his contract year, and Gleason’s got to not only continue to develop into a point-per-game player who stars as a #1 defenseman with the Oceanic, but he also has to get stronger and commit to the fact that he needs to strive for consistency in every aspect of his game. He’s not a cinch to sign, and a good chunk of his future could depend on his showing at the prospect tournament this fall.

[Red Wings Addict]

Seems like he should just stay in the Q for another year. Or is it better for him to play in the ECHL? Doesn't seem like he'll make the AHL team with Smith there and the way Nill talks about Lashoff and Ehrhardt.

[Konnan511]

Meh

[redwingfan19]

Fournier in his Grand Rapids debut has a goal and is a +2 so far in tonight's game.

[Aussie_Wing]

Fournier has got to be one of the quietest prospects ever; in regards to the fact that nothing is ever said about him.

He played well. He finished at even +/-, but the last goal was just a mess. Started with a Conner giveaway and they couldn’t recover.

It's got to the point where I'd rather him get ice-time than Lashoff.

Edited by Aussie_Wing, 18 November 2011 - 09:41 PM.