The CHL Memorial Cup is one of the biggest tournaments in the world for junior-aged players, and attracts scouts from every organization in the NHL on a yearly basis. A good showing there can change a young player’s draft stock, and a poor one can cast doubt on your professional future (shortsighted as that may seem).
While the city of Regina, Saskatchewan prepares to host the 2018 event, the CHL has announced that Halifax, Nova Scotia will welcome in the hockey world in 2019. As a reward for hosting, the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL will get automatic entry to the tournament, where they will face off against the WHL, OHL and QMJHL champions (or runners-up should they take home the league crown).
Halifax is a very interesting choice, as they should be a powerhouse once again next season and could very well win both the QMJHL title and Memorial Cup. This year the team is already quite strong, and could send four players to the podium in the first round of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
Filip Zadina is the obvious example, as the Czech sniper is expected to go somewhere in the top three or four picks in June. Beyond him though, Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Jared McIsaac both have made great cases to go in the top-31. The fourth member of a potential first-round group is Alexis Gravel, the top ranked draft eligible North American goaltending prospect, though his market is much harder to read. Though many scouts believe Gravel will eventually become a top-tier netminder, he hasn’t shown that elite ability on a consistent basis—though, his start to the playoffs has been exquisite.
Even if Zadina graduates to the NHL right away (which is far from certain), the Mooseheads will be a contender next season with the talent already on the roster. Given the way CHL teams can also accumulate talent in-season with trades from rebuilding squads, you can bet the Mooseheads will be far from an underdog when the Memorial Cup comes to town.