Columbus Blue Jackets: Top 10 prospects entering 2018

9. Maxime Fortier, RW [20 years old]

Stats (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL): 61 gp, 32 g, 43 a, 75 p, 6 PPG (10 A), 5 SHG (2 A), 4 GWG, 265 shots on goal, 1.23 points per game (9 pgp, 5 g, 3 a, 8 p, 1 PPG, 1 SHG, 1 GWG, 33 SOG, .89 pts/g).

Fortier did better than Robinson in his league, but he has holes in his game big enough to have not been drafted, even at age 20. Fortier had a good season in the QMJHL, being above a point-per-game pace (his third straight season achieving that accomplishment) but he also took a step back. He scored 87 points in 16-17 and 75 in 17-18. If he had continued to grow after that 87 point season, he might have been drafted this past season.

He’s a good goal scorer and a decent playmaker.

As it stands, Maxime Fortier was tied for 16th in scoring, 17th in goal scoring, 20th in assists, and 15th in points per game. He didn’t do as well in the playoffs, though he didn’t get much of a chance, and was 34th in points per game. Still, he showed an ability to score on both special teams units in both the regular and postseason, and was good at shot generation as well, producing at a 4.34 shots per game pace.

He’s a good goal scorer and a decent playmaker. If he can take a few more steps in the AHL, he has a third-line ceiling. He isn’t NHL ready and he doesn’t have a high chance of playing with the Columbus Blue Jackets any time soon. But again, with a good campaign in the AHL, a lot of things change.