Alex Turcotte was overshadowed in his draft season by teammate Jack Hughes. However, his two-way play and hockey IQ makes him one of the top centers in the 2019 NHL Draft.
The 2019 NHL Draft has two number one pick caliber forwards in Kappo Kakko and Jack Hughes. However, the next tier of players are crowded together and not much separates them. Alex Turcotte stands out because of his two-way play.
Turcotte was overshadowed this season by Hughes, and understandably so. He blew USDP records out of the water and will leave the program as its most proficient player ever. However, while Hughes was injured, Turcotte handled the first-line center duties and did phenomenally. Ironically, injuries hurt him as well, as he only played 53 games split between the USDP and USHL.
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But in those 53 games, Turcotte put up an eye-popping 96 points and 39 points. He’s the son of former NHL defenseman Alfie Turcotte.
Prospect Profile
Height: 5’11” (193 cm)
Weight: 185 pounds (84 kg)
Teams: USDP/U18 Team
Country: USA
Position: Center
Handedness: Left-handed
Date of birth: February 26, 2001
All profile info is courtesy of Elite Prospects.
Strengths
As mentioned earlier, Turcotte is the son of a former NHL defenseman. It’s clear Alfie taught his Alex a lot about defense because his two-way play is extremely impressive. Turcotte excels in all three zones and is effective during all situations. He was one of the USDP team’s top penalty killers.
With a relentless forecheck and strong instincts, Turcotte is a difficult player to play against. He wound up averaging over two points per game in the USHL, which was better than Hughes. Turcotte is a skilled, fast, quick, and intelligent player. As fast as he is, his acceleration is what makes him so darn good.
This year, Turcotte has taken a huge step forward in his game. He drove his team’s primary shutdown line while putting up the kind of production you’d expect to see from a first-line center. Everything’s clicking with Turcotte now.
Weaknesses
Turcotte’s not an overly physical player. This could limit him a bit in the NHL. That said, Turcotte’s stick work is terrific and I believe his instincts and skating will make him a force to be reckoned with.
His biggest weakness is probably his shot. I’m impressed with how much Turcotte has improved there, but he still has to improve. His improvement is definitely encouraging, as it shows he might be able to iron out this wrinkle in his game.
Turcotte could also stand to improve his understanding of opening up passing lanes for his teammate. I’d like to see him be a bit more aggressive there and take some chances. This would really elevate his game.
Highlights
Overall Outlook
Stylistically, Alex Turcotte reminds me a lot of Patrice Bergeron. Now, I don’t think he’ll be as good as Bergeron, who is a future Hall of Famer. But Turcotte possesses a strong two-way game, much like the four-time Selke Trophy winner. And he can produce while shutting down his opponents.
Turcotte should go somewhere in the top five. He would make sense for his hometown Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, or even the Buffalo Sabres. Turcotte is committed to the University of Wisconsin in 2019-20, but I don’t see him sticking around there for long. He should be NHL ready by the 2020-21 season.