Jean-Luc Foudy // Scouting Report #4
This is a picture of Jean-Luc Foudy playing in the CHL’s annual best prospects game in the home arena of the Hamilton Bulldogs where Foudy digs for a loose puck in the corner boards of the FirstOntario Centre on Thursday, January 16th, 2020.
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 168lbs.
D.O.B.: 5/13/02
Stats: 15 Goals, 28 Assists, 43 Points, 59 games played
Team: Windsor Spitfires, OHL
Position: Center
Blue line to Blue Line time: 1.37
Most outstanding stat: blue line to blue line in 1.37 seconds
Letter, (A-F)=Consistency, A being most consistent
Number, (1-5)=tier of talent, 1 being highest
Rank:
54th by EliteProspects.com
49th by Future Considerations
80th by TSN/Craig Button
48th by McKeens Hockey
33rd by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
46th by TSN/Bob McKenzie
38th by Dr. Tee Scouting
Scouting report
What is up guys? And today we have the speedster Jean-Luc Foudy and ever since I put a picture of him up on that thumb nail I’ve been dying to do a scouting report on this guy, and man I really do like this guy. His brother is a Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick, and I honestly I really do think he can become an unbelievably effective player in the offensive zone, and defensive zone if he’s given time to develop his skills in the OHL, or AHL for a couple years. So let’s dive right in!
Move - 1B
Let’s just start off by saying that Jean-Luc Foudy is probably a top 3 skater in this year's draft with Lucas Raymond, and Tim Stützle.
I love the momentum that he carries up the ice in transition, and the fact that he can simply do everything. I clocked him at 1.37 seconds blue line to blue line, and just for example in Connor McDavid’s draft year the fastest that I’ve clocked him at is 1.50 seconds blue line to blue line...yeah, so now do you believe me? The way that he can control his speed going up the ice, and use it to get past defenders, and drive hard to the net is really 2nd to none. He often overwhelms defenders with his blazing speed, but also has the slick ability to slow down, and then suddenly speed up to leave defenders in his dust. He has great explosiveness which is something to thank of his for his great speed. He maximizes every stride so he gets as much power out of it as possible. He has great agility to go with it and really finish it off. He moves around the offensive zone freely and just looks absolutely effortless. Everything to do with his skating is on point, he’ll definitely make my personal list of the top 15, or 10 best skaters in this year's draft. That fact that he can evate off of defenders freely and do it some many times is something that not many skaters have, and the fact that he has with the skill set that he has really fits him perfectly.
Dangle - 3D
Jean-Luc Foudy’s speed is really a giant factor into his entire game, and especially in his overall stickhandling department of his high pace styled game.
The fact that he can evade defenders off him is the main reason why he really can do things with the puck on his stick especially since he is only 168 pounds, and not that strong really at all. But when Jean-Luc Foudy has time and space in the offensive, and defensive zone he’s able to make quick moves around players, and can use his agility to maneuver himself in and out of traffic while still maintaining control of the puck. When he’s not on his game however he does have a bit of a tendency to just get easily shook off the puck similar to Anton Johansson a little bit. Although this might be a bit of a downfall in his overall game but with the speed that he has he can really get things done with the puck even though his hands really aren’t at the best that they can be right now. Looking towards the bright side of his stickhandling ability once again though, the fact that he can move around the ice so freely, but at the same time look so powerful on the puck is really 2nd to none. I see Foudy becoming an effective puck moving, probably more winger and less center given time to develop his skills in the lower semi-pro leagues of North America.
Snipe - 3B
Jean-Luc Foudy is not exactly a goal scorer really at all, instead an amazing playmaker. He is a player that would rather pass the puck on a breakaway than shoot it, and that can be really annoying for some coaches, but it’s very rare that the pass that he made would’ve been a worse decision than the shot that he would’ve taken.
Despite this Foudy still has an average shot that he can release anytime anywhere. All though not very many of his shots come from high or medium danger areas in the offensive zone, (44% according to Will Scouch), he still can be a dual threat with his shot, and playmaking at times. Although it lacks a bit of power, and accuracy he still possesses a very quick release, and good shot in motion. Although he prefers to guide defenders away from the middle of the ice to get a good pass off, when he needs to he can use his speed to charge the goalie, and roof of the puck over the goalie’s shoulder in tight spaces. Although this is a very common skill to have he always prefers to be a playmaker rather than a goal scorer, where he can make his way through tight areas around the ice, and dipsy-doodle-daddle with his speed and create great high danger chances with his thread the needle passes.
Defensive mindset - 2C
Jean-Luc Foudy is definitely a player that you draft for his play with the puck.
Foudy is a player that will probably make the transition to center once he makes the switch to the NHL. He does all that he can do in the defensive zone, and he does it pretty well, the thing with him is that he can tend to not shy away from play but almost he is a little less supportive in the defensive zone when the puck isn’t on his stick. But when it is, he is one of the most fun players to watch in this year's draft. He thinks a simple, and easy game which is pretty much: get the puck, skate out of the defensive zone, and into the offensive zone, and do it with control. He is especially good at maintaining control of the puck in the defensive zone under pressure, and can make easy, safe passes, as well as those good, and long breakout ones to send a teammate on a breakaway or going across the blue line. But the bad is, is that sometimes he can not be that involved in defensive play which is a big reason why he’ll probably make the switch from center to wing in the NHL, at least for the first couple of years in pro hockey. But when Jean-Luc Foudy doesn’t over anticipate play in the defensive zone and plays a smart game he is extremely effective.
Overall - 1C
Overall Foudy possesses all of the talent in the world to make the NHL in the next 2 years with time, and development as well as good coaching. He has insane speed, and great play with the puck, as well as some potential in the defensive zone when he’s playing his game. I think that he’ll be an effective player on whichever team gets him, and they will not be disappointed in what they get in the coming years.
Playmaking center
Player Comparison: Mathew Barzal
They both play a very high pace playmaking game, although Foudy doesn’t yet have the potential to be what Barzal is in the defensive end, he seems to be going down that path a little bit. They both also have great puck control in all three zones of the ice while still going at full speed.
More reports: Scouching, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WAEhP0CLft8