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Calgary Flames 2018 NHL Draft profile: C/LW Gabriel Fortier

By Ramina Shlah

GUELPH, ON - JANUARY 25: Gabriel Fortier #91 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects game at the Sleeman Centre on January 25, 2018 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Team Cherry defeated Team Orr 7-4. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
GUELPH, ON - JANUARY 25: Gabriel Fortier #91 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects game at the Sleeman Centre on January 25, 2018 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Team Cherry defeated Team Orr 7-4. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The first day of the NHL Draft is over, but the Calgary Flames still have to make some selections! Let’s check out a possible fourth-round option with Gabriel Fortier.

Well, the first day of the NHL Draft is now over! It was quite underwhelming, and some teams made some odd choices, but nonetheless, nothing crazy happened. Which I was disappointed by. I wanted to see some big trades. I wanted Peter Chiarelli to make some Peter Chiarelli moves. However, I am glad the Calgary Flames didn’t do anything dumb.

While the Flames weren’t in action today, they have their chance to sign tomorrow when rounds 2-7 will be in effect. As we all know, the Flames don’t have a draft pick until the fourth-round (booooo).

There are a few players who could slip down to the 105th overall pick. Let’s check out Gabriel Fortier.

Related Story: Flames at the 2018 NHL Draft

Who is Gabriel Fortier?

Name: Gabriel Fortier

Birthplace: LaSalle, QC, Canada

Position: C/LW

Shoots: Left

Birthdate: 2000-02-06

Height: 5’10” / 177 cm

Weight: 77 kg / 170 lbs

Team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar

League: QMJHL

Stats from 2017-2018

Stats with Baie-Comeau, regular season (from eliteprospects.com):

GPGAPTSPIM
6626335959

Stats with Baie-Comeau, playoffs:

GPGAPTSPIM
53140

Former Drafts

2016

  • Round 1, #4 overall: Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL Entry Draft

Rankings for 2018 NHL Entry Draft

Scouting Report

"Calgary Flames Flame for Thought Fantasy Hockey: Potential Calgary Flames sleeper picks More headlines around FanSided: — Flames captaincy updates and candidate rankings — Camp Notes: Calgary Flames Prospects at the Young Stars Classic — Could Flames Goalie Dan Vladar Be A Trade Option for the Avalanche? — Roundup: Lindholm, Backlund, Hanifin Contract Updates — Luck, Goalies & Coaching: Three Questions for the 2023/24 Calgary Flames More News at Flame For Thought Versatile player and can play down the middle or on the wing. Great awareness on the ice and knows where his linemates are at all times. Can play on any line and have success. The “straw that stirs the drink” as far as offensive awareness goes. Keen instincts and real effective on the rush. Smooth skater who has an extra gear that helps him gain separation quite easily. Protects the puck well with his body and is strong on his skates. He can pivot in tight spots and likes to dart in and out of traffic. Small in size but strong in heart on the ice. Likes to drive hard to the net, scrambling for rebounds and will use his strength to drive into coverage and create turnovers. Positions himself in the passing lanes to break up opposing breakouts and not afraid to get his hands dirty in the corners (Hockey Now’s Marshall MacKinder)."

Extras

Gabriel Fortier and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar lost in the first round of the playoffs in five games to the Halifax Mooseheads. Fortier had three goals in the five games and was honoured as the team’s MVP for their duration of the playoffs. The full interview can be found here but warning, it’s in French.

Fortier also played in the Hlinka Memorial in August which is the annual for national U-18 ice hockey teams from around the world, and he walked away with a Gold Medal.

Fortier was also invited to the NHL combine where he put up impressive stats, especially compared to his fellow CHL players. All the stats can be found here.

What can he bring to the Flames?

Like his scouting report says and what many scouts have said about Fortier is that he’s not the biggest guy on the ice, but he has other many assets. He may not be the biggest, but he gives 110% every game and is a true leader on the ice.

The Calgary Flames could use some wingers right now and within the next few years, especially on the bottom-six. A player you’d want in that role is a guy who will protect the puck and is strong in the neutral zone. A plus is that he can play at center if needed as well, which can be handy since nobody quite knows what’s in store for Mark Jankowski‘s future.

He did suffer a shoulder injury at the start of the 2016-17 season, so that may be a slight concern if that injury were to resurface.

A player of his calibre has the ability to become a great two-way player and I can see a guy like Mikael Backlund almost acting as a mentor for him.

Let’s check out some of his highlights:

Next: 2018 NHL Draft profile - RW Pavel Gogolev

Fortier has the ability to become a top-six winger and a lot of that will depend on how this next season will go for him. He could fall down to the fourth-round, although it seems unlikely with how well he did in the playoffs. If he does, it would definitely be a steal for the Calgary Flames to pick him up.

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