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Position: Center
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 198 lbs
Shoots: L
DOB: December 7th, 1992
Nationality: American/Canadian (born in USA, plays for Canadian national team)
2010-2011 Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs
League: QMJHL
Stats: 58 GP - 36 G - 60 A - 96 P - 36 PIM
Playoffs: 10 GP - 6 G - 5 A - 11 P - 14 PIM
WJC 20 - 7 GP - 2 G - 1 A - 3 P - 0 PIM
AT: Couturier would be an equally fantastic choice for me along with Dougie Hamilton. A very strong, two way center with incredible puck handling skills, Couturier would be a fantastic addition to the top 6 of any team. Couturier is also renowned for his supreme hockey sense, which originally had him pegged as the first overall pick up until Ryan Nugent-Hopkins meteoric rise to the top. Couturier's game has been nitpicked to death and it has led to his stock dropping in some mock drafts to as low at 7 or 8. While his skating definitely needs to improve, at 5 I find a player like him, even with his skating flaws, to be a fantastic selection. His playmaking ability is supreme and as he grows into his body, his ability to really control his way past the neutral zone and set up plays will continue to increase.
I would have no problem with the Islanders taking Couturier at 5. In fact, I'd be ecstatic. He would be a fantastic addition to the second line and create a vicious 1-2 punch down the center in the top 6. If his playmaking abilities continue to increase in capability, I can see him turning Grabner into a 50 goal scorer, if not higher. I love Frans Nielsen, but he should be the third line center, not the second line center. The thought of a line of Grabner-Couturier-Niederreiter/Okposo gives me chills. As for his skating on an already generally slow Islanders team, I remember a certain player's skating that was so nitpicked some almost asked Garth to draft another player. That player's name is John Tavares, who has made huge strides in his skating ability. Couturier will do the same.
CH: If the Islanders decide they want to go with a forward and guys like Nugent-Hopkins, Huberdeau, and Landeskog are gone, Couturier is the guy. While he is not a great skater yet, it can be developed like Alex touched on. Everyone talks about the fact that Couturier fell, but to me it's a non-issue. Plenty of reports have come out that Couturier's play did not drop and he did not have a bad attitude. He is the only draft eligible player to have played for Team Canada at the World Juniors this past year at all. I love the idea of adding this guy to the top-9, in between Tavares and Nielsen. In the past he's been compared to somewhat of a hybrid between Eric and Jordan Staal. Tell me someone who wouldn't sign up for that.
When push comes to shove, I don't see the Islanders taking him if he's even around at 5. We've touched on the fact the Islanders like to take players who have risen up the charts, not fallen - even if there is no rhyme or reason for why he did. Maybe they make an exception for Couturier - I would love for them to do that. If they do take him, it would be an absolute coup and is a possible choice to go down as the steal of the top 10 (along with Ryan Murphy - if we're talking potential).
Most likely to be drafted: 3-8
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