Red Wings Central prospects

JULIEN CAYER

Position:	Center/Left Wing
Shoots:	Left
Vitals:	6'3'' / 193 lbs.
Birthdate:	July 6, 1989
Hometown:	Longueuil, Quebec
Acquired:	Detroit's fourth choice (151st overall) in the 2008 draft
CSS Ranking:	123rd North American skater (2008)
Contract:	None (must sign by Aug. 15, 2012)
RWC Says:	Physical Forward

STORIES
June 25, 2008: Cayer plays with 'chip on his shoulder' Feb. 9, 2009: Cayer creating havoc at Clarkson

AWARDS
None Listed

HISTORY
2006-07: Montreal-area native opted against playing in QMJHL as draft pick of Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Spent season playing junior A hockey in Quebec with Saint-Jerome (45-6-23-29). Didn't make Central Scouting rankings and was passed over in first year eligible for NHL draft.
2007-08: Parlayed growth spurt and added muscle into a good season at New York prep school Northwood. Served as assistant captain as senior at the Lake Placid school. Committed to playing NCAA hockey at Clarkson University starting in 2008-09. Ranked 77th by Central Scouting at mid-season, but dropped to 123rd at season's end. Selected by Red Wings in the fifth round at 151st overall in the 2008 NHL draft.
2008-09: Broke into NCAA at Clarkson as a regular third-liner and had a solid season (29-4-6-10). Also had 55 shots and 30 penalty minutes and made a physical impact.

SCOUT COMMENTS
"He plays very hard and he’s very aggressive. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and he’s not afraid to mix it up. He skates well, he can make plays, and he’s pretty solid at both ends of the ice.” — Red Wings amateur scout Mark Leach (June 2008) ... "He's played a big, strong game, he's physical and he uses his body. He creates chances offensively, he crashes the net, and he causes some havoc down low, and that's kind of his game. He uses his body really effectively." — Leach (February 2009).

SCOUT COMMENTS

"He plays very hard and he’s very aggressive. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and he’s not afraid to mix it up. He skates well, he can make plays, and he’s pretty solid at both ends of the ice.” — Red Wings amateur scout Mark Leach (June 2008) ... "He's played a big, strong game, he's physical and he uses his body. He creates chances offensively, he crashes the net, and he causes some havoc down low, and that's kind of his game. He uses his body really effectively." — Leach (February 2009).

STRENGTHS
Uses his size to make hard hits and relishes physical contact ... Hard, powerful skater ... Good shot ... Long reach and good moves help him in 1-on-1 situations ... Has the height and frame to be a force, if he bulks up ... Makes an impact when he is playing physical ... Doesn't neglect defensive end ... Good hockey sense and feel for the game ... Versatile and capable of playing center or wing.

WEAKNESSES
Has grown a lot in recent years and is still adjusting to his frame ... Offensive game and puck skills still have a long way to come ... Still needs to add muscle.

PROJECTION
Cayer is a big-time project, but the raw pieces of physical third-liner are there to be molded. He has three more years of NCAA hockey at Clarkson to show the Red Wings he can put it together.

STATISTICS
			REGULAR SEASON					PLAYOFFS
SEASON	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
2005-06	C.-Lemoyne	Que. Midget	42	11	21	32	46	8	1	2	3	14
2006-07	Saint-Jerome	Que. Jr. A	45	6	23	29	84	--	--	--	--	--
2007-08	Northwood	U.S. prep	43	24	32	56	--	--	--	--	--	--
2008-09	Clarkson	NCAA	29	4	6	10	30	--	--	--	--	--

The next wave

RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)

01	F	Tomas Tatar »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
02	D	Jakub Kindl »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
03	D	Brendan Smith »	Wisconsin (NCAA)
04	G	Thomas McCollum »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
05	F	Gustav Nyquist »	Maine (NCAA)
06	F	Landon Ferraro »	Red Deer (WHL)
07	F	Jan Mursak »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
08	F	Cory Emmerton »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
09	F	Joakim Andersson »	Frolunda (SEL)
10	F	Mattias Ritola »	Grand Rapids (AHL)

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The next wave

RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)

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