| STORIES |
- Wednesday, July 1, 2009: Feet-first Fournier a fit for Wings
- Tuesday, October 20, 2009: Fournier shoulders the load
- Wednesday, September 29, 2010: On the hot seat
- Wednesday, December 1, 2010: Mursak waiting for NHL call
- Wednesday, January 26, 2011: Fournier ‘floats on the ice’ — in a good way
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| HISTORY |
2007-08:
- Joined Rimouski after being selected fifth overall in the 2007 QMJHL draft.
- Used mostly on the third pairing as a rookie (56-3-8-11, plus-3, 52 shots, 23 hits).
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2008-09
- Put up good numbers as a third-pairing defenseman in Rimouski (66-3-25-28, 72 shots, 74 hits).
- Posted the worst plus-minus among defenseman on his team at minus-6.
- Missed nine of 13 playoff games with injury as Rimouski bowed out in QMJHL semifinals.
- Appeared in all four games at Memorial Cup with host Rimouski.
- Selected by the Red Wings in the third round (90th overall) of the NHL draft.
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2009-10
- Missed most of training camp and first nine games of QMJHL season with shoulder injury
- Put up solid numbers for mid-pack Rimouski (58-13-37-50, 76 PIMs, 136 shots, 102 hits).
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2010-11
- Returned to QMJHL with Rimouski and saw his production slip slightly (57-12-32-44-58).
- Signed three-year entry-level contract with Red Wings in late November.
- Finished second in defense scoring for Rimouski and 13th among QMJHL blueliners.
- Scored 11 of his 12 goals on the power play, was a minus-4 and had 106 shots.
- Appeared in four playoff games as Rimouski made quick playoff exit with (4-1-1-2).
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2011-12
- Started season in ECHL and remained in Toledo for bulk of year (55-2-16-18, minus-9, 101 shots).
- Called up to AHL with Grand Rapids in November and March (13-1-3-4, even plus-minus, four shots).
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| SCOUT COMMENTS |
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“He’s a high-end skater. Like all kids, he’s got to get stronger, but we like his skating ability. He can take the puck and go end-to-end anytime he wants.” — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2009) … “His skating is so good — forward, backward, left, right. He can do anything with his feet … He’s a good offensive defenseman. He just needs to get some muscle on him, but he has all the assets to be a good hockey player.” — Oceanic GM Yannick Dumais (June 2009) … “He has to continue to play harder defensively and work on winning the battles, but he has something you just can’t teach — and that’s his skating. He just floats on the ice and moves the puck well. He’s an offensive defenseman who can just fly up the ice.” — Red Wings scout Mark Leach (January 2011).
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| STRENGTHS |
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World-class skater who glides around the ice with smooth strides and breathtaking acceleration … Great puck-carrier … Good vision and offensive instincts … Has the skill-set of a future power-play quarterback … Makes an honest defensive effort.
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| WEAKNESSES |
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Drastically slender for a hockey player and needs more muscle … Often overmatched defensively, despite good intentions … Doesn’t do well in the corners or in front because he’s not strong enough to win battles … Not physical … Struggles when he isn’t playing with confidence.
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| PROJECTION |
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The Red Wings took a gamble on Fournier because he’s a world-class skater, but the rest of his game still needs to catch up. He failed to elevate himself into QMJHL all-star territory and couldn’t land permanent AHL work as a rookie pro in 2011-12. He’ll need to do so in 2012-13.
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Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
|
Playoffs |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
| 2006-2007 |
Ecole Notre Dame |
QMAAA |
44 |
3 |
17 |
20 |
32 |
| |
Playoffs |
13 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
30 |
| 2007-2008 |
Rimouski Océanic |
QMJHL |
56 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
26 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Canada Québec U17 |
WHC-17 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2008-2009 |
Rimouski Océanic |
QMJHL |
66 |
3 |
25 |
28 |
64 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Rimouski Océanic |
M-Cup |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009-2010 |
Rimouski Océanic |
QMJHL |
58 |
13 |
37 |
50 |
76 |
| |
Playoffs |
12 |
2 |
10 |
12 |
10 |
| 2010-2011 |
Rimouski Océanic |
QMJHL |
57 |
12 |
32 |
44 |
58 |
| |
Playoffs |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
| 2011-2012 |
Toledo Walleye |
ECHL |
55 |
2 |
16 |
18 |
32 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
13 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
14 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
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Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
