Callum Booth’s search for consistency will set his path towards pro career

In my opinion, Callum Booth is the most interesting prospect in the Hurricanes pipeline.

Reading all the scouting reports released prior to the 2015 NHL Draft, Booth has the physical tools needed to become an NHL starting goaltender. The 6’3″, 198lb Montréal, QUE native is the number one netminder for the Quebec Remparts in his third season with the team. Last year he split time in the net with Montréal Canadiens prospect and WHJC Gold Medal winning Zach Fucale after a mid-season trade.

He began the 2014-15 year closer to the top of goalie rankings, but slightly slid after the Remparts acquired Fucale. Here are Booth’s 2015 pre-draft rankings by the scouting services I follow:

#83 Overall , #4 Goaltender – North American Central Scouting, Mark Seidel
#67 Overall, #3 Goaltender – Future Considerations
#73 Overall, – DraftBuzz, Anthony Mauro
#8 Goaltender – ISS Hockey
#66 Overall, #4 Goaltender – HockeyProspects.com

Each scouting report seems to tell the same story: Very good size, athleticism, skating, puck tracking, and lateral moment but played inconsistently for Quebec:

“He’s a good size goalie that moves well. Has good balance and quick legs. Does a good job challenging shooters but needs work on rebound control. At times appeared tentative and lacked confidence in his game.”

Jack Higgins, ISS Hockey

I came to a similar opinion in my limited views of Booth at prospect and training camp. Like the scouting reports, I also think Booth has a huge upside and will be an NHL goaltender within the next five years.

His economy of movement — ability to move laterally in the crease without over skating — quickly caught my attention. Most junior-aged netminders I see have too much movement in their skating. They’ll use multiple short, less effective pushes to move across the crease. This can cause you bob your head up-and-down, making it more difficult to track and play shots. Over the course of the game these movement use up too much energy. Lack of energy can result in mental fatigue, the largest obstacle for goalies reaching and maintaining a professional career.

Booth seems to use minimal movement on his first saves. If he can begin to track the puck quicker as he improves his rebound control, it should improve his consistency. His pro quality physical and technical skills are undeniable. The sooner he can strengthen his mental approach and gaining consistency, the sooner we may see him in a Hurricanes roster.

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Independent scout Steve Kournianos watched Booth’s Remparts take on Val-d’Or Foreurs last week and had these observations:

#QMJHL: VDO takes a 2-1 lead into 1st intermission as RW William Gignac (2016/1996) took the puck from corner and wrapped it around Booth

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 15, 2015

Booth looks terrible. Very slow reaction time. Know its last thing Canes fans want to hear after whats been going on in goal for the Canes

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 15, 2015

#QMJHL: Underway in the 2nd and Booth makes a great reaction right pad save on a tip in from C Jan Mandat (2016/1996), who’s been everywhere

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 15, 2015

Booth robs LW Shawn Ouellette-St-Amant (2016/1996), who was set-up beautifully by Julien Gauthier after his dangle and rush was thwarted

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 15, 2015

#QMJHL: VDO super line of Aube-Kubel (PHI)-Richard (NSH)-Beauregard (2015) has been denied space but Booth stopped their best chance of 2nd

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 15, 2015

#QMJHL: Still 2-2 into 3rd between Val-d’or and Quebec. Foreurs outshooting Remparts, 28-16. Booth has been the difference after shaky start

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 15, 2015

Quebec outshot 41-18 thus far. Booth has been a man on an island. The Remparts have played just a terrible game in all three zones.

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 15, 2015

Quebec isn’t poised to have a strong team after hosting the Memorial Cup Tournament last season, a four team event featuring each of three CHL’s champions and host club. Significant turnover on the roster means Booth is poised to face a lot shots — already averaging 33.4 per game. If he can get past the slow start or rough third periods soon, I see him elevating into the group of Elite CHL goaltenders by year’s end.

There should be room in the organization in two years for Booth to begin his pro career, but I expect he’ll play one more year in the QMJHL and hopefully play his way into consideration for Team Canada’s U20 WJHC team next year.

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Prospect reports for the week of Oct 12-18, 2015

2015 Draft Picks:

Sebastian Aho, 2nd Round (#35 overall)

Last Week: 4GP – 1G-2A-3PTS
Karat Oulu goes 2-2-0 last week, 1-1-0 when Aho records a point.
This Season:
Next Game: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 vs JYP Jyvaskyla (Liiga), Tuesday, November 3, 2015 vs. Sparta Prague (CHL)

Callum Booth, 4th Round (#93 overall)

Last Week: 3GP – 1W-2L-0OTL, .893%, 4.04 GAA
This Season: 9GP – 4W-5L-0OTL, .878%, 4.11 GAA
Next Game: Friday, October 23, 2015 @ Rimouski Océanic

Nicolas Roy, 4th Round (#96 overall)

Last Week: 2GP – 2G-2A-4PTS, 0PIM, 6 shots, 33.3% shooting, 57.55% Faceoffs
Chicoutimi Seguenees goes 2-0, 2-0 when Roy records a point.
This Season: 9GP – 6G-7A-13PTS, 10PIM, 32 shots, 18.8% shooting, 61.6% Faceoffs
6 Game point streak. Team is on a 4 game winning streak after starting the season 0-8-1.
Named to Team QMJHL for the CHL Canada/Russia Super Series.
Next Game: Friday, October 23, 2015 @ Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Spencer Smallman, 5th Round (#138 overall)

Last Week: 3GP – 1G-0A-1PT, 2PIM, 10 shots, 10.0% shooting
Saint John Sea Dogs went 2-1, 1-0 when Smallman records a point.
This Season: 9GP 3G-1A-4PTS, 4PIM 25 shots 12.0% shooting
Next Game: Thursday, October 22, 2015 vs Acadie-Bathurst Titans

Luke Stevens, 5th Round (#126 overall)

Next Game: Wednesday, December 2, 2015 vs Pomfert (HS)

David Cotton, 6th Round (#169 overall)

This Week: 3GP – 1G-3A-4PTS, 2PIM, 13 shots, 7.6% shooting
Waterloo Black Hawks go 0W-3L.
This Season: 7GP, 3G-5A-8PTS, 27 shots, 11.1% shooting
Tied for 7th in League Scoring with 8 Points.
Next Game: Saturday, October 24, 2015 vs Omaha Lancers

Steven Lorentz, 7th Round (#186 overall)

Last Week: 2GP – 0G-2A-2PTS, 7PIM, 5 shots, 0% shooting
Peterborough Petes went 0-2 last week
This Season: 10GP – 3G-4A-7PTS, 7PIM, 18 shots, 16.6% shooting
Next Game: Thursday, October 22, 2015 vs Oshawa Generals

2014 Draft Picks:

Haydn Fleury, 1st Round (#7 overall)

Last Week: 4GP – 2G-4A-6PTS, 4PIM
This Season: 7GP – 3G-5A-8PTS, 8PIM
Red Deer Rebels went 2-2 last week, 2-1 when Fleury records a point.
Named to Team WHL for the CHL Canada/Russia Super Series.
Next Game: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 vs. Saskatoon Blades

Alex Nedeljkovic, 2nd Round (#37 overall)

Last Week: 1GP (1 Start) – 1W-0L, 4.00 GAA, .879%
This Season: 2GP (2 Starts) – 2W-0L, 2.91 GAA, .903%
Next Game: Thursday, October 22, 2015 @ Barrie Colts

Roland McKeown, 2nd Round (#50 overall)

Last Week: 3GP – 1G-1A-2PTS, 2PIM, 7 shots, 14.2% shooting
Kingston Frontenacs went 2-1, 1-1 when McKeown records a point.
This Season: 10GP – 1G-7A-8PTS, 12PIM, 26 shots, 3.8% shooting

Warren Foegele, 3rd Round (#67 overall)

Last Week: 2GP – 0G-0A-0PTS, 2PIM, 4 shots, 0% shooting
Univ. of New Hampshire went 0-2.
This Season: 3GP – 0G-1A-1PTS, 2PTS, 5 shots, 0% shooting
Next Game: Friday, October 23, 2015 @ UMass Amherst

Josh Wesley, 4th Round (#96 overall)

Last Week: 1GP – 1G-0A-1PT, 2PIM, 2 Shots, 50.0% shooting
This Season: 9GP – 1G-1A-2PTS, 6PIM, 20 Shots, 5.0% shooting
Next Game: Thursday, October 22, 2015 @ Barrie Colts

Lucas Wallmark, 4th Round (#97 overall)

Last Week: 3GP – 1G-2A-3PTS, 4PIM
Lulea HF went 1-2-0 Last week; Wallmark recorded a point in all three games.
This Season: 7GP – 2G-6A-8PTS, 4PIM
Next Game: Wednesday, October 22, 2015 @ Rogie BK

Clark Bishop, 5th Round (#127 overall)

Last Week: 2GP – 0G-0A-0PTS, 0 PIM, 2 shots, 0% shooting, 54.5% faceoffs
Cape Brenton Screaming Eagles went 1-1.
This Season: 10GP – 3G-5A-8PTS, 32PIM, 24 shots, 12.5% shooting, 49% faceoffs
Named to Team QMJHL for the CHL Canada/Russia Super Series.
Next Game: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 vs. Halifax Mooseheads

Callum Booth’s search for consistency will set his path towards pro career

Prospect reports for the week of Oct 12-18, 2015