Prospect Top 20: Center Charles Sarault

This is part 4 of my Prospect File series where I update you guys’ on Hockey’s Future’s Top 20 Anaheim Ducks prospects. This will be a daily series that will hopefully end before the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. I will also be doing a series on possible players the Ducks will take with their first round pick. Part 3 was on winger Chris Wagner. So, next up in part 4 is #17 on HF’s Top 20, center Charles Sarault .

via guelphstorm.com

In March, the Anaheim Ducks announced the signing an undrafted free agent center out of Mississauga, Ontario, Charles Sarault. Sarault finished off his career in the OHL this past season after three seasons with the Kingston Frontenacs and two seasons with the Sarnia Sting. In his time with the Sting, he was able to play on the same line with some  top prospects in Reid Boucher, Alex Galchenyuk and Nail Yakupov. Naturally, with the excellent talent around him he was able to put up some very good numbers. However, don’t sweep him under the rug just because he had that great talent around him. He has great vision and great playmaking abilities. In his final two seasons with the Sting, Sarault racked up 67 and 86 assists, respectively. He also racked up 87 and 108 points in his final two seasons, respectively. He joined the Admirals late in the season and was able to get 11 games of professional hockey under his belt and in that time he registered 6 assists. He certainly has the potential to make the NHL with his playmaking abilities, however, it’s a bit crowded at center so he will need to assert himself. SLEEPER.

via ontariohockeyleague.com

Age: 21

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 174 lbs.

Scouting Report:

"“You could not expect a 100-plus point season from Charles Sarault when he started his OHL career. His first two years of hockey in the OHL saw him average about a point every third game or so. However in a complete turnaround, Sarault was the OHL’s second leading scorer with 108 points in his overage season with the Sarnia Sting, as well as the league’s top assist man with 86. Sarault is not just all about the offense either, he is a 200-foot player who has taken great strides in his defensive zone as well. Passed up in the NHL draft, Sarault was the best overage player in the OHL this year at 21. He has jumped into the Duck top 20, but he will be tested moving into the AHL now. Whether his late OHL career accolades translate is yet to be seen, but he does certainly have all the tools to play multiple roles in an NHL or AHL roster.A complete turn around from the beginning of his career in the OHL, Charlie Sarault has proven to be a dynamic player at both ends of the ice. Amazing hands and vision make him a threat whenever the puck is on his stick. He is a 200-foot player that is extremely reliable in his own end who rarely is caught in the wrong position. Sarault has an underrated shot, but his ability to find the open man and move the puck exactly where it needs to be will be his biggest strength moving forward.The Anaheim Ducks signed a capable center in Charlie Sarault and will expect him to continue the type of production he has had in Sarnia over the last two seasons. Although he has had the likes of Reid Boucher and Alex Galchenyuk to finish off his passes at points during the season, his vision and all-around game have made him Sarnia’s most valuable player this season.Sarault has the potential to be a top-six center in the NHL. Anaheim is fairly deep down the middle, but Sarault can make an impact especially with the impending retirement of Saku Koivu. Expect Sarault to begin his professional career with the Norfolk Admirals.”via HockeysFuture.com"

Next up in the series will be center Joseph Cramarossa.

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