Islanders fifth round pick from 2020 can’t stop scoring

New York Islanders fifth-round pick from the 2020 draft, William Dufour, just can’t stop scoring goals for the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Fifth-round picks usually take some time to make some noise. Teams selecting prospects in the fifth round of the draft are picking players they certainly like, but know that they’ll likely be projects. And fans know they might not hear much about those prospects for some time. But the New York Islanders fifth-round pick in 2020 is making a ton of noise right now.

Because he can’t stop filling the net with pucks.

With the 152nd pick at the 2020 draft, the New York Islanders selected William Dufour from the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Playing in their sixth game since entering a bubble with the other Quebec based teams in the QMJHL, Dufour has six goals in his last five games.

Goal Streak

The right-shot winger can clearly finish. Last year he put up 28 goals in 59 games between Drummondville and Chicoutimi.

When certain draft analysts looked at the Islanders 2020 draft class Dufour was one of the only prospects they actually liked. The Athletic’s Corey Proman gave the Isles a D grade for 2020 (subscription required), a grade that was buoyed by Alex Jefferies (fourth-round) and fifth-round pick Dufour.

Dufour is a skilled forward, has a really good shot, and has NHL size (he’s listed as 6’3″ and 200lbs). Usually what happens with big guys in the juniors is they can muscle their way past their opponents, but that’s not Dufour’s game. He’s more of a skill player that happens to have size. Just look at these highlights the QMJHL put out before the draft.

That’s a lot of skill from the big kid who turns 19 in January.

I’m not going to say the Islanders found a diamond in the rough just yet, but it’s hard not to get excited by a fifth-round pick scoring seemingly at will. It’s also worth noting that Dufour is putting up this production while team captain and top producer Xavier Simoneau is away on Team Canada duties in Edmonton.

The Islanders rightfully received a low grade for their 2020 draft class. But if this type of production continues that grade will certainly have to be revisited.