Islanders 2019 draft pick jumps into coaching

Shawinigan Cataractes v Quebec Remparts
Shawinigan Cataractes v Quebec Remparts / Mathieu Belanger/GettyImages

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens announced today that they had added a new assistant coach. And it's a name familiar to New York Islanders fans.

Islanders 2019 sixth-round pick Félix Bibeau was named to the Saguenéens coaching staff today. The former Bridgeport Sound Tiger/Islander and Worcester Railer will join Yannick Jean's bench for the 2022-23 season.

New York Islanders 2019 draft pick jumps into coaching

Jean said this of Bibeau who's making the jump to coaching at the age of 23:

Félix is ​​passionate and is very excited to start this new challenge with us. He has a lot of potential and he's an important addition to our organization,
Yannick Jean on Félix Bibeau

Bibeau went pro in 2020-21 after four years at the QMJHL level. In those four years he played 245 games between the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Québec Ramparts, and Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

Over those 245 games, he scored 214 points. His best statistical year was his final year when he scored 29 goals and 70 points in 63 games. But I'm sure if you ask him what his best year was he'd probably tell you it was 2018-19.

That season, as an assistant captain for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Bibeau, and his team - which featured Islanders 2018 12th overall pick, Noah Dobson - captured the QMJHL President's Trophy and then the CHL's Memorial Cup.

Since going pro, Bibeau played 41 games in the AHL and scored 11 points. At the ECHL level, he played 15 games for the Worcester Railers scoring 15 points.

Sure, Bibeau is young at 23 years old to make that jump into coaching but I think he knew his career wouldn't reach the NHL and so he opted to hang up his skates and pick up a coach's whistle. I really commend Bibeau for making the switch at such an early age. Congratulations go to him on becoming an assistant coach with his former junior outfit.