Islanders prospect finalist for prestigious junior award

The accolades keep on coming for New York Islanders prospect William Dufour. He was named the QMJHL MVP after his 56-goal and 116-point season for the Saint John Sea Dogs. And now he can be the MVP for Canadian junior hockey.

On Monday, the CHL named it's finalist on a number of awards. And when it came to the top prize the most valuable player, the David Branch award, William Dufour was one of the three players named.

New York Islanders prospect finalist for prestigious junior award

Here are his two competitors for the top CHL award:

Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers): 45 goals and 104pts in 59 games
-Finished tenth in goal in the CHL
-Finished seventh in points in the CHL

Wyatt Johnston (Windson Spitfires): 46 goals and 124pts in 68 games
-Finished ninth in goals in the CHL
-FInished first in points in the CHL

Both are younger at 19 years old than William Dufour who turned 20 in January. But look, Dufour tops all three Canadian junior leagues in goals with his 56. And finished third in points in the CHL. So just comparing those two stat lines it seems like Dufour should win the award.

An award that has been won by a number of future household names:

2019 - Alexis Lafrenière
2018 - Alex Marre-Boulet
2017 - Alex DeBrincat
2016 - Mitch Marner
2015 - Connor McDavid
2014 - Anthony Mantha
2013 - Jonathan Drouin
2012 - Brendan Shinnimin
2011 - Ryan Ellis
2010 - Jordan Eberle

Of course, then you get into the "Is the OHL is better than the QMJHL" debate. A fair debate of course. There's also the debate about age. Is it more impactful for a 19-year-old to be this productive or for a 20-year-old to score as Dufour did?

But what is clear is that Dufour is one of the better players in the Canadian juniors. And he still has the potential for more hardware with one more game in his QMJHL career.

A win in that final game gives Dufour and Saint John the Memorial Cup. With his six goals so far, you have to think that Dufour is in the running for the Memorial Cup MVP (Stafford Smythe Trophy).