Chicago Blackhawks NHL Draft Profile: Sudbury Wolves' Quentin Musty has the makings of a power forward

The NHL Entry Draft will occur on June 28 & 29 in Nashville. If it seems like we’ve been looking towards this date since CHGO Blackhawks launched in March of 2022, it’s because we have! The Chicago Blackhawks won the right to draft future superstar Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. However, they currently own 10 picks in one of the deepest drafts in recent years, including six in the first two rounds. With that in mind, the CHGO Blackhawks crew will dive into some of the prospects the team is potentially targeting for some of those picks after changing the course of the franchise with the number one pick.

Our next profile is on Quentin Musty of the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves.

Quentin Musty Measurables

Position: Left Wing
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 200

Rankings

The Athletic (Scott Wheeler): #18
Flo Hockey (Chris Peters): #32
NHL Central Scouting: #14 NA Skaters
Elite Prospects: #12

Quotables

“Looking more specifically at Musty’s projection and upside, he unquestionably has the skill set to play a top six, scoring line role at the NHL level in the future. From a purely offensive perspective, Musty’s upside is likely the highest of any OHL based draft eligible player this year. His skill, creativity, shot, and vision all grade out as above average, and it helps to explain why he currently finds himself in the top ten of point-per-game scoring in the OHL. – Brock Otten, McKeen’s Hockey

“Musty has an excellent shot from range, distributes quite well off of the rush, and does a great job of creating space for himself. His ability to create consistently at 5v5 is a credit to how well he handles pressure.” – Josh Tessler, Smaht Scouting

“A gifted goal scorer with a heavy, accurate shot, Musty had a sensational season in the OHL with 78 points in 53 games. There are legitimate concerns about his skating ability, but at nearly 6-2, 200 pounds, he’s hard to knock off the puck. Musty has good-enough puck skills to create for himself and can finish. Off the puck, he needs work as he doesn’t have the ability to close quickly and challenge opposing players frequently enough, but it’s not for lack of effort. He definitely competes, and having that scoring edge will carry him a long way.” – Chris Peters, Flo Hockey

Video Highlights

Why Quentin Musty Fits with the Blackhawks

The easy answer to this is size and scoring. Musty already has the body to play at the NHL level. He has shown that he can be a traditional NHL power forward. He uses his size and aggression to his advantage along the boards, in front of the net, and while getting opponents off the puck. He is the type of player that can affect the outcome of a game and, looking down the road, a playoff series too.

Musty’s season took off when the Wolves made a coaching change and put Derek MacKenzie behind the bench. He scored 22 goals and 68 points in the 42 games after MacKenzie arrived. He has the playmaking skills to go along with a very good wrist and snapshot. While he has been an inconsistent goal scorer during his junior career, his creativity with the puck is constantly displayed.

The first overall pick of the 2021 OHL Draft is ranked all over the place heading into Nashville. He could still be on the board if the Blackhawks use that 19^th overall pick, or they might have to trade up to get him. One thing that might keep Musty off the Blackhawks’ list is below-average skating. It is the area of his game that needs the most improvement, and we know how important skating is to the scouting staff in Chicago. However, his size and talent with the puck are worth the wait as you work with him on his skating.

Photo Courtesy: Natalie Shaver, OHL images