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Fans of size and shooting ability will immediately gravitate toward Roobroeck. At 6’4 and over 215 pounds, he already has an NHL-ready frame and a shot that can beat goaltenders clean. He had a down year which saw him in a free fall through the rankings as he was ranked in many top 10s to start the year. Now, he finds himself outside the first round on many year-end rankings, including the HabsWorld draft ranking (he is 34th here). He is the type of player teams often bet on late in the first round—high-end tools with enough question marks to push him down the board. For the Habs at 28th overall, Roobroeck represents a clear boom-or-bust proposition.  

Bio 

Centre/Left Wing
Shoots: Left
DOB: September 25th, 2007
Height: 6′4
Weight: 216 lbs 

Rankings 

Elite Prospects: 50
Daily Faceoff: 49
The Hockey News (Kennedy): 29
TSN (Craig Button): 62
FLOHockey (Chris Peters): 40
NHL Central Scouting (N. American): 28
Sportsnet (Bukala): 38
Draft Prospects Hockey: 18
Smaht Scouting: 44
McKeen’s Hockey: 67
HabsWorld: 34 

Statistics

Scouting Report

Roobroeck is a heavy shooter who has already shown he can produce at a high level in junior. After a 51-point rookie season in 63 OHL games, he followed it up with an 87-point breakout year in 64 games, flashing the kind of offensive upside that had some projecting him much higher heading into this season. His ability to find space and capitalize with his shot makes him a legitimate scoring threat, particularly when he is engaged and playing with confidence. 

This season, however, introduced more uncertainty. A move to the wing with the Niagara IceDogs saw his production dip to 58 points in 49 games, and he was at times criticized for being more of a passenger than a driver of play. For a player with his size and skillset, consistency remains the biggest issue. There are stretches where he uses his frame effectively, protects the puck, and imposes himself physically, but too often those habits are not sustained over a full game. His defensive engagement also remains a work in progress. 

A drop of this magnitude—from potential top-10 consideration to the late first round or beyond—is uncommon, which makes Roobroeck one of the more fascinating evaluations in this class. It also raises the question of whether teams have become more cautious with this player profile—big, toolsy forwards who have yet to consistently impose themselves shift-to-shift. 

That said, talent like this does not disappear overnight. Roobroeck still possesses the raw tools that made him so intriguing in the first place, and in the right development environment, there is reason to believe more can be unlocked. 

Timeline

Roobroeck is not a quick projection to the NHL. He will require time and proper development to iron out the inconsistencies in his game, particularly his engagement level and defensive play. However, that may align well with the Canadiens’ current structure. With a development staff led by Adam Nicholas, the organization has shown a willingness to invest time in refining raw tools, and Roobroeck could benefit from that type of focused approach. 

At 28th overall, where most players come with meaningful question marks, taking a swing on upside is often the logical play. Roobroeck fits that mould perfectly. If he hits, the Habs could be adding a large, skilled winger to grow alongside their young core. If he does not, it will likely come down to the same concerns that define him today—consistency and engagement.