Zachary L’Heureux, the Predators 2021 first-round pick, has been suspended for 10 games by QMJHL

Halifax Mooseheads forward Zachary L’Heureux, the No. 27 Nashville Predators draft pick in the 2021 NHL draft, has been suspended for 10 games by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the league said on Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:

• The video surfaced on social media of L’Heureux, 19, who appeared to poke at a spectator with a stick as they left the ice after a game on February 8.
• The league originally announced on February 10 that L’Heureux had been suspended “indefinitely” over the incident and that a disciplinary panel would review the evidence over the weekend.
• The league said Wednesday that it had received “new video footage” and “the player’s post-game gesture simply cannot be tolerated by the QMJHL.” L’Heureux has previously been suspended multiple times and is therefore considered a repeat offender, the league noted.

backstory

L’Heureux has 18 goals and 19 assists in 24 games for the Mooseheads this season. He was suspended nine times in three seasons in the QMJHL.

Nashville, L’Heureux signed a three-year entry-level deal in July 2021. The Athletics Scott Wheeler recently ranked him the #5 Predator.

Scouting report on L’Heureux

He is now considered a good but not great professional. He is very talented and competitive offensively, despite being of average height and not a great skater. As a pure athlete, he plans to be an NHL player, but he hasn’t played much hockey in recent years, mainly because he gets disciplined so often. — Pronmann

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(Photo: David Kirouac / USA Today)