Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff profiles Alexandre Doucet this morning:
Last season, the 21-year-old left-winger tallied 58 goals in a QMJHL season split between the Val d’Or Foreurs and Halifax Mooseheads. He counted an additional 14 goals and 31 points in 21 playoff games for the Mooseheads.
Along the way, the undrafted junior also was catching the eye of the Red Wings, who would sign the free agent to a pro contract.
“I started to talk in January,” Doucet said. “I couldn’t sign before March 1. Talked to a couple of teams and it was really Detroit. They like the way I play. They told me to just keep continuing working on my speed and everything.”
When he was never made a selection the NHL entry draft, Doucet did not despair. Instead, he would utilize being overlooked as inspiration that was helping to grow his game.
“Even my draft year I knew I wasn’t going to get drafted, so it’s more like not being drafted is motivation,” Doucet explained. “It’s my first camp, too, so it’s just hard work and not being drafted, not having camp and finally I had a great year last year as a 20-year-old. A couple of teams saw that and the Red Wings, too.”
