Jets All Out Top 25: #19 Patrice Cormier

Patrice Cormier, 21, C, 6'2, 205 lbs
Last Year's Rating: N/A This Year's Rating: #19 Difference: N/A

Patrice Cormier has been known to play with an edge throughout his junior career in the QMJHL. During the 2009-10 season, Cormier was involved in an on-ice incident when he hit opposing player Mikael Tam with a flagrant elbow which landed him a season (and QMJHL-ending) suspension.

In his QMJHL career, Cormier collected 144 points in 189 games with the Rimouski Oceanic and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

In 2008, Cormier was selected 54th overall by the New Jersey Devils and was later involved in the trade that sent Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils from the Thrahsers. He, Johnny Oduya, Nicolas Bergfors, and picks went to Atlanta.

Cormier played in the 2010 AHL playoffs with the Chicago Wolves for nine games, collecting eight penalty minutes. He played 11 games last season with Chicago, after being out with injury for the start of the season, before being called up to the Thrashers, where he played in 21 games, collecting two points.

If Cormier can put his past negative play of the QMJHL behind him, he can become one of the biggest two-way pests in the NHL. His grit is well documented in his junior career as he is not afraid to drop the gloves, collecting 118 penalty minutes in 2008-09 with the Oceanic and 339 in his QMJHL career.

He has stiff competition for a centre job, competing with the likes of Tim Stapleton, Ben Maxwell, and possibly Aaron Gagnon. If Cormier can make a transition to the wing, he could make the Jets lineup. But his feisty play may be the best suited as a centreman.