Jonathan Huberdeau put on an impressive first round performance in his series opener in the QMJHL playoffs.

And it’s making scouts feel better about the option of taking him among the first few picks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

“His performance isn’t just solidifying him as a top-six (in the draft), but he’s now knocking on the top-four door,” an NHL Eastern Conference scout offered.

In four lopsided games that saw the Saint John Sea Dogs outscore the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 26-2, Huberdeau accumulated five goals and 12 points. He’s currently shares second in playoff scoring with teammate Zack Phillips. Huberdeau has figured in on three of Phillips four postseason goals.

In the series opener, Huberdeau figured in on the game’s first three goals, opening the floodgates in a 10-0 rout. The series’ second game didn’t start much differently, with Huberdeau notching four points – including a hat trick – on the Sea Dog’s first five goals en route to a 7-1 drubbing of Cape Breton. In the series’ final two games, the St-Jerome, QC native was in on four of nine goals, including both opening-game goals.

Huberdeau, who was ranked outside the first round in Future Considerations’ preliminary rankings in September, skyrocketed after an impressive regular season performance that saw him finish with 43 goals and 105 points. He’s currently projected to go sixth behind fellow QMJHLer Sean Couturier. Couturier currently has three goals and eight points in four postseason games.

Aaron Vickers is the managing editor of Future Considerations and can be found on Twitter. For all the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed, on YouTube and on Facebook!