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NEWARK, N.J. — On a day when the Ottawa Senators were about to again try to contain the No. 1 pick in the 2017 National Hockey League draft, head coach Guy Boucher raved about the guy chosen 121st.

Understandably so.

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As of Friday afternoon, Senators prospect Drake Batherson had an eight-point lead in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring race and had six more goals than any other QMJHL player.

He also had 17 more points than his highest scoring teammate with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

When Boucher was asked if he was surprised that Batherson had 17 goal and 12 assists in the first 15 games of the regular season, he replied with an adamant no.

“He had an outstanding camp,” Boucher said. “It was just tougher once he got to the exhibition (games). He wasn’t bad, but it was a little too much for him at that time. He had been probably the revelation of camp until then. So I’m not surprised at all.”