NHL draft tracker: Adam Erne, Quebec Remparts

Adam Erne is locked in after a hockey odyssey where he crossed a continent to hone his game.

The Quebec Remparts forward, with 12 points in nine games, is living up to projections that he could be the premier power winger from North America available in the NHL draft. As Erne, a potential top-10 pick, tells it, he's found his comfort zone during his second season in la vieille capitale. Perhaps that is not surprising considering Erne moved from Los Angeles to New Jersey to the USHL's Indiana Ice during his last seasons before being recruited to the QMJHL by Patrick Roy. Erne looks much more self-possessed than he did as last season dragged on; he's been keeping up with Buffalo Sabres first-rounder Mikhail Grigorenko on Quebec's top line while fellow draft prospect Anthony Duclair sits with a sprained ankle.

"Having a second year here has helped me so much," says Erne, who had 55 points in 64 games as a 16-year-old. "Even having that one year of USHL [as a 15-year-old] helped me a bit. But this year, having that experience gives me so much confidence. I know the rinks. I know the refs. I know what Pat [Roy] wants from me and the team."

Erne offers a good confluence of size and speed, able to move very smoothly relative to other 17-year-olds with his build. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder is also using his fleet feet to become a much better two-way player. For instance, in Quebec's win over the Gatineau Olympiques last Friday, he created a turnover that led to him scoring by harrying a defenceman into a soft cross-ice pass. Later in the game, he beat a defender wide teed up Grigorenko for a one-timed rocket over goalie Michael Nishi's shoulder.

"He's stronger on the puck, he's strong when he goes to the net," Roy says. "He's a great power forward and he's having a super start. What I like about Adam is he wants to learn, he wants to work hard.

"He's been doing everything pretty well so far — backchecking, playing defensively, good stick, good positioning," Roy adds.

Erne is well-aware his draft year is exceptionally deep. That was what pushed him to focus on improving his first-steps speed this summer, spending two days a week on the track.

"This is going to be a really good draft year," says Erne, who lived with the family of Tri-City Americans star goalie Erie Comrie when the two were bantam teammates in L.A. three years ago. "Whoever puts the effort in, it's going to show. To stay in the mix, you're going to have to push yourself."

1. There is no skill a player your age can neglect, but what is something you really want to improve at this season?

"Last year I had the most shots on the team [211] and I kind of want to keep doing that. Just continuing to get better with my shot, as well as in the corners and the D zone."

2. Whom in the NHL do you watch closely?

"In the [Stanley Cup] playoffs I really liked Chris Krieder [of the New York Rangers]. I don't play like him, but I really like the way he works and the way he shoots the puck. I think I was really surprised by him."

3. What has it been like skating with Grigorenko? Did you skate with him a lot last season?

"I played with him a little bit last year, but mostly I played with [Mike] McNamee [now with Sherbrooke] and [right wing Logan] Shaw. This year I played mostly with with Soresy and Etchy [right wing Nick Sorensen and centre Kurt Etchegary], but Duclair got hurt so we've had to shuffle around. Grigo and I have been clicking pretty well. The thing about our team is that anybody can play with anybody."

4. What's been unique about being an American playing in Quebec City?

"I can't really think of anything, but it's been a really good experience for me. Everybody's great. Just because you're American, no one cares. They love all the players and it's a really good atmosphere."

5. Being strict about nutrition is part of being a pro, but what's your guilty pleasure?

"I like pizza. I like fried chicken, too. I'm a big fried chicken guy."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet .