Bio
Stats
Scouting Report
Felix Robert is an interesting prospect in the pipeline. He went undrafted after putting up 216 points (81 goals, 136 assists) in 219 games with Sherbrooke in the QMJHL. The production earned him an AHL-contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins where he split time with the Baby Penguins and the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL in 2020-21. That earned him another AHL deal the following season and he had a solid 16-goal, 18-assist season in 63 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
However, the NHL club didn’t offer him a contract and the Lightning swooped in and signed him to a two-year, two-way contract in the summer of 2022. If there was ever a prospect that screamed “Lightning Project” it’s Felix Robert. Despite his size (he’s listed at 5’9″ and 180 lb.) he has a tireless work mode on the ice and is always in and around the puck. The fact that he was a productive scorer in the QMJHL also lines him up with other recent signings such as Alex Barre-Boulet and Bennett MacArthur.
Robert isn’t a great skater, but he is solid. He relies more on constant motion and a knack for finding the open spots to generate offense. The 24-year-old is a decent puck handler and has a pretty accurate wrist shot that he can snap off quickly. It was his play off the puck that likely drew the Lightning’s attention. Fearless on the forecheck, despite his lack of size, Robert can be a pest to play against. He’s also effective in his own zone and can break up passing lanes and flip the switch from offense to defense.
Keep an eye on Felix Robert during the preseason. Stylistically, he's a prototypical bottom-six Bolt.
— Jacob Stoller (@JLStoller) September 8, 2023
He won't make the team out of camp, however, a strong preseason showing could make him the first recall option at F if/when an injury happens.#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/WGCwTgnZxF
While it’s not likely he’ll make the club out of training camp, a strong start to the season in Syracuse could lead to him being on the shortlist for an in-season call-up, especially if there are some struggles on the third or fourth line. It is possible that the Lightning found another late-bloomer like Yanni Gourde (who Robert has drawn comparisons to in terms of style of play) or Jonathan Marchessault.
The positive from last season was that Robert matched his previous season’s production (34 points) in 8 less games. The negative is that he played in 8 less games. He only appeared in 55 games for the Crunch due to various injuries throughout the year. It was nice that in those 55 games he scored 18 goals, which tied him for third on the team, but he does have to find a way to be on the ice more often if he wants to take things to the next level.
He should be inline for some solid ice time with the Crunch this season, as either their third-line center behind Gabriel Dumont and Jack Finley, or on the wing of one of the top two lines. He’ll get some power play time (six of his goals last year were with the extra attacker) and kill some penalties as well. If he can impress the staff with consistent play and stay healthy, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that he makes his debut in the NHL at some point. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and a strong season could land him a one-way contract with the Bolts, especially considering some of his competition for the fourth line (Logan Brown and Tyler Motte) are on one-year deals this season.
As for the rankings, he was pretty much ranked 10th-13th by the majority of the writers while I had him the lowest at 17th.
Highlights
⚡️ Felix Robert (#42) wires it home to cut the Panthers lead within one! Waltteri Merelä (#39) picks up the assist.
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) September 18, 2023
–@TBLightning#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/Ok6roGtff5
👊 Ilya Usau one times roofs it home for his 3rd goal of the AHL season! Lucas Edmonds and Felix Robert pick up the assists.
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) April 6, 2023
–@SyracuseCrunch pic.twitter.com/E7StpQS9Kl
👊 Felix Robert fires it home for his 17th goal of the AHL season! Lucas Edmonds and Ilya Usau pick up the assists.
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) April 1, 2023
–@SyracuseCrunch pic.twitter.com/EZGK5oNPiI
👊 What a goal by Felix Robert! He takes the puck to the slot and roofs it home for his 16th goal of the AHL season! Lucas Edmonds and Gabriel Dumont pick up the assists.
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) March 27, 2023
–@SyracuseCrunch pic.twitter.com/awVMjOPGwf
