Prospect Update: Alex Dostie

Photo: San Diego Gulls

By Thomas Harrington

A fourth-round pick from 2016, Alex Dostie just completed his second season of professional hockey, splitting time between the AHL and ECHL.

Dostie spent most of the season playing for the Gulls. He collected his first assist of the season in October and scored his first goal in December. Overall, he scored two goals and four points in 37 games. He was a healthy scratch throughout the season and was usually on the fourth line when he was in the lineup. Dostie did have one powerplay goal this past season, scored in San Diego’s 8-3 win over San Jose. He did not play in any of San Diego’s playoff games.

During the regular season, Dostie didn’t spend much time in the ECHL. He only played in five games for the Tulsa Oilers and scored four goals and eight points. Dostie was back in Tulsa for the ECHL playoffs, and he had a great run with the Oilers. Dostie played in all 20 of Tulsa’s playoff games and scored 14 goals and 24 points. He finished second in the ECHL playoffs in goals and third in points. 

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Unfortunately, Dostie wasn’t able to meet the expectations that I set for him last summer. First, I didn’t want him spending time in the ECHL. Even though it was only five games and he did very well down there, I was hoping he would be good enough to not need to be sent to the ECHL. Second, to be a healthy scratch less often. Despite playing the same number of games in the ECHL as he did in his rookie season, he played in four fewer AHL games this past season. Third, I was hoping for more offensive output from him, but his point totals dropped from 10 to four. Finally, I wanted to see more consistency from him, which didn’t happen either.

This coming season is an important one for Dostie. If he wants Anaheim to qualify him in a year’s time, he’s going to need to have a much better season than the previous two. My expectations for this coming season are very similar to what I set for him last summer. First, play only in the AHL. He’s shown that he can tear up the ECHL, now he needs to show that he’s grown completely beyond that league. Second, to set career highs in goals, points, and most importantly, games played. The increase in goals and points would be great, but the increase in games played would really show that he’s become a better player.

Dostie is still far from making his NHL debut. First, he needs to show that he can produce at the AHL level. If can do that, he’ll take a big step towards the NHL. Dostie can play both center and left wing, two positions that Anaheim is currently relatively deep at in their prospect pool. So even if he does start producing at the AHL level, he’s still got a lot of competition. If Dostie does make it to the NHL, it won’t be for at least another two or three years.

Dostie has one year left on his entry-level contract and he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer. If he bounces between the AHL and ECHL again this year, I doubt that Anaheim will qualify him in a year. However, if he can improve and spend the entire year in San Diego, then Anaheim will be much more likely to qualify him and sign him to an extension, likely for one year on a two-way deal.

The next prospect update will be on Jack Badini.

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July 30th, 2019