Buzzing The Net is profiling Canadian Hockey League players who are in their NHL draft season.

A change did Alan Quine good in his draft season.

The centre, who possesses speed and smarts, started to turn up on draft lists after an early-season trade to the rebuilding Peterborough Petes that sent Boston Bruins second-rounder Ryan Spooner to the Kingston Frontenacs. The move gave the former No. 2 choice in the OHL priority selection, who was gasping for ice time on a Kingston team with two older centres, a larger role with the Petes. Quine parlayed that into finishing with 26 goals and 53 points in 69 games between the two OHL teams.

The Ottawa native figures he and the Petes, who finished second-last in the league, are better off in the long run after committing to a rebuild.

"Nobody wants to not to be in the playoffs, but we fought to the end," says Quine, who is NHL Central Scouting's 64th-ranked domestic skater. "It was a good learning process. We had a young team, we took a little something from going into every game knowing we would have to battle to have a chance to win."

The 6-foot, 181-pound Quine's draft status will likely hinge on figuring out what role he would play in the NHL. He's shown a scoring touch at times, despite having yet to ever play a major role on a good team. While he was minus-36 for the season, his two-way game is well-developed enough that he earned a spot on Team Canada for last summer's Memorial of Ivan Hlinka under-18 tournament, helping it win the gold medal. With Peterborough missing the playoffs, Quine could get to play internationally at the spring U18 later this month in Germany.

"I hope to be announced to that team, it would be a real exciting honour," says Quine.

1. How would you say your past season progressed?

"Season went well, especially after the November 11 trade. Everything went uphill from there. My development was huge in the last few months.

"Starting from [Petes general manager] Dave Reid to the entire coaching staff [under head coach Mike Pelino], they were all really good, really vocal, very good teachers. That helped a lot. All of the guys there were willing to work, be good people and have fun while doing it."

2. In your mind, what would scouts say is the biggest thing you have to work on between now and when you'll be on the cusp of turning pro?

"They'd probably pick apart the physical part of my game. I have to compete harder for pucks and use my body a bit more effectively."

3. Outside of family, who has had the most impact on you in hockey?

"Coach Glen Peveril, who was my minor hockey coach in Halifax ... he taught the game and a style of play that I play to the game. He was a good teacher. I had him every summer from the time I was seven or eight until I was 11 and we won a lot of championships together."

4. What teammate has had the biggest effect on you?

"Joey West from the Petes. He's a hard worker who doesn't get the credit he deserves. He'll do everything he can to better himself. He's from the same area I am in Ottawa [Orleans, the east end], so it helped I knew him coming in."

5. Favourite TV show or movie?