Upon the completion of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, The Rink will take a look at the players chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks on day two of the draft.
First up is the Blackhawks’ first third round choice, center Jake Wise.
Jake Wise
2017–18 Team: USA U-18 National Team Development Program (NTDP)
Date of Birth: February 28, 2000
Place of Birth: Naples, FL
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 195 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: C
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 38
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: Not Ranked
NHL Comparable: Travis Konecny
Once considered to be a potential top-10 draft pick, Jake Wise’s draft stock entered free fall after an average 2016–17 season and an injury to start this season. However, with a lights-out second half of the season, Wise re-established himself as a worthy prospect.
By the time June rolled around, some analysts believed Wise could sneak into the first round because of his strong late-season performance. Slotting in as the second line center on an absolutely loaded USNTDP U-18 team, Wise was able to slide under the radar a bit to find his game again. Wise managed to tally 43 points in 38 games this season.
Wise is a good skater. He has good speed and acceleration. One of his biggest skating strengths is his ability to change speed quickly and effectively thanks to his quick feet and high-end edgework. This ability allows him to excel in one-on-one situations, as he keeps defensemen guessing on what he will do. He can open up passing and shooting lanes with his feet for himself and his teammates, another valuable trait.
Wise possesses high-end hands. His stickhandling ability is excellent and he is very comfortable with the puck on his stick. Wise is capable of combining his hands and skating to beat defenders on the rush, but does not mind being patient to set up developing plays.
Wise has good vision, allowing him to be an effective passer. He reads plays well and recognizes the best places to get the puck to his teammates. Wise is able to make pinpoint passes, but does not force high-risk passes. His hockey sense and smarts are high-end, which helps him make the best decisions with the puck.
While not an elite shooter, his shot features a quick release and good accuracy, though not overly powerful. However, Wise is generally a pass-first type of player, as is evidenced by the 32 assists he registered this season. With his high-end release, he could stand to shoot the puck more, which would make him a more dangerous threat offensively.
Wise is responsible defensively and exudes good effort in his own end. He takes pride in his backchecking and does well supporting his defensemen. His smarts allow him to effectively recognize threats and adjust accordingly. He needs to add strength to help clearing the front of the net.
Implications for the Blackhawks
Many expected the Hawks to take a forward with at least one of their first round picks, so being able to grab a center some thought had first round potential with their first third round selection was a great get for the team. He should give the Blackhawks some added reliable depth at the center position, though not for a few more years.
Timeline
Wise is headed to Boston University next season, where he will likely spend at least a couple of years. The earliest Wise could conceivably take the United Center ice would likely be 2020–21.
Projection
Wise has the ability to become a middle-six centerman. While he likely doesn’t have a ton of high-end offensive upside, he should become a serviceable two-way player who is good in his own end and can contribute offensively.
What others are saying
“Top-end playmaker with superior vision and hockey sense who is the power play architect for Team USA’s under-18 team. Wise has excellent hand-eye coordination and razor sharp awareness, and he’ll rarely make a mistake when opponents giftwrap a scoring chance. He also possesses a highly-accurate shot that seems to give goalies a hard time.”
— Steve Kournianos/The Draft Analyst
“Wise is an incredibly intelligent player with the ability to read and react to the play developing around him. He was an offensive catalyst for Team USA, providing them with a combination of goal scoring and playmaking ability. He works extremely hard with or without the puck, and is always looking to generate a scoring chance. Wise does a lot of the little things right.”
— Future Considerations