Each day over the next month leading up to the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 22 in Dallas, we will be taking a look at the top 31 prospects available, starting with the 31st and leading up to number one.
Next in the series of prospect profiles is our 22nd-ranked prospect, defenseman Jared McIsaac.
Jared McIsaac
2017–18 Team: Halifax (QMJHL)
Date of Birth: March 27, 2000
Place of Birth: Truro, NS
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 196 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: D
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 13
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: 12
NHL Comparable: Drew Doughty
Jared McIsaac is among the more intriguing prospects of this year’s draft class. Coming into the season, he was anticipated to be among the top defensive prospects and a lock to be in the top 10 and potentially a top-five pick. However, he did not post the gaudy offensive numbers expected, causing him to slide down the draft board a bit.
McIsaac is a prototypical all-around defenseman who can do it all and munch big minutes each and every night. There really is not much McIsaac is not good at.
McIsaac’s biggest strength is his ability to defend. He is one of, if not the best shut-down defenders in the draft. His high-end skating ability, active stick and awareness allow him to effectively break up the opposition’s opportunities. He is very difficult to beat, especially one-on-one. When a turnover is created, McIsaac is able to quickly transition the puck from defense to offense thanks to his skating.
Offensively, McIsaac enjoys leading the rush. His skating ability allows him to carry the puck well, and his good hands and vision allow him to be a threat with the option to distribute the puck or keep it himself. His shots for the point are pretty effective largely because of his ability to get pucks through to the net and keep them low to the ice, often opening opportunities for deflections and rebounds. He is comfortable quarterbacking a power play, which is where his puck distribution skills really shine.
McIsaac has a big-game motor and plays full-steam-ahead hockey, which has its time and place, but can also get him into trouble with penalties at times. Still, his style shows his drive and willingness to work hard, which are good traits to have in a young defenseman.
The only knocks on McIsaac’s game are the questions about his offensive production and a need for increased strength to continue playing his style in the NHL. More was expected of him offensively this year, which has many wondering if McIsaac has reached his offensive peak. McIsaac managed to put up 47 points in 65 games this season, but being in the QMJHL, which is widely considered to be the most offensive league in the Canadian Hockey League, and being on a team with fellow top prospects Filip Zadina and Benoit-Olivier Groulx led many to feel a bit underwhelmed by McIsaac’s totals.
Implications for the Blackhawks
McIsaac would definitely be a reach with the eighth pick, especially with the other quality defensemen likely to be available at pick eight, and odds are good he will be off the board when the Hawks are on the clock with the 27th pick. But, if he is still available, he would be a pretty good pickup. His style of play is one head coach Joel Quenneville appreciates, being sound defensively first, but with the ability to generate offense as well. If teams really doubt his offensive ability, he could be among the bigger sliders in the first round, potentially enough to drop to 27.
Timeline
McIsaac will need time to continue working on his game in the offensive end and needs to add some strength to be able to play his style professionally. These improvements will take at least one, if not two years. The earliest McIsaac would see time in the NHL would be 2019–20, though it is more likely to be 2020–21 if a team really wants him better developed before making the jump to the NHL.
Projection
McIsaac has the tools needed to become at least a top-four NHL defenseman. If he is able to develop his offensive game more, he has the potential to be a top-pairing defenseman who can truly do it all at the game’s highest level for a long time.
What others are saying
“The thing you cannot question about McIsaac is how good a defender he is. He is widely considered one of the best shutdown defenders available. He has no issues meeting you at the line and shutting a rush down. He also will race into a corner and play a strong physical game. When his team has the puck, he quarterbacked the power play and demonstrated how good a playmaker he can be with his passing. He had many options to choose from. He more often than not made the correct decision on who to pass to. On tape, McIsaac shows bursts of what kind of player he could become. He’s not afraid to drive the net when given the chance. He plays one way. That’s super aggressive no matter what goes on around him. It sometimes gets him in trouble as demonstrated by his 86 PIM’s. The thing teams must figure out is if he has the upside of a top-five player who will continue to add offense or if we’ve seen his best now.”
— Mark Scheig/The Hockey Writers
“McIsaac is a smooth-skating, two-way defenseman…he focuses on keeping his end clean first and foremost before adding to the offensive play…effortless skater with agility and balance…a long flawless stride…his cuts and transitions are fluid…incredible hockey sense…thinks the game at a very high level, and makes great decisions with the puck on his stick…keeps things simple, but can add a bit of flair where he sees an opportunity…pin-point breakout passes he delivers crisply and accurately…he really controls the puck well at high speeds and will skate it end-to-end when he gets room to rush the puck up ice…possesses a real cannon of a shot from the point…plays opposing puck carriers aggressively and stands up attackers at the blue line…keeps a close gap pushing opponents to the outside and applies good pressure to force mistakes…plays with a mean streak in the corners and around his own crease…doesn’t shy away from working hard…confident and mature…he’s a calming, safe, reliable two-way defender that has top-pairing NHL upside.”
— Aaron Vickers/Future Considerations