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 25th-ranked prospect, center Ryan McLeod.
Ryan McLeod
2017–18 Team: Mississauga (OHL)
Date of Birth: September 21, 1999
Place of Birth: Mississauga, ON
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 203 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: C
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 16
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: 16
NHL Comparables: Kevin Hayes/Nick Schmaltz
On the outside, Ryan McLeod appears to be a top-end prospect. He has nice size, great speed and elite vision and hockey sense. He put up good numbers this season in Mississauga, where he has continued to grow in each of his three seasons. He has improved from 20 points as a rookie to 42 points last season to 70 this season (26 goals, 44 assists). His development and increased offensive production is very encouraging.
McLeod’s skating allows him to be an effective two-way player. He owns elite acceleration and speed, giving him the ability to create space and separation for himself offensively and recover quickly defensively. He also possesses elite agility, which is even more impressive given his size. He is able to change directions with ease at top speed. McLeod is strong on his skates as well, which allows him to come out on top in board battles and in front of the net.
McLeod loves distributing the puck to his teammates. His vision and hockey sense are among the best in the draft class. McLeod is very much a pass-first player, though owns a very accurate wrist shot that he gets off relatively quickly, though not as quickly as some of the class’s elite shooters. His shot is not overly powerful, but his accuracy makes up for it.
Defensively, McLeod is responsible and effective. He uses his speed to close gaps. His vision allows for him to read plays and break up passes, which he then quickly turns into a break going the other way thanks to his speed.
However, McLeod has two glaring problems. He does not use his big frame as effectively as he should and he often times appears to lack drive and motivation.
McLeod has all the tools needed to be a future NHL star. He is big, has speed to burn and is a fantastic passer. It is simply a matter of if he can overcome his lack of physicality and intensity that stands between him and NHL stardom.
Implications for the Blackhawks
Odds are probably decent another team will have taken a chance on him by the time the Hawks are at the podium for the 27th pick because of the massive amount of offensive upside he has. But, if he is still available at 27, the Blackhawks may be willing to roll the dice on him, since they will have already selected a high-end prospect with the eighth pick. If there is an organization that could straighten out a player’s lack of drive, Chicago and head coach Joel Quenneville is probably it. They would likely need to be pretty patient with him, but if they are, he could provide much-needed depth at the center position in the near future.
Timeline
He already has the speed, skill and size to be an NHL player. However, he will need time to become comfortable with contact and needs to figure out a way to find his motivation and channel that into results. He will need another year in juniors before turning pro.
Projection
If—that is a big if—McLeod can overcome his glaring deficiencies, he has the potential to be a low-end first line center. However, he would likely slot in better as a decent second line pivot. If he does not overcome these issues, he may not receive much a chance to prove himself at the NHL level. He is a big risk, but if he pays off, the team selecting him will reap huge rewards in the long run.
What others are saying
“Big-bodied power forward with speed and playmaking abilities who was one of the top OHL scorers among first-year draft eligibles. McLeod’s versatility is one of several things that stand out about him — he can play center or wing, shoot the puck with authority and is a mainstay on both the power play and penalty kill.”
— Steve Kournianos/Sporting News
“While McLeod has a decent finishing touch, his playmaking is what sets him apart from other players in this draft class. He has a very good shot and knows how to use it but when push comes to shove, McLeod’s ability to find an open player and feed them the puck is something he excels at. Part of that playmaking ability is what makes him such a good center prospect.”
— Brandon Share-Cohen/The Hockey Writers