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NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Jake Bean

AJ Haefele

June 20, 2016

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Get to Know Jake Bean:

Date of Birth: 6/9/1998
Place of Birth: Calgary, AB, CAN
Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 172 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Defense
Team (League): Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Statistics

What Scouts See

Curtis Joe, Elite Prospects:

A shifty and intelligent defenceman that plays with panache and poise. An excellent skater that is a good puck-carrier up the ice. Makes very good decisions with and without the puck, and plays strong positionally. Works hard and doesn’t give the opposition much to work with, but could stand to be a bit more assertive during high pressure situations. That being said, he is not a one dimensional player.

He displays natural talent in the offensive end, but also plays a complete defensive game in his own end. He has a proactive stick and boxes the opposition out, limiting lanes. All-in-all, the type of all-around defenceman that you want to have on the ice as much as possible.

The Draft Analyst:

A nimble puck mover who grasps the intricacies of offensive-zone play, Bean is arguably the draft’s biggest scoring threat from the back end. He loves to dictate the tempo once the puck is on his stick, and when he does, Bean’s able to showcase elite stickhandling skills and pro-level instincts with cerebral shot selection. Simply put, he’s the kind of threat who keeps opposing coaches hard at work during the day, and restlessly sleepless at night.

What BSN Avalanche sees

Bean is an excellent puck-mover whose aggression on offense is the key to his success. He has great vision, hands, and a good shot but his hockey IQ on the offensive end is where he really shines. He reads defenses so well and understands how to attack them and then does it with reckless abandon. Bean is a wonderful skater who will be a force in the NHL in a few years. Defensively, he’s active with his stick and has a good understanding of gap control.

Like a lot of offensive defensemen, Bean has major holes in his defensive game. He’s a bit tentative at times and is more afraid of making the big mistake than anything else. I see a real lack of confidence in Bean’s defensive approach and wonder what his game would look like if he let loose. He’s not afraid to play the body, but it’s not really a strength of his and it won’t ever be something he relies on. While he understands positioning and puts himself in good spots, he occasionally looks like he mentally shuts it down when he gets there.

Highlights

NHL Potential

Saying Bean has the potential of Erik Karlsson is supremely unfair only because Karlsson is in the midst of a likely Hall of Fame career. However, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Jake Bean became the next big offensive dynamo on the blue line as he has all the potential in the world to be a featured star in today’s version of the NHL. His defense will need some development but he’s nowhere near the one-dimensional player many will portray him to be.

Expected Draft Position

His rankings have him being selected just outside of the top 10 but there have been persistent rumors of a team inside the top 10 that loves Bean and just may pull the trigger on him. Assuming that does not happen, though, he could be selected anywhere from 11th onwards.

How Prospect Fits in Avalanche Organization

Simply put, Bean would be the heir apparent to Tyson Barrie. If there’s one thing the Avalanche organization has always been able to find, it’s high-level offensive defensemen. From Sandis Ozolinsh to Rob Blake to John-Michael Liles to Kevin Shattenkirk and now Barrie, Bean would be the next in the long line of successful point-producing defensemen. Bean would instantly be the top defender in the Avalanche system and his need to add strength would be all that separates him from a quick jump to the NHL.