NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Max Jones

Get to Know Max Jones

Date of Birth: February 17, 1998 (18)
Place of Birth: Rochester, MI
Ht: 6’3” Wt: 201 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
Team: London Knights

Under the shadow of London’s explosive top line of Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk, and Christian Dvorak, Max Jones has become become something of an undervalued contributor for the Memorial Cup bound Knights. This old school power forward plays a hard nosed game with plenty of offense and plenty of snarl.

Statistics

What Scouts See

Curtis Joe, Elite Prospects:
Max Jones is a diligent and hard-working power forward capable of being an impact player every shift. He’s strong on the puck and routinely looks to create separation. He knows his game inside out and has a wide array of tools at his disposal. Strength and speed allow him to bull his way to the front of the net where he is relentless and creates havoc. Makes smart decisions with the puck and doesn’t give the opposition time and space. Possesses high-end finishing ability and “wills” the puck to the back of the net. All-in-all, a determined forward who puts tremendous pressure on his opponents when he’s on the ice.

Scott Wheeler, Future Considerations:
Jones plays an admirable power game. While I don’t think Jones has the high-end skillset to be considered a top 15-20 pick, I appreciate what he brings as a competitor with size and skating ability who can play up and down the lineup. He likes to go to the slot and carries the puck with a certain force that intimidates defenders. He’s got work to do on his offensive game but he’s responsible in his own zone with a heavy, low kick to his release and a strong, confident presence.
David Burstyn, McKeens Hockey

OHL Prospect Watch: Strome fires burning, Max’s maximum

A complete throwback player who is cocky and plays with swagger. Jones comes at opponents like a freight train – electing to take the most direct route to the net while bulldozing those in his path. More a ‘shooter’ than playmaker as he doesn’t always see the pass. His lack of vision and average hockey sense creeps into his game and makes NHL scouts question what his true value will be at the next level. Jones is effective below the dots, however his defensive game and shift management are areas that need to be addressed. At times, he can stay out too long and is lazy getting off the ice. Jones does play an ‘in-your-face’ game that irritates the opposition, although he doesn’t always meet confrontations head on.

What BSN Avalanche sees
Jones plays on the edge and does have some discipline issues, including a vicious hit in the first round of the OHL playoffs which cost the young winger 12 games in suspension. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDqvp-A-RPM But that physical edge is part of what makes Jones who he is and part of what makes him so effective. Jones is a freight train of a player whose sole focus is advancing the puck up ice and towards the net. When he gets up a full head of steam, Jones is almost impossible to stop, barreling past and through junior sized players who can’t yet account for his power game. Jones has a tremendous blend of power and speed in his game, and all the physical tools that scouts love to see in a first round pick, but as a player who plays at his best when he “plays angry” and aggressive, there are some concerns about Jones’ consistency, and discipline. Jones is a young player still learning the difference between aggressive and reckless.
Just like Dylan Strome on the stacked Erie Otters last year, there is some concern over how much Max Jones produces himself and how much he is a beneficiary of his teammates, however, Jones’ performance while his team’s top players were at WJC should silence some of those doubts.
With most or all of the Knights’ top line set to graduate to professional hockey next season, Jones should see his ice time and role increase substantially. In an excellent develop environment like London, that may give scouts more confidence that Jones can grow out of his consistency issues and into the kind of offense that would justify a top 20 selection.

NHL Potential
There are some concerns about the height of Jones’ offensive ceiling, however, his size and aggressive power game mean that he has a good floor as a checking forward in the NHL. Max Jones projects as a middle six agitating winger. Jones has some significant holes in his game to address before he’s ready for NHL action, but the likely graduation of a number of London’s forwards will give him an increased role next year and an opportunity to grow outside the shadow of the Knights’ top forwards.

Expected Draft Position
Jones’ lengthy playoff suspension hasn’t done much to sour scouts on the big physical winger and it’s unlikely to deter general managers from selecting him on draft day. Most scouts consider the top group of this draft to range from 12-15 players and place Jones just outside of that tier of top talent, but still firmly within the 1st round.

How Prospect Fits in Avalanche Organization
Considering the talent likely available at 10th overall, Max Jones would be a pretty large reach for an Avalanche team that can’t afford to miss on another first round pick after disappointing results from Joey Hishon (17th), Duncan Siemens (11th) and Conner Bleackley (23rd). If the Avalanche were to trade down or acquire another 1st round pick via trade, however, Max Jones would be a strong fit for a system lacking impact forwards. Jones fits the Avs recent draft model of targeting large skilled forwards like Mikko Rantanen and A.J. Greer and would provide some much needed snarl to an organization that is often criticized as soft and low energy.