NHL Prospect Profile: Jared McIsaac

Statistics

Scout Quotes

McIsaac’s strong skating ability helps him to be an excellent two-way defender. He is very difficult to beat one-on-one. McIsaac can also play a physical game in the corners and in front of the net. However, in order to continue to play this type of game at the next level, McIsaac must get stronger. He is also a smart player, with a strong positional game and good anticipation. McIsaac cuts down passing lanes with an active stick. When a turnover is created, he transitions quickly to offence.

McIsaac has all the upside and skills necessary to be a top-four defenceman at the NHL level. While he is not NHL ready yet, another year or two in junior, rounding out his game will serve him well. He should continue to play big minutes, and in all situations. This is something that will serve him well in his development. – Last Word on Hockey

AJ’s Thoughts

McIsaac is an impressive athletic specimen who just hasn’t quite put together all of his tools just yet. He’s a player whose skating, offensive ability, and size all should be a combination for not just excellence, but potential dominance. He’s a real player and there’s a reason he was looking like a potential top-10 pick coming into this season. That he isn’t finishing up there is a combination of both a weaker-than-expected year from him and a handful of excellent offensive seasons from players in this class.

While his frame is impressive, he needs to add some serious strength to it because he’s a guy that should be a physical force and simply isn’t right now. He makes up for it with great reads, solid gap control, and good agility. He’s consistently disruptive with his stick on defense but he allows zone entries far too easily for a player physically built to stand guys up and separate much earlier on in the process.

He’s a guy that is going to get taken later in the first round but who has a real shot at being a big time steal for whoever takes him if he just puts it all together.

Highlights

Avalanche Fit

The Avalanche don’t really need McIsaac. Had the Avs not added Girard and Timmins to go along with Makar last year, he would make a lot more sense here. But with Zadorov and Girard the future of the left side, McIsaac isn’t an immediate fit as each of those guys will have prominent roles on the PK/PP in the future, cutting down on the avenues where McIsaac can help, which just further limits his value. That said, it’s a fool’s errand to believe all of your young players are going to work out the way you believe. He’s another guy that would be a much better fit for Colorado if they moved down versus just straight up taking him at 16.

Rankings

#27 Future Considerations
#24 McKeen’s Hockey