NHL Prospect Profile: Ryan McLeod

Statistics

Scout Quotes

McLeod is much more of a playmaker than a scorer. While he has improved this season and begun to take more shots, he is very much a pass-first player. McLeod has a decent wrist shot but it is not overpowering. However, it is very accurate and features a quick release. His slap shot needs some work. McLeod has a decent snapshot as well.

With continued development, McLeod could become a two-way middle-six centre in the NHL. The question here is the upside. It is doubtful that he has enough offensive tools to centre a top line. However, he could fit in nicely on a second line, providing secondary offence and matching the other team’s top line. As a late birthdate player, expect him to spend one more year in junior and then move on to the NHL. – Last Word on Hockey

AJ’s Thoughts

McLeod just finished his third season already in the OHL and while it was his most statistically significant, his overall offensive growth isn’t quite what I was hoping for this year. It was nice to see him go from nine goals to 26 but there are legitimate questions about his offensive upside as he goes on. His shot isn’t great, his playmaking doesn’t inspire great confidence, and outside of his explosive skating he simply doesn’t bring anything flashy to the table.

That’s okay because substance is always greater than style but when you’re talking about a potential first-round pick, you want to know he’s more than a defensive specialist. That’s where there aren’t many questions about his game as he is already an excellent player in his own zone, excelling at faceoffs and chewing up top PK duties with ease. The ultimate sum of his parts could still see McLeod land in the first round but he’s not the high-end player we thought he might be when he was a top pick in the OHL Draft a few years ago.

Highlights

Avalanche Fit

His biggest concern is ultimate upside offensively as a pivot. Given Colorado just watched Nathan MacKinnon shred the NHL, it’s safe to say the Avalanche aren’t looking for a long-term center atop their lineup anymore. They have one and now the job becomes to build from there. That doesn’t mean the Avalanche should settle for a player with a lower ceiling like McLeod but his defensive excellence would be a huge boon to a prospect pipeline lacking in strong two-way centers. McLeod at 16 would be a bit too rich for my blood but if Colorado moved back a bit in the draft and nabbed him it would be an excellent fit. He’s a premier skater and the Avalanche are stressing skating ability in their lead up to this year’s draft. His hockey sense should also be a fit for what the Avalanche are prioritizing, it’s just making it fit in terms of value on the draft board.

Rankings

#23 Future Considerations
#29 McKeen’s Hockey