Prospect Info: New Jersey Devils 1st Round Pick: C Michael McLeod

[NJDevils17]

I would imagine that they keep McLeod and maybe even Bastian around a while before they return to them to juniors. I'd imagine that they like to get their 1st round pick a little taste of his first NHL train camp at the very least.

That's a good point. I think the chance either makes the team is very low because they each have a lot to work on but getting training camp experience and some preseason games certainly couldn't hurt.

 

[NJDevils17]

Just doing some reading and found this article, I don't remember seeing:

http://thehockeywriters.com/star-center-will-be-steal-of-the-2016-nhl-draft/

"McLeod is an incredibly skilled all-around player, who has consistently displayed not only strong offensive skills, but also impeccable defensive and faceoff skills. He has the ability to lead the rush, finish his checks, and simply make his teammates better. In the long run, McLeod projects to be a number one or two center in the NHL, drawing comparisons to Taylor Hall for his skating, and Nicklas Backstrom for his vision and overall abilities."

Also notes how is shot is actually pretty good. The more I read about this pick the more I love it.

 

[DevilsFanInFla]

Just doing some reading and found this article, I don't remember seeing:

http://thehockeywriters.com/star-center-will-be-steal-of-the-2016-nhl-draft/

"McLeod is an incredibly skilled all-around player, who has consistently displayed not only strong offensive skills, but also impeccable defensive and faceoff skills. He has the ability to lead the rush, finish his checks, and simply make his teammates better. In the long run, McLeod projects to be a number one or two center in the NHL, drawing comparisons to Taylor Hall for his skating, and Nicklas Backstrom for his vision and overall abilities."

Also notes how is shot is actually pretty good. The more I read about this pick the more I love it.

It's even more exciting because we also have Hall If he pans out close to this assessment...just imagine....

Also, after reading the article, I noticed the praise given for our 2nd round guy Bastian who the writer suggested may be a first round selection. Granted, it's one writer but it's still encouraging to hear words of praise for our draftees. Let's hope they all pan out as well as some have them pegged to.

 

[JimEIV]

Hall, Zacha, McLeod, Bastian, Quenneville, Wood....add Santini

That's a heavy team...that could be a nightmare to play against. Those are giants with speed and skill.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I predict that McLeod will turn some heads and impress this week.

 

[JimEIV]

I predict that McLeod will turn some heads and impress this week.

It'll be impressive if he does...with Zacha, Quenneville, Wood, Lappin, Coleman, Blandisi, and Auvitu there is going to be a lot of talent there. To turn heads in that group would something special.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I wouldn't be shocked if he gets a long camp look like Zacha last year before being sent back to juniors.

Unless he is completely out of his element, some NHL practices and preseason games would be good for him.

Be a good time for him to pick up tips on how to better change gears that he can take back to juniors and expand upon

 

[VoidCreature]

I wouldn't be shocked if he gets a long camp look like Zacha last year before being sent back to juniors.

Unless he is completely out of his element, some NHL practices and preseason games would be good for him.

Be a good time for him to pick up tips on how to better change gears that he can take back to juniors and expand upon

I might go to all of the preseason games at the Rock this year. Getting a look at all these promising young guys before they get divided up and sent back to their leagues is gonna be sweet.

 

[Cheddabombs]

It'll be impressive if he does...with Zacha, Quenneville, Wood, Lappin, Coleman, Blandisi, and Auvitu there is going to be a lot of talent there. To turn heads in that group would something special.

I think it's easier for someone with the raw skills McLeod possess to impress at camps. He'll no doubt be the fastest player on the ice, and when all they're really doing is drills and mini scrimmages his physical skill-set may lead to him impressing more so than others. It's the pre-season games that'll really differentiate him and our more mature/refined prospects.

Not saying he'll blow everyone away, but I wouldn't be shocked to hear that impressed at the end of the week.

 

[Bcap88]

dude has wheels

 

[NjDevsRR]

Good lord that OHL commentator is over the top

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

dude has wheels

just watching him he seems like he could have very well been a top 5 pick

i think we got a great one here

 

[FooteBahl]

He skates like he has a video game cheat code.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

He did have an injury late in season, so we have to root for Michael to have a good offensive year this coming season.

 

[lucscaps]

I'm hoping he gets on the WJC team for Canada to see him play against the top comp. on the bigger ice.

 

[Burner Account]

That video makes me excited for the future of this franchise.

 

[devilsblood]

That video makes me excited for the future of this franchise.

Even when I was thinking McLeod was a reach at 12 I always thought his highlight reel was as good as anyone's.

Bastians got a sweet one as well, granted there is plenty of overlap, but you see more individual plays with McLeod, but Bastians is chock full of tic tac toes.

 

[Grant McCagg]

Congratulations on your selection of McLeod.....for the record I used to scout in the NHL for the Habs and have several good scouting contacts in the league... all of them right up until the end of the season liked McLeod as a top 6 player in this draft..but a few concerns crept in at the U-18's...he didn't have a great tournament offensively. I had him ranked third overall for the draft as late as March.....by the time I compiled my final rankings he was 7th overall. For me being able to get him at 12th overall while picking up an extra pick was a major coup. He works much harder than Brown on and off the ice..there are no question marks for him going forward IMO.

He was still in a lot of scouts' top 10...I'm not talking about "independent scouts" and the likes of Cox or Button..but NHL scouts...personally I think the knocks on his "offensive upside" have been overblown just as they were for Dylan Larkin...I think his game will translate well to the NHL..and at the very least he'll be a number 2 center for the Devils who will play a very complete game and be one of the best faceoff men and penalty killers in the league. I think you guys got a gem. I saw him live a couple of times this year where he simply blew me away..one of my favourite prospects to watch in the decade that I've been scouting professionally.

 

[NJDevils17]

Congratulations on your selection of McLeod.....for the record I used to scout in the NHL for the Habs and have several good scouting contacts in the league... all of them right up until the end of the season liked McLeod as a top 6 player in this draft..but a few concerns crept in at the U-18's...he didn't have a great tournament offensively. I had him ranked third overall for the draft as late as March.....by the time I compiled my final rankings he was 7th overall. For me being able to get him at 12th overall while picking up an extra pick was a major coup. He works much harder than Brown on and off the ice..there are no question marks for him going forward IMO.

He was still in a lot of scouts' top 10...I'm not talking about "independent scouts" and the likes of Cox or Button..but NHL scouts...personally I think the knocks on his "offensive upside" have been overblown just as they were for Dylan Larkin...I think his game will translate well to the NHL..and at the very least he'll be a number 2 center for the Devils who will play a very complete game and be one of the best faceoff men and penalty killers in the league. I think you guys got a gem. I saw him live a couple of times this year where he simply blew me away..one of my favourite prospects to watch in the decade that I've been scouting professionally.

Thanks for the input! It seems a lot of people had him in the top 5 to start the season but he kind of fell off. I remember reading someone that said he could've challenged Matthews if it wasn't for his inability to finish.

Good to hear others were still really high on him too. I love this selection personally.

 

[Mike27Devils]

Congratulations on your selection of McLeod.....for the record I used to scout in the NHL for the Habs and have several good scouting contacts in the league... all of them right up until the end of the season liked McLeod as a top 6 player in this draft..but a few concerns crept in at the U-18's...he didn't have a great tournament offensively. I had him ranked third overall for the draft as late as March.....by the time I compiled my final rankings he was 7th overall. For me being able to get him at 12th overall while picking up an extra pick was a major coup. He works much harder than Brown on and off the ice..there are no question marks for him going forward IMO.

He was still in a lot of scouts' top 10...I'm not talking about "independent scouts" and the likes of Cox or Button..but NHL scouts...personally I think the knocks on his "offensive upside" have been overblown just as they were for Dylan Larkin...I think his game will translate well to the NHL..and at the very least he'll be a number 2 center for the Devils who will play a very complete game and be one of the best faceoff men and penalty killers in the league. I think you guys got a gem. I saw him live a couple of times this year where he simply blew me away..one of my favourite prospects to watch in the decade that I've been scouting professionally.

Appreciate the insight. I also loved Mcleod in my viewings but when I heard his U18s were not very good while watching Keller and Brown play very offensively dynamic games I ended up wanting them instead of him. I'm very excited to have him he will fit in like a glove in how the way the devils are trying to play and seems to be a safe pick with plenty of upside. Do you think his injury played any part in him not performing up to expectations in the U18s or maybe he ran out of gas (similar to Sergachev)? Thanks again.

 

[HBK27]

Congratulations on your selection of McLeod.....for the record I used to scout in the NHL for the Habs and have several good scouting contacts in the league... all of them right up until the end of the season liked McLeod as a top 6 player in this draft..but a few concerns crept in at the U-18's...he didn't have a great tournament offensively. I had him ranked third overall for the draft as late as March.....by the time I compiled my final rankings he was 7th overall. For me being able to get him at 12th overall while picking up an extra pick was a major coup. He works much harder than Brown on and off the ice..there are no question marks for him going forward IMO.

He was still in a lot of scouts' top 10...I'm not talking about "independent scouts" and the likes of Cox or Button..but NHL scouts...personally I think the knocks on his "offensive upside" have been overblown just as they were for Dylan Larkin...I think his game will translate well to the NHL..and at the very least he'll be a number 2 center for the Devils who will play a very complete game and be one of the best faceoff men and penalty killers in the league. I think you guys got a gem. I saw him live a couple of times this year where he simply blew me away..one of my favourite prospects to watch in the decade that I've been scouting professionally.

Thanks for the info. I started following you on Twitter a week or two before the draft and saw that you were very high on McLeod - had him above guys like Keller, Jost and others that Devils fans were hoping for. Piqued my interest in him and I was surprised there wasn't much discussion on him on the Devils board. Was excited once the Devils picked him based on what you had been saying about him & I've liked the pick even more now that I've been able to do some more research and hear more about him.

 

[Mgd31]

Michael McLeod is the Devils' new Blake Coleman

Thought this was an interesting article (should be unlocked) about Mcleod. Seems like he's having a pleasantly decent season from an underlying numbers standpoint as well.

 

[MartyOwns]

Michael McLeod is the Devils' new Blake Coleman

Thought this was an interesting article (should be unlocked) about Mcleod. Seems like he's having a pleasantly decent season from an underlying numbers standpoint as well.

i like todd but that was pretty dumb. the entire comparison is a shot impact map that look similar for both players from 2 different seasons, unless i'm missing something.

i've always been a fan of mcleod but he's got quite a way to go before we start comparing him to coleman.

 

[Figgie]

just watching him he seems like he could have very well been a top 5 pick

i think we got a great one here

Can at least be better than Puljujärvi or Juolevi who were top5 picks

 

[Mgd31]

i like todd but that was pretty dumb. the entire comparison is a shot impact map that look similar for both players from 2 different seasons, unless i'm missing something.

i've always been a fan of mcleod but he's got quite a way to go before we start comparing him to coleman.

Oh yea I think it was quite a lofty hope haha, but just wanted to pass it along for discussion purposes. Also, maybe McLeod does have hope to continue to serviceable in the future. But yea don’t think he will ever be as good as Coleman.