Curious Case of D Jacob MacDonald (FLA, D, Undrafted)

[GJB]

Jacob MacDonald recently made his NHL debut at 25 and scored in his first game. To say that this was likely 3 years ago would be a tremendous long-shot. How did this player have such a meteoric rise after his NCAA time with Cornell?

As a defenseman he amassed just 4G 17A in 104 GP with Cornell, never leading their defense in scoring in any season. Then he goes to ECHL in 2015-16 full-time where he somehow leads the D in scoring despite being youngest on the team (37 pts). Next season is split ECHL/AHL where he posts good numbers in both leagues. Then last year in his first full AHL season, he LEADS NJ's AHL team in scoring with 20G 25A 55 PTS! Next best D only had 21 PTS.

Then he signs with Florida this Summer and makes the team. Its just a very unlikely career path given the low production in college. Anyone have a chance to watch him last year?

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[kroypuck]

Late bloomer. Another good example of this is Josh Manson on the Ducks. Played 3 seasons at Northeastern scoring 4,7, and 10 points in his time there. Put up mediocre numbers in the AHL for a couple seasons and then out of nowhere last year had 37 points with the big club and is a staple on their blueline. Some players just have unexplainable development curves.

 

[McDNicks17]

He scored five times as many goals in his first full AHL season as he did in his entire NCAA career.

So strange.

 

[Howie Hodge]

"Curios case of....."

What, is he aging in reverse???

 

[OregonCanuck]

Can’t believe he’s from Oregon! Not often do you see guys come from here

 

[Kevs Security]

Can’t believe he’s from Oregon! Not often do you see guys come from here

Yeah, he's the first Oregon-based NHL-player since Jordan Smotherman, who played 2 games for Atlanta back in 2008. Not a hockey state, that's for sure.

 

[PAZ]

Jason Garrison is similar (if you exclude BCHL). Three seasons in he NCAA posting 12, 3, and 14 points. First year in the AHL posts 35 points.

 

[alko]

Coaches believe in his skills.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Yup, some players are a mystery.

There is this guy Matthew Maione terrorizing the KHL nowadays, he might make NHL eventually. KHL's Erik Karlsson, really very similar to him. Never a big scorer in the OHL, graduated Prince Edward Island University never scoring more than 3 goals there, started scoring somewhat in the ECHL, came to Slovakia, dominated their league, moved to Finland, dominated their league, came to the KHL, is on pace for 15+45 (in a 56-game season), 3rd in league scoring as a defenseman.

 

[Lays]

Haven’t been able to see him yet. Is he projecting just to be a fringe/bottom pairing guy or does he have realistic 3/4 D potential?

 

[McDNicks17]

Yup, some players are a mystery.

There is this guy Matthew Maione terrorizing the KHL nowadays, he might make NHL eventually. KHL's Erik Karlsson, really very similar to him. Never a big scorer in the OHL, graduated Prince Edward Island University never scoring more than 3 goals there, started scoring somewhat in the ECHL, came to Slovakia, dominated their league, moved to Finland, dominated their league, came to the KHL, is on pace for 15+45 (in a 56-game season), 3rd in league scoring as a defenseman.

That's another crazy one.

Had 9 points in 66 games in his last season in the OHL. Almost a decade later and he's got 19 points in 15 games in the KHL.

 

[lomiller1]

Jacob MacDonald recently made his NHL debut at 25 and scored in his first game. To say that this was likely 3 years ago would be a tremendous long-shot. How did this player have such a meteoric rise after his NCAA time with Cornell?

As a defenseman he amassed just 4G 17A in 104 GP with Cornell, never leading their defense in scoring in any season. Then he goes to ECHL in 2015-16 full-time where he somehow leads the D in scoring despite being youngest on the team (37 pts). Next season is split ECHL/AHL where he posts good numbers in both leagues. Then last year in his first full AHL season, he LEADS NJ's AHL team in scoring with 20G 25A 55 PTS! Next best D only had 21 PTS.

Then he signs with Florida this Summer and makes the team. Its just a very unlikely career path given the low production in college. Anyone have a chance to watch him last year?

No idea what’s going on but the first place I’d look would be his PP ice time and where he ranked in 5v5 scoring on his NCAA team. PP success plays such a huge role in how we perceive offensive ability that it overwhelms just about everything else and even because a self fulfilling prophecy.

IOW everyone things player is average offensively so he gets no PP time or is not given a role on the PP. This in turn severely limits any potential output that he can never convince anyone he’s a good offensive player. Because no one believes he’s good offensively he doesn’t get the PP time/role. Meanwhile the player that puts up good PP numbers, gets lots of PP min and is given a big PP role, so he puts up numbers. Because he puts up good numbers everyone talks about how good he is offensively and he gets handed big PP min and role.

It’s one of the many ways D-men get misjudged.

 

[Makoshark]

Awesome to hear of these kinds of storied acendencies of players that never give up the NHL dream and finally make it. Hope he does well and has success in the show.

 

[tony d]

Interesting story. To me this is a tale of great perseverance. All the best to him going forward.

 

[BigHitter67]

Jacob MacDonald recently made his NHL debut at 25 and scored in his first game. To say that this was likely 3 years ago would be a tremendous long-shot. How did this player have such a meteoric rise after his NCAA time with Cornell?

As a defenseman he amassed just 4G 17A in 104 GP with Cornell, never leading their defense in scoring in any season. Then he goes to ECHL in 2015-16 full-time where he somehow leads the D in scoring despite being youngest on the team (37 pts). Next season is split ECHL/AHL where he posts good numbers in both leagues. Then last year in his first full AHL season, he LEADS NJ's AHL team in scoring with 20G 25A 55 PTS! Next best D only had 21 PTS.

Then he signs with Florida this Summer and makes the team. Its just a very unlikely career path given the low production in college. Anyone have a chance to watch him last year?

Sooo you’re telling me there’s a chance. (I last played seriously 30 yrs ago )

 

[izzy]

Yup, some players are a mystery.

There is this guy Matthew Maione terrorizing the KHL nowadays, he might make NHL eventually. KHL's Erik Karlsson, really very similar to him. Never a big scorer in the OHL, graduated Prince Edward Island University never scoring more than 3 goals there, started scoring somewhat in the ECHL, came to Slovakia, dominated their league, moved to Finland, dominated their league, came to the KHL, is on pace for 15+45 (in a 56-game season), 3rd in league scoring as a defenseman.

what the f*** is going on with that guy?!?!?

 

[Grub]

Thought this was a Jakob Markstrom thread cause his last name got cut off.

If anyone is wondering the guy lets in weak goals every single game.

 

[Dodospice]

I mean as pathetic as it sounds, his Jr and Sr year he was the 2nd leading scorer from the back end on his team... he had put up good point totals at every level before he went to college and was 2nd on his USHL team in points the year before he went to Cornell. I don’t know how to explain his sudden outburst at a higher level but maybe the lack of talent at Cornell/coaching/role he was asked to play contributed to his underwhelming statistics? It’s hard to get points on the back end if the guys you’re passing the puck too can’t finish... either way it’s a good story and I hope he makes it as an NHLer.

 

[jonu]

Thought this was a Jakob Markstrom thread cause his last name got cut off.

If anyone is wondering the guy lets in weak goals every single game.

Anyone who watched him in Florida wouldn't be surprised