C Michael McLeod (2016, 12th, NJD) Part II

[93LEAFS]

3OA ranking by McKeen's in April 2016 Draft Rankings.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospects-blog/mckeens-2016-top-30-nhl-draft-rankings-apr-2016/

Those 3,4,5 picks

Messed up the order at 1 and 2 too. That Mario Lemieux comparison......

The final rankings were atleast a bit better. But, where he heavily went against consensus is pretty bad (Laine over Matthews, PLD outside the top 5, Bean over Sergachev, and McLeod over PLD).

2016 NHL Draft Rankings

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Was said about him in that link:

The other main change in the top five was moving Mississauga center Michael McLeod into the top three following his first-round performance in the OHL playoffs where he almost willed his team to a huge upset over the high-powered Barrie Colts.

Other OHL players put up better stats in the first round, but none played harder, or with a more rounded all-around game.
"It's rare to see a player with his motor," noted one scout. "You think of Taylor Hall and Nathan MacKinnon as comparables in terms of his engine, but even they weren't as consistently revved up as this kid. He simply never has an average effort or a poor game. He is always contributing even when he's not producing. He will help an NHL team win playoff games..maybe championships."

McLeod had three goals and six assists in the seven game series, as well as providing top-notch defensive effort, particularly on the penalty kill. He was also sensational in the faceoff circle, averaging close to 70 per cent.
"He had one overtime game where he won more faceoffs than the entire Barrie team combined," marveled one scout. "The intangibles he brings in addition to his terrific speed make him a can't miss prospect. He is going to be a top two center with size, speed, grit, faceoff prowess, penalty killing abilites..what is there not to like? He may never lead the league in scoring..but neither will Jonathan Toews. This kid is a winner."

One scout compared him to Dylan Larkin in his draft year. "Scouts were raising issues about Larkin's offensive upside in his draft year. I don't see them doing that now. I hear the same thing with McLeod..and I'm reminded of Larkin. McLeod's size, speed and tremendous competitiveness translate well to the NHL game....he'll produce at the next level. He will be a big-time crowd favourite wherever he plays, and his coach will love him."

 

[Puckclektr]

Was said about him in that link:

The other main change in the top five was moving Mississauga center Michael McLeod into the top three following his first-round performance in the OHL playoffs where he almost willed his team to a huge upset over the high-powered Barrie Colts.

Other OHL players put up better stats in the first round, but none played harder, or with a more rounded all-around game.
"It's rare to see a player with his motor," noted one scout. "You think of Taylor Hall and Nathan MacKinnon as comparables in terms of his engine, but even they weren't as consistently revved up as this kid. He simply never has an average effort or a poor game. He is always contributing even when he's not producing. He will help an NHL team win playoff games..maybe championships."

McLeod had three goals and six assists in the seven game series, as well as providing top-notch defensive effort, particularly on the penalty kill. He was also sensational in the faceoff circle, averaging close to 70 per cent.
"He had one overtime game where he won more faceoffs than the entire Barrie team combined," marveled one scout. "The intangibles he brings in addition to his terrific speed make him a can't miss prospect. He is going to be a top two center with size, speed, grit, faceoff prowess, penalty killing abilites..what is there not to like? He may never lead the league in scoring..but neither will Jonathan Toews. This kid is a winner."

One scout compared him to Dylan Larkin in his draft year. "Scouts were raising issues about Larkin's offensive upside in his draft year. I don't see them doing that now. I hear the same thing with McLeod..and I'm reminded of Larkin. McLeod's size, speed and tremendous competitiveness translate well to the NHL game....he'll produce at the next level. He will be a big-time crowd favourite wherever he plays, and his coach will love him."

It was also his performance against Erie with Strome and DeBrincat and was clearly better than both of them in the series.

 

[VoidCreature]

It was also his performance against Erie with Strome and DeBrincat and was clearly better than both of them in the series.

That series in his d+1 was actually the first time I was worried about McLeod.

Eerie played a very pro style forecheck and zone defense scheme, and it totally shut him down.

Essentially all his offense in juniors came from him being able to weave through lanes with his speed to get the puck to the net. At the pro level it’s much more difficult to do that and he hasn’t been able to adjust his game.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Mcelod still has the potential to be a good bottom 6 player. It sucks he doesnt have the offensive game we wanted but that was an issue we were aware of before drafting him. If he can carve out a good career on the bottom 6 for us and he has an above average defensive game than the pick wont sting as much. Getting gifted Hischier and Hughes will make me care less about this pick being underwhleming.

 

[Nabrules]

A huge part of the reason NJ is in this mess is constant misses of first round picks the past 7 or 8 years.

2012: Matteau - complete miss
2014: Quenneville - complete miss
2015: Zacha - One of the worst picks in that first round
2016: McLeod - At best a bottom 6 player
2017: Hischer will be solid and he was the right choice over Patrick but picks 3-5 make NJ and PHI Look bad

 

[My3Sons]

A huge part of the reason NJ is in this mess is constant misses of first round picks the past 7 or 8 years.

2012: Matteau - complete miss
2014: Quenneville - complete miss
2015: Zacha - One of the worst picks in that first round
2016: McLeod - At best a bottom 6 player
2017: Hischer will be solid and he was the right choice over Patrick but picks 3-5 make NJ and PHI Look bad

You aren’t wrong but I don’t see picks 3-4-5 playing that great on a lousy NJ team where their limitations would be more exposed. First they’d all be beaten to pulps goven how small and soft and easy to play against NJ has been the past couple of years. Second they’d be playing with inferior players compared to VAN COL and DAL. Third they’d have been saddled with a system that demanded more from each of hem defensively that would have cut down their offense and sapped their energy and been subject to a coach who yo-yos young players in and out of the lineup for the smallest mistakes. All that aside there’s no question McLeod was a bad pick in retrospect along with other bad picks that spanned two general managers.

 

[Nocashstyle]

A huge part of the reason NJ is in this mess is constant misses of first round picks the past 7 or 8 years.

2012: Matteau - complete miss
2014: Quenneville - complete miss
2015: Zacha - One of the worst picks in that first round
2016: McLeod - At best a bottom 6 player
2017: Hischer will be solid and he was the right choice over Patrick but picks 3-5 make NJ and PHI Look bad

Completely over dramatic to include Hischier here. He’s not done developing and his game seems like it will age like fine wine.

It’s doubtful he will be winning an Art Ross, but it’s not unrealistic to think he can peak as a 70 point Selke caliber center. They don’t typically grow on trees.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Here is my take on Michael. I saw him play for Mississauga abit his predraft year. Great skater, hard worker, has some skill. He centered Bastien and Nylander on the team's top line.

There was no doubt the offensive driver of that line was Alex Nylander. When Alex was hurt, Michael struggled to put up point in games I saw.

Bottom line is he has skills, but whatever he gets out of them the points do not come easily. I do think he has a good chance of being a good #3C. I don't know if the offence is there to be a #2C on a good team, but I would like to be wrong. As having followed Mcleod while scouting Alex Nylander.

 

[lanky]

There's a lot of bust potential in that 2016 1st round.

The McLeod pick doesn't look so bad in that context.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Remember when Grant had him in his top 5?

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Remember when Grant had him in his top 5?

Top 3 perhaps. Can't say for certain, but someone on McKeen's had to be a big fan.

Getting him at 12 didn't seem like too much of a stretch for me at the time, even if I couldn't see what McCagg saw.....I suppose it's the other way around for the moment.