C Michael McLeod - Mississauga Steelheads, OHL (2016, 12th, NJD)

[Lebowski]

He's the Freddy Gauthier of this draft. Safe pick to be a player, but could be just a 3C or 4C.

He's an incredible skater. That alone will forever set him apart from a guy like Gauthier.

Gauthier felt like a defensive specialist at best even on draft day. With McLeod there may be some offensive potential hiding somewhere under the hood. His skating is elite and he's a pretty good playmaker. Will he improve his offensive smarts and will it all translate to the pros is the real question.

 

[StuckOutHere]

He's an incredible skater. That alone will forever set him apart from a guy like Gauthier.

Gauthier felt like a defensive specialist at best even on draft day. With McLeod there may be some offensive potential hiding somewhere under the hood. His skating is elite and he's a pretty good playmaker. Will he improve his offensive smarts and will it all translate to the pros is the real question.

Neither here nor there, but you could argue that Gauthier's board play and smart stick make him a better lock for a bottom six C job versus McLeods skating ability.

Regardless, people here are saying the exact same things about the two pre-draft. "If Gauthier figured it out he could be that giant 2C or Patrice Bergeron, if he doesn't wow, a great shutdown C" blah blah blah.

Newsflash, generally players where you say that they could be X but safely a 3C end up being a 3C or 4C, especially in the hyper active, amateur scouting mating season where everyone is trying out scout everyone to impress each other in the two months prior to the draft.

I'm just as guilty, but man, everyone's got raging clues about the guys they think will help their teams and happen to fall near their draft slot and it's hilarious to watch and be part of. I've said terrible things.

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

Fredrik Gauthier is an absolutely horrendous player comp. for Mikey McLeod.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Fredrik Gauthier is an absolutely horrendous player comp. for Mikey McLeod.

I was about to say...

 

[K2MyEverest]

I don't know if I'm alone but I see a lot of Bo Horvat in his game too. Fast two way player that doesn't quit.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

I don't know if I'm alone but I see a lot of Bo Horvat in his game too. Fast two way player that doesn't quit.

McLeod is a significantly better skater than Horvat during his draft year.

 

[WeThreeKings]

McLeod's comparable is Darren Helm

 

[MS]

Better skating Kesler

Ryan Kesler was arguably the best skater in the NHL until his 2011 hip surgery.

McLeod looks a bit like Kesler on the ice, but lacks both his elite shot and his bite and defensive play. I'd have a lot of trouble taking him before about #15 overall - looks to project as a Vermette/Cogliano-type speedy middle-6 two-way center.

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

Ryan Kesler was arguably the best skater in the NHL until his 2011 hip surgery.

McLeod looks a bit like Kesler on the ice, but lacks both his elite shot and his bite and defensive play. I'd have a lot of trouble taking him before about #15 overall - looks to project as a Vermette/Cogliano-type speedy middle-6 two-way center.

McLeod's passing and ice IQ projects better than Kesler's IMO.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

If you're drafting in the top ten you would like a better player that has more potential than a top three. Most draft picks are a gamble, however, I see more available forwards with higher upsides.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

BPA Ranking these players only

1. Nylander
2. Keller
3. Jost
4. Brown
5. Bellows
6. Mcleod

 

[sting101]

Ryan Kesler was arguably the best skater in the NHL until his 2011 hip surgery.

McLeod looks a bit like Kesler on the ice, but lacks both his elite shot and his bite and defensive play. I'd have a lot of trouble taking him before about #15 overall - looks to project as a Vermette/Cogliano-type speedy middle-6 two-way center.

I'm higher on McLeod.

I tend to think that he's got 4-5 yrs before he's counted on to be a 2C on the team that drafts him and I don't think they will be disappointed. Were talking about world class skating here and with some strengthening in his upper body and working on his shot, game refinement combined with his excellent frame I believe he's got elite 2C potential.

It depends on what teams are looking for and where you think the 1st liners drop off in this draft. Would be a hell of a player behind Giroux in Philly or Galchenyuk in Mtl.

 

[Habsfann]

BPA Ranking these players only

1. Nylander
2. Keller
3. Jost
4. Brown
5. Bellows
6. Mcleod

Keller
Nylander
Jost
McLeod
Brown
Bellows

 

[Scorcho]

would Zajac be a decent comparable

 

[Scorcho]

BPA Ranking these players only

1. Nylander
2. Keller
3. Jost
4. Brown
5. Bellows
6. Mcleod

that is the order I'd rank them TBH

 

[dropdeadjoey]

I'm higher on McLeod.

I tend to think that he's got 4-5 yrs before he's counted on to be a 2C on the team that drafts him and I don't think they will be disappointed. Were talking about world class skating here and with some strengthening in his upper body and working on his shot, game refinement combined with his excellent frame I believe he's got elite 2C potential.

It depends on what teams are looking for and where you think the 1st liners drop off in this draft. Would be a hell of a player behind Giroux in Philly or Galchenyuk in Mtl.

I like the idea of him playing a 2C/3C role behind Giroux/Couturier in Philly, would be a good fit. Could also see a team like Arizona taking him to play behind Strome/Dvorak in a few years.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Kesler I've heard as a comparable for his upside. Speedy, two-way centre with good face-off ability but who doesn't have that elite offensive level. I like that comparable for McLeod.

Not as gritty and in your face as Kesler.
I see more Vermette

 

[Woll Smoth]

Someone a few months back mentioned Jared McCann as a comparable and that's probably the closest comparable I've seen based purely on scouting reports.

Although it seems like McLeod has the edge on skating and McCann has the better shot.

 

[BobbyShehan]

I really like the Vermette comparison for McLeod and you could do much worse with a top 15 pick. He's a pretty sure bet as opposed to Brown or Jost, who might become much better players but... Fans of the team that will pick McLeod will ***** about it for months!

 

[Anardil]

If Montreal picks McLeod 9th O/A, I guarantee that we will complain for years.

IMHO, I believe that McLeod is the next Lars Eller. He teases you with flashes of talent, but at the end of each year the stat line shows 25-35 points, (in the NHL). I expect more from a top ten forward pick.

 

[boredmale]

My guess is this guy falls to 13-20ish as team go for players who have higher upside(If I was a betting man my money is on Minnesota(15) or Detroit(16)). He probably though will end up better then a few guys picked ahead of him

 

[Mad Brills*]

Is a possession/play driving middle of the road 2C his ceiling?

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Even McLeod's biggest fan is changing his perception of his draft stock:

 

[Icebreakers]

Even McLeod's biggest fan is changing his perception of his draft stock:

Not really. The scouts hes talking to dont think hes a top 12 prospect, but he thinks that its a mistake not having him in the top 12. Which means hes still high on him.

Or am i reading that wrong..

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Not really. The scouts hes talking to dont think hes a top 12 prospect, but he thinks that its a mistake not having him in the top 12. Which means hes still high on him.

Or am i reading that wrong..

No, he's been tweeting for weeks that his belief was there was no way McLeod would fall beyond 12 and most of the scouts he spoke with had him in their top 10. Just recently: