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

[Agent Zuuuub]

I think Brown is pretty bust proof. Guys that big, skilled, and agile have a place in the NHL.

Anyway, McLeod is an enigma to me. I wonder if he puts up 10 more points if he would have been as highly though of as Nylander? McLeod has every tool to be a top six player.He's the fastest skater in the draft, and he's got vision and hands to go along with it. He's so fast he'll make a Hagelin type impact at least.

I do question his finishing level though. He manages to be very predictable even with his top end skillset.

 

[Hisch13r]

Another terrible pick by the Devils. Just what we need, more guys with poor offensive IQ. Honestly I'm losing confidence in this team's ability to draft. Leaving Brown on the board for McLeod is just beyond stupid.

To think we could have had Barzal and Brown down the middle for years.

Agree 100% I wanted Barzal last year and Brown this year

 

[Hisch13r]

Brown is not what the Devils want or need, and Mcleod will be far better in is league than Brown.

great pick by the Devils, will be the steal of the top 15

What? We don't need a highly skilled smart forward?

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I had him 10-15 so no problem with this pick. There was some talk he might drop. But NJ stepped in at #12. I think he will have a great draft +1 year and this pick will look better.

 

[Emperoreddy]

His base skill set seems to line up with what New Jersey is trying to make as their new identity.

Size, solid skating, and especially SPEED.

Shero and Hynes have connections to the speed that won Pitt a cup this year and want this in Jersey.

 

[Noble]

He was a ND for me with the Habs. Its not like he was a reach at 12 though. I would say his range was from 12-16 for teams that are in need of his strengths.

I think he'll likely be a 3C in the NHL, but has the potential to maybe be a decent 2C if he can develop his shot and offensive instincts.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

McLeod has a better chance at actually being a good NHLer. Brown has the small possibility that he turns into a first line center, but he has a lot of warts and is ranked so high partially for his size.

Disagree completely. McLeod has better chance at being a bottom 6 player. Brown wasn't just ranked high because he was big. He was ranked high because he was a dominant offensive player, much more so than McLeod. There is very little doubt Brown becomes a valuable NHL player.

And what warts does Brown have? Certainly nothing worse than McLeod's questionable hockey IQ.

I actually think it's more likely that Brown ends up a top line player than it is McLeod ends up a 2nd line player. McLeod will top out at Trevor Lewis IMO. He's not a Zajac or Kesler level player at all.

We don't need guys who might end up middle six players. We need guys who can be reasonably expected to be 1st line centers, because that is what we desperately need.

This was a huge miss by the Devils.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

That's my point though, it's not reasonable to expect Brown to turn into a first line game breaking center. The potential is there, but when drafting at this spot it's hardly an expectation. The Devils picked someone who fits their organizational philosophy far more than Brown does.

Not sure if you were aware, but this was a very deep draft through the first 11 prospects. Picks 5-12 were pretty much a toss up between, and Keller, Tkachuk, Nylander, Brown were all viewed as being on pretty much on the same level. I didn't even have PLD as easily ahead of Brown, just because Brown has so much physical development left.

It's completely reasonable to think the one of the best centers drafted should turn into a top 6 center, with 1st line upside.

 

[Plastic Joseph]

Another terrible pick by the Devils. Just what we need, more guys with poor offensive IQ. Honestly I'm losing confidence in this team's ability to draft. Leaving Brown on the board for McLeod is just beyond stupid.

To think we could have had Barzal and Brown down the middle for years.

Give me Mcleod over Brown every day of the week.

Personally love the kid, and I strongly dislike the Devils. Very good pick IMO.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

I wasn't overly happy with this pick as I wanted NJ to go for the home run. At the end of the day all it takes is something small to click and he puts up 90 points in 50 games next year...plays for Team Canada and all is forgotten. That goes for every first rounder.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Disagree completely. McLeod has better chance at being a bottom 6 player. Brown wasn't just ranked high because he was big. He was ranked high because he was a dominant offensive player, much more so than McLeod. There is very little doubt Brown becomes a valuable NHL player.

And what warts does Brown have? Certainly nothing worse than McLeod's questionable hockey IQ.

I actually think it's more likely that Brown ends up a top line player than it is McLeod ends up a 2nd line player. McLeod will top out at Trevor Lewis IMO. He's not a Zajac or Kesler level player at all.

We don't need guys who might end up middle six players. We need guys who can be reasonably expected to be 1st line centers, because that is what we desperately need.

This was a huge miss by the Devils.

He's a pass first player, soft for a huge man and had a terrible combine. Those warts just like most of these kids. Look at Keller. He awesome, but his size hurts him.

 

[Lou is God]

Disagree completely. McLeod has better chance at being a bottom 6 player. Brown wasn't just ranked high because he was big. He was ranked high because he was a dominant offensive player, much more so than McLeod. There is very little doubt Brown becomes a valuable NHL player.

And what warts does Brown have? Certainly nothing worse than McLeod's questionable hockey IQ.

I actually think it's more likely that Brown ends up a top line player than it is McLeod ends up a 2nd line player. McLeod will top out at Trevor Lewis IMO. He's not a Zajac or Kesler level player at all.

We don't need guys who might end up middle six players. We need guys who can be reasonably expected to be 1st line centers, because that is what we desperately need.

This was a huge miss by the Devils.

Link for this?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

His base skill set seems to line up with what New Jersey is trying to make as their new identity.

Size, solid skating, and especially SPEED.

Shero and Hynes have connections to the speed that won Pitt a cup this year and want this in Jersey.

Not to derail, but that's not exactly true. Pens teams under Shero were never fast. A lot of the guys that turned the Pens into a fast team were acquired after Shero left (Hagelin, Kessel, Cullen, Daley).

-----

With regards to McLeod and being a "safe" pick, that seems to be Shero's M.O. Zacha last year fits that mold, and even back in Pittsburgh he went with Jordan Staal over more dynamic guys like Toews, Backstrom and Kessel.

I actually like McLeod. But his offensive upside, from the games I saw, is below that of a Brown (who is being discussed in comparison to him).

 

[Lou is God]

What? We don't need a highly skilled smart forward?

What makes you think McLeod is not? I mean sweet Jesus he's considered the fastest skater in the draft by many, how is that not considered a high skill?

 

[KovalSNIPE]

I can't wait to laugh when in 5 years Brown is nothing more than a 3rd liner and McLeod is ripping it up as a 2nd line C with PP/PK minutes

 

[Jersey Fresh]

With regards to McLeod and being a "safe" pick, that seems to be Shero's M.O. Zacha last year fits that mold, and even back in Pittsburgh he went with Jordan Staal over more dynamic guys like Toews, Backstrom and Kessel.

I actually like McLeod. But his offensive upside, from the games I saw, is below that of a Brown (who is being discussed in comparison to him).

Zacha was not a "safe" pick.

 

[Kamal007]

Link for this?

Why would he need a link for that? It is pretty obviously his opinion.

 

[Lou is God]

Why would he need a link for that? It is pretty obviously his opinion.

I've seem his opinion on this prospect and it's Kocky-poo, he don't have to give a link but he could expand on why he thinks this McLeod has a low hockey IQ

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Zacha was not a "safe" pick.

Yes he was. He was seen as a guy who might not have as much offensive upside as guys like, say, Barzal or Connor if they reach their ceilings, but who was pretty much a guarantee to be an NHL player due to his size/shooting ability.

 

[Kurt Cobain]

They way some of you are talking about brown is hilarious if he was as talented as some of you make him out to be he should of been at the very least a top 5 pick if not better with that's size. His max is Bugjstad. McLeod has size and skill as a center. He's also the fastest player in the draft. We got Zacha, McLeod and Quennville down the middle when it comes to our prospects. You could throw Speers into that group but I think he ends up as a wingers. We got the goalies and the defensman. We just need the forwards and we're getting there.

 

[Lou is God]

They way some of you are talking about brown is hilarious if he was as talented as some of you make him out to be he should of been at the very least a top 5 pick if not better with that's size. His max is Bugjstad. McLeod has size and skill as a center. He's also the fastest player in the draft. We got Zacha, McLeod and Quennville down the middle when it comes to our prospects. You could throw Speers into that group but I think he ends up as a wingers. We got the goalies and the defensman. We just need the forwards and we're getting there.

GREAT point there Adam, if he was such a better prospect than McLeod then common sense should tell you he should have gone much higher in the draft with his size. Some are definitely overrating this prospect.

 

[Kurt Cobain]

Yes he was. He was seen as a guy who might not have as much offensive upside as guys like, say, Barzal or Connor if they reach their ceilings, but who was pretty much a guarantee to be an NHL player due to his size/shooting ability.

This is the absolute truth. Zacha's game is perfectly suited for this NHL and from what I've read about McLeod his game looks more suited for the NHL. For some reason I think of a young Bill Guerin when I read about McLeod but more of a playmaker than goal scorer.

 

[Kurt Cobain]

GREAT point there Adam, if he was such a better prospect than McLeod then common sense should tell you he should have gone much higher in the draft with his size. Some are definitely overrating this prospect.

Seriously brother.. I understand people being a little disappointed with the pick. But that's because guys like keller, Jost and a few others didn't drop like we all wanted. We really didn't need to draft chychurn who fell because we got the defense already so I don't understand the complaints. We didn't drop the ball we didnt have a choice and did the best with what we had. Id rather have Beau Bennett and McLeod than just Brown. And it's not a like McLeod was some reach he went around where he was expected to go.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I've seem his opinion on this prospect and it's Kocky-poo, he don't have to give a link but he could expand on why he thinks this McLeod has a low hockey IQ

Here's a link highlighting questions about his hockey sense for those who haven't actually watched him play:
http://nypost.com/2016/06/24/devils-land-athletic-stud-with-hockey-iq-fears-plus-extra-pick/

http://www.allaboutthejersey.com/20...ichael-mcleod-2016-nhl-draft-prospect-profile

He also has a bit of tunnel vision off the rush, and while it's refreshing to see him be so aggressive to the net coming across the blueline, or off the wall, again he can't be a one trick pony. Is that a reflection of poor hockey sense? Some might argue yes. Again, I think it comes down to a player who's still learning how to slow the game down.

He doesn't have the ability to slow the game down and create offense in a structured way. Sure he's fast, but so are a lot of players that ended up as career 3rd / 4th liners. He often times out skates opportunities, and he has a below average shot to go with poor shot selection.

Brown sees the ice so much better. He's much more skilled offensively, and he can slow the play down and set up plays.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Zacha was not a "safe" pick.

Lol yes he was what are you remembering?