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

[Brooklyndevil]

Ok, I'll say it. McLeod will be better. Kessler in his dreams wished he had Michael's speed . There are a few who seem obsessed with Devil prospects for whatever reason. First Zacha, now McLeod.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Except Zajac is nowhere near the defensive player Kesler is. Just averaging point totals doesn't tell the whole picture. Kesler as pointed out multiple times, (which you willfully ignore) is a perennial Selke candidate, finished top 10 in Hart voting once, and gets way tougher zone-starts than Zajac. Zajac in his career year was starting in the offensive zone close to a 60/40 split between offensive and defensive zone starts. Kesler has never started more in the offensive zone than the defensive zone in his entire career.

Sorry but this is factually incorrect, Zajac has consistently outperformed Kesler in defensive metrics like D-GVT and Defensive Point Shares his whole career.

Let's stop pretending the Selke has anything to do with actual defensive talent. It's awarded to either offensive players who sometimes care about defense, or checkers who overachieved on offense that particular season.

 

[Captain Timo]

Sorry but this is factually incorrect, Zajac has consistently outperformed Kesler in defensive metrics like D-GVT and Defensive Point Shares his whole career.

Let's stop pretending the Selke has anything to do with actual defensive talent. It's awarded to either offensive players who sometimes care about defense, or checkers who overachieved on offense that particular season.

Toews, Kopitar, Backes & Bergeron certainly fit that bill, right?

 

[93LEAFS]

Sorry but this is factually incorrect, Zajac has consistently outperformed Kesler in defensive metrics like D-GVT and Defensive Point Shares his whole career.

Let's stop pretending the Selke has anything to do with actual defensive talent. It's awarded to either offensive players who sometimes care about defense, or checkers who overachieved on offense that particular season.

He also has much more favourable usage.

 

[93LEAFS]

Ok, I'll say it. McLeod will be better. Kessler in his dreams wished he had Michael's speed . There are a few who seem obsessed with Devil prospects for whatever reason. First Zacha, now McLeod.

Just because people are able to watch your picks, and don't agree with your assessments doesn't make us upset. I get every OHL game, McLeod plays for my local team, and I know people who work for the Steelheads (They love the kids workethic). But I also talk to people who watch and have watched them myself. I've posted on most Steelheads players.

Kesler is a very high-end skater, and McLeod would kill to have Kesler's goalscoring ability, or overall offensive awareness. He's fast, but doesn't effectively use his speed or slow the game down enough. There's a reason Nylander drove that line.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Ok, I'll say it. McLeod will be better. Kessler in his dreams wished he had Michael's speed . There are a few who seem obsessed with Devil prospects for whatever reason. First Zacha, now McLeod.

How many times have you watched McLeod?

 

[VoidCreature]

I haven't watched enough of Kesler to gauge how similar he is to McLeod. McLeod does seem a lot like Zajac, though. They have all the same strengths and weaknesses outside of the speed. I think that last part gives McLeod a higher ceiling than Zajac had. Zajac's a great player, though. If we've got his successor in McLeod I'd be satisfied with that.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

So many useless arguments going on here. If you wanna have a nice chuckle, flip through some of Kesler's threads from back when he was drafted. Show's how useless much of what is said early on is. McLeod has physical tools that translate very well to the NHL. Not a single person here can make a very convincing argument one way or the other on his potential or peak or anything. Stop pretending.

 

[Toasterleavins*]

Truth is Devils would have to be very lucky for Mcleod to turn out to be as good as Kesler. I think he'll fall short of that but will be a useful middle six player. that's my guess. Obviously some will think he meets or even exceeds that but there is no argument. There are no facts you can point to that will make one side of it more right than the other. Time will tell ... till then your guess is as good as mine.

OMG STOP CRITICISING OUR PLAYERS YOU HATER.

(this is the response I got from this poster for pointing out McLeod and Brown still have aspects to their games that are question marks in the Logan Brown thread).

 

[Toasterleavins*]

Also, are avatar wagers allowed on this site? I'm willing to wager that McLeod will be a better overall player than Kesler (this one I'm really not sure about, but what the hell its for fun), and Brown for that matter. Winner picks the others forum avatar for (insert whatever length of time you are willing to do here).

Granted we will have to wait a few years to really know so this is definitely a long term wager, but I I've been a member on this site since 2013, and reading it since the 2000's so I'm not going anywhere.

 

[AD1066]

Also, are avatar wagers allowed on this site? I'm willing to wager that McLeod will be a better overall player than Kesler (this one I'm really not sure about, but what the hell its for fun), and Brown for that matter. Winner picks the others forum avatar for (insert whatever length of time you are willing to do here).

Granted we will have to wait a few years to really know so this is definitely a long term wager, but I I've been a member on this site since 2013, and reading it since the 2000's so I'm not going anywhere.

That's a tall order; Kesler had back-to-back seasons of 70+ points, and topped 40 goals once, before injuries derailed him and eventually resulted in major surgery on his hip.

Some disingenuous math earlier framed him as a 40-50 point player.
His career average, including 44 points in his first 158 games (three seasons), is 49.6 points/season.

For the last X seasons following those first three years, his average points/82 games has been:

9 seasons: 56 points
8 seasons: 58 points
7 seasons: 58 points
6 seasons: 55 points
5 seasons: 50 points
4 seasons: 50 points
3 seasons: 49 points
2 seasons: 51 points
Last season: 55 points

He's more or less averaged 50+ points for almost a decade, despite a down season in 2013-14 following major surgery.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

That's a tall order; Kesler had back-to-back seasons of 70+ points, and topped 40 goals once, before injuries derailed him and eventually resulted in major surgery on his hip.

Some disingenuous math earlier framed him as a 40-50 point player.
His career average, including 44 points in his first 158 games (three seasons), is 49.6 points/season.

For the last X seasons following those first three years, his average points/82 games has been:

9 seasons: 56 points
8 seasons: 58 points
7 seasons: 58 points
6 seasons: 55 points
5 seasons: 50 points
4 seasons: 50 points
3 seasons: 49 points
2 seasons: 51 points
Last season: 55 points

He's more or less averaged 50+ points for almost a decade, despite a down season in 2013-14 following major surgery.

Yea, McLeod will have done very well for himself to become even as good as Kesler, let alone better.

 

[Toasterleavins*]

I kinda threw the Kesler one in there as hes being listed as comparable. If McLeod has a similar career to Kesler I will be ecstatic. This was more about Brown (imo its 50/50 right now who ends up better), but I'm still willing to do the bet with Kesler as well... Its just a forum avy lol.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Truth is Devils would have to be very lucky for Mcleod to turn out to be as good as Kesler.

If McLeod has a similar career to Kesler I will be ecstatic.

not so far apart

 

[Toasterleavins*]

not so far apart

I'd wager I think its a bit more likely than you though lol.

Seems only natural to me to hope the more favorable scouting reports on McLeod (and the distrubution I've seen is pretty close to 50/50 on whether they think his offensive game will develop as hoped) are correct.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I'd wager I think its a bit more likely than you though lol.

Seems only natural to me to hope the more favorable scouting reports on McLeod (and the distrubution I've seen is pretty close to 50/50 on whether they think his offensive game will develop as hoped) are correct.

Not at all.. I have not ill will or negativity towards Mcleod. I hope he does well ... He could very well be a stud.

 

[Toasterleavins*]

Not at all.. I have not ill will or negativity towards Mcleod. I hope he does well ... He could very well be a stud.

Same for me really with Brown... he's American after all so I will be rooting for him. I just hope McLeod is a bit better...

Did we just become best friends?

 

[Zippy316]

I haven't watched enough of Kesler to gauge how similar he is to McLeod. McLeod does seem a lot like Zajac, though. They have all the same strengths and weaknesses outside of the speed. I think that last part gives McLeod a higher ceiling than Zajac had. Zajac's a great player, though. If we've got his successor in McLeod I'd be satisfied with that.

This is what I'm hoping for from McLeod in terms of future role.

Anything more and that's a bonus.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

Brown is too big to continue the game he plays at an NHL speed. Mcleod is perfect for transition.

 

[Jerzey Devil]

I don't think anyone should be downplaying Brown just to justify drafting McLeod. Brown has ties to Ottawa and they obviously wanted him. He was probably hoping we didn't draft him anyway since Ottawa was drafting next. Probably would have been another Parise where he would have left for Ottawa as soon as he hit free agency.

Edit: didn't mean that as a knock on you , Group Chat, just seems like a lot of Devils fans feel the need to make it seem like Brown would have been a bad choice all of a sudden.

 

[Brian Fogarty]

The problem with McLeod is simply his lack of creativity. He is a spectacularly fast skater, and his work-rate is top level. His problems arise when he gets the puck, he just locks down. His skating brilliance does not translate to offensive production because he often just lofts pucks on net from just inside the blue line, or skates it into the corner.

I predict he will have one or two good years in his late twenties. When he has played the game long enough to learn some tricks, yet his speed will still be well-above-average. Then, a little luck, the right teammates, presto! Sean Donovan.

 

[Devils Dominion]

The problem with McLeod is simply his lack of creativity. He is a spectacularly fast skater, and his work-rate is top level. His problems arise when he gets the puck, he just locks down. His skating brilliance does not translate to offensive production because he often just lofts pucks on net from just inside t. he blue line, or skates it into the corner.

I predict he will have one or two good years in his late twenties. W. hen he has played the game long enough to learn some tricks, yet his speed will still be well-above-average. Then, a little luck, the right teammates, presto! Sean Donovan.

It will take him 10 years to find creativity?

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

It will take him 10 years to find creativity?

Offensive creativity is tied in with hockey IQ. Either you have it or you don't, really. Sure it can be refined over time with film work, practice, and coaching, but creativity is something that is generally an innate skill that you have starting at a young age.

Can't really think of too many players that became creative offensive players after making the NHL.

Note: this has nothing to do with defensive acumen which sounds positive for McLeod.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

Offensive creativity is tied in with hockey IQ. Either you have it or you don't, really. Sure it can be refined over time with film work, practice, and coaching, but creativity is something that is generally an innate skill that you have starting at a young age.

Can't really think of too many players that became creative offensive players after making the NHL.

Note: this has nothing to do with defensive acumen which sounds positive for McLeod.

lack of creativity?

all I see watching the kid play is creativity. what non sense to claim he has nond

 

[93LEAFS]

lack of creativity?

all I see watching the kid play is creativity. what non sense to claim he has nond

Sure you are watching #9 and not #92 on Sauga. McLeod has strong aspects in his game, but I wouldn't say he oozes creativity. He plays at a high speed and tries to cause havoc, but he's not very creative and rarely slows the game down.