F Mac Swanson - Univ. of North Dakota, NCAA (2024, 207th, PIT)

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Any chance he leaves and comes to the WHL?

Why would he? Doesn’t usually happen for players going to play college hockey, unless there’s a good reason.

 

[barriers]

 

[Celebrini71]

7 Points Tonight (3+4)

 

[LeProspector]

Swanson might just be the next Gaudreau. He is that good.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

16+33=49 points in 35 games. He’s 3rd in the USHL in points and only two behind the leader. Has a higher PPG than both ahead of him. Very real chance he could lead the league in scoring having missed five games.

Still won’t be picked first two rounds because he’s too short. If he somehow shows up to the combine and measures in at like 5’9.5 instead of 5’7, that might elevate him like two full rounds from third to first. I think that’s the only thing keeping his stock so low.

 

[WeThreeKings]

16+33=49 points in 35 games. He’s 3rd in the USHL in points and only two behind the leader. Has a higher PPG than both ahead of him. Very real chance he could lead the league in scoring having missed five games.

Still won’t be picked first two rounds because he’s too short. If he somehow shows up to the combine and measures in at like 5’9.5 instead of 5’7, that might elevate him like two full rounds from third to first. I think that’s the only thing keeping his stock so low.

Mac Swanson and Justin Poirier are two intriguing guys like that for this draft.. skill level and tools wise they will be picked behind a lot of guys they shouldn't be because of how small they are.

 

[95snipes]

Swanson really doesn't have plus tools. If he did, there would be more intrigue with him. Like a good chess player, his game is built on thinking one or two steps ahead and breaking down a defense. It's all quick plays, finding soft areas, small area stuff. Very good vision and hockey sense. As smart of a player as you'll see. Everything else though is a question mark. He's small. He's not an explosive skater. He's not fast. Doesn't have game breaking skill. Doesn't have a heavy shot.

He won't be a center in the NHL. Simply doesn't have the skillset. He pretty much has to be a 40+ assist type from the wing to make it.

I'm a hockey sense over tools guy, but there has to be some baseline. You can know what to do, but it doesn't matter if you can't create any space for yourself because your neither big enough or a good enough skater.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Swanson really doesn't have plus tools. If he did, there would be more intrigue with him. Like a good chess player, his game is built on thinking one or two steps ahead and breaking down a defense. It's all quick plays, finding soft areas, small area stuff. Very good vision and hockey sense. As smart of a player as you'll see. Everything else though is a question mark. He's small. He's not an explosive skater. He's not fast. Doesn't have game breaking skill. Doesn't have a heavy shot.

He won't be a center in the NHL. Simply doesn't have the skillset. He pretty much has to be a 40+ assist type from the wing to make it.

I'm a hockey sense over tools guy, but there has to be some baseline. You can know what to do, but it doesn't matter if you can't create any space for yourself because your neither big enough or a good enough skater.

Don’t you think hockey sense and vision are plus tools? Or you are not counting those as tools?

 

[95snipes]

Don’t you think hockey sense and vision are plus tools? Or you are not counting those as tools?

Edit - Tools, I'm more talking size and individual skillset. How well you skate, how you shoot the puck, etc.

 

[ryan callahan]

Mac Swanson and Justin Poirier are two intriguing guys like that for this draft.. skill level and tools wise they will be picked behind a lot of guys they shouldn't be because of how small they are.

These are both not the same. Poirier has some legit power in his game. He's thick. I think Swanson has a much harder time making the league. Think TJ Tynan. Poirier is more like debrincat. One of the top dogs in his draft yr in a top 3 CHL team.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

The 7 points was the most for a player in a USHL game in 4 years.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Still won’t be picked first two rounds because he’s too short. If he somehow shows up to the combine and measures in at like 5’9.5 instead of 5’7, that might elevate him like two full rounds from third to first. I think that’s the only thing keeping his stock so low.

When was he last measured?

 

[Hanji]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

My review of what I've watched from him this season. Has 18+35=53 points in 39 games (4th in the league per game).

He’s a complete surgeon out there on the ice. He’s always aware of where everyone is on the ice, and if you leave one of his teammates slightly open in the offensive zone he’ll find them. For a 5’7 player, he’s not afraid of going to the net, but has obvious limitations. Not afraid to shoot it. His playmaking is better, but he’s not only a perimeter playmaker. I think he skates pretty well. He’s not high effort. He’s more methodical, so he slows the game down, and plays a lot of east to west hockey. It can look like he’s playing slow, but I find when he really needs to play fast he has solid speed. He’s about average defensively for a smaller forward. He’s played some center, but I think he profiles a lot better on the wing. The hockey sense and playmaking is elite, as is the pure scoring totals. With the right coach that trusts in him, you’ll get a top six winger. But if he finds himself in the wrong situation, he might never get the chance due to his size. I don’t see that much of a difference between the risk associated with him and someone like Caufield (who went mid-first round), so I think any later than early second you’re getting a steal.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

1+1 last night.

Leads the USHL in points per game (non-NTDP category) with 24+44=68 points in 49 games (1.39).

Has 29 points in his last 16 games, including points in 15 of 16 and a 7 point game thrown in there.

He’s the best player on the best team in the USHL. Crazy that he could go outside the first two rounds. Cole Caufield went round one.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[BigToe]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Ended up with 1+2.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Not sure where he gets drafted (my guess is 3rd to 5th round), but he's going to be a really good NCAA player for North Dakota.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Central Scouting is listing him now at 5’7.5, so that’d be usually rounded up to 5’8.

 

[LeProspector]

I’d want my team to take a chance on the 2nd/3rd round. You never know if he’ll develop similarly to Johnny Gaudreau did.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think he has the best vision of any player in the 2024 draft. Makes these types of passes for scoring chances so often. Has 1+5=6 points in 3 playoff games so far. Leading the USHL in playoff PPG so far.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Had 1+1 today in a deciding game 5 win. Leads the USHL in playoff points with 3+9=12 points in 8 games. Also leads in PPG (more than three games) and assists.

His team made it back to the final again this year, which starts on Friday. They are looking for revenge as they lost in the final last year.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

This is a truly incredible season for a draft-eligible.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Has 2+2 in the first two final games where his team has won both.

Has 5+11=16 points in 10 playoff games. Next best in the playoffs has 9 points.

Playoff MVP will be his too. One of the most dominant draft-eligible seasons in the USHL ever.

I know he’s 5’8, but he needs to get more respect than he’s getting.