Prospect Info: New Jersey Devils 1st Round Pick: C Michael McLeod

[Emperoreddy]

Those two flying down the ice is going to be fun to watch. I really like what I've read about McLeod being good at zone entry/exit. That's something we've struggled with for a long time.

Two run away freight trains flying down the ice. Big and fast. I love it.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

Just read this and watched more of his highlight videos...

Mcleod was seen as a top 3 prospect for this draft earlier in 2015-2016, right behind Matthews. and I think we may have gotten a huge steal here. The kid's playmaking ability, skating, hockey IQ, and passing are elite. His offensive touch is there with his hands and quick shifting of the body for dekes, his shot can be lethal at times as well.

He should be a Zajac type but an actual 1C unlike he was. Put Zacha on his wing, and that should be a deadly combination. A Toews-Hossa , if I had to find the perfect comparison.

Not to mention his amazing leadership and attitude, along with work ethic.

Great pick. I think he will end up being a top 3-5 pick from this draft. In fact, I think if teams were contemplating picking him earlier, Shero would have made a move for him. But that is just an assumption.

 

[GeNeXt]

Great pick. I think he will end up being a top 3-5 pick from this draft. In fact, I think if teams were contemplating picking him earlier, Shero would have made a move for him. But that is just an assumption.

I kind of doubt this, considering we didn't make a move up for Jost/Keller/Nylander. There was a lot of chatter before the draft involving us and Montreal. I assume Shero may have been trying to move up so it'd guarantee him one of those three.

Also, not a huge concern for me, but it does raise a flag, McLeod's worst slump of the season came when Nylander was at the WJC. First 4 of 5 games without him, he didn't register a point. Just a random piece of info, but still something to consider.

I am a fan of the pick, though.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

I kind of doubt this, considering we didn't make a move up for Jost/Keller/Nylander. There was a lot of chatter before the draft involving us and Montreal. I assume Shero may have been trying to move up so it'd guarantee him one of those three.

Also, not a huge concern for me, but it does raise a flag, McLeod's worst slump of the season came when Nylander was at the WJC. First 4 of 5 games without him, he didn't register a point. Just a random piece of info, but still something to consider.

I am a fan of the pick, though.

Well of course a player might decline when he loses a linemate he has chemistry with and compliments him so perfectly.

I think he can be very impactful, and while wingers will affect his point output, it wont determine how well he does in other aspects of the game. He is elite at making space with his skating style, and so getting a shooting winger (like Zacha or Boucher, or his buddy Bastion) is crucial to maximize his potential. Sort of like Zajac but I think he can be more independant offensively.

 

[GeNeXt]

Well of course a player might decline when he loses a linemate he has chemistry with and compliments him so perfectly.

I think he can be very impactful, and while wingers will affect his point output, it wont determine how well he does in other aspects of the game. He is elite at making space with his skating style, and so getting a shooting winger (like Zacha or Boucher, or his buddy Bastion) is crucial to maximize his potential. Sort of like Zajac but I think he can be more independant offensively.

I view him as more of a second liner, and as you said, McLeod would probably be a sweet compliment for Boucher, who isn't fleet of foot, but when he's given time and space he's almost automatic.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

I view him as more of a second liner, and as you said, McLeod would probably be a sweet compliment for Boucher, who isn't fleet of foot, but when he's given time and space he's almost automatic.

I think he can be a 1st line center, but that isn't worth debating until we see some more of him. I certainly see the tools he has and the work ethic to improve his weak areas, and that makes him capable of first line production. Comparables being Toews, Bergeron, Kesler, and almost Gomez-like with his zone entry and ability to push defenders back.

Does he go back to Steelheads next year or the AHL? Not too good with that stuff yet.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

I also find it hilarious how 'Brown is far better than Mcleod', and it is likely all due to size

i cant wait to bring that up in 5 years when Brown is nothing more than a grinder and Mcleod is tearing up the league.

Go Devils

 

[theoptimist]

I hate the Brown hype. Not impressed one bit.

 

[MadDevil]

I think Brown's ceiling is higher than McLeod's, but I think McLeod has a better chance of hitting his own ceiling than Brown.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Figured Nylander had 30 something goals but he only had 7 more than McLeod. That caught me by surprise.

 

[SeidoN]

Figured Nylander had 30 something goals but he only had 7 more than McLeod. That caught me by surprise.

that line was pretty good. man if we could only get Nylander too

 

[slammer]

Is McLeod NHL ready?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Is McLeod NHL ready?

no and theres no reason to rush him

let him go back to Mississuaga this year and dominate

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

that line was pretty good. man if we could only get Nylander too

There's rumors that Nylander could be going to Sweden next season

 

[OmNomNom]

I kind of doubt this, considering we didn't make a move up for Jost/Keller/Nylander. There was a lot of chatter before the draft involving us and Montreal. I assume Shero may have been trying to move up so it'd guarantee him one of those three.

Also, not a huge concern for me, but it does raise a flag, McLeod's worst slump of the season came when Nylander was at the WJC. First 4 of 5 games without him, he didn't register a point. Just a random piece of info, but still something to consider.

I am a fan of the pick, though.

people keep saying this, but how do they know we didn't try? it takes 2 to trade, and maybe it wasn't worth what would've been required to move up

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

no and theres no reason to rush him

let him go back to Mississuaga this year and dominate

While I have no problem keeping him down in Miss., how can you say he isn't NHL ready?

At least give the kid until camp to see.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

While I have no problem keeping him down in Miss., how can you say he isn't NHL ready?

At least give the kid until camp to see.

Because he's thin, he has a lot of things to work on (shot, playing at different speeds, etc), there is no reason to rush him when we have our centers pretty much set and only probably 3 players in the draft will be ready to step into the NHL right away (Matthews, Laine, Puljujarvi).

 

[OmNomNom]

yeah at the event yesterday, he was lookin really scrawny. he needs to pack some meat on his frame. he even said so and knows it. 10-15lbs of muscle would go a super long way

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

yeah at the event yesterday, he was lookin really scrawny. he needs to pack some meat on his frame. he even said so and knows it. 10-15lbs of muscle would go a super long way

15 pounds of muscle?! That would be insanely tough to get.

Id be okay with 15-30 pounds in general hahah.

 

[Devil X]

yeah at the event yesterday, he was lookin really scrawny. he needs to pack some meat on his frame. he even said so and knows it. 10-15lbs of muscle would go a super long way

He is almost 190ibs right now. Im sure by the time he is closer to the NHL he will be up to 200lbs maybe a touch more. But he should be pretty good size wise in that range really.

 

[Ripshot 43]

If he is 6'2" and 190 as I see listed he is far from scrawny. That being said, putting on 15lbs of muscle for an 18 year old involved in professional sports (meaning he has a trainer and an eating/diet regime) will not be hard.

Hopefully however his body grows, he keeps his speed.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

If he is 6'2" and 190 as I see listed he is far from scrawny. That being said, putting on 15lbs of muscle for an 18 year old involved in professional sports (meaning he has a trainer and an eating/diet regime) will not be hard.

Hopefully however his body grows, he keeps his speed.

Pethaps, but putting on weight and muscle weight are two very different things. And 15lbs of muscle is a lot hahah, but over a year or two it isn't.

 

[Based Anime Fan]

Are we looking at a bigger Gomer style player or a less shooty and much speedier Jagr type?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Pethaps, but putting on weight and muscle weight are two very different things. And 15lbs of muscle is a lot hahah, but over a year or two it isn't.

15 pounds of muscle over the course of a few years for an 18 year old with access to world class trainers and nutritionists is nothing. He'll put on a few pounds of muscle this year without even trying that hard. Naturally occurring testosterone at age 18 is a hell of a drug..

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

While I have no problem keeping him down in Miss., how can you say he isn't NHL ready?

At least give the kid until camp to see.

dude, what is the point of rushing him?

let him go back to the OHL and dominate for a year. then we see where he is next year.