4 targets for the Leafs in the 2018 draft
By Austin Owens
Jack McBain – Centre (Toronto Jr. Canadiens)
Junior A. hockey has become a more popular route for draft-eligible prospects over the last five years. Tyson Jost, Dante Fabbro and Cale Makar have all been taken after playing their draft years in Junior A.
McBain looks set to be the next first rounder that skipped out on the CHL. He was selected 20th overall by the Barrie Colts in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.
Instead of making the jump, McBain decided to stay with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens and play another season of junior.
He has 41 points in 35 games, which is good for second in scoring on the team.
Here’s another report from Future Considerations on the centre:
"McBain is a sizeable and strong two-way pivot…he stands out for his vision on the ice, skill with the puck and strong work ethic, an excellent combination of attributes…skating stride is slightly upright and rigid, but he utilizes long strides to generate above average straight-line speed…ability with the puck is far beyond his years…patient enough to wait for a play to develop before distributing the puck but is comfortable finding the soft spots in defensive coverage…uses his quick release to create a scoring chance as well…his shot is very good…has the ability to receive a pass in stride and fire a shot with good power and accuracy quickly…takes care of his responsibilities in the defensive zone and positions himself well to make a play on loose pucks…he could stand to be more physical, but his ability to close his opponents off along the boards and use his long reach to block passing lanes is still an asset…a very committed and tireless worker, he makes a consistent effort to be an impact player on the ice…he could become a tremendous two-way player at the NHL level. (July 2017)"
McBain has also played well for Canada in several tournaments over the last few years. At the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, he had five points (3G, 2A) in as many games. McBain also played at the World Junior A. Challenge, where he finished with six points (2G, 4A) in four games.
McBain has committed to Boston College, where he will play next season. The increase in competition should do nothing but great things for the 17-year-old.
He has shown the raw talents that have made him a top prospect in this draft. If he is still available when the Toronto Maple Leafs pick, he should get a hard look. He’s got time to refine his game under the winningest Head Coach in NCAA history: Jerry York. He will also link up with Leafs’ 2016 third-rounder Joseph Woll.
The Leafs are now pretty thin at centre in terms of top prospects. Their former top three centre prospects — Marner, William Nylander and Auston Matthews — are all now top players for the Leafs.
McBain is the person I’d like to see the Toronto Maple Leafs go after if they choose to add a centre in the first round.