Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Targets: Defensive prospects

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Jared McIsaac, Defence, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

The theme of this group of players is clearly their two-way ability and how they can help the Toronto Maple Leafs shore up their defensive play, while still maximizing offensive potential. McIsaac does a great job excelling at both ends of the ice and has big-time potential to be a top-four defenceman in the future.

In a 2016 QMJHL Entry draft that has produced two of the next great defenders to hail from the east coast, McIsaac was selected by Halifax with the second overall pick. Four picks later, Noah Dobson was taken by Acadie-Bathurst.

Since the beginning of the year, the two Maritimers have been compared side-by-side to see which one would be taken higher come the summer.

While it looks as though Dobson will win that battle, it’s hard to say who will win the war when all is said and done.

Steve Kournianos also wrote on McIsaac and had a glowing review of McIsaac when he did a mock draft back in January:

"“Specimen of a shutdown defender, only this one can skate and chip in on the good side of the red line when the situation necessitates it. McIsaac has the tough job of knowing how and when to distribute the puck to Halifax’s arsenal of playmakers, and in the process sees his personal stats take a hit. But there isn’t a single defender in this draft better at smothering puck carriers than McIsaac, who has quick feet and maintains an incredibly tight gap.”"

While McIsaac is good at stopping zone entries at the blue line with his positioning and stick, he also isn’t afraid to throw his body around in open ice.

Out of all the defencemen listed here, McIsaac has the best shot. He possesses a cannon from the point and isn’t afraid to let it fly. His point totals don’t show the true upside offensively, as he possesses great abilities at that end of the ice too.