Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
There's ample opportunity to address skill with size down the draft ladder too.
Fellow Steel-head Nathan Bastien, Igor Korshkov, Cameron Morrison, Mitch Mattson etc etc. McLeod even as a RH/C has top end talent that you cannot pass up.
Besides! Bennett at LW solves the skilled gritty winger issue too!
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It's extremely hard to find a legitimate 1st line winger with size, strength, skill and skating outside the top 10. Sure you can occasionally get lucky but we shouldn't be banking on it. It looks like we can get one in this top 10.
Here's some quotes on McLeod
"Michael McLeod is a very interesting player - he could go much higher than 13," Button said. "You talk to different people around the league, they love his competitiveness. He's an elite skater."
http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2016...-for-2016.html
"I don't get all the "doesn't have a high offensive ceiling" talk lately. Why is it that when a draft eligible prospect is a responsible two-way player, he's suddenly labelled a future 3rd liner as if it's not feasible that his offensive skill set improves? His skating ability makes him so dangerous off the rush and with his size and smarts, he has the potential to control play below the hashmarks too. His shot and finishing ability need to get better, but that's something that can be improved. I'd still take him over his teammate Nylander (although I do like Alex as a prospect too). Something that doesn't get mentioned enough - he's currently the OHL's top faceoff man." - Brock Otten
""Let's get this out there now: no one is letting this kid fall out of the top ten to get Larkin’d again. He’s 6’2’’ with light speed, and he’s getting check your eyes even faster with each new view. McLeod is a stud, who should refine his choppy stickhandling and O zone choices to become a beast of a #2C.” - Anthony Mauro
"The speed is incredible. Having seen him live, I could barely believe some of the stuff he pulls off when he has the puck and he's pretty good on face-offs, as well. Scouts love how he stood out on Canada's Ivan Hlinka team." - Ryan Kennedy
"I know I have him higher than most others. The more I watch him, the more I like. A tremendous all around player. Great leadership skills and it seemed every goal he scored as a rookie was a highlight reel goal. Not much has changed this year. Solid penalty killer and a big reason why the Steelheads have the best PK in the OHL (as of this writing). I don't know if he will be much of a goal scorer in the NHL, but I would take him on my team, any day! He makes the line with Alexander Nylander and Nathan Bastian (all NHL draft eligible) players go. He really is the straw that stirs the drink on that line." - Tony Ambrogio
"One of the best well-rounded players in the draft. He is a threat with and without the puck has a fantastic shot and effective playmaking skills. He uses his size and speed to drive to the net and his acceleration makes him hard to contain. McLeod has a strong wrist shot and is able to finish plays at top speed which will make him very attractive to NHL teams. He competes hard and is strong on the puck. McLeod is solid on face-offs and trusted to be used in many key situations. I would pick McLeod over Nylander, but Nylander plays with a little more flash and has strong NHL roots which may be more attractive to some NHL scouts." - Kathryn Jean
The comments were a little more glowing than I remember. But despite that he was ranked below Chychrun (#1), Tkachuk (#2) and Nylander (#3) on that midseason OHL list. It appears some do really love his game. I wouldn't hate the pick but obviously I think Tkachuk and Dubois would fits our immediate and long term needs much better. You guys might be able to convince me he's a better pick than Nylander though.