SCoC Draft Profiles: Jack McBain took a risk and wants to pay it off

Analysis:

Jack McBain WILL be going to the Boston area, regardless of whether or not he’s actually drafted by the Bruins.

Instead of playing for the OHL’s Barrie Colts, McBain decided he wanted to go to Boston College come this fall and play in the NCAA, filling the time in-between by playing for...sigh...

...The Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Yes, you read that right.

It causes me physical distress to see that too, I know...

McBain had himself a good 2017-18, using that 6’3, 200 lb. frame to cause havoc on the boards, has a powerful shot he can use to happily bamboozle defenses and goaltenders alike, and can use that large frame to take out opposing attackers and to re-establish cycles.

Regrettably, McBain’s “work in progress” elements are pretty important for the modern NHL, and the biggest problem any player his size might start having: Skating, and agility. He’s got a fairly low rate of acceleration, and moves like a cruise liner on his worst days. Fine in the Canadian Junior system, but the NCAA is not Canadian Junior.

Furthermore, nobody knows what McBain will be like in the NCAA. If he can keep things up? Great! But that’s a big “if”.

Drafting McBain comes with the fact that the raw skills of hockey and the frame are already there, but that you should be hoping that BC spends a lot of time working on his agility so that he isn’t just a large, one dimensional hockey player.

Player Rankings:

35th by NHL Central Scouting among North American Skaters

54th by FutureConsiderations