Jared McIsaac – Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL

Date of Birth – Mar 27, 2000

Age – 18

Place of Birth – Truro, NS, CAN

Nation – Canada

Position – D

Height – 6’1” / 185 cm

Weight – 190 lbs / 86 kg

Shoots – L

Rankings

#45 by HOCKEYPROSPECT.COM

#27 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS

#21 by ISS HOCKEY

#24 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY

#13 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)

#26 by TSN/McKenzie

It is hard to think of how exactly to profile Jared McIsaac. He is the kind of prospect you find half a dozen of in every draft. Not overly big or physical but not afraid of contact. Not blazing or a wizard with the puck or defensively, but also not a pylon offensively and defensively. He is just a solid hockey prospect who can do a little bit of everything. Those kinds of guys are the type teams like to fill their pipelines with behind their blue chips, especially along the blue line. Jared has some offensive ability to go along with a solid understanding in his own zone.

Where he runs into problems, and ultimately what could keep him from reaching the NHL down the road, is with his decision making. He has shown a tendency to make less than ideal decisions with the puck when pressured as well as a penchant for trying to force a play instead of taking the easier one available. Developing a player’s hockey IQ and decision making is a much more difficult process than improving their skating or shooting and could cause a fairly talented player in McIsaac fall a round or two beyond his projected rankings.

Bill Placzek profile on Jared McIsaac:

Another offensive defenseman with 200 foot capability. Plays solid in his own end and continues to improve as he gains strength and adjusts to the faster pace. Doesn’t get intimidated or flustered. Is willing to challenge attackers by stepping into them or funneling them outside. Played solid in the Ivan Hlinka in the summer, and continued to improve his game all season with Halifax. Has grown to almost six-one and is very mobile puck carrier at 190 pounds. Has found a nice balance of get-up-and-go and stay-back-and-defend, in this the year of the “offense man.” But still prone to forcing plays and some real issues with his lack of awareness and processing in high-pace close-quartered defensive zone situations. He is going to have to be more self aware of when pressure is about to close on him. Better vision and having his head up on a swivel before getting blind-sided or stripped.

McIsaac feels like the same kind of defenseman prospect the Red Wings have drafted forever. More over, his penchant for forcing plays and less than ideal situational awareness gives me a real Brendan Smith vibe. That said, I have maintained that the Wings development plan with Smith was as much to blame with him not reaching his ceiling as Smith himself, so maybe they could learn from their mistakes with McIsaac?

Would Jared McIsaac be a good choice for the Wings at 30th overall if available?