Jacob De La Rose
Position: Center/Wing
Team: Leksand (Allsvenskan)
Age: 18
Date of Birth: May 20, 1995
Place of Birth: Arvika, Sweden
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 190 lbs
Shoots: Left
2012-2013 Regular Season Stats:
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
| 38 | 6 | 6 | 12 | +8 | 31 |
2012-2013 Playoff Stats:
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
| 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 2 |
Jacob De La Rose is a solid all-around prospect, though he doesn’t do any one thing particularly exceptionally. He is a very good skater, is strong, works hard, has positional versatility, and isn’t afraid to take the body on the forecheck. He’s a strong defensive forward, but his offense will need some work. He does show some ability, but he may end up being a bit of tweener in the NHL. Regardless of whether his offensive game blossoms or not, he is a reliable defensive guy who can play that role in the NHL. He also brings leadership to the table, having Captained his national U18 team.
De La Rose is ranked #7 in the final Central Scouting European Skater rankings.
Scouting Reports:
De La Rose had a quality season as an amateur in the SEL-2, especially considering he received little opportunity on the power play. He is an all-around type of forward who can make plays in both ends, and play any of the three forward positions if asked. His best skill is his skating, which one NHL scout described as very good, while another called him an explosive skater. He is a strong, hard-working forward, pressuring defenders well with his speed and physical play. He lays crushing hits on occasion, while showing determination in his own end through his backchecking and shot blocking. He kills penalties effectively, making good reads. However, scouts are divided on De La Rose’s offensive upside. Some believe that he has good enough puck skill and vision to score, but one head scout I talked to said he projects as a third line forward. I lean toward the former, although enough sources have concerns with his offensive projection that it becomes an issue of note.
– Hockey Prospectus
Has played effective minutes with Leksand in the Allsvenskan this year… Big bodied centre possesses heady vision and an ability to make plays… Uses his body effectively at the pro level… Prone to some inconsistency… Displays a solid compete level and willingness to engage the opposition.
Why he’d be a good fit in Columbus:
Well, to be honest, he doesn’t bring the offense the Jackets are sorely lacking. That said, he’s almost the prototypical current-Jackets-forward: defensively responsible, fast, physical, and versatile. To that end, he wouldn’t be a bad prospect to have in your system. He’s not all that dissimilar to Boone Jenner in many respects, though his skating is better than Boone’s. At the end of the day, however, the Jackets need impact scoring; they have plenty of grit already in the system.
De La Rose in Action