Jared McCann
Position: C/W
Current Team: Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
Date of Birth: May 3, 1996
Place of Birth: Stratford, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 176 lbs
Shoots: Left
“Safe pick” comes to mind when I think of McCann. He’s not flashy, but he gets the job done. He’s versatile, productive and though he can sometimes deal with consistency issues, he is nonetheless a high-end talent. You’d like to see him bulk up a bit (like almost every other prospect entering his draft year) but otherwise he has the ability to play almost any role for an NHL club.
There’s a bit of a concern where he only has one season of junior hockey under his belt, but he’ll return to the Greyhounds next year to continue his development.
Personally I love this kid’s mitts. In the video below you see some excellent examples of what he can do with the puck on his stick. Combine this with his special teams ability and the NHL team that drafts him will have a no-nonsense, jack-of-all-trades forward at their disposal.
Scouting Reports
If you haven’t noticed yet, the 2014 NHL Draft is on track to be one to remember for the OHL. Our sixth ranked OHL player in the top ten, McCann is a dynamic forward who can play down the middle or on the wing. The Stratford, Ont. native is a relentless possession player who can menace the opposition with his excellent top-end speed and acceleration. McCann is a true goal scorer and has natural offensive instincts and outstanding finishing ability. He is prone to going through stretches where the puck doesn’t seem to go his way, but McCann is yet another forward in this draft with excellent upside at the NHL level. – The Scouting Report
“Jared is a highly skilled and creative playmaker,” Edwards said. “He has excellent hands and puckhandling ability. He sees the ice very well and can get the puck through traffic with great saucer passes.
“He is not a guy who will always bring you out of your seat but is dangerous every shift and at the end of the game he will quietly have a goal and three assists. Jared is an excellent penalty killer, smart and reads the play very well.” – Chris Edwards, NHL
McCann is a hard-working, two-way forward who displays strong agility and mobility. He’s effective at both ends of the ice and has the ability to produce strong numbers due to his hands, patience, shot and sense. – Elite Prospects
A Good Fit in Columbus?
We’ve said before in this space that the Jackets have a need for depth in the defense prospect pool, and some skill on the wing. McCann is a versatile player that seems like a second or third line forward, like a Boone with more offensive ability. He would certainly look good in Union Blue, but I wonder if a player with more pure skill would be better for the Jackets when they pick in the first round.
McCann in Action