Devils move down to take Michael McLeod 12th overall
The New Jersey Devils traded down to select forward Michael McLeod with the 12th pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
The Devils acquired the pick from the Ottawa Senators for the 11th and 80th selections in Friday's draft.
Michael McLeod
Position: Center
Height: 6-2
Weight: 187 pounds
Age: 18
Club: Mississauga (OHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P | ES GPG | ES PPG | ES GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 21 | 40 | 61 | 0.193 | 0.737 | 57.0 |
(Even-strength stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)
While rookie Alex Nylander garnered most of the attention in Mississauga this season, a lot of his success was thanks to his center - whose game improved immensely in his second OHL campaign.
McLeod's 61-point year was second on the Steelheads, and more than doubled his production from a season ago, where he put up 12 goals and 17 assists.
Considered one of the best skaters in this year's draft, McLeod's mix of speed and competitiveness has seen him compared to Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan O'Reilly. He projects as a solid top-six center who can excel in both the offensive and defensive zones.