Over the weekend, the NHL Central Scouting Mid Term Rankings for the 2019 NHL Draft were unveiled.
U.S. NTDP U-18 center Jack Hughes was rated as the top North American skater while teammate Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) topped the list of North American goaltenders.
In total, 48 players with ties to the New England region — whether it be hailing from here, playing here now, or committed to playing college hockey here — were listed by NHL Central Scouting during the Mid Term Rankings.
While it is no easy task to rank so many players from across two continents, there were a few players who immediately jumped out as being ranked too high or too low.
As is often said in scouting circles, all it takes is one team to like a player for him to be selected significantly higher than popular opinion. However, in the case of three players in particular, it would appear NHL Central Scouting listed them lower than most organizations.
Zac Jones (104th)
Tri-City Storm (USHL), 10/18/00, D, Left Shot, 5-10/172
NCAA Commit: UMass
The Glen Allen, Va., native played three seasons of midget hockey for Selects Academy at South Kent before moving onto the USHL for this season. He’s played well all season with the Storm, notching four goals and 23 assists in 31 games, but he’s stood out in big scouting events. He impressed many scouts at this month’s USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Lincoln, Neb., and he had a stellar showing at the World Junior A Challenge in December. What makes Jones such a promising prospect is his ability to retrieve pucks and make smart plays to break pucks out of his own zone. He makes a good first seam pass and he’s able to sidestep oncoming forecheckers with his feet. While not always a staple for undersized defensemen, Jones does a good job in his own zone with his mobility and stick. He’s consistently in good position and has an active stick to get in shooting and passing lanes.
Projection: Jones will likely be a third round pick.
John Beecher (53rd)
U.S. NTDP U-18, 4/5/01, C, Left Shot, 6-2.75/204
NCAA Commit: Michigan
With the NTDP’s myriad of top prospects, Beecher sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. While he’s certainly not on the same elite level as Hughes, Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.), Trevor Zegras or Alex Turcotte, he has the physical tools to make him an intriguing player. His size and skating are worthy of a first round pick, but his consistency and hockey sense aren’t always there. An Elmira, N.Y., native, Beecher played prep hockey at Salisbury before heading to Plymouth, Mich. to join the NTDP.
Projection: It would be a shock if a team didn’t scoop him up in the first 40 picks.
Alex Vlasic (25th)
U.S. NTDP U-18, 6/5/01, D, Left Shot, 6-5.75/193
NCAA Commit: Boston University
The Wilmette, Ill., native is criminally underrated by many of the scouting services out there. He’s not the flashy player that some ranked above him are, but he’s absolutely a first round talent. He’s got great size, length and can be a shutdown defender as he moves up to the pro level.Â
Projection: There’s just far too much upside for him to not be picked in the first round. When factoring in the Europeans and goaltenders, NHL Central Scouting’s ranking is too low for that.
