7. Ryan McLeod, C [18] (2-40, 2018)
Stats (Mississauga Steelheads, OHL): 68 gp, 26 g, 44 a, 70 p, 6 PPG (21 A), 2 SHG, 2 GWG, 165 SOG, 54.3 FO%, 1.03 pts/g (6 pgp, 2 g, 3 a, 5 p, 2 PPA, 1 SHG, 17 SOG, 51.4 FO%, .83 pts/g).
Ryan McLeod was projected to be a first-round pick but fell out for a pretty obvious reason. 70 points in 68 games are not that great of a season in the Canadian juniors, and teams deemed other players more worthy of top-31 picks. Still, the Edmonton Oilers saw enough value in McLeod to have taken him in the top 50. He’s got speed and skill, but what holds McLeod back is his ceiling.
He’s likely going to be a third line center. That’s his ceiling, but it may also be his floor.
He’s likely going to be a third line center. That’s his ceiling, but it may also be his floor. He’s incredibly talented like most top 50 picks and should have the ability to transition effectively to the professional game. He’s an excellent playmaker, coming in tied for 25th in assists, even while being injured for a brief time. He was also tied for 29th in scoring. Most of his damage in terms of assists came on the man advantage, and he did well shorthanded as well.
The Edmonton Oilers are a team who doesn’t need McLeod to be anything but a third-line center. With Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Leon Draisaitl, the team has plenty of center depth. They also have the time to wait for McLeod to become the great player he could be. He’s a few years away from the NHL, and his ceiling isn’t that high, but if he becomes what he could, he should play for Edmonton.