Minnesota Wild: Top 10 Prospects Entering the 2018 Season

8. Jack McBain, C/W [18] (3-63, 2018)

Stats (Toronto Jr. Canadiens, OJHL): 48 gp, 21 g, 37 a, 58 p, 5 PPG (7 A), 1 SHG, 4 GWG (4 pgp, 6 g, 3 a, 9 p, 2 PPG (1 A), 2 GWG).

McBain is in a similar situation to Lodnia, in that, even as a third-round pick (albeit a high one), he has the expectations of someone above him. As the Minnesota Wild’s second pick in the 2018 draft, he’ll be expected to become what the second-round pick should have been. That shouldn’t be a problem for Jack McBain, however, who was projected by some as a top-50 pick, which means he could have been a second-round pick anyway.

He’ll get playing time in the NCAA (with Boston College) next season, which will be the true test of the young center.

McBain comes from one of the smaller leagues in the Canadian juniors system, the OJHL, where he was first in playoff points per game. That league has helped produce numerous NHL talents (including Corey Perry, Ryan O’Reilly, Darnell Nurse, Reilly Smith, James Neal, Brent Burns, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares). That’s good news for McBain, and likely why he was scouted. He hopes to become the next prominent member of that group of alumni, and with an aging Minnesota Wild center pool, he could be.

McBain needs to work on his skating, especially on his edges. He’s got a solid defensive and physical game, though that can always be worked on ahead of spending consistent time in the NHL, and he’s got an NHL-ready body, though is still learning how to use it. His best competition has still been in the OJHL however, and while it has produced talents in the past, it is not one of the more respected leagues. He’ll get playing time in the NCAA (with Boston College) next season, which will be the true test of the young center.