MLive’s Ansar Khan wrote a profile of Red Wings prospect and 2018 36th overall draft pick Jared McIsaac, a gritty shut-down defenseman:
Red Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright described the 6-1, 193-pound left-shooting McIsaac as steady and hard-nosed, a good skater who can play against the opposition’s top line.
“With McIsaac, we liked the defense,” Wright said.
Defense is just what the Red Wings need to upgrade, on their roster and in their system. McIsaac arrived at development camp “wanting to make a name for myself at this camp and moving forward and prove within a couple years that I belong here.”
McIsaac, following Red Wings training camp in September, will return to his junior team, the Quebec League’s Halifax Moosehead, where he collected nine goals and 38 assists in 65 games in 2017-18. One of his teammates was Filip Zadina, who the Red Wings selected sixth overall.
The mobility McIsaac showed at development camp could eventually make him a top-four NHL defenseman.
“My skating allows me to defend other teams’ top lines and puts me in good spots to jump in the play offensively,” McIsaac said. “I think my physicality defensively (is a strength) and being able to make a good first pass out of the zone and control the play and play with the puck. Everything follows my skating. When I move my feet, that’s when I’m at my best.”
Continued, and Khan posted a video of an interview with McIsaac:
Watching Highlights of McIsaac, he does have a nice rounded game. He has a nice shot from the point and he seems to see the ice well and quickly. Hopefully this kid can play to higher level than any of the D playing on the Wings now. I understand he is a ways off, but he seems to have the right skills. He should be one to watch.