Canucks top draft pick: Patrick McNally
NHLHS Vancouver Canucks Correspondents Will & Valerie Wittstruck profile the Vancouver Canucks 2010 fourth round selection Patrick McNally.
The Canucks made their first selection in the 2010 NHL Entry draft in round 4, taking Patrick McNally, a mobile defensemen, from Milton Academy in Massachusetts. With good size at 6’2” and 180 lbs, the Long Island, NY native had 35 points (14-21–35) in 28 games to lead his team last season. He has one more season of high school hockey then it’s on to Harvard University in the fall of 2011.
Along with leading his team in scoring last year he was named the New England Prep School Defenseman of the Year, U.S. Hockey Report’s Prep Defenseman of the Year and was a First Team All-New England selection.
Here’s what his coach and Gary Eggleston of NHL Central Scouting had to say about him:
Milton Academy head coach Paul Cannata
“He created a lot of offense from the blue line and provided a lot of spark. He (McNally) is a great student, a good kid and a pleasure to coach. He loves to play hockey, carry the puck, skate, and make plays. There’s a freshness to his game that is really enjoyable. You don’t want to coach that out of him.”
NHL Central Scouting’s Gary Eggleston
“Pat is an offensive defenseman whose strength is in rushing the puck and putting constant pressure on the defense. He is a very good skater with mobility, speed and quickness. His skating skills and quick hands allow him to escape trouble and move the puck quickly out of danger. In the defensive zone he has very good lateral mobility and closes quickly on the puck carrier, forcing him into quick decisions or mistakes. He is an excellent passer whose passes are accurate and proper for the situation. Doesn’t play a physical game, but relies on quick stick and smarts to gain puck possession.”
Unlike a first-round pick, players selected in the later rounds are chosen based on their potential and future needs of the organization. A team picks a player that will “hopefully” make an impact years down the road. This is definitely the case with McNally and the Canucks were pleased that he was available when they made him the 115th overall selection in this year’s draft.
The selection was even more important as the Canucks had traded their first round pick to Florida (along with Michael Grabner and Steve Bernier) for Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich. Their 2nd round selection went to Columbus (via Buffalo) in the deal that ironically brought Bernier to Vancouver a few years ago. They gave up their 3rd round pick last year in a deadline deal that brought defenseman Andrew Alberts from Carolina. (Don’t ask Canuck fans how the Alberts deal turned out – we’re all hoping he finds his groove this season.)
In selecting McNally the Canucks were obviously looking towards the future. Hopefully he will continue to develop his skills in the ECAC and develop into a future NHLer with the Canucks. If not, a mobile puck-moving defenseman is always in demand.
I-5 Canucks
NHLHS Canucks Correspondents
Hipcheck44@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Hipcheck44 and @WCE71944
