The last player before we reach the Top 10 on the Prospect Pond is…Jack McBain! Jack McBain was selected at the beginning of the 3rd round in 2018 by the Wild. He is currently with Boston College in his last year of NCAA eligibility. McBain is a large power Center that adds to the Wild’s future Center depth that they currently lack. No stranger to stories of the bright lights of the NHL, McBain’s father Andrew played in 632 NHL games while scoring 313 points. Jack McBain will certainly be hoping to start a new NHL family and etch his way into the NHL in the coming years.
Jack McBain spent his draft season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. This is a Junior A. league separate from the Ontario Hockey League, which is a Major Junior League. Being Junior A the OJHL allows players to keep NCAA eligibility, unlike the OHL and other Major Junior leagues. That being said, the OJHL is not a league that produces many NHL players. In 2018 only one other player from the league was selected in the NHL draft. McBain’s OJHL season saw him put up 58 points across 48 games. This is a very good point total, but in a weak league.
After the draft McBain headed to Boston to join the Eagles of Boston College. In his Freshman year McBain had 13 points in 35 games. This may seem underwhelming, but earning playing time as an 18 year old at Boston College is not an easy task. His Sophomore year saw him up his production as he put up 21 points in 34 games. After 24 games in last year’s COVID season McBain had put up 19 points. While his numbers don’t jump off the page, McBain had shown steady improvement up to this season… This season has been a different story for McBain.
That story has been different in a very good way. McBain has so far put up 16 points across 12 games for the Eagles. Scoring over a point per game in Hockey East is no mean feat. If McBain keeps this production up through the season he would be a black ace contender for the Wild. While McBain is a Senior at Boston College, he will only be turning 21 this season. This means that McBain is just about league average for age, as most NCAA players don’t start their Freshman year until they are 20 due to playing Juniors. Combine this with redshirts and the NCAA has plenty of players in their mid 20s. This is important to note, good numbers in a strong NCAA league like Hockey East are a completely different story than good numbers in the QMJHL against 17 year olds.
The Pond Report
Jack McBain is largely what you expect of a Power Center. The BC Eagle is strong and hard to push off the puck. He is fast when he gets up to speed but isn’t Secretariat out of the gates. He also has good playmaking abilities and generally outpaces his goal total with assists by a decent margin. As McBain hasn’t been a huge goal scorer in college, it seems he has a pretty average shot.
In the OJHL and the beginning of his NCAA career McBain had not yet learned how to use his physicality without ending up in the box. In his Junior season, and first two seasons at BC, McBain had more penalty minutes than games played. Last season however, he had just 12 across 24 games. McBain seems to have learned how to use his body and keep his elbow down. This is an issue with many big players that he seems to have learned. This is a good sign too as it may signify that McBain is a coachable player. His coaches at Boston College certainly didn’t like how many penalties had to be killed on his behalf and spoke to him about this.
Jack McBain is also no stranger to big games. He has played in the “Beanpot”, a 4-team in season tournament between Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University, and Harvard. Played annually at the TD Garden in Boston, the Beanpot always draws an electric atmosphere.
McBain compares decently well to current Wild Center Nico Sturm. Sturm and McBain are almost the exact same size. Plenty of similarities can be drawn in their play style, despite not being perfect copies of each other. They use their bodies, and are decent skaters, but not overpowering. If McBain keeps close to his current scoring pace he should have a similar year to Sturm’s 2018-19 season at Clarkson where he put up 45 points in 39 games. This led to Sturm being picked up by the Wild having gone undrafted, and playing 2 games with the Wild at the end of the season. It should also be noted that Hockey East, the league Boston College plays in, is a step above ECAC, which Clarkson plays in. It is a bit more difficult to pace at a point per game in Hockey East than in the ECAC.
Analysis
There is no league in the world like the NHL. Until a player proves themself at that level they are not a sure thing. In that light, the NCAA is a very good place for players to prove themselves. As a 21 year old averaging over a point per game, McBain should expect to see the NHL if he keeps his production up. McBain’s size and physicality are a huge plus when vying for a bottom 6 role. McBain seems like a player that could slot into the 3rd or 4th Center line for the Wild in the near future. That being said, the Wild have a lot of players coming up that will be vying for the bottom two Center positions. The Wild are also stacked with upcoming left-shot forwards. McBain is a lefty and will have plenty of competition in the organization as he comes up.
A year in the AHL is a possibility for McBain, but Wild fans might be excited to see another young player make the roster at the end of the season, or start of next season. When the Wild make the playoffs this season, management may consider bringing McBain in as a “Black Ace”. Black Aces are extra call-ups that are eligible for the playoff roster that don’t have much or any NHL experience. Management from some NHL team’s like to give one of these spots to a player coming off a big NCAA season. This can bring new life and energy into a team.
Projections
Chances of becoming NHL regular: 55%
I think McBain has what it takes to play in the NHL. However, he doesn’t have his ticket booked by any means. The Wild’s future depth at Center will make it difficult to break into the roster. Hopefully McBain carves his way into the NHL and gives the Wild more options on the ice or at the trade deadline in the future.
Chances of becoming star NHL’er (Top 50): 3%
McBain is another Wild prospect that slots into the 3rd or 4th lines. While he is showing some great numbers this season, he doesn’t have anything in his game that will make him elite in the NHL at this time.
NHL arrival: 2022-23
McBain could make the roster next year, or even at the end of this season. The Wild are currently hurting at Center, and in an injury heavy league, McBain should get the chance to prove himself soon. If he can’t break into the roster in the next 18 months, it might spell trouble for his chances at being a Wild regular.
Conclusion
Thanks again for reading Prospect Pond. Check out the rest of the Prospect Pond if you haven’t already. Stay tuned next Saturday as we break into the Top 10 of the Pond. What do you think of Jack McBain? Is this season just a fluke so far? When will McBain break into the Wild squad? Comment below your opinions!