Ducks drafts Blake McLaughlin 79th overall
The Anaheim Ducks selected Blake McLaughlin with the 79th overall pick in the NHL draft Saturday afternoon.
Blake McLaughlin
Position: Left Wing
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 157 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Chicago (USHL)
Nationality: American
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 GPG | 5v5 PPG | 5v5 GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 0.24 | 0.57 | 51.14 |
(Stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)
McLaughlin is a sniper through and through as his heavy and accurate shot is easily his most lethal asset. He also has good speed making it more difficult for defenders to contain when he charges the net.
The 18-year-old finished second on the Chicago Steel in scoring this season, averaging just under a point per game. His production this year saw him ranked second among all USHL skaters behind only Sampo Ranta of Sioux City by NHL Central Scouting.
"McLaughlin has an outstanding wrist shot and a quick release. He can beat goaltenders with his shot off the rush, and from the top of the faceoff circles. He also has an excellent one-timer. If there is a criticism though, he sometimes becomes over-reliant on his shot, trying to force things from too far out or bad angles if his team is down. McLaughlin has the height and the hand-eye coordination to get to the front of the net and be a menace in tight but needs to work on his muscle mass. He can be pushed around a bit too much, and this will be an issue at higher levels." - Ben Kerr, The Last Word on Hockey
McLaughlin models his game after Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise and Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, according to NHL Central Scouting, making it quite evident that creating offense is where he excels.