Despite much speculation of Detroit’s desire to grab a few defensemen with their first four picks, it took until the last pick at 36th overall when a blue-liner was selected. With that pick the Red Wings selected Jared McIsaac, adding him to a defensive prospect pool stocked with NHL hopefuls, but not many sure things.

McIsaac isn’t much different in that his ceiling is a bit of a mystery. He is certainly one of the more talented puck-movers to come though the organizations farm system, but the uncertainty of what he’ll become doesn’t change much.

McIsaac has spent the past two seasons in the QMJHL playing for the Halifax Mooseheads. As a puck-moving defenseman he has had the importunity to distribute the puck to some truly special players, including 2017 first overall pick Nico Hischier and fellow Red Wing Filip Zadina. In his rookie year he tallied four goals and thirty-two points in fifty-nine games, and was named QMJHL defensive rookie of the year.

The following season he stepped up his production with a nine goal, forty-seven point campaign. Now entering his third season, McIsaac is poised to continue the growth in his game, and will have an opportunity to do so at the Memorial Cup (Halifax is hosting this year). He will also now be look at as one of the team leaders and veterans.

As just mentioned, he’ll return to Halifax next season in a bigger role and on a bigger stage. I doubt he would be pushing for an NHL job in 2019-20, which would result in him being sent back to Halifax. However, I would stay patient with him, his offensive game still needs developing and some extra time in juniors could help.

McIsaac is the second highest defensemen the club has selected in recent years (after Dennis Cholowski), so he’ll be held at a higher standard. Patience is key in helping develop a player with a lot of potential.