Florida Panthers‘ 2nd year center Jared McCann(17) was picked up in a late season trade with Vancouver Canucks.
The former 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#24 overall) played his full rookie season in the NHL scoring 9 goals and 9 assists through 69 games with a -6 rating before being dealt.
He started his sophomore campaign with the big club but was a little slow out of the gate pocketing only a goal and 2 assists through 17 games.
The tough, hard-skating 6’1″ 198 lbs. power forward was reassigned to affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds looking to ignite that scoring touch he had on full display in 3 years with St. Sault Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, where he notched a point-per-game.
In 5 AHL contests he has a goal and an assist but is involved in every aspect of the game when on the ice.
As an under 18 skater he won the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament gold with Team Canada.
Signed to a three year entry level deal he definitely has time to develop but looks like he’s on the cusp of being a full-time contributor at the highest level of hockey sooner than later.