New Jersey Devils Sign Michael McLeod to Entry Level Deal
The New Jersey Devils have signed their 2016 first round pick, Michael McLeod, to a three-year, entry-level contract.
What does this mean? It means that McLeod will be playing another year of junior hockey for the Mississauga Steelheads in the OHL. This is a good thing for the 12th overall pick in this year’s NHL draft.
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McLeod impressed in both development camp and the preseason, scoring a goal while appearing in two games. Devils management and coaching staff think he needs an extra year to develop, and this is as-expected since McLeod is just 18 years old. It’s smart too, the Devils don’t need him right away, so there’s no reason to rush his development as a pro player.
Let’s be honest, the Devils don’t need him just yet. They have good competition already at the forward position for the first time in a long time. Give the kid some time to grow. He has size and speed, and has proven early in his time with the organization that he can be a solid two-way player. It takes patience developing young players, and when your team is rebuilding like the Devils, they can give McLeod the time he needs. He is one of the Devils most talented prospects, and only time will tell if Ray Shero made a good move by selecting him in the first round.
It’s also the same thing that they did with Pavel Zacha after drafting him in the first round in 2015, and look at the year he had with the Sarnia Sting. Playing an extra year in the OHL benefited Zacha and put him where he is today, on the verge of making the Devils NHL roster at only 19 years old. A year from now, we could see McLeod following in Zacha’s footsteps. This season, he’ll return to his hometown team and develop both his game and his body.
Do you think McLeod will benefit from another year in the OHL?