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2018 NHL mock draft: Western Conference teams

By Derek Grochowski

WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 25: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Michigan Wolverines skates the puck against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Final at the DCU Center on March 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Wolverines won 6-3 and advanced to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quinn Hughes
WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 25: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Michigan Wolverines skates the puck against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Final at the DCU Center on March 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Wolverines won 6-3 and advanced to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quinn Hughes /
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BOISBRIAND, QC – OCTOBER 20: Jared McIsaac #14 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
BOISBRIAND, QC – OCTOBER 20: Jared McIsaac #14 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

24. Minnesota Wild – Jared McIsaac

There are so many good defensemen in this year’s draft. The Minnesota Wild are able to grab a solid defenseman late in the first round. For the Minnesota Wild to really take the next step and finally put it all together, they need to make some changes. They need to get better scoring from all of their lines. One group cannot carry this team. That is more of an immediate need, so the Wild will not be able to address that this late in the first round. Instead, the Wild should look to the future and pick up McIsaac. He will likely sit in juniors for another year to continue to improve, but then he should be able to make the NHL jump and be an immediate difference-maker.

In his second season with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, McIsaac took the huge step forward with his development. He more than doubled his goal production jumping from four to nine. McIsaac also added 10 assists to his rookie number, going from 28 to 38. With him falling this far to the Wild would be a gift for the team. McIsaac has the ability to be taken much higher in the draft and could even hear his name be called in the top ten. The only thing really hurt his draft stock is he is just not as close to NHL ready as other prospects.

The best thing for McIsaac is to return to Halifax after next season. He will be one of the top defensemen on the team and play top pairing minutes. McIsaac may be ready to make the jump out of juniors but a year where he can play those top minutes and dominate will be very helpful to him. He has the tools to be a top-four defenseman someday.

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