With the 216th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Nashville Predators selected defenseman Jacob Paquette.
Here’s what the experts said about him leading up to the draft.
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Jacob Paquette
defenseman
Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
18, 6’3”, 207 lbs.
RANKINGS
ISS: #120
Future Considerations: #131
HockeyProspect.com: #70
Central Scouting: #105 (North American skaters)
TheScout.ca: #116
Craig Button, TSN Director of Scouting: #100
recrutes.ca: honorable mention
McKeen’s: honorable mention
Future Considerations
“A solid defensive-minded defenseman who uses his size to his advantage. He moves around the ice efficiently, with a strong skating stride. He closes in on attacking forwards effectively and possesses superb positioning and a high hockey IQ. Paquette matches up well against all types of forwards. He has the speed and skill to keep up with the quicker members of the opposition, and can grind it out against power-forwards. His size is impressive and you can see his strength on the ice when he is engaged in battles. He does not lose many. He is a real hard-nosed player, almost a throwback type defenseman with his physical play and shot-blocking ability.”
DobberProspects.com
“Paquette is a strong skater and has a very projectable 6-3 and 207 pound frame to pro hockey. He skates well with the puck, keeping his feet moving and his head up when rushing the puck in transition. His shot isn’t very dangerous and needs some work but he makes quick, sharp, accurate passes and can distribute the puck well on the point. Defensively he is very reliable, can play a physical game to separate players from the puck or rub them out in board battles, his edge work is great as he pivots, turns, skates backwards and stops and starts with execution and efficiency.”
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- READ: What experts say about 1st round pick Eeli Tolvanen
- READ: What experts say about 2nd round pick Grant Mismash
- READ: What experts say about 3rd round pick David Farrance
- READ: What experts say about 5th round pick Tomas Vomacka
- READ: What experts say about 6th round pick Pavel Koltygin
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PHOTO CREDIT: Jeremy K. Gover
