Ryan Molag / Langley Events Centre

Fantasy Summary

Raw two-way blue-liner with solid defensive habits and shutdown tools. On-puck game and decision-making are concerns, but has the tools to become a high-end, bottom-pair defenseman.


Observations

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June 2023 – MacKinnon was selected 83rd overall by the Predators. Pat Quinn

 

June 2023 – MacKinnon’s season on the offensive end was lackluster, as he only put up 23 points in 61 games and didn’t improve upon that in the Halifax Mooseheads’ deep playoff run, earning only two points in 20 games.

MacKinnon is one of the rare draft-eligible QMJHL defensemen whose defensive habits are well ahead of his offensive tools. A punishing rush defender with solid in-zone habits to boot, the 6-foot-3 blue-liner is hard to play against and occupies dangerous ice very well in his own zone, looking to tie up anyone who comes within arm’s reach. His hockey sense on both sides of a puck is a concern, as he can miss good options in favour of a dump-in or lose his check in rotating offensive zone cycles, but one-on-one, few defend as well as he does. MacKinnon has a lot of development left to go through in all three zones, but his foundation of defensive habits combined with his size, reach and intensity make for an alluring package in the mid-to-late rounds. Hadi Kalakeche

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 5.5
NHL Certainty 3.0
Country CAN
Position D
Roster Type Junior
Shoot/Glove Right
Date of Birth January 12, 2005
Height 6‘2”
Weight 187 lbs
Drafted 2023 Round 3; Overall: 83

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2018-2019 Dieppe Flyers U15 AAANBU15AAAHL27 2 1214 68|Playoffs6 0 22
  Team New Brunswick U14 (ACC)ACC-U145 0 44 6|        
 2019-2020 Dieppe Flyers U15 AAANBU15AAAHL21 8 614 63|        
  Team New Brunswick U15 (ACC)ACC-U155 0 33 19|        
  Moncton Flyers U18 AAANBPEIMU18HL3 0 00 0|        
 2020-2021 Moncton Flyers U18 AAANBPEIMU18HL16 4 711 18|Playoffs8 2 13 20 
 2021-2022 Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL52 1 12 69|Playoffs4 0 00
 2022-2023 Canada U18Hlinka Gretzky Cup5 0 11 2|        
  Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL61 6 1723 75|Playoffs20 0 22 14 
 2023-2024 Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL64 3 1316 48|Playoffs4 0 22
 2024-2025 Moncton WildcatsQMJHL23 1 12 25|        

Highlights