Jack Hextall:
Projection: Middle 6 Forward
Strengths: Compete, Playmaking, Puck control
Weaknesses: Strength of competition, Physicality
Analysis:
Jack Hextall doesn’t know what it means to quit. He is relentless and
consistently giving it his all on the ice. He plays with a level of
care and competitiveness that not many players have. Without the puck,
he does whatever it takes to regain possession or provide his
teammates with another option to pass to. With the puck, he has
exceptional stickhandling, vision, and passing, which makes him a
lethal power play or transition player. He is also a great skater, so
chasing after opponents or barreling towards loose pucks comes easily
to him. In all honesty, I really like his game and see him as an
excellent, well-rounded, versatile middle 6 forward.
My concern for Jack has nothing to do with his play at all, but more
with the players he plays against. Playing in the USHL, the
competition isn’t as high as the CHL or NCAA, so to do what he is
doing in the USHL is still impressive, but it would be much more
impressive in a harder league. That gives me worries that if he isn’t
extremely dominant in the USHL, how easily would it be for him to
translate his game and style to a harder or even professional league?
Next year, when he is playing for Michigan State, if he has very good
numbers and plays well there, whatever team picks him could have a
very promising player on their hands. I also wish he could be more
physical and have better body positioning along the walls, but again,
that’s something to work more on in harder leagues.