Considered one of the top goal scorers in this year’s draft class, Jack Quinn may be slightly undersized but his shot separates him from many of his peers.
He moved up a couple spots from his Central Scouting midterm ranking and ended up as the No. 7 North American-based skater and the top winger not named Alexis Lafreniere.
Here’s what else you need to know about Quinn.
Team: Ottawa 67’s
Position: Right winger
Shoots: Right
Age: 19
From: Cobden, Ontario
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 176 pounds
He’s a late bloomer
Quinn’s birthday is Sept. 19 -- just four days after the NHL’s 2019 draft eligibility cut-off date -- so he’s the oldest draft-eligible player in 2020, which is somewhat fitting since he has been a late bloomer throughout his young hockey career. In fact, unlike the majority of NHL prospects coming out of Ontario, Quinn grew up playing mostly AA minor hockey and didn’t make a AAA team until he was 15 years old. After he moved from the AA Upper Ottawa Valley Aces to the AAA Kanata Lasers he was taken in the second round of the OHL Priority Selection by the Ottawa 67’s.
He had 12 goals and 20 assists in 61 games in his first full season with the 67’s before a production boom this past season. Quinn scored 52 goals and had 89 points in 62 games in 2019-20, finishing second in OHL goals behind Peterborough Petes forward Nick Robertson who had a whopping 55 goals in 46 games.
Quinn became the eighth OHL player in the past 20 years to score 50 or more goals during his draft year, joining a list that also includes Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Jeff Skinner and Alex DeBrincat.
What do the experts say?
Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino: “He’s a responsible three-zone player who’s deadly around the net. He’s got a lightning quick release and plenty of accuracy to the point his shot would play in the NHL right now. The most exciting thing about this player is the year-over-year improvement in his game. Not only does he project physically, but on the ice he’s grown by leaps and bounds and that trajectory is expected to continue. He’s been afforded big league resources in Ottawa with a coaching staff that is all pro. Add in the additional resources that will be afforded him from an NHL team and continued development in the OHL, and you project a top six winger with elite goal-scoring potential.”
Central Scouting: “Dynamic skater that can fly with the puck on his stick. Lethal shot with an exceptional release. Strong two-way game. Plays in all situations. Sniper with highlight reel goal-scoring ability.”
NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman: "His skating got better as the season progressed, which allowed Quinn to further grow his offensive game. That's likely to continue as he gets better off-ice training in pro hockey. He's already strong enough to win most battles along the walls and is tough to knock off the puck."
EliteProspects: “He's always manipulating opposing defencemen as a puck-carrier, baiting a response, and then threading the puck through the opening this sequence created. Quinn can get a 10-bell shot off on either foot, and he deploys a wide array of release points to ensure that the puck gets through any manner of situations.”
