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With the 15th overall pick, the Leafs are proud to select… Jacob Perreault?
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Marsha Joseph
Oct 5, 2020, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Feb 17, 2021, 14:44 EST
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With a new addition to TheLeafsNation’s series on potential player options with the Leafs 15th overall pick, in this piece we’ll take a look at Jacob Perreault of the Sarnia Sting. Before we go on, don’t forget to check out the other draft profiles in this series:
With the 15th overall pick, the Leafs are proud to select…Connor Zary?
With the 15th overall pick the Leafs are proud to select… Dawson Mercer?
With the 15th overall pick the Leafs are proud to select… Jake Sanderson?
With the 15th overall pick the Leafs are proud to select… Seth Jarvis?
With the 15th overall pick the Leafs are proud to select… Dylan Holloway?
With the 15th overall pick the Leafs are proud to select… Yaroslav Askarov?
With the 15th overall pick the Leafs are proud to select… Rodion Amirov?
With the 15th overall pick the Leafs are proud to select… Jack Quinn?
With the 15th overall pick the Leafs are proud to select… Braden Schneider?
While Perreault may not be NHL ready right off the bat, his offensive skills give him a fighting chance. In the 2020 draft class Jacob Perreault is one of the best offensive wingers available. Grabbing the attention of scouts would not have been difficult for him after scoring 39 goals in 57 games this season with the Sting.
 He shows that he has the ability to make thoughtful and artistic plays in the offensive zone. 
When it comes to a special area on a team where Perreault could be beneficial, the kill isn’t one of them. His inconsistency in play especially defensively doesn’t allow him to be an option on the penalty kill just yet. Bob McKenzie mentioned concerns about the amount of effort given as a potential turn away for some teams. To give him the benefit of the doubt, Sarnia’s performance as a whole this season wouldn’t help his defensive side improve. Going to his father, development coach for the Blackhawks for assistance in this area is a great sign that he wants to take next steps to being better. 
Sitting at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, Jacob Perreault’s size makes him perfect for standing his ground while boxing out defenders. That’s kind of where you draw the line. His backcheck will leave you wanting more from him. Less turnovers and improved puck management skills will see him go far as a two way player in the NHL. 
On the other hand, the power play can be a great opportunity for Jacob. He can score from anywhere, and in a situation where you’d want to capitalize on a man advantage, he’s your guy.
Jacob Perreault’s highlights will show you that he is very playmaker oriented. They are also exciting to watch, so have a look below:
Perreault almost always has eyes for the puck, and seems to be thinking of a way to get it to the back of the net. Creativity in this sense seems to be his strong suit. With hockey being a game that is constantly evolving, this mindset is beneficial.
Here is a table of where Perreault is ranked across the board:
TLN CONSENSUS RANKING
BOB MCKENZIE
CAM ROBINSON
CRAIG BUTTON
ELITEPROSPECTS
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
MCKEENS
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING NA SKATERS
SCOTT WHEELER
24
21
18
40
23
23
28
17
29
While the rankings seem to move away from this being a possibility, It wouldn’t hurt the Leafs to have another shooter in their system. With an asset that can make such a difference in the game, you can’t help but wonder if he could be the cherry on top in a playoff series should he be ready. He’s consistently able to convert on plays made in high danger areas. His shots at tough angles, his ability to beat goalies in a variety of ways, along with his strong passing capabilities make him an interesting candidate for the Leafs. That being said Perreault is only 18 and he could benefit from more time in the OHL. 
Fun fact! Yanic Perreault, was actually drafted 47th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1991 draft. Who knows, maybe having his son be drafted by them as well could be an extremely wholesome full circle moment for the family. 
All stats unless otherwise stated are from Elite Prospects.
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