Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2021 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “2021 NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Jack Bar Scouting Report.
Drafted by the Peterborough Petes in the third round, 52nd overall, at the 2018 OHL Priority Selection Draft, defenceman Jack Bar opted to continue playing prep school hockey at St. Andrew’s College in order to maintain his NCAA eligibility. He has been focused on his education and is now committed to Harvard University, after all. Bar also helped St. Andrew’s win the CISAA Championship in 2019.
With the 2020-21 season never starting in Ontario, Bar went to British Columbia. to play for the Penticton Vees in the BCHL. However, after just a few preseason games, the COVID-19 Pandemic again wreaked havoc on Bar’s plans cancelling another hockey season. Bar eventually decided to head to the USHL, joining the Chicago Steel. It was a good decision as he joined a dominant team but also was able to take a big role on the blue line. Bar was just what the Steel needed and he would help the team win the 2021 Clark Cup. Bar scored five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 34 regular-season games. He also added one assist in seven playoff games for the Steel.
Jack Bar Scouting Report
Right Defence — shoots Right
Born October 24th, 2002 — Newmarket, Ontario
Height 6’2″ — Weight 194 lbs [188 cm / 88 kg]
Skating
At 6’2″ Bar has good size and marries that with very good mobility. He could stand to work on his first step but his stride is good. This gives him very good acceleration and top-end speed in both directions. Bar has very good crossovers, allowing him to quickly move laterally when going backwards and to maintain speed and power out of his turns when going forward. He also has very good edgework and agility. This helps Bar to defend against the rush and maintain his strong gap control. His pivots are crisp as well. This allows him to transition from offence to defence and vice-versa. Bar is strong on his skates, winning battles on the boards and in front of the net. This should only continue to improve as he matures and gets stronger.
Offensive Game
Bar is very good at starting the transition game. He has decent stickhandling ability and combines this with his skating to move the puck out of his end as well as to effectively skate the puck through the neutral zone and gain the offensive end with possession. He also makes a strong first pass, helping his team to start the rush. Bar can make a long breakaway pass if one of his teammates can get behind the opposition’s defence. However, this does not always translate in the offensive zone. Bar could stand to be more patient with the puck at the blue line in order to quarterback the play.
Bar has a decent slap shot but it is not a howitzer. He understands how to keep it low and on the net in order to give his teammates the opportunity for rebounds and deflections. His wrist shot is also decent and Bar likes to sneak into the top of the faceoff circles before letting it go. He will pinch deep to keep the puck in and support the cycle game as well. This can sometimes lead to him being caught up ice though and unable to get back to his zone for his defensive responsibilities.
Defensive Game
Overall Bar’s defensive game is pretty good. He has size and will engage in the physical game along the boards and in front of the net. He needs to be a bit more disciplined though as he can sometimes get caught chasing a big hit. However, if an attacker comes down his side of the ice with his head down, Bar will make him pay the price. Bar’s strong skating allows him to maintain good gap control. He does a good job of forcing attackers to the outside and into poor angles for shooting positions. Bar is also good away from the puck. He uses his stick effectively to cut down passing and shooting lanes. When turnovers are created, Bar does a good job of moving the puck up the ice and starting the transition game.
Projection and Comparison
Bar plays a strong all-around game and has the size and skating ability to play in the NHL. He does almost everything well, but there is a lack of a real stand-out skill here. That may limit his ability at the next level but he should still be able to develop into a top-four defenceman who eats minutes and can compliment a more skilled partner. Bar’s game is reminiscent of Brayden McNabb. However, this is a stylistic comparison only and not one based on skill and ability.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Jack Bar that are available on youtube and twitter.
Welcome to Chicago, Jack Bar! https://t.co/DNP23u1IAv pic.twitter.com/5gixQxx6xU
— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) January 24, 2021
A shift from Jack Bar's first game with the Chicago Steel. Three terrific defensive plays combined with one bad neutral zone turnover. The shot block at the end leads to an Adam Fantilli breakaway goal. He's #18 by the way. pic.twitter.com/iX3hImkOQ5
— Brock Otten (@BrockOtten) January 24, 2021
Come back tomorrow for our latest NHL Draft article.
Jack Bar Scouting Report Main Photo:
I recently spoke with @ChicagoSteel defenseman Jack Bar’s former prep coach at @sachockey1899 as the 18-year-old prepares for the NHL Draft and Harvard. Enjoy! #ChicagoSteel #JackBar #NHLDraft https://t.co/iAhY5RzdsD pic.twitter.com/gOPMn6tBu4
— Steel Hockey Report (@SteelHckyReport) June 9, 2021
