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Jack Peart Scouting Report: 2021 NHL Draft #63

Jack Peart Scouting Report

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 “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Jack Peart Scouting Report. 

Drafted in the first round, seventh overall, by the Fargo Force in the 2019 USHL Futures Draft, Jack Peart spent another season playing high school hockey in Grand Rapids before splitting his draft season between high school hockey and the USHL. He played 24 games for Fargo, scoring a goal and 14 assists for 15 points. Peart also played nine playoff games, scoring two goals and five assists for seven points. Peart was named to the Second USHL All-Rookie Team. He also played 18 games for Grand Rapids High School. Peart scored 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points. He was named Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey, the award annually given to the best high school player in the State.

In 2019-20, Peart played just five games with Fargo, picking up two assists. He also played 25 games for Grand Rapids High, scoring 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points. Fargo also spent time with Team Corner Home Medical playing local elite Junior Hockey in the UMHSEHL. In 14 games, he picked up one goal and five assists for six points. Peart is committed to playing NCAA Division One hockey for the St. Cloud State University Huskies next season.

Jack Peart Scouting Report

Left Defence — shoots Left
Born May 15th, 2003 — Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Height 5’11” — Weight 186 lbs [180 cm/84 kg]

Skating

Peart has a strong two-way game and this is based on his skating ability. He is a very good skater with an excellent stride that gives him very good top-end speed as well as strong acceleration. This allows Peart to join the rush or pinch in at the blue line and still get back defensively. He also skates well when moving backwards. This allows him to defend well against the rush.

Peart also has very good agility and edgework. His ability to move laterally allows him to open up shooting and passing lanes as well as to maintain gap control at the defensive end of the ice. Peart is tough to beat in one-on-one situations as well. He also has good crossovers which allow him to gain speed and power as he comes out of his turns. Peart  has crisp pivots. They allow him to transition from offence to defence quickly and vice-versa. He needs to continue to get stronger though. Peart can be pushed around at times along the boards and in front of the net. He should be able to improve this area of his game as he matures.

Offensive Game

Peart has good stick-handling ability. He can skate the puck out of his own end as well as carry it through the neutral zone. Peart is not afraid to lead the rush. His skating, combined with his hands, help him to generate effective zone entries. It also helps him to create offence in odd-man rush situations. Peart is a good playmaker as well. He has good vision and passing skill. Peart can start the transition game with a good first pass. He is able to take advantage if a teammate slips behind the opponent’s defence with a long breakaway pass. He is also poised at the blueline. Peart opens up passing lanes with his agility and quick hands. He can spot open teammates and create scoring chances on the power play.

Peart could stand to improve his slap shot. It lacks power when compared to other players in this draft class. He does a good job of keeping his shot low and on the net. This gives his teammates the opportunity to get deflections and tip-ins. His lateral mobility allows him to walk the line and open up shooting lanes. Peart has a good wrist shot though. He likes to use it on the rush. He can also sneak in from the point to let it go at the top of the circles. Peart has a quick release on his shot. However, he needs to improve the accuracy, as he misses the net a bit too much.

Defensive Game

Peart is also a good defensive player. He uses his strong skating to maintain good gap control against the rush. Peart forces attackers to the outside and into poor shooting areas. He is also willing to play a physical game. Peart is not afraid to throw a check or to battle for the puck on the boards as well as in front of the net. However, his lack of size can be an issue here and he will need to bulk up to continue playing this style against men.

Peart has excellent positioning as well as an active stick. This helps him to do a good job of cutting down passing lanes. Peart is also quick to move the puck out of his end when he gets the opportunity. He can skate it out, avoiding the forecheck with his good skating and stickhandling. He also makes a smart first pass to start the transition game.

Projection and Comparison

Peart has many of the skills that can help him to be a top-four defenceman if he reaches his potential. However, the main question here is his lack of size and strength. There is some concern that his game may not translate when he faces men and is overpowered. While he played well in the USHL, it is a small sample size. Peart also needs to improve his shot to be able to take on an offensive role at the next level.  He will get time to do so playing college hockey. Expect him to spend two or three years with St. Cloud before being ready to go pro. Depending on his development, he might also need AHL time. His game is reminiscent of Neil Pionk. 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 Peart that are available on youtube and Twitter.

https://twitter.com/AIexTaxman/status/1319446395011559424

 

Check back later for our latest draft article.

 

Jack Peart Scouting Report Main Photo:

Ben Kerr

Ben Kerr

Ben is a credentialed sports writer from just outside Toronto, Canada. A lawyer, he has a highly analytical approach to writing. Ben is the COO of Last Word On Sports INC. Most of his writing can be found in the hockey department, though he follows and writes on other sports as well.

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