Player's Profile
- Name: Patrick McNeill
- Position: D
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 6-0
- Weight: 199 lbs
- Birthdate: 1987-03-17
- Eligible for Draft: 2005
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Strathroy, Ontario
- Acquired: 118th overall, 2005 NHL Entry Draft by Washington
- Playing In: Pro
Patrick McNeill
Prospect Grade: 6.5 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2004-05: In 66 games he recorded 33 points, but on a very bad Saginaw Spirit hockey club, his -29 rating is still quite noticeable. Some scouts believed that McNeill took unneeded criticism and that he was actually a better defenseman than he got credit for. He was the leader on his team all year as a 17-year-old playing upwards of 29 minutes a game; he played on both the penalty kill and the power play and was on the ice for every other even strength shift. For a 17-year-old, that much responsibility really wore him down. When Saginaw acquired defenseman Steven Whitely at the deadline, it enabled them to play McNeill less and he was a better player for it. Registered just 7 goals and 26 assists in 66 games.
2005-06: McNeill took the OHL by storm. He lead the OHL in scoring by a defenseman with 77 points (21 goals, 56 assists), and rebounded from last season’s plus/minus by finishing the season at +24. His 77 points were a team record by a defenseman.
2006-07: Despite missing 10 games due to injury, he has had a very nice statistical year with 22 goals and 36 assists and a +8 in 58 games. In the playoffs, he had five points in six games. Served as team captain.
Talent Analysis
At the time of his draft...
Scout #1: McNeill is a really good puck moving defenseman. He lacks the strength and abilities down low but it’s not due to desire, he just doesn’t have the abilities yet. With the puck he’s very good.
Scout #2: Patrick is a better defensive player than he gets credit for. Even at just 6’0 he is able to take the man and he plays well in the defensive zone. His strengths are with the puck on the point, on the power play, moving the puck and creating offense from the backend.
Future
Turned pro in 2007-08.
Stats
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
| 2003-04 | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | 57 | 3 | 11 | 14 | -19 | 28 |
| 2004-05 | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | 66 | 7 | 26 | 33 | -29 | 31 |
| 2005-06 | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | 68 | 21 | 56 | 77 | +24 | 64 |
| 2006 | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 6 |
| 2006-07 | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | 58 | 22 | 36 | 58 | +8 | 49 |
| 2007 | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -1 | 6 |
Profile Last Updated: February, 3rd 2008
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