San Jose Sharks 2020 NHL Draft Profile: LW Jake Neighbours

The San Jose Sharks could consider Jake Neighbours in the 2020 NHL Draft

Come draft time, the San Jose Sharks could be selecting 18-year-old left wing Jake Neighbours. The 5-foot-11 winger is a well-rounded forward who plays a complete 200-foot game of hockey.

This season, the Alberta native played for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. In 64 games, he scored 70 points (23 goals, 47 assists). This was a massive improvement from his 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 47 games last season.

Strengths

Two of Neighbours’ biggest strengths are his aggressiveness and strength. Neighbours isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas — like the front and around the net and the boards — and to check his opposition. He often wins board battles and scores from in tight due to his quick hands.

Although Neighbours has the stickhandling ability to dangle around defenders, he would rather skate and power through said defenseman. A lot of the time he’s successful with this strategy thanks to his strong skating and ability to protect the puck with his body.

Neighbours also has a good shot, mostly due to his deceptively quick release. However, when he decides not to shoot the puck, he has the ability to hold on to it and create time and space for himself and his teammates so he can make an accurate pass to them.

Additionally, Neighbours is one of the best at watching, reading, and anticipating the play. He often uses this ability to pick spots on whether to go somewhere or stay where he is.

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He also uses this ability on defense to cause turnovers with his active, quick stick and block shots by staying in between his opposition and the net.

In regards to Neighbours’ skating, he’s not a fast skater but an explosive skater that can also change direction with ease thanks to very good agility and edge work.

Neighbours has one of the quickest first steps in the game. He frequently uses this great acceleration to beat his opposition to loose pucks.

Weaknesses

One of Neighbours’ biggest flaws is his creativity — or lack thereof. He can make very nice, simple plays, however, he doesn’t have the mindset and creativity to make difficult and flashy plays.

Like I previously stated, Neighbours isn’t a fast skater. This means his top-end speed isn’t very good. He can beat his opposition to pucks that are relatively close due to his great acceleration, however, if it’s around half the ice away and his opposition has good speed he’ll lose the race.

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San Jose Sharks Predictions

Neighbours has been ranked as high as No. 26 by the likes of ISS Hockey and NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters) but as low as No. 65 by eliteprospects.com.

His ceiling isn’t considered to be that high at a utility third-line winger that can play anywhere in the lineup if needed, but his floor is pretty high thanks to his mature, physical style of play.

I’ve seen a mock draft where the San Jose Sharks take him with their first-round pick, however, I’m not that high on him because of his low ceiling.

I think Neighbours is more of an early second-round pick. And with the Sharks having two second-rounders this year, I think it would be a good idea to take him with the first one.

Overall, Neighbours is a very good role-playing winger. He can play anywhere in the lineup and fill almost any role. He has the ability to play on the penalty kill and the power play.

Because of his mature, physical, and defensively-sound game I could see Neighbours in the NHL just a year or two after being drafted.