Height: 6’3”
Weight: 202 pounds
Date of birth: May 26, 1999
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
Position: Defence
Shoots: Left
OHL Draft: round 2, 31st overall, 2015 Priority Selection
Kingston Frontenacs’ defenceman Jacob Paquette played his minor midget hockey for the Ottawa Junior 67’s during the 2014-2015 season where he scored five goals and seven assists in twenty-six games. The Frontenacs would select him in the second round, 31st overall at the 2015 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
Breaking into the OHL, it had already been established that Paquette could be a top defensive guy with some offensive potential. He’s a big defenceman who protects his blue-line. He’s difficult to beat one-on-one off the rush using his smarts, active stick, positioning and ability to close gaps quickly, not to mention a “have no fear mentality” to the physical game. And he can eat up big minutes. He plays calm under pressure and is very good when the opposition is on the forecheck.
Those glimpses were apparent a season ago, his rookie season, with the Frontenacs where he scored three goals, ten assists and a plus-24 in fifty-six games while also representing Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17.
There is little debating Paquette could be a solid shut-down defender at the National Hockey League level. The question that is often raised is “how does he project offensively?”
Well, that is not a question that is answered easily. While attending Team Canada Under-18 camp in Calgary in August, Paquette broke his right hand and would miss almost the first three weeks of the season. While he could skate during the recovery time, his peers were already weeks into game shape when Paquette first took to the ice for a game. Still, he has just one goal and ten assists through 52 games on the season, where we had hoped he would show an offensive improvement.
Paquette is a very good skater with or without the puck. He makes a very good first pass that is usually tape-to-tape and has an ability to lead his teammates with a pass. His transition game is very good and he can join the rush. Once in the offensive zone, his greatest asset is his ability to find himself a lane to get shots through to the net and they are usually on target and with a purpose.
Paquette is very smart and makes the right play when deciding to hold the zone with an excellent pinch, or when to back off and to defend the oncoming attack. Finding an error in his game can require some searching.
Paquette has taken on a greater leadership role with the Frontenacs, being named an Alternate Captain.
Jacob Paquette
This is the profile page of Jacob Paquette at Elite Prospects
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