By The Numbers: Winnipeg Jets select Jack Roslovic 25th overall

I’m not sure if you noticed, but the Winnipeg Jets had two selections in the first round this year. While we were still high in euphoria with the addition of Kyle Connor, the Jets took another player that we had ranked earlier than when the Jets took him.

While we didn’t have Jack Roslovic as the best player available, he was pretty darn close. At 27th the Jets selected our 21st favourite player.

Let’s take a quick look at the numbers for the other top four scorer in the USHL in this year’s draft.

PCS looks at players who perform similarly in scoring at the same age and with similar size. Here’s the thing.

If one word was to define Roslovic, it would be smart. Roslovic is an incredibly smart player who handles himself extremely well in the offensive zone. He is highly skilled offensive player, who plays a game conductive of strong possession numbers, has great vision, and can distribute like the best of them.

There’s a lot of anticipation for the 2016 draft with two extremely young and talented USHL forwards Austen Matthews and Matthew Tkachuck. Matthews and Tkachuk finished first and fourth in points per game this year in the USHL. The third was the Jets first round pick, Kyle Connor. The second was the Jets other first round pick, Jake Roslovic.

Over both the USHL and USDP, Roslovic accumulated 127 points… which is pretty exceptional.

PCS suggests that players who perform like Roslovic did in 2014-2015 make the NHL 42.9 per cent of the time, which is a better statistical cohort ranking than many of the players selected prior to Roslovic.

For upside, players who performed similarly to Roslovic as a 17-year-old are Paul Statsny, Thomas Vanek, and Kyle Palmieri. While these players more represent Rolsovic’s ceiling than the most likely outcome, it gives a good idea how Roslovic is a pretty special player.

The Jets once again get great value looking at players who have high skill and scored at exceptional rates.

When it comes to selections in the first round, the Jets seem to be batting near as perfect as it can get.