• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Prospects

Graham McPhee – The Next Ones: NHL 2016 Draft Prospect Profile

By Dennis Schellenberg April 11th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Graham McPhee

2015-16 Team: U.S. National U18 Team (#21)

Date of birth: 7/24/1998

Place of birth: Bethesda, USA

Ht:  5’11 Wt: 172

Shoots: Left

Position: LW

NHL Draft Eligibility: 2016 1st year eligible

Twitter: @g_mcphee21

Other Rankings

  • NHL CS midterm NA skaters: 92
  • The Draft Analyst: 116

***

Work Ethic and Strength Part of McPhee’s Success

Graham McPhee played in his second season with the National Team Development Program. He has scored 12 points in 47 games this season. When I have scouted McPhee, his immense compete level caught my eye immediately in his first shifts. He never takes a shift off and gave everything he had in each and every shift. This kid just loves to compete in all kind of battles and his work ethic is very advanced.

McPhee protects the puck exceptionally and uses all of his body strength to do so, literally leaning into the opponents in puck battles to prevent them from out-muscling him. His strength on the skates and lower-leg strength is impressive. He barely gets beaten in position battles and he is hard to shove around or knock off the puck. He uses his explosive and very strong first strides to get things going and his strong balance on the skates allow him to go in front of the net and stay there.

Throw in international prospects, plus international & North American goalies, & Graham McPhee (George's son) likely a 2016 late-round pick

— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) January 19, 2016

He plays a decent two-way game and backchecks a lot, never quits on plays when hustling back. His play away from the puck in the offensive zone is outstanding as he is constantly in motion, which makes it hard for opposing defenders to track him down. McPhee plays a strong game away from the puck offensively as he is excellent in opening ice for his linemates with his movement around the net. His stickhandling skills improved a lot over the last couple of months and he can move around the puck quite well, although he does not possess high-end scoring skills and he is clearly not the guy you turn to when you are in the dying moments of a game when trailing. Nevertheless, he is every coach’s dream and can flourish in so many ways, a guy you just like to have in your team.

NHL Draft Projection:

I believe that McPhee will be picked up somewhere around late third round and mid-fourth round. I do also believe that he has the potential to become a much better player than some scouts expect. He could become a great pick-up in a middle-round for a team that sees his values.

Quotables:

Every time I see him I think he does more to give me the confidence to say this is the kind of player who will only get better. You immediately notice his compete level for sure. He goes out and gives you everything he has each shift. Then you start to see the hockey sense and how he’s capable of making the right play in almost every zone. Then there’s the skill, which might have been unexpected because there were other people on the team that potentially had more of that role on the team. To me, he’s a coach’s dream in a sense that you can play him a lot of situations and you know what you’re going to get out of him from his work ethic.

-David Gregory, NHL Central Scouting

Graham is a solid two-way player with a solid compete level. He battles hard, sees and protects the puck well.

-Greg Rajanen, NHL Central Scouting

Statistics:

Strengths:

  • Skating balance
  • Powerful strides
  • Work ethic
  • Offensive play away from the puck
  • Compete level
  • Backchecking

Under Construction (Improvements to Make):

  • Could use his shot more often
  • No high-end offensive skills

NHL Potential:

McPhee is a player who could really excel well in a bottom-six role for an NHL team. He shows the work ethic, compete level and determination to get better with years. I do think that he can become a solid player and surprise many organizations which will pass on him in the draft.

NHL comparison: Ryan Callahan

Risk-Reward Analysis:

Risk: 2/5   Reward: 3/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential:

Offensive = 4/10   Defensive = 6/10

Interview/Profile Links:

McPhee looking to follow father’s footsteps

How Alexander Ovechkin helped shape Graham McPhee

Video:

Shots From the Slot (Interesting Notes):

Graham McPhee is the son of former NHLer and Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee. Graham will follow his father’s footsteps as he will join Boston College next season, which is coached by Jerry York. His father George has also played for coach York with the Bowling Green State University.

***

THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph

  • Tags
  • 2016 NHL Draft
  • George McPhee
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 18th 5:55 PM
Other Leagues

Ducks Will Benefit From Gulls’ Temporary Relocation to Irvine

Jan 18th 5:45 PM
Minnesota Wild

Wild Weekly: A Pair Of Comeback Wins Against The Kings

Jan 18th 5:10 PM
Column

Canucks News & Rumors: Edler, Hughes, Miller, Benn & Höglander

Jan 18th 4:35 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues Need Hoffman on Top Power Play Unit

Jan 18th 3:55 PM
Other Leagues

Windsor Spitfires’ 2010 Grubauer Trade Cemented OHL Dynasty

Jan 18th 3:45 PM
Archives

The Strangest Superstitions in NHL History

Jan 18th 3:35 PM
Florida Panthers

Newest Panthers Make Their Mark in the Season Opener

Jan 18th 3:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Robertson, Caufield, Clarke & Harrison

Jan 18th 3:10 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Yamamoto, Kahun, Bear, Goalie News, More

Jan 18th 3:00 PM
Column

Flyers Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Konecny, Hart, Voracek & More

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information