Jack McBain is now playing a valuable role, serving as center on a line alongside Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz.
Jack McBain has emerged as the Arizona Coyotes’ top center, now on a line alongside Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz.
While starting the season on the team’s fourth line, Jack McBain is suddenly playing with arguably the Coyotes’ two most lethal offensive weapons.
How did this come to be?
McBain was sidelined with a lower-body injury for a large part of the season, but in the games he has played, the 24-year-old forward continues to show promise.
In 24 games, McBain has six goals, four assists and 10 points.
He is a true power-forward. Standing at 6 '3'’, McBain plays a hard-nosed game as he is physical, always fights for loose pucks and is never afraid to get into the dirty areas.
For a big man, McBain also possesses a smooth offensive touch and is a real solid skater which helps when playing with players like Keller and Schmaltz.
A big reason for coach André Tourigny moving McBain to the first line was due to his strong net presence.
McBain is able to use his size to his advantage and play a little bit of a bully type style in front of the net, screening the opposing goaltender and allowing for a potential deflection or rebound opportunity.
Since Barrett Hayton suffered an upper-body injury, this first line center position has been up for grabs and time will tell if McBain can hold onto it for the foreseeable future until Hayton presumably returns.