Fargo Force forward Mac Swanson continued to silence his doubters as the stakes got higher in his second USHL season. How his performance in the Clark Cup Playoffs significantly boosted his 2024 NHL Draft stock.

Since emerging as one of the most promising rookies in the USHL last season, Mac Swanson has been a name to watch leading up to the 2024 NHL Draft.

With his stature and skill set, the North Dakota commit has drawn early comparisons to successful undersized NHL players such as Mats Zuccarello, Jaden Schwartz, and Martin St. Louis, some more than others.

NHL clubs might have pause in selecting Swanson because of concerns about his ability to hold up as he works his way through the hockey ranks. The Fargo Force forward's size will continue to be a primary discussion point until he can prove himself at the next level. 

However, he passed his latest test with flying colors after his performance in the 2024 Clark Cup Playoffs, following up on two remarkable USHL seasons.

"The physical side of the game will be an area of concern as he remains 5-foot-7, but his talent is undeniable and he has the IQ to process the game fast enough that he is able to render that concern a moot point at times," a scout told The Hockey News. "There will almost certainly be teams that are scared off due to his size, but I think the list of 'pros' outweigh the list of 'cons' pretty convincingly."

Swanson had an impressive rookie season, scoring 12 goals and 55 points. His 43 assists were the most among first-year players and three more than Chicago's Macklin Celebrini, who made history by being the first player to be named USHL Rookie, Forward, and Player of the Year in the same season.

Swanson took on a leadership role and demonstrated his ability to drive a line in his second year with the Force after playing alongside veteran players Cole Knuble and Bret Link last season. To say he was successful would be a massive undersell of just how impactful his skill set was for Fargo this past season.

"His ability to process the game as quickly as he does and get his hands to react just as quickly enables him to make plays at speeds that defenders aren't always prepared to deal with," a scout said. "He has great puck control and despite being a bit limited in close quarters due to his small stature, he finds ways to avoid situations like that by making plays before the defense closes him down."

Swanson led the USHL with 51 assists and a +39 plus/minus rating, and his 77 points were the third-most among all skaters. On a night that the Force captured back-to-back Anderson Cup trophies, the forward established new franchise records for most points in a season (71) and assists in a season (47).

Swanson's accomplishments were not only limited to USHL play. He also represented Team USA at the 2023 World Junior A Challenge, where his nine assists were the most ever by a player in the event's 17-year history.

Swanson had an outstanding season and was the first player in Fargo Force franchise history to receive USHL Forward and Player of the Year awards. He also had the most goals (5), assists (12), and points (17) in the postseason and was named the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player. Added, he was named USHL Forward of the Week for the fourth time after the Clark Cup Finals.

Swanson's draft stock saw a slight increase despite a memorable campaign. In October, he was projected in the sixth or seventh round by Central Scouting's preliminary watch list. By April's final rankings, he was up to a fifth-round projection.

Clearly, NHL's scouting service views Swanson's size as a limiting factor. However, his strong performance in the Clark Cup Finals, where he scored two goals, tallied five points, had seven shots on goal, and achieved a +4 plus/minus rating in four games, should have opened a lot of eyes.

More importantly, his performance should have erased a lot of doubt.

"I think his draft stock should absolutely see a spike after his performances in the playoffs were a primary reason that Fargo was able to claim their second Clark Cup Championship," a scout said.