Scout's Analysis: Who is Jacob Quillan, Toronto Maple Leafs' newest prospect?

No Toronto Maple Leafs player has seen the team's newest prospect so up close and personal in a competitive environment than Matthew Knies.

It was around this time last year when Knies' No. 1-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers faced off against the No. 2-ranked Quinnipiac Bobcats in the NCAA final. The thrilling game took extra time to resolve, and that's where Knies watched as Jacob Quillan scored the OT winner to give the Bobcats the title.

Now, it's possible they could wind up being teammates as early as the 2024-25 season.

"Don't really know his game too much," Knies said after Toronto's 6-4 win over the Florida Panthers Monday night. "Obviously, played them one time and it was a heart-breaker, but I'm happy for him and, hopefully, I can welcome him to the organization."

This year, Quillan's Quinnipiac team was eliminated in the regionals with a 5-4 loss against top-ranked Boston College. Quillan scored twice in the game on six shots, finishing a season in which he scored 17 goals and set a personal best of 46 points in his third year with the Bobcats. It also brought an end to his college career, as the 22-year-old signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs on Monday that begins in the 2024-25 season.

In the meantime, Quillan signed an amateur tryout contract with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, where he'll get his first taste of pro hockey for the remainder of this season, and introduce himself to Maple Leafs fans who will be closely watching him at next fall's NHL training camp.

But while Quillan became better than a point per game player for the first time this season, won the MVP at last year's Frozen Four and is widely known for that championship OT winner, he was also named the ECAC's top defensive forward this season. His ability to play on the defensive side of the puck — and the competitiveness that takes — can't be overlooked as he tries to carry over NCAA success to the pro ranks.

In mid-March, our scout Jason Bukala identified the undrafted Quillan as one of the top four free agents available out of college this season. Now, we turn back to Bukala for a deeper look at what he likes in Quillan's game, and what his outlook might be as far as earning a spot on the Maple Leafs roster next season.

SCOUT'S ANALYSIS

When NHL teams scout college free agents, there are several things to consider in the process.

Obviously, the prospect has to fit the club’s vision of what it needs for the organization. That could mean a team is looking to add more physicality to its group, or maybe someone who could bring a secondary scoring layer while also playing fast, or with an ability to be a special-teams option. If a team is really lucky, it might find a prospect who can slot into a variety of roles up and down the lineup.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added that kind of prospect to their organization with the signing of college free-agent forward Quillan out of Quinnipiac.

My scouting report on the player:

• Quillan was an integral part of the success Quinnipiac had as a team the past two seasons. He scored the game-winning goal in the national championship game last season in overtime and was named the tournament MVP.

• Quillan is now listed at six-feet, 201 pounds. He’s a left-shot forward who was deployed in all situations at the college level and produced 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points in 39 games, including five goals on the power play and three game-winning goals. He won 56 per cent of his face-offs and finished the season a plus-17.

• What I appreciate most about Quillan’s game is the fact he’s always involved.

• He has the pace to back opponents off their blue line when he’s entering their zone on the attack.

• He has good drive to the net, and always seems to end up around the crease looking for tips and rebounds.

• He plays with detail and determination in all three zones.

• When he isn’t producing offence, he can be counted on to kill penalties and block shots on defence.

In this clip, we see a great example of how Quillan sets up shop around his opponent's net, battles for position and gets a good result.

Here we see Quillan's ability around the net again, but on a play that starts in his defensive zone. Watch as Quillan starts low in his zone, but when he gets the puck on his stick at full speed in the neutral zone, he backs his opponent off, drops the puck to a teammate and heads to the net for a tip goal:

Today’s NHL game is played faster than ever. Players who are deployed on the penalty kill have to be quick to space and be very agile. They have to read plays as they are developing, and react quickly and appropriately.

Quillan has the potential to fill that role. Here’s a clip showing him on Quinnipiac's penalty kill versus Boston College. The sequence appears simple enough, but what stands out to me is that through his skating ability, agility and hockey sense, he's always in the right places:

NHL teams value players who are good at protecting leads late in games and that's something Quillan takes pride in. He doesn’t cut corners defensively and can be trusted to battle for pucks and block shots.

Here’s an example where Quillan battles to protect a one-goal lead versus Yale. He recognizes the puck is going from low to high in the defensive end, and hustles to front the shooter and keep the play from heading toward his net:

As noted in the scouting report on his player card, I project Quillan as a potential third-line NHL forward who could also provide a secondary layer of offence. He’s a relentless competitor who doesn’t cut corners and always seems to be around the play.

At the college level, Quillan has proven to be trustworthy in high-leverage situations and he recognizes the sacrifice and commitment it takes to win games at the hardest time of year.

It’s never an easy step for college players when they turn pro, though, so Quillan will have his share of ups and downs, but his character and drive give me confidence that he'll adapt.

He’s a nice addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect pool and will likely compete for an NHL job next fall.