LA Kings Prospect Profiles: Jordan Spence - The Hockey Writers

Spence was drafted 20th overall in the 2018 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft by the Moncton Wildcats. He recorded six goals and ... Skiptocontent Menu Menu JordanSpence2020-21Team:Val-d’OrForeursDateofBirth:February24,2001PlaceofBirth:Manly,AUSHt:5-foot-10Wt:164poundsShoots:RightPosition:DAcquired:2019NHLDraft#95overallJordanSpenceBioJordanSpencemighthavethemostinterestingbackgroundofanyNHLprospect;hewasborninAustralia,raisedinJapan,andbecameaCanadianasateenager.HeplayedmidgethockeywiththeCharlottetownPrideoftheNewBrunswick-PrinceEdwardIslandMajorMidgetHockeyLeague(NBPEIMMHL)beforemovingontojuniorhockey.Spencestartedhisjuniorcareerinthe2017-18seasonwiththeSummersideWesternCapitalsafterbeingselected40thoverallinthe2017MaritimeJuniorHockeyLeague(MJAHL)Draft.Inhisfirstseason,heputup13goalsand39assistsin50games.JordanSpence,MonctonWildcats(PhotoCourtesyofDanielSt.Louis,MonctonWildcats)Spencewasdrafted20thoverallinthe2018QuebecMajorJuniorHockeyLeague(QMJHL)DraftbytheMonctonWildcats.Herecordedsixgoalsand43assistsinhisfirstseasonwiththeteam—itwasalsohispre-draftcampaign.TheLosAngelesKingsselectedhiminthefourthroundofthe2019NHLEntryDraft,95thoverall.SpencereturnedtoMonctonin2019-20butwastradedfromtheteamlastseasontotheVal-d’OrForeurs.Heplayedhisfirst13gamesoftheseasonwiththeWildcats,adding19morewithVal-d’Or—intotal,heputup10goalsand30assists.HealsoplayedforTeamCanadaattheWJC,scoringonegoalinthetwogamesheplayed.ScoutingReportSpence’smainstrengthishishockeyIQ;hehasincrediblehockeysense,andhehastheskilltomaketheplaysheseesinhishead.Thatsaid,hestruggleswiththephysicalaspectofthegameduetohissize.Standingatjust5-foot-10,164pounds,hedoesn’tcarrytheintimidationfactorthatmanydefensemendo,andwhenthegamegetsphysical,hehasahardtimekeepingup.NHLProjectionGettingtotheNHLasafull-timerosterplayerwillcertainlybeadifficulttaskforSpence,butbynomeansisitimpossible.LookingattheKings’defensivepipeline,thereisanopenspotontherightsideofthefuturethirdpair.Inalllikelihood,BrandtClarkeandKaleClaguewilltaketherightsideonthetoptwopairs,leavingonemorepositionupforgrabs.BrandtClarkeoftheBarrieColts.PhotobyTerryWilson/OHLImages.Spencehascompetition,though,whenitcomestotakingthefinalspotontherightside;HelgeGrans,BrockFaber,andSeanDurzicouldallcompeteforthespotdowntheroad,soSpencewillhavetocontinuetoraisehislevelofplay.Ifhedoescracktherosterinthefuture,hisplaymakingabilitycouldalsolandhimonthesecondpower-playunit,quarterbackingthemanadvantage.AsfarasacurrentNHLcomparison,bothJaredSpurgeonandVictorMetecometomind;theyarebothsmallerplayers—5-foot-9,167poundsand5-foot-9,184pounds,respectively—andtheyleanontheirpuckmovementskillslikeSpencetomakeupfortheirlackofaphysicalpresence.JaredSpurgeon,MinnesotaWild,January14,2019(AmyIrvin/TheHockeyWriters)Spurgeon,thecaptainoftheMinnesotaWild,hasneverbeeneliteoffensively—hiscareer-highpointstotalforasingleseasonsitsat43—buthehasbecomeacrucialpartofhisteamduetohishardworkandcontributionsallovertheice.Mete,ontheotherhand,hadatoughtimestayinginthelineuplastseason;heplayedjust28gamesandrecordedonegoalandfourassists.Whenitcomestosmallerplayers,likeSpurgeonandMete,itisdifficulttoprojecthowtheywilldointheNHL,andSpenceisnoexception.WhilehecouldbecomearegularonLA’sroster,fillingaroleonthethirdpairandsecondpower-playunit,ifhecan’tfigureoutthephysicalaspectofthegame,welikelywon’tbeseeingmuchofhiminaKingsjersey.QuotablesHe’sanexcellentpasserwithreallygoodon-icevision.Hockeyprospect.comSpencebecameSummerside’stopdefenceman,loggingbigminutesineverysituation.Heputaheavyemphasisonimprovinghisskatingandprovedthevaluehecouldhaveonbothsidesofthepuck.LiamFox/HockeyCanadaHehasjusttherightamountofflash…He’snotflashytoapointwhereit’srisky.Withhim,everythingdoesn’tneedtobehigh-risk/reward.DarrylBoyce,formercoachoftheMonctonWildcats,onSpence.VideosGarrethMacDonald@GarrethMDBorninAustralia,trainedinJapan,andnowscoringforCanadaatthe#WorldJuniors. Hedidn’tmovetoPEIuntilhewas14.Beforehegotthere,herarelyplayedanygamesduetolimitedcompetition.Alotofpractices. JordanSpenceisagreatstory. https://t.co/nGb68i5q8q8:00AM·Dec28,2020 45 1ZackaryWeinerZackaryWeinerisahighschoolstudentfromNewYorkCitywhocoverstheLosAngelesKingshereatTheHockeyWriters.Heisalifelonghockeyfanandplayer,andhispreviousexperienceincludeswritingarticlesabouttheNHLforvariousonlinepublications.HisarticlescoverawidevarietyoftopicsthatconcerntheKingsandhetakesintoaccountarangeofviewpoints,makinghisarticlesaperfectreadforanyonewhowantstostayuptodateontheteam.ZackaryismorethanhappytogetintoaconversationwithfellowKingsfans,sofeelfreetoleaveacommentbelowanyofhisarticleslikethisonetolethimknowyouropinionandwhatyouwanttoseenext.YoucanalsolistentohimtalkabouttheteamonFantasyHockeyLifeandTheHockeyWritersLive.SearchTHWSearchreportthisadTopStories2021-22CalderTrophyTrackerLucasRaymond,BowenByram,TrophyMoritzSeider(TheHockeyWriters)Recentheadlinesreportthisad LinksAdvertiseWriteforTHWMastheadNewslettersRSSFeedsPrivacyStatementContactUsWriters’LoginSearchTheHockeyWritersSearchAboutTHW…Foundedin2009,TheHockeyWritersisapremierdestinationfornewsandinformationoneverythinghockey.Updatedhourlywithnewsandfeaturesfromover150writersworldwide.Over3millionmonthlyreadersnowcometoTHWfortheirhockeyfix.PopularPostsSalaryCapInformationHockey101TheUltimateHockeyDictionaryNHLTeamOriginsTeamsThatNeverWontheStanleyCupTheOriginal6JerseysfromDefunctNHLClubsTheGordieHoweHatTrickOurWayneGretzkyQuizCloseNHLTeamsAtlanticDivisionBostonBruinsBuffaloSabresDetroitRedWingsFloridaPanthersMontrealCanadiensOttawaSenatorsTampaBayLightningTorontoMapleLeafsMetropolitanDivisionCarolinaHurricanesColumbusBlueJacketsNewJerseyDevilsNewYorkIslandersNewYorkRangersPhiladelphiaFlyersPittsburghPenguinsWashingtonCapitalsCentralDivisionArizonaCoyotesChicagoBlackhawksColoradoAvalancheDallasStarsMinnesotaWildNashvillePredatorsSt.LouisBluesWinnipegJetsPacificDivisionAnaheimDucksCalgaryFlamesEdmontonOilersLosAngelesKingsSanJoseSharksSeattleKrakenVancouverCanucksVegasGoldenKnightsHeadlinesNHLRumors2021NHLDraftGuideArchivesPodcastsMorningEmailMore…PlayerPagesNHLSalaryCapInformationNHLProspectsCHLOntarioHockeyLeagueQuebecMajorJuniorHockeyLeagueWesternHockeyLeagueColumnsWomen’sHockeyOtherLeaguesNHLEntryDraftBooksNHLHistorySearchSearchRecentPostsJetsCoppOutperformingHisContractExtensionCanucksForgottenOnes:MatsSundinGoldenKnights’StephensonShowingHisValueAmidstTeamInjuriesOilersAlready“All-In”On2021-22SeasonAfterQuickStartOilers’5-GameRoadTrip:WhattoWatchForxx