Projection: Top Pair Defender

Tools: Physical Tools, Defensive Engagement, Mobility In Frame

Development Opportunities: Offensive Ambition, Passing Consistency

It doesn't take long to see what McNally brings to the game. A 6 '5 defender who can rover the ice with long strides and strong lateral mobility is always an immediate eye opener. He covers tons of ice, constantly patrolling the neutral zone and looking for opportunities to disrupt transitions and win pucks back. That aggressive defensive style has been one of the most projectable elements to his game, as Declan is always eager to engage, rarely sits back, and looks to use his reach and frame to shut plays down and be a suffocating presence. Whether stepping up in the neutral zone or pinching to deny an exit, he is always contesting possessions and more often than not comes out on the favourable end. With the puck he mainly brings a simple but effective passing game, turning plays around quickly after forcing a turnover and helping Don Mills get back on the attack.

All year I've kept coming back to the feeling that there is more to his game than we might be seeing. Occasionally you’ll see flashes where he walks the line with confidence, fools the forward covering him with a slick move, and attacks the scoring areas. Those flashes of offensive pop in his 6 '5 frame are what has kept him high on my list all year, as I think there is tons of potential if you can get him to harness that offensive ambition a bit more consistently. He’s shown he can do it, I think just a matter of getting more confident to play that assertive offensive style more regularly. At the very least, Declan projects as a very solid defensive shutdown presence who relies on his reach and eagerness to engage to suffocate space, but I just feel like there is more runway here for a more impactful player who will outperform that floor.

Even without his size, Declan McNally makes himself apparent on the ice using his high hockey IQ. He logs big minutes and plays all situations for Don Mills, using his high end mobility in retrievals, to close gaps, and move the puck. He is able to contribute on the offensive end completing passes and advancing play. McNally also uses his long reach and large wingspan to cut off his opponents, denying zone entries and creating turnovers to help move the puck the other way.

Declan played to his strengths in this game. He was his usual self, playing a strong defensive game, applying pressure all over the ice, and winning pucks back from Team Red. He used his long reach to his advantage, getting in attackers’ space, and giving them no time to operate. McNally was eager to pressure oncoming attackers in the neutral zone and make transitions difficult. With the puck, I thought he kept things simple, retrieving pucks cleanly, connecting on outlet passes, and keeping plays flowing up ice. A solid defensive effort from one of the most suffocating defensive presences in the class.

McNally was constantly winning pucks in this game. I thought he was aggressive in the neutral zone, jumping passes and looking to use his reach to take away time and space from the HoneyBaked attackers. The frame and long reach have been tools all year that I have noted as being greatly impactful on the defensive side of the puck, and McNally was flexing those tools yet again here. Declan was keeping plays alive in the offensive zone, showing the same aggressiveness to jump on pinches, deny exits, and ensure the Flyers remained on the attack. Declan found the back of the net, carrying the puck end to end, taking it low and finishing on a wrap-around.

The tall and lanky left-shot defenceman, Declan McNally was a horse in this game, logging plenty of important minutes for Don Mills. He provided a lot of two-way value, making defensive plays with his stick, using his long wingspan to take up space and kill opposing offensive momentum. He was stealing pucks and intercepting them multiple times, showing off his high intelligence and play reading skill. He did well on some other key areas, retrieving the puck and breaking it out well. On the offensive end, he was moving the puck, racking up two points for his efforts and contributing on the cycle. He also showed a willingness to move up with the play at times, knowing how and when to do it. All-in-all, he looked like the highly touted defensive prospect that he is with his blend of size and 200ft skill to provide value on the backend.

McNally caught my eye for two main reasons, the first was his aggressiveness in the neutral zone to shut plays down. He was always looking to suffocate space, give the attackers no options, and force turnovers. Declan used his reach well, getting his stick in the right spots to make attackers' lives difficult and neutralize transitions. The second element was his patience and composure within the offensive zone. He was walking the line with confidence, taking his time to find lanes, and get pucks through. Of course with McNally the physical tools are at the forefront, but I thought he did a better job in this game at applying his tools to impact the game more consistently throughout.

McNally’s physical tools were the core of my assessment. Of course, at 6’4 the first thing you notice is his size, and that in his big frame, he is a strong, powerful skater. He maneuvers around the ice effortlessly, can move in all directions, and can cover tons of ice with a few strong strides. He was constantly looking to jump passes, apply pressure, and win pucks, relying on his physical tools to take back possession and bring a strong defensive presence to the Flyers’ blueline. While I thought there was room to improve in some of his on-puck decisions, there were a handful of sequences where he asserted himself in the offensive zone, evaded a check with a slick move, and penetrated for a quality shot that were really impressive. Even if the execution wasn’t always perfect, there are tons of promising tools to his game and he will be a fun player to see develop.

In terms of physical tools and potential, McNally was the defender who most impressed me on these teams. The baseline tools in his 6'3 frame and solid mobility jumped right off the page in the very first shift. Declan moved around the ice effortlessly in his frame, relying on his long, powerful stride to cover tons of ice and having the four-way mobility to maneuver in any direction. While the physical tools were impressive in and of themselves, I thought he leveraged them well to shut plays down, take away time and space, and be a suffocating presence defensively. McNally was aggressive on the defensive side of the puck, breaking up numerous plays and winning back possession for his team. While he didn't have many "wow" moments, I saw glimpses of what he's capable of, and he's definitely earned his way onto my watchlist to keep a close eye on come the regular season.