2020 NHL Draft Profile: Seth Jarvis

This week we have been highlighting potential prospects the Blackhawks might consider with the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

We have examined forwards Connor Zary, Dawson Mercer, Lukas Reichel, Dylan Holloway, Anton Lundell and Jacob Perreault. Let’s continue with forwards, turning our attention to the WHL.

Seth Jarvis

RW
5-10 / 175 pounds
Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Ranked #13 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #11 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Ranked #29 by ISS HOCKEY
Ranked #23 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #12 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #11 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #15 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #18 by TSN/McKenzie

From Corey Pronman (The Athletic):

Overall: #13 prospect
Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 45
Hockey Sense: 60

Jarvis had a fantastic season, as the WHL’s second-leading scorer and a major part of why Portland was such a dominant team. Jarvis is a dynamic player who ticks a lot of boxes. He is a highly skilled and intelligent with a lot of quickness. He has the skill to beat defenders 1-on-1, but more importantly, he does so with speed. The high-end pace of his game is what makes him so dangerous and will translate to the higher levels. He has legit NHL speed and very good edges, allowing him to pressure defenders at the highest level with speed and cutbacks. I wouldn’t call his hands elite or call him an elite passer, but he has flashes of the highest level with both and both attributes are very good. Jarvis isn’t the biggest forward, but he is a very hard working player. He attacks the middle of the ice consistently, he’s hard on pucks and wins far more battles than you’d think a 5-foot-10 forward would. His game is very direct and he will be both a coach and fan-favorite due to the way he plays the game. His combination of skill, speed, production and work ethic make him a player that projects to play high in an NHL lineup.

Alan Millar, GM for Canada’s U18 team, on Jarvis: “He has very good hockey sense, puck skills and can shoot the puck. He plays a strong two-way game. He’s a complete player.”

From LastWordOnHockey.com:

Skating
Jarvis is an excellent skater. His first few steps and his acceleration are explosive. His top-end speed is just good, but not great. It must be remembered that hockey is often about short bursts of speed rather than a two-hundred-foot race down the ice. Jarvis is more than capable in those short areas. He also has excellent edgework and agility. Jarvis is able to change directions and change speeds quickly. These weapons make him hard for defenders to cover. Despite his diminutive size, he has very good balance and is surprisingly strong on his skates. It is tough to knock him off the puck. He could get stronger though. This will help him to win a greater share of his battles on the boards.

Offensive Game
Jarvis is a pure sniper. He has an excellent array of shots. He can score with his wrist shot, snapshot, slap shot, one-timer, and even his backhand. All of these shots feature power, accuracy and a quick release. When defenders back off to respect his skating ability, he uses the defender as a screen and fires a shot on net.

He also has a knack for getting open without the puck and putting himself into a position to get a scoring chance. Jarvis is gritty and he is not afraid to get to the front of the net and battle to create opportunities. He can finish in tight with the quick hands to pounce on rebounds, deke a goalie, or tip-in a teammate’s shot. He is a real pest and creates havoc in front of the opponent’s net. Jarvis has the ability to drive opposing goaltenders crazy and takes up a lot of attention.

Jarvis can also play the role of a play maker. He is an effective stick handler who can make moves while skating at top speed. A quick shift of his hands and wrists can open up a passing lane and he can find an open teammate with a pass. He is a smart player and has excellent vision and anticipation. When this is combined with his passing ability, Jarvis can create opportunities for teammates. He gets in quickly on the forecheck and pressures opposing defenders into mistakes. Jarvis could be stronger and better along the boards and in the cycle game to extend puck possession and create scoring chances. As he matures this could come with added muscle to his frame.

Defensive Game
Jarvis is an effective penalty killer. His anticipation and ability to read the play, along with his quickness, is helpful as he breaks up passes and pounces on loose pucks in his own end. Once those turnovers are created, he is able to quickly transition the puck up the ice and create offensive opportunities. Jarvis supports the defence down low as well, but he can be overpowered by bigger and stronger opponents. This is one area where a lack of size can be a bit of a detriment to his overall game.

Projection and Comparison
Jarvis is listed as a centre on a number of sites, but he has been on the wing in the majority of our viewings of him. With his lack of size and strength, playing on the wing is likely his future at the NHL level as well. He is effective offensively and could become a top-six forward in the NHL if he reaches his potential. However, he will need to gain strength and work a little better on the boards going forward. Jarvis could use another year or two in the WHL, continuing to round out his game and add that muscle before he is NHL ready. His game is reminiscent of Brendan Gallagher. This is a stylistic comparison only though and not one based on skill or ability.

Mock Drafts

Pronman: #13
Peters: #14