Among the sixteen college players who became unrestricted free agents this summer after their draft rights expired, there was one name that stood out. John MacLeod was drafted 57th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014, right around players like Brandon Montour (55th), Ryan Donato (56th) and Christian Dvorak (58th). The defensive defenseman was a top prospect coming out of the US National Development Program and had recently brought home gold as a key member of the U18 World Junior team. MacLeod ended up going to Boston University for four years, where he twice won the Hockey East title and suited up for nearly 120 games.
Unfortunately MacLeod did not earn a contract with the Lightning, and today had to settle for an AHL deal with the Hershey Bears. He’ll join the Bears organization—the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals—and try to prove that his defensive game is good enough to carry him at the next level. MacLeod has never shown much in terms of offense, recording just 22 points throughout his entire collegiate career and struggling even before that. Still, he’s logged huge minutes at various points in his career and can spark a team with his physicality.
The Bears are looking to bounce back after a dreadful 2017-18 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs for just the second time in 13 years. Troy Mann was removed as head coach and replaced by Spencer Carbery, and the roster will have several new faces on it. It’s important to note that MacLeod is not under contract with the Capitals at this point, and instead is playing on a minor league deal.