Another playmaker makes the list as Jayson Shaugabay clocks in at number 16. He is making the jump from US junior hockey to college this fall as he enters the University of Minnesota – Duluth. As a freshman he’ll have to earn his playing time, but he gives the Bulldogs an extremely talented playmaker as they look to return to relevance.
| Name | Jayson Shaugabay |
| Position | Center |
| Age (as of October 1) | 19 |
| Height/Weight | 5’9″, 165 lbs. |
| Expected 2024-25 Team | University of Minnesota – Duluth |
| Draft – Year, Round | 2023, Round 4, #115 |
| Previous Rankings | #17 (2023) |
| Writer’s Ranking | 13 |
| Reader’s Ranking | 21 |
| Final Rank | 16 |
Stats
Our Thoughts
There was a temptation to cut and paste the Top 25 Under 25 write-up we did for Joona Saarelainen and just change the names and teams for Jayson Shaugabay. The duo share a lot of similar traits in that they are smaller-sized playmakers that could be diamonds in the rough or life-long minor leaguers. Saarelainen is probably more responsible in his own zone while Shaugabay is likely a little bit better with the puck on his stick.
Shaugabay was the most intriguing player the Lightning’s 2023 draft class and he did nothing to change that notion last season. In his final USHL season with the Green Bay Gamblers he put up 55 points (15 goals, 40 goals) in 62 games while adding another four goals and two assists in eight playoff games. He made the leap from high school to junior hockey look easy, now he’s inline for another big jump in competition.
Shaugabay had his first taste of increased competition this past summer when he took part in the World Junior Summer Showcase with Team USA. He showed well with a goal and an assist in four games against some of the top Under-20 talent in the world. Did he do enough to make what will be a stacked US team this winter at the World Junior Championships?
It’s going to be tough, and right now, the prognosticators don’t have him in their potential rosters. The US will likely have 14 forwards, 13 of which have already been drafted along with James Hagens who will be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. That’s a tough roster to crack for anyone, but injuries happen. The fact that he made it to the Summer Showcase shows that he could be in the conversation should spots open up throughout the fall.
In the meantime he’ll head to the University of Minnesota-Duluth to begin his collegiate career. The Bulldogs aren’t lacking in top-end talent with eight drafted players joining Shaugabay up north. There will be high expectations for them this year as they are ranked 7th in a preseason media poll. In order to earn playing time for Coach Scott Sanderlin, Shaugabay is going to have to find a way to play responsibly in his own zone without sacrificing his playmaking skills.
If were to rank independent skills among the Lightning’s prospects, Shaugabay would be at the top of the list. He plays with the puck on a string and never looks hurried in the offensive zone. There is never just one option for him which really opens up the ice for his teammates. There are no question that he has to the skill to make plays at any level of hockey.
What we will see over the next couple of seasons will be if the production continues when his time and space is limited. At a certain point the open lanes he had available in high school and the USHL are swallowed up as his competition becomes bigger and quicker. He has to alter his game to accommodate that. For a lot of players, especially smaller players, the inability to make that adjustment is the first step to mediocrity.
He’ll also have to show that, despite his size, he’s willing and able to take hits along the boards and in front of the net. There is no room in the AHL or NHL for perimeter players, no matter how skillful they are. The good news for Lightning fans is that he doesn’t have to develop this overnight. Tampa Bay isn’t planning on him jumping to the pros anytime soon. Much like the other USHL/college players in the system, they are willing to trust the college coaching staff to help develop their players.
Shaugabay is in a good spot to learn what he needs to over the next few years. If he can put on a little muscle and improve his play defensively, there is no reason he won’t keep moving up in the rankings.
Highlight Videos
He may not be the biggest player in front of the net, but he knows how to find the puck. His biggest goal of the season for the Gamblers was a game-winner from the crease.
Part of being a playmaker is having the skill to pull off a play that probably shouldn’t have worked. In an overtime playoff game, this pass at the offensive blue line is the type that shortens the life expectancy of hockey coaches. Shaugabay pulled it off and the Gamblers won the series.
A reputation can be an asset on the ice. As Shaugabay glided behind the net the defender had to respect his ability to dish and sold out (probably a bit too much) to block it. With his head up, Shaugabay was able to spot his teammate and make the quick pass for the goal.
Here is the reverse of the previous highlight. Shaugabay sold that he was going to hold onto the puck behind the net but slipped the pass between the defender and the near post. The key to the play is that he knew where Geno Carcone was going to be and is able to make that pass without looking at his target.
Again, he’s not going to win any Selke’s, but something he does offer is a quick transition. Here he intercepted a pass in his own zone and quickly put it to a teammate who had the momentum to get the puck out of the zone.
