Brock McGinn Makes The Leap To The Pro Level

In his first season of professional hockey, Brock McGinn faced the adversity that most rookies come up against as they make the jump from the amateur ranks. But after battling through the ups and downs, he has emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in the Carolina system.

McGinn made his pro debut at the tail end of the 2012-13 season, appearing in a handful of contests with Charlotte before returning to Guelph for a final year of junior. It was that campaign that saw McGinn explode offensively, racking up 85 points (43g, 42a) in 58 games while leading the Storm to an OHL title and a berth in the Memorial Cup final.

With that momentum behind him, McGinn made the jump to the AHL, a difficult transition for any player.

“You come in from junior and college and you think you’ve got it all figured out and you know what you need to do until all of the sudden you get to the next level and it’s a little more work,” said Jeff Daniels, who coached McGinn last season in Charlotte, regarding rookies in general entering the league. “The learning curve took a little longer than we had hoped but we knew we were going to go through that little stretch there early to get everyone up to speed, but at the end of the year you look at Brock McGinn, Trevor Carrick, Phil [Di Giuseppe] and guys like that and I think they took some big strides this year.”

It took some time for McGinn to find that scoring touch he had shown in junior, as he registered just one goal in the first 13 games of the season and endured a grueling 29-game drought midway through the year. The goal-less streak saw the rookie failing to score in the most agonizing ways, whether it was getting robbed on a breakaway or ringing a shot off the post. But the 21-year-old never showed any signs of letting the frustration get to him, and as he settled into the pro game, McGinn started to find the net.

“Throughout the year I gained more confidence in my offensive abilities and felt like I could do more out there and create more plays as the season went on,” said McGinn. “Getting that confidence in my play definitely helped.”

McGinn finished the year with 15 goals, leading all team rookies and ranking for third overall. But even with his fluctuating offensive production, the 5-foot-11 forward consistently found ways to impact the game. Whether it was by being the most physical force on the ice or creating plays through his hustle, McGinn always brought something positive to the table.

“As a coach I have complete trust to put him in any situation and I know he’s going to go out and work, maybe block a shot and be in pain but be ready for that next shift,” said Daniels. “If you look at his whole year, he probably should have been over 20 goals but had a tough time getting the puck in the back of the net, but on the flip side of that he was getting a quality chance every single night. He’s a guy that plays the right way every single day and a guy I have complete trust in.”

Throughout his rookie campaign, McGinn has caught the attention of several eyes with his play, positioning himself as one of Carolina’s top prospects. McGinn spent his entire season in the AHL, and while it may seem like a slight against him that he wasn’t tapped for a call-up, the reasoning seems to be rooted in the organization’s adjusted approach.

“There’s no rush for them,” said Daniels. “The mindset now is that when they go up, they go up to stay. With Trevor and Brock and Phil and those guys, there’s no pressure. Just go out and play your game and if you get a chance, great, but the focus was that they were down here to play and learn the pro game. As long as they get better every day. If you look from game one to the last game, those guys made some big steps.”

While he undoubtedly would have liked to get an NHL shot right away in his career, this rookie season in Charlotte could shape up to be a huge plus for McGinn, who saw a copious amount of ice time, as well as action in every situation. That experience could prove to be significant in the young forward’s development, as could the influence of veterans like Kyle Hagel and Chad LaRose as he moves forward in his career.

“They got a great opportunity, and hopefully they understand what they need to improve on and work on,” said Daniels. “Hopefully in the long run and the big picture it benefits those players and the team, but I think it was an eye opener for those guys. Even though you might have put up big numbers in junior or in college, it’s a different level. Guys go through stages where they’ve got it figured out right away, then there’s a bit of a dip and they struggle for a bit. For the most part guys battled through that.”

How McGinn progresses from this point into his sophomore year will be vital, and that isn’t lost on him.

“This summer is a big summer for me,” said McGinn. “You just have to go out there and work hard throughout the summer and get stronger and stay in shape so you can come in next season ready to play.”

Based on what his offseason focus will be, McGinn should continue to be a force on the ice heading into next year.

“Just being physical and being strong out there,” said McGinn. “Keep working on my shot, my skill, and my speed. Overall just keep getting stronger.”