Each day over the next 10 days leading up to the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, held on Oct. 6–7, The Rink will be taking a look at draft prospects who could be available when the Chicago Blackhawks announce their selection with the 17th overall pick. We will group the players by position, starting with forwards.
Next in the series of prospect profiles is Canadian center Seth Jarvis.
Seth Jarvis
2019–20 Team: Portland (WHL)
Date of Birth: Feb. 1, 2002
Place of Birth: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 175 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: C
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 11 (North American Skaters)
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: 19 (North American Skaters)
NHL Comparable: Mitch Marner
Seth Jarvis is arguably the best offensive threat of all the forwards we will be discussing in this series. The slightly undersized pivot was an offensive dynamo for Portland in his draft year and was recording points at a remarkable rate as the season went on.
Jarvis possesses a potent dual-threat playing style, as he is both a lethal scorer and playmaker thanks to a laser focus on creating high-danger scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
The center frequently fires the puck from prime scoring areas, which helped him light the lamp 42 times in 58 games this season. Jarvis has a quick release, as the puck seemingly jumps off his stick. Although Jarvis shoots in quantity, his attempts are typically quality as well, as he understands the importance of getting to the middle of the ice and does what it takes to get there to increase the threat.
Likewise, Jarvis is an elite playmaker, frequently setting up teammates in high-danger spots. Jarvis possesses top-notch vision and hockey sense, which he pairs with high-end creativity to distribute the puck. Whether shooting or passing, Jarvis has an aggressive focus on funneling the puck to the net to create quality scoring chances for his team.
Jarvis owns good skating talent with an ability to weave around the ice. Though not the most agile skater in the draft, Jarvis does possess elusive qualities that help him get out of sticky situations when pressured by defenders. He uses his speed to find open space on the ice and utilizes a wide base to protect the puck from the opposition.
With his focus nearly exclusively on generating offense, Jarvis is not known as much of a defender. Despite not being where he needs to be defensively just yet, Jarvis has shown an ability to be competent in his own end when he wants to be. This will be an area Jarvis needs to clean up in order to be a reliable player at the next level.
Implications for the Blackhawks
Jarvis is yet another player who could be long gone by the time Chicago is picking at 17th, but he very well could still be on the board. The grouping of players after the top 10–12 are almost interchangeable, so it will ultimately come down to what teams are looking for to determine who goes where. That said, given the immense skill Jarvis boasts, grabbing a player of his calibre at 17 would be a nice pickup for the Blackhawks. Chicago is lacking high-end offensive talent in the pipeline, and Jarvis would certainly address that.
Timeline
More development time would allow Jarvis to bulk up a bit, which is one of the biggest areas he needs to focus on before turning pro. Jarvis also needs to work on his defensive play, as he is essentially a one-way player at this point. However, both areas of improvement can be fixed with time. Jarvis will likely spend at least one more year in the WHL before making the jump to professional hockey, making his estimated time of arrival 2021–22 at the earliest.
Projection
Though Jarvis is slightly undersized, he has all the offensive tools to be a dynamic top-six forward in the NHL capable of putting up quality point totals. He will likely need to be in that role though, as his style of play does not exactly lend itself to a depth role unless he really develops his defensive game in order to become a legitimate two-way threat. Listed as a center, Jarvis may very well end up being a winger in the NHL, especially if his defensive play does not drastically improve.
What others are saying
“Jarvis wrapped up as the top WHL draft-eligible producer with an impressive 42 goals and 98 points in 54 contests for Portland. He simply refuses to be denied access to the inner portion of the offensive zone. His penchant for clicking at a high conversion rate blends well with this style. Jarvis mixes good speed with a fearless and skillful approach. He was an explosive player on one of the top CHL clubs and will look to replicate and increase that level of performance next season – likely with a spot on the Canadian National Team at the WJC.”
— Cam Robinson / Dobber Prospects
“Seth Jarvis is a highly-skilled winger who displays a soft touch with the puck and the ability to stickhandle in a phone booth. The puck seems to follow Jarvis around the ice. He populates the high-danger areas around the net, unafraid to wedge his way into a good position at the net front. Jarvis is able to elevate his shot from in tight on a netminder. His affinity for the slot is also prevalent in where he likes to filter the puck as a playmaker. Jarvis is a strong skater who zips around the ice, agile on his edges in all three zones.”
— Tony Ferrari / Dobber Prospects