Alyn McCauley #18

Height: 5-11
Weight: 185 lbs.
Born: May 29, 1977 in Brockville, Ontario

New Jersey's 5th pick in the 1995 Entry Draft(79th Overall).
On February 25, 1997 he was traded to Toronto from
New Jersey with defenceman Jason Smith and center Steve Sullivan for Doug Gilmour, Dave Ellett and a conditional draft choice.

OHL Honours:
Canadian Major Junior All-Star Team (1997)
Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year (1997)
OHL First All-Star Team (1996, 1997)
 

   1997-98 Season
   First NHL season. Missed 17 games with broken ankle. Missed three games with shoulder injury.

98-99 Season
McCauley, 22, had nine goals and 15 assists in 39 games last season. On March 3 against the New Jersey Devils, McCauley
was injured and missed the remainder of the season with post-concussion syndrome.

   The Finesse Game
   McCauley is all finesse, and he used most of his skills in a defensive role on a third line in Toronto last season.
   There is more to his game, though, and as he continues to learn the league he has to stretch the envelope.
   McCauley's skating, scoring touch and vision stamp him as one of the most exciting players in the Leafs'
   system. He has a good shot and is a top-notch playmaker. He has good hands, good instincts and sees
   people well around the net. He's at his best in an up-tempo game because he skates well and can handle the
   puck at speed. He makes and accepts passes at a quick pace. He has hockey smarts. His hand-eye
   coordination is terrific.

   The Physical Game
   McCauley is a small, blocky player without much ferocity. If he were playing on a tougher team that might not
   be such a drawback, but he will have to fight a lot of his own battles on a finesse-laden Leafs squad.

   The Intangibles
   McCauley is very hard on himself. He wants to be a top player and has very good work habits, but he has to
   stop getting down on himself because it affects his game. Unfortunately, there is not a very cheerful air about
   the Leafs these days, and coaches have to prevent him from brooding. He was crushed, for example, after
   losing a face-off to Doug Gilmour (for whom he was traded) in a game against the Devils that led directly to a
   Gilmour goal. McCauley has some offensive upside, and if the right buttons are pushed and he is placed in the
   right playing position, he could move up as a number two centre.

   Projection
   McCauley can do much more than he demonstrated last year. If he stays on the third line, expect 15 goals. If
   he moves up, expect 20. Either would be a decent sophomore season.

Alyn's Career Stats