After getting back from the All-American Game, I wanted to talk about a player who stood out. It’s not always about points in these showcase games; it’s about hanging with the competition, and Evan Jardine did just that, and he got on the scoresheet, too.
He got to play on a line with Jack Hextall, his Youngstown Phantoms teammate, and Blake Zielinski, another USHL standout that he played with when he won a gold medal at the World Jr. Challenge.
“I play with Hexy all year, and Zielinski. I played with Zielinski for a little bit at the Jr. A Challenge. Getting in with those two guys. BZ is a great kid. This was awesome,” Jardine stated after the game.
Jardine played this game on the left wing, and a few things stood out. His speed was very good off the wall. He created an advantage, helping him get the puck to win corner battles. That’s what you want. Considering he was once a center, he’s made a quick transition. To me, he seemed very natural on either side, and that versatility will help him down the road.
‘Yeah, i have been working on that every day and just making sure that I’m the best I can be and, you know, just setting guys up so they can make plays,” said Jardine. “It’s a little different. Like, pucks rimming off the wall and stuff like that. Just getting to know the geometry behind it and stuff like that.”
When I viewed Jardine earlier this season at the Fall Classic, he was on the right side, and again, his speed was noteworthy, and he had an assist in that game too. Last season, he had 20 goals and 24 assists in 62 games. This season, he’s on pace for 21 goals and around 50 points. That’s what you’re looking for. It’s a solid progression.
Playing on a terrific line in Youngstown in his draft year is all a prospect can ask for.
“I mean, it’s been great. Like, we have a great team. Obviously, I think we’re in 1st place right now. Yeah, everyone is pulling in the right direction,” Jardine noted. “I feel great, you know, surrounded by great players, and yeah, I think we have a great team to go for a run. So just trying to build towards that and keep playing every weekend like it’s a playoff series.”
Central Scouting has him ranked 155th for North American skaters as the 2026 NHL Draft draws near. I think that’s going to improve. I can see him going in the third round.
