Meet Mac Swanson, Undersized And Overlooked But Producing At A High Level
The North Dakota commit has 10 goals and 34 points in his second USHL season
Mac Swanson hears the comments and criticism of NHL draft analysts and scouts. He knows that he is an undersized player.
The North Dakota commit, listed at 5-foot-7 and 157 pounds, has drawn comparisons to NHL players such as Seattle's Jaden Schwartz, Minnesota's Mats Zuccarello, and even Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis.
Not to claim Swanson is on pace to become a future Hall of Famer—he may be when all is said and done—but the point is that all three players went onto NHL careers despite their modest stature.
To this point, Swanson has not allowed his size to hinder his on-ice production. In 2022–23, he scored 12 goals and 55 points in 53 games for the Anderson Trophy-winning Fargo Force, earning him a spot on the USHL All-Rookie Team.
Returning for his second USHL season, the 17-year-old is on track to outperform those numbers. Swanson has 10 goals and 34 points in only 24 games, making him tied for the league's fifth-highest scorer.
While he lacks the ideal stature that scouts are looking for, the Anchorage, Alaska, native is not one to shy away from contact. Swanson gets into the dirty areas of the ice and works hard to get pucks back, which has, in turn, helped him grow into more of a scoring threat this season.
“I think my compete and my tenacity on pucks overcome my height,” said Swanson. “I might be small in height, but I'm also not afraid of physicality, which I think is important to show. I just try to kind of tune out the critics that say I'm too small or I'm too light to be a really good player.”
Swanson has already established himself as one of the best players in the USHL. He will readily concede that he is a pass-first player. The numbers back that up. Last season, he led all rookie skaters with 43 assists, three more than Macklin Celebrini, who is widely projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
This year, he is on track to surpass those numbers. Swanson already has 24 assists, the second-highest total in the league, including eight multi-assist games.
Cole Knuble, who played on a line with Swanson last year, described the young forward as “the best passer he has ever played with.”
“To hear that from him is really cool,” Swanson said of Knuble’s compliments. “Especially because of how good of a player he is. I definitely consider my hockey IQ to be my biggest strength, and that's something I work on every single day in practice.”
Swanson will most likely enter the 2024 NHL Draft, known for his work as a setup man. In his second year with Fargo, he has demonstrated a greater skill at scoring goals.
The forward has already found the back of the net ten times, two shy of last year's total in almost half the number of games, including three game-winning goals.
With his veteran linemates Bret Link and Knuble departing after last season, Swanson's increased scoring is a result of the coaching staff's expectations for him to take on more of a leadership role.
A concerted effort to contribute more scoring has resulted in the young forward putting 57 shots on goal in 26 games, compared to 78 shots in 57 games last year.
“This year, the step he has taken is to be able to drive a line and make people around him better,” said Brett Skinner, who is in his first year as Fargo's head coach. “Even though he's a 17-year-old with experience he had from last year, it's providing more leadership on and off the ice.
“I think, for me, it's not just the points but the timeliness of his scoring. He's someone that we've relied on a lot in heavy situations, not only on offense but also on defense. He's really taken a step as a player. You forget, he's 17 years old, but a really mature kid for his age.”
Swanson's leadership style differs from others in his position. He is not the most vocal player on the ice. Instead, he leads by example.
Whether it is working hard during practice or getting in some extra work after practice, Swanson is continuously aiming to get better at his craft. However, he is the type of player who commands attention from his teammates when he speaks.
Swanson's work ethic led him to where he is today, as well as selections to represent Team USA at two international events in the span of four months.
Between his first and second USHL seasons, Swanson helped the Americans earn the bronze medal at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, scoring one goal and four points in four games.
Swanson donned the Stars and Stripes for the second time in December at the World Junior A Challenge. There, the 17-year-old formed solid connections with linemates Trevor Connelly and James Reeder, scoring two goals and 11 points in six games. Swanson's nine assists were the most ever by a player in the 17-year history of the tournament.
“Every time you get a chance to, it just feels a little bit more special to put on the USA jersey,” said Swanson. “You can't really take it for granted because maybe it's your last time wearing it.”
Swanson will have another opportunity to showcase his skills in the 2024 Chipotle All-American Game, which will take place on January 15 at USA Hockey Arena in front of almost 200 scouts and representatives from practically every NHL franchise.
The young forward has put in an impressive body of work in one and a half USHL seasons, as well as performances against top talent in his age group at international events, that would otherwise make him a prime draft day target.
Swanson, who turns 18 on January 10, still has time to grow. Until then, however, concerns about his size will remain.
“He's so driven and so talented,” Skinner said of Swanson. “At the end of the day, size certainly matters. I know how hard it is to make the NHL regularly, but he's just got that personality. I would never want to be the guy that bets against him.”
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