2020 NHL draft scouting report: Justin Barron

Background:

Justin Barron was born November 15, 2001 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was selected 13th overall in the 2017 QMJHL draft by the Halifax Mooseheads. This came after recording 25 points in 38 games for his hometown, Halifax McDonald’s of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League (NSMMHL).

Barron has represented Canada on one occasion playing in the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament this past summer. At this tournament, he played on a pairing with former 2019 1st rounder, Bowen Byram, recording five assists in five games. This opportunity was well deserved as he had played in 119 games and scored 67 points in his QMJHL career at that time. So far this season, Barron has played in 11 games and has five points. Although these numbers don’t pop off the page, his play sure does.

Scouting Report:

Barron is a very solid defenseman who uses his stick and intelligence to his advantage. He won’t make the most flashy plays, but Barron can make a nice outlet pass to move the puck out of his own zone. Sometimes, under the right circumstances, he’s not afraid to join the rush. On the defensive side, Barron uses his stick to knock the puck off the opposition. He uses his solid skating ability to his advantage, maintaining good gap control.

As you would expect from a seventeen-year-old, Barron has a few areas of improvement. Sometimes, he tends to find himself puck-watching a little too much, especially on the penalty kill. Conversely, he opts to shoot from the blue line a little too often, rather than play the puck. The second area might not be a flaw to some, but it’s not always the most effective play. I’d like to see him choose to pass more in those situations. The first area can be improved, and most of the time, his solid positioning can mitigate his habit.

Not that this should surprise anyone from a highly touted prospect, Barron has an excellent game and will most likely be an outstanding defenseman in the NHL. He’s capable of playing on both the power play and penalty kill as he has done so both in league play and at the international stage.