Prospect Report: Jordan Spence

Day seven of 10 prospects in 10 days is Jordan Spence. Spence, a defenseman, was drafted by the Kings in the fourth round, 95th overall of the 2019 NHL draft.

Jordan Spence had an unorthodox journey towards professional hockey. Born in Australia, Spence first learned about hockey whilst living in Japan from his Canadian father. He first became serious about hockey when he moved to Canada at age 13.

At 17, he was drafted by the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats with the 20th overall pick. He is a small, offensively minded defenseman who skates well. In the 2018-2019 season, his first season with the Wildcats, also his draft season, Spence had an impressive showing. He continued to demonstrate his offensive capabilities, scoring 49 points (6+43=49) in 68 games played. His offensive ability did not limit his defense as well: he finished the season with an impressive plus/minus of +11 in the extremely offensive QMJHL.

His performance earned him a spot on team Canada’s under-18 roster, playing in the 2019 IIHF under-18 World Juniors Tournament. He continued playing well at the international level, posting 3 points (1+2=3) in 7 games played. However, his plus/minus of +5 is more impressive that his 3 points in this tournament.

At the conclusion of the season, Spence was highly decorated in the QMJHL. He was named to their all-rookie team, he won the awards for best rookie defenseman and best rookie overall, and he also had the most assists as a rookie in the league. These statistics earned him consideration as a solid NHL prospect. However, scouts and experts were divided on where in the draft he would be chosen. Some had him ranked as high as the middle of the second round, whilst others had him being drafted late in the fourth round as they were concerned that he would not be able to compensate for his small size at the NHL level. The Los Angeles Kings drafted Spence early in the fourth round.

Spence was always a sleeper prospect; he was never widely recognized by NHL experts. However, he has continued to play extremely well. In the 2019-2020 season, Spence had another incredible season. He scored 52 points (9+43=52) in 60 games played in the shortened season. He also had a plus/minus of +49, which is simply astonishing in major juniors. He was even awarded the Émile-Bouchard Trophy as the QMJHL’s best defenseman.

His continued success earned him a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings upon the conclusion of the 2019-2020 season. Although he will not be ready to play in the NHL next year, he should be able to make the Kings in the coming seasons. He will probably play one more year with the Wildcats before making the transition to professional hockey.

His passing ability will be a welcomed addition to a Kings organization that has been historically starved for offense. The only area of concern is his skating: in order to be successful as an undersized defenseman in the NHL, he will need to be an excellent skater. His skating ability has not held him back as of yet, and it is likely that, with some time with the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, he will be able to play well at the NHL level.

It is currently hard to see where his ceiling is; however, he could potentially be a mainstay on the second line of a competitive Kings team within the next four or five years. He will most likely receive significant power play time as well, due to his offensive ability.

Although he has been historically ignored by experts and scouts, Jordan Spence has the potential to be a solid NHL defenseman with his pass-first mentality and technical defensive skill.