Jackson Edward – 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Jackson Edward

2021-22 Team: London Knights (OHL)
Date of Birth: February 27, 2004
Place of Birth: Newmarket, ON, Canada
Ht: 6-foot-2, Wt: 194 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Defense
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2022 first-year eligible

Rankings

It was an exciting day for Jackson Edward and his family when he was selected by the London Knights 22nd overall in the 2020 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection. The prestigious team which boasts many NHL alumni throughout its history was going to be his home for at least the 2020-21 season. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic had other ideas as it forced the OHL to close its doors for the entire campaign. As a result, Edward did not suit up to play any sort of organized hockey until the 2021-22 season began on Oct. 8, 2021, against the Owen Sound Attack.

Related: THW’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide

Coming off a 2019-20 season where he had 12 goals and 30 points in 33 games playing for the York Simcoe Express U16 AAA team, Edward was selected by the Knights for his mobility, size and ability to walk the line in the offensive zone. However, instead of showcasing those skills in London for the Knights and their fans, he was on the move between Ontario and British Columbia, hoping and praying that a season would finally begin. Which, as he soon found out, wasn’t meant to be. Ultimately, the only game action he saw during the 2020-21 season was in scrimmages with the Nationals against Komoka and practices with the Victoria Grizzlies in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).

When it became clear that a season wasn’t going to happen, Edward got to work training for the 2021-22 season in hopes that he would avoid a step back in his development going into his draft year. To help make that happen, he spent the summer with Peter Renzetti, a fitness guru who previously worked with former Saginaw Spirit standout Cole Perfetti, who is now a top prospect for the Winnipeg Jets. He…