Alex Jefferies is a 6-foot, 194-pound right-shot winger who was drafted 121st by the New York Islanders in the 2020 NHL Draft. He is 22 years old and has spent the past four seasons with Merrimack College of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). In 105 NCAA games, he scored 43 goals and 107 points, leading to a Hobey Baker Award nomination his senior season. After concluding his senior season with Merrimack this season, he signed an amateur tryout with the Bridgeport Islanders. In 12 games with the disappointing Bridgeport Islanders, he scored three goals and seven points. On April 19 he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders that begins in the 2024-25 season.
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He spent the majority of his college career on the left wing but played right wing for Bridgeport, at times alongside Carsen Twarynski and Brian Pinho. Bridgeport had one of the worst forward cores this past season, but Jefferies’ ability to step in and make an immediate impact is a cause for recognition, and his ability to play both sides of the ice will pay dividends in the future.
Strengths
Jefferies’ game has a lot of strengths. He plays a great two-way game, positioning himself well on the backcheck and defending like an NHL veteran. He looks like a professional in all aspects of the game, and he lifts his linemates’ performance by making the crisper passes and getting to the puck that split-second faster than most. While the defense is not the focal point of many college player’s careers, Jefferies’ defensive abilities should not go unnoticed.
Jefferies’ main strength is his professional play style. While he is strong defensively, his offensive game is well-rounded, with his vision and passing leading his offensive game. He makes great reads and seems to have eyes on the back of his head. He knows where his teammates are, and finds ways to get the puck close to the net. This has been especially prevalent during his time in Bridgeport, where he has continuously made great reads but the puck jumps a player’s stick or a shot is missed.
Jeffries is also not afraid to get near the goal utilizing his strong wrist shot. His 43 NCAA goals did not mostly come from snipes, but rather from getting close to the net, fighting for rebounds, and getting to the open ice. He does not fit into a playmaker or power forward mold, but he is a…
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