Jack Quinn, born on September 19, 2001, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays as a right winger for the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL). His journey to the NHL has been marked by impressive performances and challenges, making him a player to watch.
Early Career and OHL Success
Quinn's early career saw him selected in the second round, 39th overall, by the Ottawa 67's during the 2017 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection. He spent most of the subsequent season with the Kanata Lasers of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) while also appearing in eight games for the 67's.
In his rookie season with the 67's in 2018-19, Quinn scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists in 61 games. Although he went scoreless in two postseason games, his potential was evident. His draft year was far more productive; he recorded 52 goals and 37 assists for 89 points in 62 games.
While playing with the 67's, Quinn lived with his father, Dan, a government worker, in Ottawa instead of billeting. He has a sister Holly who is two years younger than him.
NHL Entry and Early Seasons
The Buffalo Sabres selected Quinn with the 8th pick in the NHL Draft and subsequently signed him to an entry-level deal. In his first three seasons with Buffalo, Quinn has shown flashes of immense skill and playmaking ability, managing 0.49 points per game (PPG), 0.70 PPG, and 0.53 PPG, respectively.
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However, injuries have slowed him down, including Achilles surgery during the 2023 off-season and a lower body injury late in the 2023-24 season. In the 2023-24 NHL season Quinn missed the first 32 games of the season due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Jack Quinn - "Top Gun" | 2020 NHL Draft [Highlights]
Analytics and Performance Trends
A deeper look into Quinn's analytics reveals interesting trends. His expected goals for percentage (xGF%) has decreased from a team-leading 52.4 to 50.9 and then to 45.2. This shift is partly due to his usage, as he transitioned from a top-six forward to a more third-line role.
Throughout his time in Buffalo, Quinn has played sheltered minutes, with a favorable offensive zone start percentage, recorded at 63.9%, 59.4%, and 62.3%. His best offensive output has come when he’s had less offensive zone start time, despite the small data sample size.
His PDO (on-ice shooting percentage + on-ice save percentage) has been consistently over 1 (1.007, 1.006 & 1.003), which is a positive sign that he can correct his xGF%.
Possible Paths to Success
There are three potential paths for Quinn to succeed in his current contract:
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- He could come out strong during training camp and secure a top-six spot, leading to a 60+ point season.
- He might provide an offensive spark on a fast third line, challenging opponents with speed.
- Alternatively, he could continue moving up and down the lineup, scoring around thirty points and missing time due to injury, potentially making the next season his last in Buffalo.
His projected wins above replacement (WAR) percentile is only 46%, indicating he would be less than an average hockey player in contributing to the win total. It remains to be seen which of these scenarios will become his reality.
Career Statistics
Here's a summary of Jack Quinn's career statistics:
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | Ottawa 67's | OHL | 61 | 12 | 20 | 32 |
| 2019-20 | Ottawa 67's | OHL | 62 | 52 | 37 | 89 |
| 2023-24 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 51 | 12 | 15 | 27 |
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