At the time he was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, a strong defensive game and good skating ability were listed as the main attributes of Jacob de la Rose. There was some hope that that speed could eventually lend itself to a better offensive game with a focused development.
Other than a good season in the AHL with the St. John’s IceCaps in 2016-17, that offensive breakout has never materialized. He simply doesn’t possess the skills a player needs to be a consistent offensive option at the NHL level.
Called up to the Canadiens at just 19 years of age and placed directly into a defensive role, his game without the puck didn’t inspire much confidence either, as he struggled to have any sort of positive impact.