The drama of the draft lottery has now played out. We now know Connor McDavid will sport the copper and blue of the Edmonton Oilers. Unless something unforeseen occurs: McDavid pulls a Lindros (don’t see that happening) or Chiarelli pulls a Seguin (think he learned from that deal). Let’s get right to the picks.
NHL Mock Draft: The Picks
- Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid
Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/185 lbs
Position:C
Team: Erie (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Dynamic forward; generational talent
No brainer here. McDavid now a McOiler. Edmonton fourth 1st overall pick in 6 years. This is the one that truly makes the difference, is it not?
[Related: Connor McDavid Worthy of “The Next One” Moniker]
- Buffalo Sabres: Jack Eichel
Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/193 lbs
Position: C
Team: Boston Univ. (NCAA)
Prospect Profiler Notes: The 2015 Hober Baker winner is a high octane, cornerstone franchise centre.
Don’t feel bad for the Sabres; Eichel will be phenomenal.
[Related: Jack Eichel: Hockey’s Ultimate Consolation Prize]
Ht/Wt: 5’10″/164 lbs
Position: C/RW
Team: London (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Exceptional acceleration and highly creative, The Magician won’t be denied at the next level; after slow start, perhaps most impressive CHLer this season
Coyotes love their Knights. In somewhat of a surprise pick (to some), Arizona gets a player they feel will be a dynamic sparkplug difference-maker.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Mathew Barzal
Ht/Wt: 5’11″/174 lbs
Position: C
Team: Seattle (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: The Cerebral Catalyst is a visionary playmaking centreman.
Leaf Nation scream for Dylan Strome ; Leafs’ brass opt for the kid they think can evolve into the next coming of Claude Giroux.
Heading into @IIHF Semi at U18 in Zug, Suisse @Barzal_97 is All-Time leading scorer for @HockeyCanada at U18 passing @cmcdavid97 #ThanksJH
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) April 25, 2015
- Carolina Hurricanes: Dylan Strome
Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/177 lbs
Position: C
Team: Erie (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: NYI’s Ryan’s brother; creative, visionary offensive centre, defensively responsible; The Comeback Kid came from behind on last day of OHL regular season to overtake Mitch Marner for OHL scoring crown and tie for CHL scoring lead.
- New Jersey Devils: Kyle Connor
Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/170 lbs
Position:C
Team: Youngstown (USHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Two-way, intelligent playmaking centreman; The It Factor of this draft class.
Devils go slightly off the board, but get their guy. Hanifin continues to slip.
- Philadelphia Flyers: Noah Hanifin
Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/200 lbs
Position:D
Team: Boston College (NCAA)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Phenomenal skating ability, high hockey IQ, mature game; has the tools and potential to contend for the title of Next Great American Defenseman.
Flyers can’t pass on this lad.
- Columbus Blue Jackets: Ivan Provorov
Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/191 lbs
Position: D
Team: Brandon (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Highly skilled, versatile defender with laser-like precision passing skills, close to NHL-ready
Ivan Provorov, not just a great Bond villain name, but a Russian Factor in the 2015 NHL Draft
Who is going to go first, Barzal or Provorov? My money is still on Ivan, but man has Barzal been great in Switzerland. #WHL #NHLDraft
— Zenon Herasymiuk (@ZenonHerasymiuk) April 21, 2015
- San Jose Sharks: Zack Werenski
Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/206 lbs
Position: D
Team: Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Versatile combination of size, skating, strength, two-way blueliner; some think Werenski (Mr. Potential) could develop into the best defenseman of this draft class.
- Colorado Avalanche: Mikko Rantanen
Ht/Wt: 6′ 4″/195 lbs
Position: C/RW
Team: TPS Turku (a) (SM-liiga)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Great size, high hockey IQ, tough on the boards, good puck protections skills; The Finnish Havoc is the 2015 NHL Draft’s Top European Prospect.
- Florida Panthers: Lawson Crouse
Ht/Wt: 6′ 3″/200 lbs
Position: LW
Team: Kingston (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Burgeoning power forward impressive as draft eligible prospect at World Juniors; he’s Every Coach’s Dream and possesses a unique brand of passing.
- Dallas Stars: Pavel Zacha
Ht/Wt: 6′ 3″/200 lbs
Position: C/LW
Team: Liberec (CZE)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Tantalizing combination of size, skill, shot & work ethic
- Los Angeles Kings^: Timo Meier
Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/209 lbs
Position: RW
Team: Halifax Mooseheads
Prospect Profiler Notes: Good size, strong, responsible Swiss winger with excellent puck skills; the top prospect out of the Q this year delivers the works.
https://twitter.com/TheDraftAnalyst/status/589590861727588353
- Boston Bruins: Nick Merkley
Ht/Wt: 5’10″/175 lbs
Position: C/RW
Team: Kelowna (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Catalyst for positive plays all over the rink
- Calgary Flames: Thomas Chabot
Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/179 lbs
Position: D
Team: Saint John (QMJHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Blueliners’ surging stock reminiscent of that of Travis Sanheim’s in 2014.
https://twitter.com/DubFromAbove/status/590529031889620992
- Edmonton Oilers*: Jakub Zboril
Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/184 lbs
Position: D
Team: Saint John (QMJHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Well rounded defender with high hockey IQ; some offensive upside, but more smooth than flashy
- Winnipeg Jets: Jansen Harkins
Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/177 lbs
Position: C
Team: Prince George (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Bloodlines, character, smart two-way playmaker
- Ottawa Senators: Paul Bittner
Ht/Wt: 6′ 4″/201 lbs
Position: LW
Team: Portland (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Prototypical power forward with a good shot
- Detroit Red Wings: Oliver Kylington
Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/180 lbs
Position: D
Team: Farjestads BK (SHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Stock has taken a beating this season, but the tools remain – outstanding skating, puck-moving dman; youngest player to score a goal in the SHL.
Swedish prospect. Slipping stock. Falls to Red Wings. How does this story end?
- Minnesota Wild: Travis Konecny
Ht/Wt: 5’10″/172 lbs
Position: C
Team: Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Picasso-on-ice; sensational creativity, speed and blistering shot; CHL Top Prospects game MVP
- Buffalo Sabres*: Jeremy Roy
Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/183 lbs
Position: D
Team: Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Offensive, great puck skills, puckmoving defenseman, powerplay QB
- Washington Capitals: Colin White
Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/175 lbs
Position: C/RW
Team: USA U18 NTDP
Prospect Profiler Notes: Patrice Bergeron 2.0 – does all the small things coaches covet
- Vancouver Canucks: Evgeni Svechnikov
Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/180 lbs
Position: LW
Team: Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Ridiculous upside; smooth North American transition for big, skilled forward
- Arizona Coyotes*: Thomas Novak
Ht/Wt: 5’11″/172 lbs
Position: C
Team: USA U18 NTDP
Prospect Profiler Notes: High octane, skilled playmaking centre has high hockey IQ and a wicked wrister
- Toronto Maple Leafs*: Brock Boeser
Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/192 lbs
Position: RW
Team: Waterloo (USHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: High hockey IQ and lethal shot
http://t.co/XjymQcv3NG
#29 Brock Boeser @BBoeser16
2015-19GP 10G 7A 17PTS. Scoring threat whenever he is on the ice. Good strength & finish.— ISS Hockey (@ISShockey) March 28, 2015
- Philadelphia Flyers*:Daniel Sprong
Ht/Wt: 5’11″/175 lbs
Position: RW
Team: Charlottetown (QMJHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Flying Dutchman; electrifying offensive sparkplug originally from Amsterdam; has to continue to develop team game
- Winnipeg Jets*: Jake DeBrusk
Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/177 lbs
Position: LW
Team: Swift Current (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Louie’s son has explosive scoring ability and contributed on over one-third of the Broncos’s points registered.
Jake DeBrusk has NHL bloodlines but unlike his dad's toughness, scoring goals is his trademark http://t.co/fRzZWTFzeE #2015NHLDraft
— DobberProspects (@DobberProspects) March 4, 2015
- Anaheim Ducks: Jeremy Bracco
Ht/Wt: 5′ 9″/156 lbs
Position: C/RW
Team: USA U18 NTDP
Prospect Profiler Notes: Undersized but limitless offensive upside – creative, energetic, slick puck skills
Ducks fans hope for another Paul Kariya in the making.
- Montreal Canadiens: Filip Chlapik
Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/194 lbs
Position: C
Team: Charlottetown (QMJHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Not flashy, but intelligent two-way, playmaking centre sees the ice well; deceptive skating ability that could still use improvement
- Tampa Bay Lighting*: Brandon Carlo
Ht/Wt: 6′ 5″/198 lbs
Position: D
Team: Tri-City (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Desirable monster sized defenseman who skates really well; understands defensive side of the puck, developing offensive side
*1st Round Traded Draft Picks (via MyNHLdraft)
# 16 – Edmonton receives Pittsburgh’s 2015 1st round pick and Rob Klinkhammer for David Perron.
# 21 – Buffalo receives the NY Islanders 2015 1st and 2nd round pick and Matt Moulson for Thomas Vanek.
# 24 – Arizona receives Chicago’s 2015 1st round pick and Klas Dahlbeck for Antoine Vermette.
# 25 – Toronto receives Nashville’s 2015 1st round pick, Brendan Leipsic and Olli Jokinen for Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli.
# 26 – Philadelphia receives Tampa Bay’s 2015 1st round pick, a 3rd round pick and Radko Gudas for Braydon Coburn. If Tampa wins the draft lottery, the Flyers would receive the Rangers 1st round pick that Tampa Bay previously acquired.
# 27 – Winnipeg receives the lesser of Buffalo’s acquired 1st round picks (either STL or NYI), Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux for Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and Jason Kasdorf. Buffalo receives St. Louis’s 2015 1st round pick, Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart and William Carrier for Ryan Miller and Steve Ott
# 30 – Tampa Bay receives the NY Rangers a 2015 1st and 7th round pick, 2014 1st round pick and Ryan Callahan for Martin St. Louis and a 2015 2nd round pick.
^ – Carolina receives Los Angeles’s 2015 1st round pick (lottery protected this year) and Roland McKeown for Andrej Sekera.
