Eichel believes he’s a better player than McDavid
Reportedly told Buffalo he’s got most to offer
Buffalo, N.Y. • It might not be Taylor versus Tyler, but Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel are developing quite the rivalry heading into the NHL Entry Draft.
While everyone expects the Edmonton Oilers will select McDavid with the No. 1 pick later this month, Eichel reportedly told the Buffalo Sabres at this week’s draft combine that they would be getting the better player with the No. 2 pick.
It was a confident — if not cocky — statement. And it was likely exactly the sort of thing that the Sabres, who finished with the worst record in the NHL but then lost the draft lottery, wanted to hear after missing out on a chance to draft McDavid.
“I’m pretty confident in my own abilities,” Eichel said. “I know everyone’s making a big deal that I said a comment like that. I don’t think it was at all … me comparing myself to Connor or anything like that. It wasn’t me thinking that I’m the best player in the draft. It was just confidence in myself.”
“That’s not up to me to decide,” said McDavid, when asked who is the better player. “I think a lot of people do a lot of talking and they’ll judge for their own eyes. I believe in my abilities and that’s the main thing. But do I feel I’m the best player in the draft? I’m not sure. Maybe you’ll hear a different answer from Jack. We’ll see.”
While McDavid is the consensus No. 1 prospect heading into the draft, Eichel has every right to believe that he can become the better player in the long term. After all, draft positions are mostly meaningless. It is what you do afterwards that defines a career.
In 1993, Alexandre Daigle was selected first-overall by the Ottawa Senators and afterwards famously told reporters “I’m glad I got drafted first because no one remembers No. 2.” Of course, the No. 2 pick that year was Chris Pronger.
Five years after the Oilers selected Taylor Hall with the No. 1 pick, it is the No. 2 pick, Tyler Seguin, who has won a Stanley Cup and has more goals and more points.
So time will tell whether McDavid or Eichel has the better career. Ultimately, it will depend on several factors, including health, teammates and luck.
“It’s a fine line,” said Dan Marr, NHL director of central scouting. “And I think if you try to project 10 years down the road, it’s going to continue to be a fine line. They both bring something different to the table, but they’re both going to be big contributors in the National Hockey League, they’re going to make a difference for their team … and they’re going to be special players.”
The McDavid versus Eichel comparisons occurred all season, with both players putting up unreal numbers in their respective leagues and constantly raising the bar for one another.
McDavid, who won the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League, scored 44 goals and 120 points in 47 games for the Erie Otters. Eichel, who won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in the NCAA, scored 26 goals and 71 points in 40 games for Boston University.
When asked if he could determine who is more dangerous, No. 3 ranked prospect Noah Hanifin said “Absolutely not.”
“I’m a lot more familiar with Jack,” said Hanifin, a Boston College defenceman who has played against Eichel since he was 10 years old. “Obviously, both of them are very dangerous when they have the puck, but I’d say Connor is more crafty in the corners … where Jack is more of a north-south guy. He will beat you with his speed when he needs to.”
Both McDavid and Eichel will undergo fitness testing at the combine on Saturday, where scouts and general managers will no doubt compare their scores against one another. And while it probably will not matter at all in regards to who is viewed as the better prospect, it will be yet another comparison for two players who will be linked forever.
“I think it’s good competition for both of us,” Eichel said. “The two of us are competitive. We want to be the best.”