NHL Draft: A look at the top 10 prospects, from McDavid to Zacha
After talking to independent scouts and team scouts, general managers, and reviewing various data on this year’s eligible list, a ranking of the top 10. Thanks in particular to Mark Seidel, chief scout of North American Central Scouting:
1. Connor McDavid, Erie Otters. Centre. Six-foot-one, 195 pounds.
OHL: 47 GP, 44 G, 76 A, 120 Pts. He bulked up this season, surpassing six-feet by an inch. For some reason, McDavid felt he needed to be over six feet tall before his draft year, even if scouts didn’t care. He has done everything else required of a No. 1 overall pick — an astounding points-pergame pace, a gold medal for Team Canada. CHL player of the year. Academic player of the year. So it’s no surprise he achieved his height goal. Comparable: Wayne Gretzky.
2. Jack Eichel, Boston University. Centre. Six-foot-two, 196 pounds.
NCAA: 40 GP, 26 G, 45 A, 71 Pts. Bigger and stronger than McDavid but not as sleek a playmaker. The most overused cliché in the draft is “any other year, he would have been No. 1.” This year, however, it’s most appropriate. The shame of it is Eichel and McDavid will play in different conferences and meet only two times a season. These two are linked more so than any other 1-2 in the draft. Won gold with Team USA at the 2014 under-18 world junior championship. Comparable: Mike Modano.
3. Mitch Marner, London Knights. Forward. Five-foot-11, 160 pounds.
OHL: 63 GP, 44 G, 82 A, 126 Pts. Marner made tremendous strides as an 18-year-old. A sleek playmaker. He spent most of the season on the wing — and will probably start his NHL career there. But he’s more a natural centre because of his playmaking ability. He was the fastest 17-year-old to score 40 goals in Knights history. Comparable: Doug Gilmour.
4. Dylan Strome. Erie Otters. Centre. Six-foot-three, 185 pounds.
OHL: 68 GP, 45 G, 84 A, 129 Pts. Has all the attributes of an NHL No. 1 centre — size and strength. His flaw, however, is his skating. He’s slower than the rest of his colleagues in the top 10. But teams employ skating coaches to fix those kinds of things. He can pass and score. He comes from a hockey family; brother Ryan is with the Islanders. Comparable: Joe Thornton.
5. Noah Hanifin, Boston College. Defence. Six-foot-three, 206 pounds.
NCAA: 37 GP, 5 G, 18 A, 23 Pts. A two-way defender, he can put up points and dominate in his own end. He was the youngest player ever at Boston College and still was second among blueliners with 23 points. He’s not very physical, but he’s very clever and that makes him dangerous. A regular on U.S. teams, captaining Team USA under-17s to gold last year.
Comparable: Scott Niedermayer.
6. Zach Werenski, University of Michigan. Defence. Six-foot-two, 206 pounds.
NCAA: 35 GP, 9 G, 16 A, 25 Pts. The Wolverines weren’t very good last season but Werenski was excellent. He outplayed Hanifin on Team USA’s world junior entry. He’s most dangerous with the puck on his stick. Given his size, he’ll have to add a physical element to his game at the pro level. Comparable: Jacob Trouba.
7. Ivan Provorov, Brandon Wheat Kings. Defence. Six-foot-one, 201 pounds.
WHL: 60 GP, 15 G, 46 A, 61 pts. The Russian native came to the CHL to prove he could make the NHL. He might be the fastest skater in this draft class. He led the WHL rookies in scoring and was a first team all-star. He can quarterback a power play. No inclination to return to Russia. Comparable: Tyson Barrie.
8. Mikko Rantanen. TPS (Finland). Forward. Six-foot-four, 211 pounds.
F-Elite: 56 GP, 9 G, 19 A, 28 Pts. Rantanen is far and away the top prospect in Europe and could go higher, depending on when the run on top-tier defencemen begins. He has been playing against men in Finland’s top league since he was 16. He uses his six-foot-four frame to shield the puck. He was an alternate captain this season. Comparable: James van Riemsdyk.
9. Lawson Crouse. Kingston Frontenacs. Winger. Six-foot-four, 215 pounds.
OHL: 56 GP, 29 G, 22 A, 51 Pts. Crouse is the prototypical power winger, a go-to-the-net force who is also defensively sound. He might not score, but he’ll create the room for others to do that. He and McDavid were the only 18-year-olds on Team Canada’s world junior gold medal winning team. Comparable: Scott Hartnell.
10. Pavel Zacha. Sarnia Sting. Centre. Six-foot-three, 210 pounds.
OHL: 37 GP, 16 G, 18 A, 34 Pts. He’s fast and he likes to shoot, meaning he could end up as a winger in the NHL. He can skate through defenders at the junior level, but may need to rethink that approach in the NHL. Offensively gifted, defensively deficient, but a team-first guy. Comparable: David Backes.