McDavid, Eichel and the rest: A 2015 post-lottery mock draft
Connor McDavid is all but guaranteed to be heading to Edmonton after the Oilers won the draft lottery on Saturday and the Buffalo Sabres are widely expected to take Jack Eichel with the second pick, but those two appear to be the only sure things in a draft year filled with elite talent and tantalizing potential.
Where the remainder of 2015's top prospects fall depends entirely on what each lottery team values most for its future. Here's one possible scenario:
1. Edmonton Oilers - Connor McDavid, C, Erie (OHL)
McDavid will give the Oilers something they haven't had with three of their previous top picks from the past six years: a can't-miss franchise prospect with the ability to end their decade of futility.
2. Buffalo Sabres - Jack Eichel, C, Boston U (NCAA)
The only mark against Eichel is that he isn't McDavid. The Sabres may have lost the lottery, but this is one heck of a consolation prize. Eichel is the only freshman other than Paul Kariya to win the Hobey Baker award.
3. Arizona Coyotes - Mitch Marner, C/RW, London (OHL)
The first surprise of the draft could happen as high as the third pick. Arizona is flush with defensive prospects but lacks scoring, and Marner will be the most dynamic offensive prospect available. Also, he's already teammates with Coyotes prospect Max Domi.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs - Dylan Strome, C, Erie (OHL)
Strome carried the Otters while McDavid was injured, which should dispell any notions of coattail-riding. He plays a smart defensive game to go with his offensive vision, which is exactly what the Maple Leafs need in a potential top-line center.
5. Carolina Hurricanes - Lawson Crouse, LW, Kingston (OHL)
Crouse seems like a risk considering his scoring statistics, but he uses his size effectively and his work ethic has earned him a reputation as a coach's dream. The Hurricanes need another big, hard-working forward to take some pressure off the Staals.
6. New Jersey Devils - Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS (Finland)
Adam Henrique was the only Devils player under 30 to record more than 30 points. Rantanen is already playing with men in Finland and his elite playmaking sense overshadows any concerns about his lack of physicality.
7. Philadelphia Flyers - Noah Hanifin, D, Boston College (NCAA)
Edmonton's lottery win could cause Hanifin to tumble, but he won't fall past Philadelphia. The Flyers are in need of mobile blue-liners who create opportunities with minimal risk, which is exactly the kind of cerebral game Hanifin plays.
8. Columbus Blue Jackets - Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle (WHL)
It might seem like lunacy for the Blue Jackets to select a player with an injury history after the hard-luck season they endured, but Barzal is worth it. He was the main reason the Thunderbirds qualified for the WHL playoffs and looks no worse for wear leading Canada at the Under-18 World Championship.
9. San Jose Sharks - Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon (WHL)
Provorov scored at a point-per-game pace in his first WHL season. His Russian surname obscures how much time he's spent playing in North America, and he appears to be the most NHL-ready defenseman in the draft.
10. Colorado Avalanche - Zach Werenski, D, Michigan (NCAA)
The Avalanche will be more than happy to land Werenski, who fills their biggest need. Werenski excels at playing a possession game, which is where Colorado has struggled recently.
11. Florida Panthers - Pavel Zacha, C/LW, Sarnia (OHL)
The Panthers can add Zacha to their increasingly impressive roster of young forwards. His up-and-down season with Sarnia might've knocked him out of the top 10, but it doesn't affect his pro-level skating and shooting ability.
12. Dallas Stars - Timo Meier, C/RW, Halifax (QMJHL)
Meier's combination of versatility and responsibility seems like too much for Dallas to overlook. His defensive game is almost as impressive as his offensive statistics, which suggest a future on an NHL scoring line.
13. Los Angeles Kings - Travis Konecny, C/RW, Ottawa (OHL)
The Kings won't need to rush Konecny into professional hockey, but the undersized forward should be well-protected in Los Angeles. He has the potential to be an incredibly dangerous offensive weapon if his teammates can create enough space for him.
14. Boston Bruins - Oliver Kylington, D, Farjestad (Sweden)
Kylington was once considered among the top defensemen before an injury torpedoed his draft stock, but he's too skilled to fall very far. His smooth skating has drawn comparisons to Erik Karlsson.