My 2015 NHL Mock Draft: Ottawa Selects The Hometown Boy [Trevor Shackles]
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the arena floor during the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The highly anticipated 2015 NHL draft is just over two weeks away. That means that from now until June 26th there will be plenty of mock drafts from various sites around the web. With that in mind, I knew I had to give a mock draft of my own and I couldn’t wait any longer. By now scouts lists won’t change too much as no teams are currently playing.
Keep in mind that I am not a scout. I am simply going off of others reports and players stats from the past couple seasons. Also keep in mind that these are not rankings of all the players, because I wouldn’t exactly be qualified to say one player is better than another.
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However, what I intended to do with this mock draft was to simply predict where each player will go. In the end I’m sure many of my selections will be far off from the actual pick, but it’s interesting to see before hand where everybody predicts certain players to go. It’ll be even more fun if I get more correct picks than I originally anticipated.
Without further ado, here is my 2015 NHL mock draft:
Next: No Surprises At The Top
Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA;
Darnell Nurseposes for a photo after being introduced as the number seven overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
1. Edmonton Oilers
148. This is the easiest choice to make with the 1st overall pick since <strong><a href=. Center. Erie (OHL). Connor McDavid. 1. player
2. Buffalo Sabres
While Eichel isn’t as good as McDavid, he is about as good of a consolation prize as you can get. He should make the NHL next year, and playing on the top line with <strong><a href=. Center. Boston U (NCAA). Jack Eichel. 2. player. 12
3. Arizona Coyotes
Center. Erie (OHL). Dylan Strome. 3. player. 121. Most mocks have Hanifin here, but I think the Coyotes go with a centre. You can’t go wrong with Strome here, as he was sensational even without McDavid. 129 points in the OHL is sensational.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
5. Carolina Hurricanes
Hanifin falling to 5th would be quite good for the Hurricanes, as they are in need of some help on defense. They need lots of reinforcements everywhere in their lineup, but someone like Hanifin can be a game-changer for their back-end. Defense. Boston C (NCAA). Noah Hanifin. 5. player. 109
Next: Devils Go For High Upside
Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils chairman Jeff Vanderbeek speaks before the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
6. New Jersey Devils
Seattle (WHL). Mathew Barzal. 6. player. 85. I’m a huge fan of Barzal’s game, and he put up solid numbers this year and the previous year. The Devils also need a high-end centre, so I can see them being high on him. It’s not much of a stretch to take him 6th, and it could be well worth it.. Center
7. Philadelphia Flyers
68. Crouse seems exactly like a Flyers type of pick. He’s a big player that can hit, but has also been lauded for his hockey IQ. I’ve been critical of him in the past due to his low point totals, but he could still be a decent NHLer. I just don’t think he will end up being a top-end sort of player. Nevertheless, he could bring value.. Left Wing. Kingston (OHL). Lawson Crouse. 7. player
8. Columbus Blue Jackets
9. San Jose Sharks
San Jose’s depth on defense is average, but they should try to shore up the blueline first before forwards. They seem to draft/acquire many American players, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them take one of the top defensemen in Werenski.. Defense. Michigan (NCAA). Zach Werenski. 9. player. 120
10. Colorado Avalanche
103. Rantanen put up 28 points in 56 games in the SM Liiga, which is very impressive for an 18-year-old in a mens league. Colorado wouldn’t be drafting for need, but instead acquiring the best player available. Rantanen could make the Avalanche’s forward group even more dangerous.. Right Wing. TPS (SM Liiga). Mikko Rantanen. 10. player
Next: Flames Go Off The Board
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA;
Aaron Ekbladposes for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
11. Florida Panthers
11. player. 87. Although Meier is a ’96 birth year, the Panthers should be thrilled with this pick. He was dominant with Halifax, scoring 90 points in 61 games, and he is said to be very dependable in his own zone. He seems like the whole package, and he would only add to the Panthers growing young core.. Right Wing. Halifax (QMJHL). Timo Meier
12. Dallas Stars
player. 119. 12th for Merkley is higher than most scouts have ranked him, but it doesn’t seem like a stretch to me. I have a feeling the Stars will be high on him, and why wouldn’t they be? He had 90 points this year, and in his Grade 11 season he scored 58 in 66 games— almost a point per game.. Center/Right Wing. Kelowna (WHL). Nick Merkley. 12
13. Los Angeles Kings
13. player. 67. The Kings like to be a big team. They have powerful forwards who can dominate in all zones of the ice. Zacha fits that profile, although he didn’t have quite a great season in the OHL in terms of offense. He is someone who can at least generate lots of offense though, so he may fit in with the Kings very well.. Center. Sarnia (OHL). Pavel Zacha
14. Boston Bruins
14. player. 70. Many of my picks are based off of what I feel like each team normally does. Connor seems like a Boston type pick simply because he is American and played in the USHL, but also because he’s a decent sized two-way centre. He’s had two straight fantastic seasons in the USHL, and he may end up being a steal.. Left Wing/Center. Youngstown (USHL). Kyle Connor
15. Calgary Flames
Brandon Carlo. 15. player. 112. This is an off the board pick, as many mock drafts have Carlo in the early second round. However, there’s usually one or two off the board picks in reality, and Carlo is exactly the type of player the Flames would be interested in. He’s a big shutdown defenseman that doesn’t produce much offense, and he’ll fit right in with the rugged and tough guys in Calgary.. Defense. Tri-City (WHL)
Next: Ottawa Selects Fan Favourite
Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Ryan Pulock poses for a photo with team officials after being introduced as the number fifteen overall pick to the New York Islanders during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
16. Edmonton Oilers (from Pittsburgh Penguins)
The Oilers know they need defense, and this is their perfect opportunity. Jeremy Roy had a great year for Sherbrooke, and he is one of the better defenseman in the “second tier” after Hanifin, Provorov, and Werenski. Roy would be a natural fit for Edmonton.. Defense. Sherbrooke (QMJHL). Jeremy Roy. 16. player. 148
17. Winnipeg Jets
Right Wing. Cape Breton (QMJHL). Evgeni Svechnikov. 17. player. 30. I feel like this would be unfair for the Jets to get Svechnikov here. After awful drafting for years, the Jets have a stacked farm system. They have good prospects at every position, and Svechnikov has a ton of upside. They have been taking risks lately, and he represents a big one. Picking him could turn out extremely well too though.
18. Ottawa Senators
18. player. 91. It had to be him right? Perhaps deep down I tried to get Konecny to Ottawa while doing this exercise, but I swear that was not my intention. Still, it seems like if he’s on the board while Ottawa is picking that they will take him. He’s somewhat of a local product by for the Ottawa 67’s, and we know how much the Senators love taking local products. They already have <strong><a href=. Right Wing. Ottawa (OHL). Travis Konecny
19. Detroit Red Wings
20. Minnesota Wild
Left Wing. Portland (WHL). Paul Bittner. 20. player. 98. Bittner is ranked a bit higher in some places, but I am not too high on him. However, if the Wild see that he has slipped a bit in the draft then I could see them as a likely destination. They value their physical wingers, and Bittner is also a local boy (well, same state).
Next: Jets Go With High Upside Again At 25
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA;
Sam Reinhartputs on a team cap after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
21. Buffalo Sabres (from New York Islanders)
21. player. 12. Scouts say that he has one of the highest ceilings in the draft, and with all their draft picks I can see the Sabres taking a chance on him. He was a point per game player in the MHL, and he could turn into another Russian superstar.. Right Wing. Togilatti 2 (MHL). Denis Guryanov
22. Washington Capitals
Left Wing. Swift Current (WHL). Jake DeBrusk. 22. player. 19. DeBrusk is a solid name left on the board, and there isn’t too much reasoning behind the Capitals taking him other than the fact that a team around this spot will take him. As a ’96 he didn’t impress in 2013-14, but this past season he took his game to the next level. Whether or not that’s the real DeBrusk remains to be seen.
23. Vancouver Canucks
104. The Canucks are lacking in the defensive prospects area, and Zboril is the best name left on the board. I think they will be happy with any number of defensemen available, but Zboril could end up being a steal. He is sound defensively, which is what Vancouver really needs.. Defense. Saint John (QMJHL). Jakub Zboril. 23. player
24. Toronto Maple Leafs (from New York Islanders)
25. Winnipeg Jets (from St. Louis Blues)
Center. Prince George (WHL). Jansen Harkins. 25. player. 30. Like I said earlier, this just isn’t fair. With the Jets taking Svechnikov and now Harkins, they have added so much potential. I’m a fan of Harkins game, and he scored 79 points this season. He stands at 6’0″, so size isn’t an issue and I don’t know why he isn’t ranked higher. I think the Jets will be smart and take another high ceiling type player.
Next: Rounding It Out
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Nikita Scherbak poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
26. Montreal Canadiens
Farjestad (SHL). Oliver Kylington. 26. player. 152. The Canadiens have had some good picks in the last few years, and I feel like this will be another one. Kylington has been connected to Ottawa in the past, and also for some reason he fell very far in the draft rankings since September. But he has been compared to <strong><a href=. Defense
27. Anaheim Ducks
Center. USA NTDP (USHL). Colin White. 27. player. 105. White didn’t have as impressive numbers in the US as Kyle Connor, but he was still at a point per game in the USA development program. The Ducks may need to beef up with another centre, although right now they could go any direction. White would seem to be a safe pick, which is fine for a team like the Ducks
28. Tampa Bay Lightning (from New York Rangers)
Joel Eriksson Ek. 28. player. 23. Eriksson Ek put up similar point totals to <strong><a href=. Center. Farjestad (SHL)
29. Philadelphia Flyers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
29. player. 68. The Flyers need some help on defense, and Dunn could be a legitimate answer, instead of someone like <strong><a href=. Defense. Niagara (OHL). Vince Dunn
30. Arizona Coyotes (from Chicago Blackhawks)
Daniel Sprong. 30. player. 121. I think the Coyotes will be willing to take a chance on Sprong, and they should. He’s apparently had “character issues” in the past, but he’s 18 years old so I think he can move past it. Looking at his hockey skills, he should be a much higher pick. He had 68 points last year, and 88 this year with Charlottetown. This would be a smart pick by Arizona.. Right Wing. Charlottetown (QMJHL)
Well there you have it. It took a long time, but there is my mock draft for 2015. What do you think, will I come close on some of them? It’s easy to predict the top 5-10, but after that it’s near impossible. I’ll be checking to see if I get a few right later in the round. If I get lots right, I’m a genius! If it’s the opposite, then you never read this blog at all.