My Last Minute 2015 NHL Mock Draft: Top 20 Picks
The day is here–the 2015 NHL Draft takes place tonight in Florida. With a few sure bets, but some uncertainties beyond that, the draft projects to be a very interesting one.
The Ottawa Senators are set to pick at 18th overall, but could move. Senators management seems to think they’ll be able to snag a solid pro at that position… let’s see who they end up with here. Here’s my 2015 NHL Mock Draft (last minute):
1. Edmonton Oilers
A No brainer. Center. Erie (OHL). Connor McDavid. 1. player. 148
2. Buffalo Sabres
Center. Boston U (NCAA). Jack Eichel. 2. player. 12. Eichel projects to be an elite playmaking center in the NHL. After losing the draft lottery, the Sabres are content with Eichel at number two overall.
3. Arizona Coyotes
3. player. 121. 3rd overall is the first one which has some variance in who Arizona could choose. Given their current history and with a lack of elite level forward, especially young ones, choosing Strome helps. Passing on Noah Hanifin is hard, but considering the Coyotes postion with youngsters like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brandon Gormley, they’ve got to go up front here.. Center. Erie (OHL). Dylan Strome
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
5. Carolina Hurricanes
109. After the Hurricanes’ 2014 selection of Haydn Fleury, they continue to build on the back end. Elite level defenders are hard to come by and the Hurricanes find one at pick number 5 with Noah Hanifin.. Defense. Boston C (NCAA). Noah Hanifin. 5. player
Next: Picks 6-10
6. New Jersey Devils
85. Although forwards Pavel Zacha and Lawson Crouse are intriguing selections given the Devils’ need at forward, Ivan Provorov projects to be quite the defenceman. The Devils need help there as much as they do anywhere else as Provorov projects to skate on an NHL blue line in just a few seasons.. Defense. Brandon (WHL). Ivan Provorov. 6. player
7. Philadelphia Flyers
player. 68. The Flyers have always loved big and tough players. They get the chance to take one of those in 6foot4 forward, Lawson Crouse. Crouse is a real wild card in the draft and projects to continue to grow at the CHL level. He holds a high ceiling, and that’s something the Flyers cannot pass on.. Left Wing. Kingston (OHL). Lawson Crouse. 7
8. Columbus Blue Jackets
9. San Jose Sharks
120. Falling a little bit, Barzal certainly has the potential to go as high as number 6. Although, the Sharks cannot pass on the best available player at this point.. Center. Seattle (WHL). Mathew Barzal. 9. player
10. Colorado Avalanche
TPS (SM Liiga). Mikko Rantanen. 10. player. 103. Desperately needing help on defence, the Avalanche don’t see one on the board in this range. They can’t pass on the versatile Rantanen who fits nicely on the wing or up the middle with Colorado’s other forwards.. Right Wing
Next: Picks 11-15
11. Florida Panthers
87. A plethora of big forwards are available at this point, with Zacha and Rantanen highlighting the list. Florida opts for Zacha who joins a group in Florida who is very strong (and big) up front. Look for him to play alongside Nick Bjugstad in a few years.. Center. Sarnia (OHL). Pavel Zacha. 11. player
12. Dallas Stars
119. The Dallas Stars need some help on defence, and so they go off the board a little bit to pick the undersized, but speedy Jeremy Roy from the QMJHL. He projects nicely into their system as a potential top 4 defender in the near future. Defense. Sherbrooke (QMJHL). Jeremy Roy. 12. player
13. Los Angeles Kings
Right Wing. Ottawa (OHL). Travis Konecny. 13. player. 67. Konency seems to be an almost perfect fit for the Kings. They are able to select a high end forward after missing the playoffs. Konecny projects to play on the wing at the NHL level and with some moves in the Kings organization expected to be made, he’s a good piece for the future.
14. Boston Bruins
player. 70. A bruising forward from the QMJHL, Meier stepped up this year by scoring 90 points alongside Winnipeg Jets selection, Nikolaj Ehlers.. Right Wing. Halifax (QMJHL). Timo Meier. 14
15. Calgary Flames
Youngstown (USHL). Kyle Connor. 15. player. 112. Continuing with the theme of drafting reliable centermen, the Calgary Flames cannot pass on the reliable game of Kyle Connor from the USHL. Of course, Connor joins Sam Bennett and Sean Monahan as Flames picks who have had early impacts at the NHL level.. Left Wing/Center
Next: Picks 16-20
16. Edmonton Oilers (from Pittsburgh Penguins)
Right Wing. Cape Breton (QMJHL). Evgeni Svechnikov. 16. player. 148. The Oilers haven’t had much like with their other skilled russian winger, Nail Yakupov. However, with their second pick in the 2015 NHL draft Svechnikov is a high risk, high reward forward who could beautifully fit an Oilers group moving forward.
17. Winnipeg Jets
Center/Right Wing. Kelowna (WHL). Nick Merkley. 17. player. 30. After shining in the WHL playoffs and Memorial Cup, Merkley went up in the rankings and stays out west with the Jets’ selection at 17. Winnipeg already has great depth at forward and Merkley adds to the depth in Winnipeg.
18. Ottawa Senators
Saint John (QMJHL). Thomas Chabot. 18. player. 91. With players like Konecny, Svechnikov and Merkley off the board, the Senators make a selection for average sized, Thomas Chabot. This leaves teammate Jakub Zboril on the board, but Ottawa like Chabot’s game as he better projects to the NHL level with his speed and skating skills.. Defense
19. Detroit Red Wings
20. Minnesota Wild
20. player. 98. A little bit of a drop for White, who could go as high as 12-14 in the draft. White joins a Minnesota system who has developed players well recently and projects nicely as a centerman in their system.. Center. USA NTDP (USHL). Colin White
Next: Drafting In The National Capital Region