2015 CCHL ENTRY DRAFT ROUND ONE RECAP BY MATT YOUNG...

2015 CCHL ENTRY DRAFT ROUND ONE RECAP BY MATT YOUNG...


1. SIB- Connor McDavid, C
Siberia really went off the board in taking McDavid didn’t they?  Ok in all seriousness, McDavid is the best pure hockey talent to come along since Sidney Crosby.  McDavid doesn’t have a flaw in his game, and will create an impact when he is able to play for Siberia in 16-17.

2. LNZ- Jack Eichel, C
Eichel is very good at hockey and would have been the number one pick in most drafts over the past decade.  A natural phenom, he captured the Hobey Baker award for college hockey’s best player as an actual freshman; a very rare feat.  Eichel tested the best in physical fitness testing and he is as ready for the CCHL game as anyone in this draft.

3. FOR- Dylan Strome, C
Ryan’s little brother isn’t lurking in the shadows anymore after a season where he captured the OHL scoring title with 129 points for Erie as the second line center.  Impressive that Strome was able to do that playing behind McDavid.  While McDavid doesn’t have any flaws in his game, Strome was on the ice for all critical draws for the Otters, and also had the responsibility of shutting down the oppositions’ best players.  Blessed with good size and hockey sense, Strome is a dynamic player and should in time become a #1 center in the CCHL.

4. HAM- Mitch Marner, C
While Marner lacks size, he plays a dynamic game that most scouts compare to Patrick Kane.  The comparisons are plenty.  Both are small, dynamic scorers who played for the London Knights.  Where it gets unusual is that depending on the scout you talk to, some are concerned about how often he gets hit in comparison to Kane at the junior level, while others say he avoids being hit like Kane did.  It’s obvious that the scouts that think he gets hit more are also apprehensive towards his size, but all acknowledge the kid can play hockey.  He’s the most risky pick so far in the draft but people said Kane was too small to play as well.

5. DAY- Andrew Hammond, G
Dayton shocked the CCHL world by selecting the veteran minor league goaltender, but he will at least provide a season of outstanding goaltending; beyond that, flip a coin as to what will happen.  Hammond was the surprise of the year last season, given his minor league statistics do not rival anything similar to his big league stats, but for at least a year Dayton could make out good on this pick.

6. WIS- Noah Hanifin, D
Many scouts had Hanifin third on their list, behind McDavid and Eichel.  Unfortunately for Hanifin, scoring has become a scare commodity in the hockey world and as a result he slid down to sixth in the draft.  Despite the slide, Hanifin is a very safe pick and should have a very productive career in the CCHL.

7. CGY- Ivan Provorov, D
Like Hanifin, many scouts also had Provorov higher on their lists.  While Russian, Provorov has been in North America for quite some time and averaged over a point per game in the WHL.  Where his game differs from Hanifin is in terms of physical play; the young Russian has a bit of a mean streak that can keep teams off balance.  He is also the most physically ready defenseman in this draft as well.

8. BOS- Pavel Zacha, C
My least favorite player taken in the first round.  While talented and physically imposing, Zacha struggled in the Ontario Hockey League this season.  Zacha missed a lot of time between suspensions and injuries for the Sarnia Sting and really needs to have a big season to get his development back on track.

9. CGY- Zach Werenski, D
Another player from the ranks of the NCAA, Werenski is a very safe pick in that he should play in the CCHL.  He looks to be a good, steady two-way defenseman but the big question surrounding Werenski is his offensive ceiling.  All in all, Werenski will be a player in the league but it is unknown how much offense one can expect at the professional level.

10. SPR- Lawson Crouse, LW
Man-child Lawson Crouse is a big bodied, intelligent hockey player that surprised everyone by making the Canadian team at the World Junior Championships as a 17 year old.  Crouse could play top 6 minutes in the CCHL, but at worst will be a 3rd line player with strong leadership characteristics.  You need 3rd line players that are good in the CCHL, so he’s a very good pick to get him at this spot in the draft.

11. SEA- Kyle Connor, C
Connor has had two very good seasons in the USHL, and has decent size as well.  It’s a little harder to get a read on the future of players in the USHL at 18, as most have chosen another route to go by that point in their hockey career (NCAA/Major Junior) so it is hard to say how much the extra season in the USHL has helped or hindered his draft status.  Connor is a nice offensive player though and if he fills out, he could be a really nice pick at number eleven.

12. HAM- Jake Debrusk, LW
Son of former enforcer Louie Debrusk, Jake would rather punish his opponents by scoring than fighting.  As evidence by a 40 goal season in the ‘dub, Debrusk has made many an opponent pay this season by scoring on a power play.  Debrusk is a hard working player and plays the game the right way, but could lack the necessary gear to be a top six forward in the CCHL.  If he ends up as a top nine guy like Crouse, Hamilton have also done well with this pick.


13. NIA- Timo Meier, RW
Nobody was more shocked than Niagara when Meier was still around at pick 13 of the draft.  Meier has speed to burn and an electric shot to go along with good size on the wing.  Fans in Niagara Falls will love this pick in the coming years as he is the real deal.

14. ISL- Mathew Barzal, C
A guy who was a top 10 pick before the season began, Barzal missed significant time with an injury that saw his numbers finish below expectation.  Despite that, Long Island could have stolen him at this spot in the draft given his play in the World Under 18 championships for Canada.  Barzal has tremendous vision and size.  If he can avoid the injury bug moving forward, Long Island should have a very nice second line center to compliment John Tavares in a few years.

15. POR- Mikko Rantanen RW
Rantanen has great size and an even better shot coming down the wing.  With some aging wingers in Portland, this pick should provide security for the future as Rantanen should be physically ready in a few years.  Portland should be very happy with this player as he develops.

16. CGY- Evgeny Svechnikov, LW
Another Russian player that crossed the pond to play in the CHL, Svechnikov is blessed with a great combination of size and offensive skill.  His play really came on as the season progressed, and looked more comfortable as he gained experience on the smaller rink.  While a few years away still, Svechnikov could be a valuable piece for Calgary moving forward.

17. CGY- Travis Konecny, C
If you could measure Konecny’s size in terms of heart, we would be looking at the equivalent of Shaquille O’Neal.  Unfortunately for Konecny, we are not able to do that and his size definitely played a huge factor in where he was selected.  A great leader, he was named captain of the 67’s in his second season with the team and finished second in team scoring despite missing time with a concussion and a shoulder injury.  I can’t see him playing center moving forward in the CCHL, but a move to right wing could be the answer for keeping him on the ice and in the lineup against the more physically dominating players that await him in pro hockey.  When he’s at his best, he’s worth the price of admission.


18. BOS- Denis Gurianov, RW
A Russian player that left a lot of scouts torn, Boston took a chance on a player that some scouting groups had ranked as low as 70 in their independent ranking.  It’s really hard to say what he will become but with a second pick in the first round, Boston can afford to take a chance on the young, skilled Russian.

19. DAY- Artem Panarin, LW
A good pick for Dayton, Panarin will cross the pond in a year and is ready to play in the CCHL.  With 62 points in the KHL, Panarin has shown he can score with the best of them in a league considered to be offensively challenged.  This could end up being a great pick at this spot in the draft and a real sleeper for Dayton.

20. FOR- Anthony Beauvillier, C
Beauvillier had an offensive breakout in his second season of major junior, posting 94 points and captaining one of the team’s at the CHL’s Top Prospect game held in St. Catharines this past January.  Beauvillier is a character player, and an excellent leader.  He is also defensively responsible and can kill penalties with his willingness to sacrifice the body to block shots.  If he was a bit bigger, he’d likely have gone higher but because size is a concern he fell to Fort Erie at #20 and they aren’t complaining.

21. COP- Colin White, C
A very safe pick for Copenhagen in White.  While Niblett was likely at the Crusaders draft table hoping for Konecny to fall to #21, White is an excellent consolation prize in that he already practices NHL habits in his game.  He’s a player that could play top 6, but also could be a team’s top penalty killer; it just depends on how his game develops at the higher level.  A season full of injuries saw White fall to this spot in the draft but he is sure to be a player the coaching staff in Copenhagen count on down the road for leadership and a good two-way game.

22. DAY- Ilya Samsonov, G
Like Depeche Mode, Dayton just can’t get enough…..of goaltending in the early going of this draft.  Already with Hammond, GM Bill Corfield looks long term in taking Samsonov.  While the player likely won’t play in the CCHL for at least 4 years, Samsonov was the consensus best goalie of the draft amongst the scouting community.  If Dayton can be patient while he fulfills his KHL commitment, this pick could turn out to be the future in goal for the Musicmen.

2015 CCHL ENTRY DRAFT ROUND ONE RECAP BY CHRIS KASH....

2015 CCHL ENTRY DRAFT ROUND ONE RECAP BY CHRIS KASH....

CCHL Entry Draft

2015

1st Round Review

1. SIB- Connor McDavid, C - A no doubter. Generational talent on par with Crosby.

2. LNZ- Jack Eichel, C - Would be 1st overall most years. Chance to be greatest American forward ever.

3. FOR- Dylan Strome, C - Elite vision, passing skills. Questions about skating and defense (and let’s face it, being drafted by the Coyotes) but a potential #1 Center.

4. HAM- Mitch Marner, C - Dynamic forward whose small size may see him at RW long-term. Probably the least likely of the top 5 amateur picks to see the NHL this season.

5. DAY- Andrew Hammond, G - Dayton banking on him not being a one-hit wonder. Big risk considering talent still left on the board.

6. WIS- Noah Hanifin, D - Probably not a franchise Dman but a safe bet for a long NHL career as a top-pairing blueliner. Could hold his own in a sheltered role in the NHL right now.

7. CGY- Ivan Provorov, D - Best potential in this draft to be a true Franchise Dman. Unless Flyers move bodies not likely to see regular NHL role this coming season.

8. BOS- Pavel Zacha, C - Physically ready now but some question if a long-term pivot and if top-line upside. Should still carve out a long NHL career.

9. CGY- Zach Werenski, D - Would benefit from another year of development before jumping to the NHL but should be a 2nd pairing Dman at worst.

10. SPR- Lawson Crouse, LW - Best power forward prospect in the draft. Could play grinder role in the NHL immediately with a higher offensive upside than Tom Wilson at a similar stage.

11. SEA- Kyle Connor, C - Two-way forward should be a solid 2nd liner, penalty-killer in the NHL, but several years away.

12. HAM- Jake Debrusk, LW - Pro bloodlines, though not a rough and tumble player like his dad . 2nd line upside or elite 3rd liner if the offense doesn’t develop as expected.

13. NIA- Timo Meier, RW - Big bodied winger not quite ready for full-time NHL role but should arrive in a year. Potential as 2nd liner and power play asset.

14. ISL- Mathew Barzal, C - Another 2 inches and 20 pounds and Barzal would rank almost level with Strome as an offensive prospect. 2nd line Center at worst.

15. POR- Mikko Rantanen RW - Big bodied forward should play right away in the NHL. Would not be shocked to see him outscore everyone but McDavid as a rookie.

16. CGY- Evgeny Svechnikov, LW - Another big kid with top line potential. Unlike Rantanen and Crouse will be developed in typical Red WIng’s patient way and won’t see the NHL for a couple of years.

17. CGY- Travis Konecny, C - Smallish 2 way guy, best served with another year of development plus weight and strength gains but offensive potential could see Flyers start him in the big leagues immediately.

18. BOS- Denis Gurianov, RW - Russian forward, could book-end with Nichushkin in a few years, but not quite in his class as a scorer or all-around talent.

19. DAY- Artem Panarin, LW - Dayton goes for another older prospect, though this one has no NHL experience yet. Panarin should step into a 2nd line role with the Black Hawks right away and only his size is a concern.

20. FOR- Anthony Beauvillier, C  - Elite offensive skills in a small package. Couple of years away and probably a wing in the pros.

21. COP- Colin White, C - Considered to be the top Selke prospect in the draft who could be a respectable 2nd liner or a top-flight 3rd liner in the NHL

22. DAY- Ilya Samsonov, G - DAY picks up a future #1 netminder after splurging on a “win now” guy in Hammond. Could follow Vasilevski’s career arc and find himself as a backup in the NHL before he’s 21 on the way to being a #1 shortly afterwards.