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.