2015 Mock Draft 1st Round

1. Edmonton - Connor McDavid (C)

The best prospect since a long time, who will play for the Edmonton Oilers. An absolute generational talent with franchise  player potential.

2. Buffalo - Jack Eichel (C)

Center with outstanding hockey IQ, great work ethic and a powerful stride. Has all tools to become a franchise player with the Sabres.

3. Arizona -  Noah Hanifin (D)

Big bodied two-way defender with good vision and hockey IQ. Potential to be the best US defender in years.

4. Toronto - Dylan Strome (C)

Center with good size and long reach and good speed. Good puckhandler and smart vision.

5. Carolina - Mitch Marner (C)

Quick smallish forward with good hands. Hardworking and unselfish center with good hockey sense.

6. New Jersey - Lawson Crouse (LW)

Big power forward playing a physical game. Possesses a good shot and uses his body to make space for team mates.

7. Philadelphia - Mikko Rantanen (RW)

Big bodied playmaking forward with good vision and accurate pass. Has smooth hands and played in 56 games in the highest Finnish pro league.

8. Columbus – Zachary Werenski (D)     

Puck-moving defenceman with good vision and high end mobility. Can quaterback a Power Play.

9. San Jose - Mathew Barzal (C)

Smart center with a good two-way game and great vision. Good puckhandler and uses his stick well in his own zone.

10. Colorado - Ivan Provorov (D)

Agile and quick offensive minded defender. Very creative defenceman who likes to get involved offensively.

11. Florida - Pavel Zacha (C)

Big center with dangerous offensive skills. Can play physical and has good size.

12. Dallas - Travis Konecny (C)

Smart, dynamic, passionate skater with good work ethic who does all for the win. Good puckhandler and shot.

13. Los Angeles - Kyle Connor (C)

Smart two-way center with good hands and vision. Pass first player who possesses a good play away from the puck.

14. Boston - Jakub Zboril (D)

Two-way defenceman who shows good maturity and understanding of the game. Not afraid to play physical,

15. Calgary - Timo Meier (RW)

Offensive threat with a tremendous shot and lightning quick release. Has a physical edge. Exploded this season.

16. Edmonton - Oliver Kylington (D)

Two-way defenceman and one of the best skaters in this draft. Very matured player and good understanding of the game

17. Winnipeg - Nick Merkley (C)

A smallish playmaker with great vision and good sense to create offence. Is a great passer and shows good work ethic.

18. Ottawa - Thomas Chabot (D)

A two-way defenceman who likes to get involved offensively. Shows good puckhandling skills.

19. Detroit - Joel Eriksson Ek (C)

Hard working Center who plays with a physical edge and does all for the win. Good shooting skills and two-way game.

20. Minnesota - Paul Bittner (LW)

Power Forward with good size and physical play. Hard to knock off the puck and good positioning game in front of net. 

21. Buffalo - Jeremy Bracco (RW)

Undersized but very agile and quick player. Great vision and outstanding in setting up plays. Very good passer

22. Washington - .Evgeni Svechnikov (LW)

Big skilled offensive forward who is hard to knock off the puck. Possesses a good shot and high-level offensive skills.

23. Vancouver - Daniel Sprong (RW)

Outstanding puckhandler and very agile skater. Very effective in the offensive zone and when creating scoring chances.

24. Toronto - Colin White (C)

Hard working two-way center with effective play in all three zones. Good work ethic and making players around him better.

25. Winnipeg - Jeremy Roy (D)

An intelligent two-way defender with a good positioning game. Uses his stick well in defensive plays.

26. Montreal - Anthony Beauvillier (C)

A very agile and quick skater with good top speed. A good puckhandler with good hands.

27. Arizona - Brock Boeser (RW)

Strong forward with a good scoring touch. Protects the puck well and possesses good offensive positioning.

28. Philadelphia - Ilya Samsonov (G)

Big goalie with good athleticism and movement. Challenges shooters well and has the ability to make big saves.

29. Anaheim - Jake DeBrusk (LW)

A winger with high-end speed and good offensive instincts. Shows good understanding of the game.

30. Tampa Bay - Denis Guryanov (RW)

Russian power forward with a booming shot and quick release. Can play physical and is strong in board battles.

Veeti Vainio

Team: Espoo Blues u20

photo by ilkka.fi

League: Jr. A SM-liiga

Position: D

Born: 16th June 1997

Height: 6.2       

Weight: 170
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/Strength	Below Average
Skating	Good
Shot/Scoring	Good
Puckhandling	Good
Physical Play	Below Average
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Average
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Puckhandling

2. Offensive Involvement

3. Pass

Area’s For Improvement

1. Physical Game 

2. Risky 1vs1 

3. Defensive Responsibility

Scouting Report:

An offensive Defender who loves to get involved offensively and joins rushes. He is an agile skater and has good speed. Possesses a hard, accurate pass which he uses for a good 1st initiating pass. A good puck carrier who has good movement with the puck and a decent vision. Often enters the zone with a lot of speed, though he tends to go into risky 1vs1 situations which could ending in leaving him in bad positions in a breakaway. Needs to improve his physical game and eliminate risky plays from his game. A defender with lots of ups and downs but if he can get rid of his flaws, he is a matured offensive defender who can initiate plays and setup good rushes.               

NHL Potential: Offensive Defenseman, who loves to get involved offensively and good skater.  

Style compares to: Christian Ehrhoff

Christian Fischer

Team: U.S. National U18 Team

photo by Tom Sorensen/usantdp.com

League: USHL/USDP

Position: RW

Born: 15th April 1997

Height: 6.1       

Weight: 212
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/Strength	Good
Skating	Good
Shot/Scoring	Good
Puckhandling	Good
Physical Play	Good
Offensive Play	Average
Defensive Play	Good
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Protecting the Puck

2. Size/Strength

3. Powerful Skating

Area’s For Improvement

1. No high-end offensive skills

2. Scoring

3. Foot-Speed

Scouting Report:

A very powerful two-way forward who works very hard in both ends of the ice and possesses an over average skating balance. Listed at 6'1 and 212 lbs, he uses all of his big frame to protect the puck very well and to play effectively along the boards in battles. One of the more NHL ready players in this years draft in terms of strength and hard to knock off the puck. Is a very agile skater and has extremely powerful strides plus good top speed but could improve his foot-speed. His shot power is decent, he could work on his accuracy though. Might not posses high end offensive skills but his tremendous work ethic and willingness to do whatever is needed to win is making him the player all coaches want to have.                       

NHL Potential: Two-way power forward with good work ethic and powerful skating.  

Style compares to: Brandon Dubinsky

Jeremy Bracco

Team: U.S. National U18 Team

photo by Tom Sorensen/usantdp.com

League: USHL/USDP

Position: Center/Right Wing

Born: 17th March 1997

Height: 5.9       

Weight: 172
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/Strength	Below Average
Skating	Good
Shot/Scoring	Good
Puckhandling	Excellent
Physical Play	Average
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Good
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Vision

2. Skating Agility/Speed

3. Passing

Area’s For Improvement

1. Size/Strength

2. Board Battles

3. Needs to use his shot more

Scouting Report:

An undersized forward listed at only 5'9". Uses his excellent skating abilities to get rid of defenders and to make room for himself. Very quick acceleration, good speed, and great agility. Possesses tremendous vision and uses it together with his good pass for nice setups and creation of scoring chances. Has silk soft hands and is hard to defend because of his puckhandling speed in connection with his skating skills. Plays an aggressive defensive game and is very present with his stick. Given his small size, he lacks strength to win corner battles and needs to add some extra muscle. However, he is a very intelligent player with good hockey sense and his playmaking skills are above average.                   

NHL Potential: Playmaker, who has an excellent vision, smooth hands and a great pass.  

Style compares to: Johnny Gaudreau

Mathew Barzal

Team: Seattle Thunderbirds

photo by mynorthwest.com

League: WHL

Position: Center

Born: 30th January 1997

Height: 6.0       

Weight: 181
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/Strength	Average
Skating	Good
Shot/Scoring	Good
Puckhandling	Excellent
Physical Play	Average
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Good
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Vision

2. Two-Way Game

3. Puckhandling

Area’s For Improvement

1. Size/Strength

2. Needs to shoot more

3. Tries to do too much

Scouting Report:

A rather smallish center with tremendous vision and excellent playmaking skills. Is a very smooth puckhandler and possesses an accurate pass. He is very dominant in the offensive zone and likes to circle with the puck on his stick. Sometimes is trying to do too much and is missing the moment to fire the puck. Not only is he an offensive dominant player, he also takes his defensive responsibilities serious. Backchecks good and uses his stick very well to take away the puck and leads the break away. All in all, Barzal is a very competitive center who works good in all three zones and is dominant in most of his shifts. Has the ability to make players around him better.                    

NHL Potential: Playmaker, who has excellent vision, good puckhandling skills and good defensive mind.  

Style compares to: Claude Giroux

Julius Nättinen

Team: JYP-Akatemia

photo by jatkoaika.com

League: Mestis

Position: Winger

Born: 14th January 1997

Height: 6.2       

Weight: 194
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/Strength	Good
Skating	Average
Shot/Scoring	Good
Puckhandling	Good
Physical Play	Good
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Good
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Shot

2. Size/Strength

3. Defensive Mind

Area’s For Improvement

1. Acceleration

2. Skating

3. Use his body better

Scouting Report:

A forward with good size and strength who has a very good shot. Uses his full shot arsenal and is an effective weapon on the powerplay. Tries to bring himself in good position to use his strong accurate slapshot from a good spot. Has good vision and is therefore more a playmaker than a shooter. Is an average skater in terms of agility and acceleration but has good top speed. Backchecks well and takes his defensive responsibility serious. Could use his big body more to win corner battles and to play with a more physical edge. Nättinen has the potential to create scoring chances with his great shot and decent vision and to play a good two-way game, but isn't a player who leaves you breathless and rather is a quiet worker.                     

NHL Potential: Two-way player with a great shot and ability to play effective in his own zone.  

Style compares to: Jeff Carter

European Prospects 2015 NHL Draft

Comparison of some top European based prospects for the coming draft such as Oliver Kylington, Mikko Rantanen, Julius Nättinen and others:

http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/schellenberg-euro-prospect-notes-rantanen-nattinen-kylington-and-more/

A detailed look at the skills of some European based prospects for the coming draft, including Denis Malgin, Ilya Samsonov and many more: 

http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/a-look-at-2015-draft-eligible-european-prospects/

Oliver Kylington

photo by dn.se

Team: Färjestads

League: SHL

Position: Defender

Born: 19th May 1997

Height: 6.0       

Weight: 181
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/Strength	Average
Skating	Excellent
Shot/Scoring	Good
Puckhandling	Good
Physical Play	Average
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Good
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Skating

2. Shot

3. Maturity

Area’s For Improvement

1. Physical Play

2. Strength

3. Defensive Positioning

Scouting Report:

An excellent skater who has good topspeed and is agile on his skates. Has tremendous understanding of the game and doesn't panic on plays. Is a good puckhandler and possesses good vision. Can be a good Powerplay weapon with his good shot from the blueline and matured play. Needs to work on his physical game as well as on his defensive positioning. Has the potential to be a good two-way defender with his matured play, good puckhandling skills and smooth skating.                 

NHL Potential: Two-Way Defender with a good understanding of the game and smooth skater.  

Style compares to: Tobias Enström

Ilya Samsonov

Team: Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk

photo by tumblr.com

League: MHL

Position: Goaltender

Born: 22nd February 1997

Height: 6.3       

Weight: 201
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Athleticism	Good
Quickness/Speed	Good
Vision/Play reading	Good
Puckhandling	Good
Compete	Good
Technique/Style	Good
Rebound Control	Average
Size	Excellent
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Athleticism

2. Size

3. Able to make big saves

Area’s For Improvement

1. Rebound Control

2. High Shots

3. Proactive Puckhandling

Scouting Report:

A big goalie who is challenging shooters pretty well and covers the whole net. Has great athleticism and quick movement. Shows good agility and flexibility. Is very calm and tracks the puck well but he impresses the most with his ability to make acrobatic saves. Needs to improve his rebound control, especially on high shots and could use his stickhandling in a more proactive way. But clearly one of the best Russian goalie prospects since Andrei Vasilevsky, who has potential to be an NHL starter if teams aren't afraid of the Russian factor.                        

NHL Potential: Starting goalie, who has good size and great athleticism.  

Style compares to: Sergei Bobrovski

Colin White

Team: U.S. National U18 Team

photo by usantdp.com

League: USHL/USDP

Position: Center/RW

Born: 30th January 1997

Height: 6.0       

Weight: 183
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/Strength	Good
Skating	Good
Shot/Scoring	Good
Puckhandling	Average
Physical Play	Good
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Excellent
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Shot

2. Two-Way Game

3. Strength/Balance

Area’s For Improvement

1. No High End Skills

2. Too many scoring chances not executed

3. Puckhandling

Scouting Report:

A good two-way forward with good work ethic who plays a smart game in all three zones. Possesses a powerful, accurate shot and shows good defensive mind. Is a good skater with decent speed and strong on his knees. Isn't afraid to play with a physical edge and is hard to knock off the puck. Is good around the net and often utilizes rebounds. He has no high end skills and leaves too many chances unutulized. Isn't the biggest guy on the ice but this is not going to stop him to work hard, play physical and go in front of the net. Has the full package and can be a very competitive two-way forward.                   

NHL Potential: Two-Way Forward, who works good in all three zones and possesses a good shot.  

Style compares to: Ryan Callahan