2015 NHL Mock Draft: from a Colorado Avalanche Perspective
Here at Fan Sided, we’re going to start our site wide 2015 NHL Mock Draft tomorrow. Before the editors of the other team sites put in their picks, let’s look at the up-coming draft from a Colorado Avalanche fan’s perspective.
The 2015 NHL Draft is a talent-rich one. The top-two picks are some of the best players the draft has seen in awhile, and they’re not in a vacuum. In addition to Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, the 2015 NHL Draft features many players with the potential to join their pro teams within a year or two, if not right away.
So, let’s imagine who those picks might be.
Picks 1-5
#1: Edmonton Oilers, center Connor McDavid
Height/weight: 6-foot, 185 pounds
As frustrated as we are that the Edmonton Oilers have their fourth first-overall draft pick in five years, it’s the reality. Edmonton general manager Craig MacTavish has stated there’s “zero” chance if his trading away that draft pick, so the Oilers are going first.
And, of course, they’re not stupid enough to choose anyone other than the generational talent, Connor McDavid. This is a young forward about whom even the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is raving, calling him the best prospect since Mario Lemieux.
Fine. He’s a might small — Avs didn’t want him anyway. (Sour grapes.)
#2: Buffalo Sabres, center Jack Eichel
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 193 pounds
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A lot of us feel bad for the Buffalo Sabres. They were so bad last season. They’ve been bad for awhile, and yet they haven’t had the #1 NHL Draft pick in a long time — the Colorado Avalanche have had a #1 pick (Nathan MacKinnon) since the Sabres have.
Anyway, even though Sabres GM Tim Murray used to “dream about” Connor McDavid, the team’s getting center Jack Eichel. It’s not like Eichel is any slouch — any other draft year, he’d probably be #1. He’s big, he’s strong, and he can score.
The Avalanche would have liked Eichel on the team, but not enough to tank the season, thank goodness.
#3: Arizona Coyotes, left wing Lawson Crouse
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
There’s got to be a shocker in the first round, so let’s entertain the idea early. Defenseman Noah Hanifin is the popular choice for the #3 pick. However, the Arizona Coyotes already have one of the best young offensive defenseman in Oliver Ekman-Larsson. They don’t have a whole lot in the forward position. Big Lawson Crouse, who’s a solid two-way player, could change that.
He’d be perfect for the Avs, but most 2015 NHL Mock Draft selections have him going to the Philadelphia Flyers.
#4: Toronto Maple Leafs, defenseman Noah Hanifin
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
The Toronto Maple Leafs have just acquired one of the best NHL coaches around in Mike Babcock. You don’t get to be such a renowned NHL coach without being shrewd. So, if the big, gifted Noah Hanifin is still around for #4, the Leafs are going to select him. (The Leafs website have their team selecting Dylan Strome, but no way they select him if Hanifin’s still around.)
He might be a bit small for the Avs, so just as well he goes early.
#5: Carolina Hurricanes, center Dylan Strome
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 187 pounds
Most sites have the Carolina Hurricanes selecting Mitch Marner. However, if the Coyotes’ surprise selection of Crouse leaves Dylan Strome available at #5, I think Carolina takes him. He’s good-sized and willing to improve. Strome already shows a strong compete level and has eleite skills in winning faceoffs and stick handling in general.
The Avs would snap him up if he were available, but I don’t think they’d trade for him.
Picks 6-10
#6: New Jersey Devils, defenseman Zach Werenski
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 206 pounds
Say what you will about the New Jersey Devils, they like a defensive game. Zach Werenski is a big-ish defenseman with offensive upside. He’s also not afraid to get physical, which the Devils like.
A lot of mock drafts have the Avalanche selecting Werenski, but I don’t think he’s big enough for head coach Patrick Roy‘s plans.
#7: Philadelphia Flyers, center Pavel Zacha
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
If the Philadelphia Flyers miss out on Lawson Crouse, they’re going to want another big, aggressive center. That man is Pavel Zacha. He’s a hitter with a shoot-first mentality and a lot of offensive upside (and I don’t just mean for getting under opponents’ skin). He’s ranked anywhere from #6 up, so Philadelphia selecting him seventh is a possibility.
I really want Zacha for the Colorado Avalanche, but he’s right up the Flyers’ alley.
#8: Columbus Blue Jackets, center Mitch Marner
Height/weight: 5-foot-1o, 164 pounds
Center Mitch Marner is small for this generation’s NHL. His talent and vision should have him go higher than #8, but I think the teams selecting before the Blue Jackets want size and aggression with their offensive talent. However, Columbus might like a refined two-way player with creativity.
The Colorado Avalanche already have their fill of small, speedy, creative players — no way they’d select Mitch Marner.
#9: San Jose Sharks, defenseman Ivan Provorov
Height/weight: 6-foot, 200 pounds
Defensemen are at a premium in the NHL. The 2015 NHL Draft includes three top-10 defensemen. If Hanifin and Werenski go early, the San Jose Sharks might get a chance at Ivan Provorov. He’s poised and possesses a solid two-way game.
Again, too small for the Avalanche.
#10: Colorado Avalanche, center/right wing Mikko Rantanen
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 209 pounds
Head coach Patrick Roy, who’s also VP of hockey operations and has the last say in player personnel, has stated he’d like to see the Colorado Avalanche draft a “6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 center.” Mikko Rantanen just so happens to be a 6-foot-4 center.
The Avalanche have also been signing big Europeans lately — Dennis Everberg, Borna Rendulic, Andreas Martinsen. Mikko Rantanen is an aggressive Finnish center who’s not afraid to do time in front of the net. He’s dominant with the puck and a born leader.
Could you imagine the big Finn on a line with wings (and leaders) Gabriel Landeskog and Jarome Iginla? I bet Patrick Roy can.
Picks 11-20
#11: Florida Panthers, center Mathew Barzal
Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 174pounds
Most mock drafts have center Mathew Barzal going higher up because of his elite offensive skills. However, he’s more of a play-maker than goal scorer. He’s also just a bit on the small size. However, the Florida Panthers have been moving more toward a skill game, so they’d probably select Barzal.
#12: Dallas Stars, defenseman Oliver Kylington
Height/weight: 6-foot, 181 pounds
The Dallas Stars are pretty stacked with forwards right now, both in their NHL lineup and in their prospect pool. Oliver Kylington is a smart, puck-moving defenseman with a solid two-way game. Again, with such a premium put on defensemen, the Stars could take Oliver Kylington with their #12 pick.
#13: LA Kings, right wing Timo Meier
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 208 pounds
The LA Kings value puck possession above all else, including elite scoring ability. Right wing Timo Meier can score, but he focuses more on his two-way game. All aspects of his checking game are solid.
#14: Boston Bruins, center Kyle Connor
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 170 pounds
The Boston Bruins like big players with a strong two-way game. Connor is exactly that, a solid player who’s strong in all three zones. He’s also a speedy playmaker. Scouting reports generally have him going around the #14 mark.
#15: Calgary Flames, center Nick Merkley
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 175 pounds
The Calgary Flames are not afraid to sacrifice size for talent, as evidenced by Calder-favorite Johnny Gaudreau (5-foot-9, 150 pounds). Nick Merkley is a playmaking center with enough energy to match Johnny Hockey. The Flames probably wouldn’t be able to resist him.
#16: Edmonton Oilers (from Pittsburgh Penguins), right wing Denis Guryanov
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 193 pounds
The Edmonton Oilers are going to be busy still taking pictures with first-overall pick Connor McDavid. However, they’re bound to look up long enough to notice right wing Denis Guryanov is still available. Guryanov is strong and speedy with good stick handling — the Oilers would snap him up with their pick from the Penguins.
#17: Winnipeg Jets, center Jansen Harkins
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds
The Winnipeg Jets treasure hard work. Center Jansen Harkins is exactly that — hard worker. This meat and potatoes center will bring solid hockey skills every night. He doesn’t stand out in any one talent, but he’ll serve as a foundational player.
#18: Ottawa Senators, left wing Yevgeni Svechnikov
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
Russian winger Yevgeni Svechnikov has some soft hands, and the Ottawa Senators value that in a player. He’s skilled enough to eventually play left wing to Bobby Ryan‘s right, though he’ll need some time to get accustomed to the North American style.
#19: Detroit Red Wings, center Joel Ek-Eriksson
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 181 pounds
The Detroit Red Wings like them some elite European talent. Too bad for them the likes of Yevgeni Svechnikov and Mikko Rantanen are unlikely to be around for their #19 pick. Nonetheless, Joel Ek-Eriksson is a smart center with a 200-foot game, one with a sniper’s shot and slick skating.
Picks 20-30
#20: Minnesota Wild, center/right wing Travis Konecny
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 172 pounds
Elite Prospects scouts forward Travis Konecny as being “willing to do anything to win a game.” Perhaps that includes getting dirty, which the Minnesota Wild will appreciate. The team has also been making a move toward small and speedy — Konecny is just that. He’s also not afraid to get physical — Minnesota fans will love that.
So will Cody McLeod.
#21: Buffalo Sabres (from St. Louis Blues), defenseman Jeremy Roy
Height/weight: 6-foot, 183 pounds
Defenseman Jeremy Roy is scouted to go as high as #10. If he’s still available for their second pick, from the St. Louis Blues, the Buffalo Sabres are likely to snap him up. He’s a skilled two-way defenseman who might take a little time to mature, but he’ll get there for the Sabres.
#22: Washington Capitals, defenseman Jakub Zboril
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
The Washington Capitals are not far off from a team that can go all the way. Therefore, they can afford to build depth that might take a few years to mature. Defenseman Jakub Zboril isn’t going to crack the NHL his first year, but he’ll eventually bring speed and offensive prowess.
#23: Vancouver Canucks, left wing Paul Bittner
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 194 pounds
The Vancouver Canucks have an aging top-six. They’re going to pick the best forward talent available. Left wing Paul Bittner could go as high as #17. He’s big and relentless with a rocket shot from the point. Vancouver will want to groom him for an eventual top-six role.
#24: Toronto Maple Leafts (from Nashville Predators), defenseman Thomas Chabot
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 181 pounds
If nothing else, new Toronto coach Mike Babcock has vision. He’ll see that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to keep building depth that will come up in later years. Defenseman Thomas Chabot isn’t big, but he’s a smart player who can move the puck.
#25: Winnipeg Jets (from Buffalo Sabres via New York Islanders), left wing Jake DeBrusk
Height/weight: 6-foot, 176 pounds
Left wing Jake DeBrusk is another hard worker. He’s a competitive player willing to do battle wherever a team needs him. He’ll eventually be a good fit for the Jets.
#26: Montreal Canadiens, defenseman Gabriel Carlsson
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 183 pounds
Defenseman Gabriel Carlsson out of Sweden is ranked second among European skaters by NHL.com. Eventually someone has to notice that, and it might be the Montreal Canadiens. While Carlsson will have to spend a year or two learning the North American style, the Canadiens have the time to wait — their team is very competitive already.
#27 Tampa Bay Lightning (from New York Rangers), defenseman Jakob Larsson
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 191 pounds
The Tampa Bay Lightning traded away their own first-round pick, but they’ve got the New York Rangers’. Since the Bolts are probably feeling pretty good about their forwards, they might just give an outlier defenseman a shot. NHL.com has Swedish two-way defenseman Jakob Larsson ranked third for European skaters.
#28: Arizona Coyotes (from Chicago Blackhawks), edefenseman Nicolas Meloch
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 198 pounds
When the Coyotes get to pick again, they might go for a defenseman this time. Nicolas Meloche is a smooth skater with offensive upside. He’s not afraid to get physical either.
#29: Philadelphia Flyers (from Tampa Bay Lightning), center Alexander Dergachyov
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 201 pounds
Too bad the Bolts are doing so well this season. However, with their spare pick, the Philadelphia Flyers are probably still going to go for big and physical. Center Alexander Dergachyov is a bruiser of a forward with grit who can still handle the puck.
#30: Anaheim Ducks, left wing Jordan Greenway
Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 225 pounds
The Anaheim Ducks, like the Colorado Avalanche, prize big skaters. Left wing Jordan Greenway is a powerful forward who uses his size to make his presence known on the ice. He needs some refinement. However, considering I have the Anaheim Ducks winning the Stanley Cup this season, they can afford to wait for him.
Next: Lawson Crouse Draft Profile
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