2015 NHL Draft: Beichler’s Full First Round Mock Draft

Center. Erie (OHL). Connor McDavid. 1. player. 148. There really isn’t much to say about this pick. Connor McDavid is a “generational talent” and the Edmonton Oilers’ future.

12. The same goes for Jack Eichel. Eichel himself says that he will be a better player than McDavid. Most scouts disagree, but he is definitely very close and will be the face of the Buffalo Sabres franchise for years to come.. Center. Boston U (NCAA). Jack Eichel. 2. player

For the Arizona Coyotes, the decision will likely fall between Dylan Strome and Noah Hanifin. I went with Strome, mainly because they already have a true No. 1 on D, but need a franchise center to lead the team.. Center. Erie (OHL). Dylan Strome. 3. player. 121

Boston C (NCAA). Noah Hanifin. 5. player. 109. The Hurricanes will be lucky if Hanifin drops to them, but the chances are good. Hanifin is the best player available and will improve the team’s prospect pool.. Defense

Mathew Barzal is likely “low” on most rankings because of his injury. Without it, Bob McKenzie says, Barzal could have battled Strome and Marner for one of the top-5 spots. This way, the Devils take a chance on him.. Center. Seattle (WHL). Mathew Barzal. 6. player. 85

This was one of the hardest picks in the entire draft and it also influences the Colorado Avalanche’s pick significantly. Mikko Rantanen is the No. 1 on my Avs draft board and unfortunately he is the Flyers’ choice as well. Superstar potential outside of the top-5. Full draft profile: <a href=. Right Wing. TPS (SM Liiga). Mikko Rantanen. 7. player. 68

Brandon (WHL). Ivan Provorov. 9. player. 120. Ivan Provorov is the No. 2 D-man on virtually every draft ranking. The Sharks gladly pick him up, as they have a bunch of great forward prospects already. Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense

player. 103. The Colorado Avalanche select Lawson Crouse with the tenth overall pick. I could also see the Flyers taking him, which would leave Mikko Rantanen for the Avs, but Rantanen has the bigger star potential. Crouse has a Lucic ceiling and a bottom-six checking forward floor. Full draft profile: <a href=. Left Wing. Kingston (OHL). Lawson Crouse. 10

player. 87. The Florida Panthers haven’t been playing very successful hockey over the past years, which gave them the chance to rebuild through the draft. Timo Meier will be another important piece on the way to the top. Full draft profile: <a href=. Right Wing. Halifax (QMJHL). Timo Meier. 11

The Avalanche are reportedly very interested in Zacha, but eventually opt for Lawson Crouse. That leaves Zacha for the Dallas Stars that can need a new No. 2 center. Full draft profile: <a href=. Center. Sarnia (OHL). Pavel Zacha. 12. player. 119

The Los Angeles Kings don’t care about the “Russian factor” and select an extremely talented Russian forward. Sometimes compared to big forwards like Crouse and Rantanen, Svechnikov will be a very good pick.. Right Wing. Cape Breton (QMJHL). Evgeni Svechnikov. 13. player. 67

14. player. 70. Kyle Connor is a player you can see ranked anywhere between tenth and 20th. I have him going pretty much in the middle, as the Bruins select a very talented American center.. Left Wing/Center. Youngstown (USHL). Kyle Connor

Travis Konecny. 15. player. 112. If there is one team that has proven that small players can succeed in the NHL, it is the Calgary Flames with Calder Trophy finalist Johnny Gaudreau. They try it again and select small forward Travis Konecny.. Right Wing. Ottawa (OHL)

148. After selecting Connor McDavid, the Oilers are on the clock for a second time. This time around, they go with a defenseman in Jeremy Roy. Roy is mostly ranked behind Zboril and Chabot, but has at least as much talent. Could become a Duncan Keith-type player.. Defense. Sherbrooke (QMJHL). Jeremy Roy. 16. player

Nick Merkley. 17. player. 30. Nick Merkley would have liked to go to his hometown Calgary Flames, but they opted for Konecny. Not far away, the Winnipeg Jets are excited to get a great shifty center/winger in Merkley.. Center/Right Wing. Kelowna (WHL)

18. player. 91. The Ottawa Senators want to get captain Erik Karlsson another Swedish friend on the team. On a side note, Eriksson is also really good at hockey.. Center. Farjestad (SHL). Joel Eriksson Ek

98. The Minnesota Wild have lots of offensive talent in their system. Therefore, they add a defenseman to their prospect pool.. Defense. Saint John (QMJHL). Jakub Zboril. 20. player

12. Stacked with young forwards for the future, headlined by Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, the Buffalo Sabres add a defensive prospect to the system that will join top-rookies Nikita Zadorov and Rasmus Ristolainen at the blue line. Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense. Saint John (QMJHL). Thomas Chabot. 21. player

22. player. 19. The Washington Capitals already have Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov finally came over from Russia after being drafted in 2010. The Caps add another talented Russian forward in Denis Guryanov.. Right Wing. Togilatti 2 (MHL). Denis Guryanov

Prince George (WHL). Jansen Harkins. 23. player. 104. The Vancouver Canucks pick home boy Jansen Harkins, who was born in North Vancouver. Harkins has the potential to be a top-six two-way forward and could also end up playing a bottom-six role. He has a higher floor than many other prospects. Full draft profile: <a href=. Center

25. player. 30. Noah Juulsen was one of the biggest risers on many draft rankings and managed to sneak into the first round. The Jets gladly pick a defenseman after selecting Nick Merkley with their first pick.. Defense. Everett (WHL). Noah Juulsen

Jake DeBrusk. 26. player. 152. The Montréal Canadiens select a player that all 30 teams have shown interest in at the draft combine. He could be picked anywhere between 20th and 40th and the Canadiens are glad to have him.. Left Wing. Swift Current (WHL)

Daniel Sprong is another big riser. He is a dangerous sniper the Ducks will be happy to get. One of the very few Dutch players to have big hockey careers.. Right Wing. Charlottetown (QMJHL). Daniel Sprong. 27. player. 105

23. Paul Bittner was considered one of the best WHL prospects for a long time, but dropped a fair bit. There are doubts about the power forward’s production without top-players. But even if he only produces with good players around him, the Lightning will be the right place to be. Full draft profile: <a href=. Left Wing. Portland (WHL). Paul Bittner. 28. player

Tri-City (WHL). Brandon Carlo. 29. player. 68. The Flyers had an early first round pick and add a very late one. With the first pick they selected a skilled forward, this time they go with a big physical defenseman. Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense

player. 121. Brock Boeser is the last forward selected in the first round. He will help the Coyotes deepen their pool of forward talent after picking Dylan Strome third overall.. Right Wing. Waterloo (USHL). Brock Boeser. 30