IN THE ZONE - Draft Series: McDavid, Eichel and a possibly historic draft class

Until the NHL Entry Draft, the following six articles will be published on "swisshockeynews.ch":

1) Midterm Draft Rankings
2) Final Draft Rankings
3) A-Level prospect: Timo Meier 
4) B-Level prospects: Denis Malgin & Jonas Siegenthaler
5) Mid-to-late rounders: Fora, Suter & more 
6) 2015 NHL Entry Draft - McEichel and beyond

The 2015 NHL Entry Draft is said to be one of the deepest drafts in years and has generational talent going early in the first round. Canadian prodigy Connor McDavid (Erie Otters/OHL) and US wunderkind Jack Eichel (Boston University Terriers/NCAA) represent generational talent and are going to be NHL players with immediate impact. The two centers will go first and second overall to the Edmonton Oilers (McDavid) and the Buffalo Sabres (Eichel), with McDavid as the best NHL prospect since the Pittsburgh Penguins picked Sidney Crosby from the QMJHL's Rimouski Océanic following the 2004-05 lockout. 

Connor McDavid (6'1", 190) collected 44 goals and 76 assists in only 47 games with the Erie Otters and contended for the OHL scoring title, even though he missed an extended period of time with a broken thumb. He returned right in time to play at the World Juniors, where he scored three goals and eight assists in seven games on Canada's way to a gold medal. He's not just ridiculously skilled, but also possesses elite speed and off-the-charts hockey sense. It's expected that he will wear a "C" in the NHL before too long due to his excellent character. 

Jack Eichel on the other hand is physically the most NHL-ready talent in this draft in terms of his style of play. At 6'2" and 194 pounds, he is a big, dominant and powerful skater with a great release and excellent defensive abilities. He was the first freshman (first year college player) in 22 years to win the Hobey Baker Award, led his Terriers to the Frozen Four final, division title and their first Beanpot in five years. On top of that, he led the nation in scoring (40 games - 26 goals - 45 assists - 71 points) at 18, while playing against men. 

After a drop-off in talent, there's a group of three prospects still considered absolute elite with the potential to become franchise players in D Noah Hanifin (Boston College Eagles/NCAA), C Dylan Strome (Erie Otters/OHL) and RW Mitchell Marner (London Knights/OHL). Hanifin is a strong two-way defender with great skating, who paced his team and was only five points out of first in team scoring. Hanifin's role model is LA Kings All-Star defenseman Drew Doughty. Strome thinks the game at an elite level and led the OHL in scoring with 129 points. He models his game after his brother and Islanders center Ryan and Islanders captain John Tavares. Marner is a small, but incredibly intelligent and skilled winger (with skills at center) with a high ceiling. Scouts compare him to either Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux or Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane. 

The draft is unusually deep for defensemen with franchise talent like Hanifin and great prospects like Russian gem Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings/WHL; 60-15-46-61; similar to Hanifin with less offense but more physicality) or US hopeful Zach Werenski (Michigan Wolverines/NCAA; 35-9-16-25; best with the puck out of the Top 3 defenders). Other defensemen to look out for are Oliver Kylington (Färjestad BK/SHL; 18-2-3-5), who started the season as a potential Top 5 pick, Thomas Chabot (St. John Sea Dogs/ QMJHL; 66-12-29-41) and Jéremy Roy (Sherbrooke Phoenix/ QMJHL; 46-5-38-43). 

At the center position, the standouts are Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting/OHL; 37-16-18-34; intriguing skill and size), Matthew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds/WHL; 44-12-45-57; really smart, best prospect in the west) and Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms/USHL; 56-34-46-80; speedy, prolific scorer).

On the wings, there's an impressive mix of size and skill available in LW Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs/OHL; 56-29-22-51; tough power forward with scoring touch), RW Mikko Rantanen (TPS Turku/Liiga; 56-9-19-28; two-way winger with a laser of a shot), RW/C Evgeny Svechnikov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles/QMJHL; 55-32-46-78; Rick-Nash-type scoring winger) and of course our very own RW Timo Meier (Halifax Mooseheads/QMJHL). 

Thank You for reading this Draft Series and on a good event tonight!