So what’s the consensus top 9?
From Bobby Mac:
“There’s not much at all separating Beniers, Edvinsson, Eklund, McTavish and Guenther. Any one of them may be worthy of No. 2 honours depending upon the preference of the individual teams ranking them.
And here’s where it gets even more interesting and/or confusing. While no other prospect than the five listed above got a vote at No. 2, the Nos. 7, 8 and 9 players on the TSN list also received notable support as top 3 to 5 picks.
Take Barrie Colts defenceman Brandt Clarke, No. 7 on the TSN list, for example. Five of 10 scouts ranked him in the Top 5, including one No. 3 vote. Clarke is an offensive defenceman with elite hockey sense and skill who is projected to run an NHL power play, although he has a bit of awkward, knock-kneed skating style.
University of Michigan recruit Luke Hughes, who played this season for the U.S. Under-18 program, is No. 8 on our list but he also received multiple Top 5 votes and none lower than No. 9.
Hughes, of course, is the younger brother of New Jersey centre Jack Hughes and Vancouver Canuck defenceman Quinn Hughes. He’s also, at 6-foot-2, the biggest of the Hughes boys and scouts see him a potential offensive defenceman who has the size and range to play a solid two-way game.
University of Michigan skilled freshman forward Kent Johnson, No. 9 on the TSN list, also got multiple Top 5 votes and none outside of the Top 10. The Canadian from British Columbia is widely hailed as having the purest skill level or best hands in the entire draft, with a penchant for scoring and creating highlight-reel goals.
If there’s virtually no separation on our list between Beniers, Edvinsson, Eklund, McTavish and Guenther, any one of Clarke, Hughes or Johnson could break into the Top 5 and supplant any of the top five prospects behind Power. It’s that tight.”