Looks like there are multiple goal scorers in our range, if we want to lean that way. Tij, Eiserman, maybe Lindstrom.
Lindstrom looks higher on most boards I'm guessing based on size, but it looks like he missed some games, so I'm wary of that.
Wonder when Tij was measured, and as a young guy, wonder if he has a bit more room to grow.
Out of Lindstrom, Eiserman and Iginla it's an easy call for Lindstrom -- however there's also no chance the Devils can get him unless some lottery luck moves them up to the #2 or #3 overall slot.
Here's the easy breakdown. Eiserman -- by far -- has the best shot of the three, and he's probably about even with Iginla in skating and passing vision. In any other quality you would rate players by, he's last of the three, and in many cases by a country mile (defensive play, compete level, physical play).
Lindstrom is by far the best skater of the the three, by far the best when it comes to hockey IQ and compete level, by far the biggest, strongest and most proactively physical, the only center of the three but can also play wing, the most complete in his offensive skill set and the best 200-foot player of the three.
It's not close, Lindstrom has to be considered the best prospect of these three.
Then, when it comes to Eiserman vs. Iginla? Well, Eiserman certainly has more upside, simply based on his immense goalscoring potential. But Eiserman's scouting card is also filled with red flags, whereas Iginla -- also a terrific goalscorer though not in Eiserman's league -- has no red flags to speak of. Iginla is a very high floor kid -- he'll make the NHL no matter what, the question is will he be a high scoring 2nd line winger, or a 3rd line grinder who can pop in more points than the average 3rd line grinder?
With Eiserman there is a lot more projection. One cannot deny his potential to one day lead the league in goals, but one also must factor in how far he is from that ultimate talent ceiling. Right now his 200-foot game and general decision making are basically not even at the level of an average 7th round pick, much less a top 10 pick. This is a kid with a lot to learn and a long way to go, and therefore he's a scary pick early in a draft.
I would take Lindstrom #3 overall, after only Celebrini and Demidov.
Iginla is a good pick in the 10-20 range, though I would also add he would be a good pick for Calgary at #9 due to obvious reasons.
Eiserman? I would certainly take a chance on his immense upside if I were picking in the late teens and he fell that far. But I couldn't justify taking him in the first dozen picks because there will simply be better hockey players available. Eiserman hasn't really proven to be a hockey player yet, he's just sub-par everywhere but in the offensive zone in space, where he admittedly becomes an instant scoring machine.
Is the guy who was hit one of the other team’s best players?
Connelly is a tremendous talent who is unfortunately also the Tony DeAngelo of this draft, character-wise. I'll write him up later, but he would be on my no-draft list if I were an NHL GM due to the obvious character concerns.