Connor McDavid vs Jack Eichel

[nbwingsfan]

Well, as I said, it's a lot of pluses and minuses on either side but skill wise McDavid is every bit the equal of Tavares. I was just uses one of the things McDavid is clearly better at than Tavares to help separate them.

Tavares had much better finishing ability and shot however.. those can't be debated either.

They were actually very similar junior prospects and I'm sure scouts would have a really tough time deciding between the two.

I actually think they end up around the same level in the NHL as well. Just short of the best in the NHL.

 

[jgimb]

will take bets from anyone who thinks Mcdavid isn't going number 1.

 

[tigervixxxen]

IMO its because McDavid has been pegged as a generational talent for so long that it seems crazy to debate his merits vs. someone else. I do see them as pretty close though McDavid will go first because nobody wants to be the team that passed on drafting a generational talent.

 

[jgimb]

IMO its because McDavid has been pegged as a generational talent for so long that it seems crazy to debate his merits vs. someone else. I do see them as pretty close though McDavid will go first because nobody wants to be the team that passed on drafting a generational talent.

Really tired of hearing this "hype" argument you think GMS are scouts are dumb enough to buy into "hype". players get this hype and anticipation for a reason. Both players being pegged is generational talents is more than fair. Just tired of hearing the hype argument its ridiculous the guy is putting up better numbers than Crosby did in jr at his age, that isn't due to hype. The guy scores on his two key chances today this thread doesn't even exist, there no doubt Jack would go as a top pick in like 99.9% of drafts. Just bothers me American fans point to the hype as factor, really laughable considering the hype surrounding some American players over the past 10 years. Kessel the American Crosby, Seth Jones the next Orr, Jack Johnson the player doughy wish he was.. it goes on. This hype is created so people spend 6 hours watching ****** draft coverage and analysts that are only there to create viewership. Almost ever yyear we go through one player originally pegged as number 1 then the media creates a circle jerk around the number 2 isn't Canadian or American either. Happens all the time between two stars, look at the last ten years. Use your friend google and look up pages from January-June over the past ten years from tsn regarding draft coverage. All about creating a battle between the top two, for example seth "orr" jones, everyone who didn't buy into the wjc b.s new mack was going first overall

 

[Captain Bowie]

Yes and if the nationalities were reversed there'd be no doubt about who #1 would be.

If you mean #1 based on hype in Canadian media I would totally agree.

If you mean #1 rated by Central Scouting, by NHL Scouting staffs and by who will go #1, I think you would be way off.

 

[nbwingsfan]

will take bets from anyone who thinks Mcdavid isn't going number 1.

McDavid will go number one because unless something extreme happens in the second half of the season (McDavid stops scoring or Eichel goes 3ppg) no GM would have the balls to not draft the guy pegged as a generational talent since he was 15.

With that said, they are much closer than you are making it seem. Before this season McDavid wasn't doing anything to suggest he would be better than say a Stamkos or Tavares type player.

 

[jgimb]

McDavid will go number one because unless something extreme happens in the second half of the season (McDavid stops scoring or Eichel goes 3ppg) no GM would have the balls to not draft the guy pegged as a generational talent since he was 15.

With that said, they are much closer than you are making it seem. Before this season McDavid wasn't doing anything to suggest he would be better than say a Stamkos or Tavares type player.

no doubt they're very close, just people... please stop basing this on "Canadian hype"

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

no doubt they're very close, just people... please stop basing this on "Canadian hype"

It doesn't matter, jgimb. One kid will be drafted # 1 and one kid will be drafted # 2 and people will forget because their careers in the NHL will take front and center. Again, come October 2015, none of this will matter.

 

[jgimb]

It doesn't matter, jgimb. One kid will be drafted # 1 and one kid will be drafted # 2 and people will forget because their careers in the NHL will take front and center. Again, come October 2015, none of this will matter.

no doubt, just laughable that many people are basing it on the fact that he has "Canadian hype" considering the hype over some of the Americans top prospects over the year. Both players will be franchise players period. Just feels like every world JR we have threads about top touted Canadians being overrated due to hype which is laughable.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

no doubt, just laughable that many people are basing it on the fact that he has "Canadian hype" considering the hype over some of the Americans top prospects over the year. Both players will be franchise players period. Just feels like every world JR we have threads about top touted Canadians being overrated due to hype which is laughable.

I agree.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think the bottom line is that there are probably differing opinions of GM's and Scouting Directors of who's better. They are both really good and if one is better than the other, its by a slim margin. As long as there is still a question of who's better, its just going to be a matter of personal opinion of the GM and Scouting Director of whoever has the #1 pick. I don't think you could go wrong picking either one, but I think anyone that is thinking that one is so much better than the other right now hasn't seen enough of both or has a huge bias.

 

[jgimb]

I think the bottom line is that there are probably differing opinions of GM's and Scouting Directors of who's better. They are both really good and if one is better than the other, its by a slim margin. As long as there is still a question of who's better, its just going to be a matter of personal opinion of the GM and Scouting Director of whoever has the #1 pick. I don't think you could go wrong picking either one, but I think anyone that is thinking that one is so much better than the other right now hasn't seen enough of both or has a huge bias.

Agree this is also a very poor thread title. Really doubt anyone has said he is much better than Eichel. They are close but the only edge I would give to Eichal is his physical development similar to the edge jones had, also his shot to which is far better than mcdavids.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I can't wait to watch McDavid because I was very impressed with Eichel's skill level against Finland. These two are truly special players.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

He just does everything better. Watch them. Both are complete freaks, but it's the consensus that McDavid is better. It's not a knock on Eichel.

And those who attribute that to McDavid being from Canada are clueless.

There isn't a consensus amongst the scouts, that seems to be HF based among posters.

 

[Rey]

This is one of those drafts were we re-visit it 20 years down the line and say "Oh, these guys were really worth the hype" or "what if, how did that no name player come outta nowhere to be more successful than everyone in the draft".

I hope these threads are still around by then, and some guy can bump it when it's one and done.

 

[MarVell]

Before the year started McKenzie said his 10 scout poll had it 7-3 McDavid. So that's more than 0 right there.

No one doubts who is going first. That's never been the conversation. No one has the balls to take someone over the guy who was put in the top spot years ago.

The conversation is go into the WJ board and see that dictating play like Eichel did today is "being selfish" and not being able to get on the board against Slovakia is "they didn't give McDavid the right wingers".

The conversation has always been Canadians covering their eyes and ears and screaming "I can't hear you" while the rest of the objective world sees how it's not the "anyone who even thinks they're close is just kidding themselves" narrative that gets pushed and repeated by the same people over and over. They largely just all happen to share the same nationality for some reason.

I'm neither canadian nor american, and I think the debate should be more "why is Eichel considered so much better than Nylander?".

 

[1Gold Standard]

Really tired of hearing this "hype" argument you think GMS are scouts are dumb enough to buy into "hype". players get this hype and anticipation for a reason. Both players being pegged is generational talents is more than fair. Just tired of hearing the hype argument its ridiculous the guy is putting up better numbers than Crosby did in jr at his age, that isn't due to hype. The guy scores on his two key chances today this thread doesn't even exist, there no doubt Jack would go as a top pick in like 99.9% of drafts. Just bothers me American fans point to the hype as factor, really laughable considering the hype surrounding some American players over the past 10 years. Kessel the American Crosby, Seth Jones the next Orr, Jack Johnson the player doughy wish he was.. it goes on. This hype is created so people spend 6 hours watching ****** draft coverage and analysts that are only there to create viewership. Almost ever yyear we go through one player originally pegged as number 1 then the media creates a circle jerk around the number 2 isn't Canadian or American either. Happens all the time between two stars, look at the last ten years. Use your friend google and look up pages from January-June over the past ten years from tsn regarding draft coverage. All about creating a battle between the top two, for example seth "orr" jones, everyone who didn't buy into the wjc b.s new mack was going first overall

Exactly this...

 

[nbwingsfan]

There isn't a consensus amongst the scouts, that seems to be HF based among posters.

Isn't McDavid ranked first among all scouting lists though? I could be wrong I can't remember.

 

[jgimb]

There isn't a consensus amongst the scouts, that seems to be HF based among posters.

Please find me the reports that has shown Jack over Conner? Bob and Craig trying to drum up verbal circle jerks to boost viewership doesn't count, this happens all the time. Also them claiming scouts have told them they are neck in neck or jack is better. This is not just "hf posters" or "Canadian hype". Everyone knows both will be franchise players, it is just pretty well known mcdavid is given a slight edge. Safe to say so far it is currently consensus amongst scouts. Swear we go through this every WJC.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Really tired of hearing this "hype" argument you think GMS are scouts are dumb enough to buy into "hype". players get this hype and anticipation for a reason. Both players being pegged is generational talents is more than fair. Just tired of hearing the hype argument its ridiculous the guy is putting up better numbers than Crosby did in jr at his age, that isn't due to hype. The guy scores on his two key chances today this thread doesn't even exist, there no doubt Jack would go as a top pick in like 99.9% of drafts. Just bothers me American fans point to the hype as factor, really laughable considering the hype surrounding some American players over the past 10 years. Kessel the American Crosby, Seth Jones the next Orr, Jack Johnson the player doughy wish he was.. it goes on. This hype is created so people spend 6 hours watching ****** draft coverage and analysts that are only there to create viewership. Almost ever yyear we go through one player originally pegged as number 1 then the media creates a circle jerk around the number 2 isn't Canadian or American either. Happens all the time between two stars, look at the last ten years. Use your friend google and look up pages from January-June over the past ten years from tsn regarding draft coverage. All about creating a battle between the top two, for example seth "orr" jones, everyone who didn't buy into the wjc b.s new mack was going first overall

do you honestly think a GM of a bad team, who is likely fighting for his job is going to go against the grain and not take the most hyped prospect?

 

[jgimb]

do you honestly think a GM of a bad team, who is likely fighting for his job is going to go against the grain and not take the most hyped prospect?

hype is given for a reason... seth "orr" jones was also pretty hyped where did he go? Is it fair to say he is the most hyped prospect for a reason? Or is he just hyped because he is Canadian and scouts decided to throw blindly at a dart board?

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Please find me the reports that has shown Jack over Conner? Bob and Craig trying to drum up verbal circle jerks to boost viewership doesn't count, this happens all the time. Also them claiming scouts have told them they are neck in neck or jack is better. This is not just "hf posters" or "Canadian hype". Everyone knows both will be franchise players, it is just pretty well known mcdavid is given a slight edge. Safe to say so far it is currently consensus amongst scouts. Swear we go through this every WJC.

No. 2 this season—they hint the order may reverse on draft day. “Eichel is making it close,” says a scout whose team has a shot at the top pick. “He’s exceeded expectations wherever he has played the last couple of seasons. He was better than McDavid at the under-20s, but people gave McDavid a let on that. I wouldn’t have said it was close at the start of this year, but what Eichel has done at Boston University this season has been really amazing.”

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/jack-eichel-could-go-no-1-in-2015-nhl-draft/

you can't discredit mckenzie and button just because you think it's for tv either.

 

[jgimb]

none of these are scouting reports not one. These guys say the same things every year. Find me a scouting report, there has been numerous responses pointing to it. The only rebuttal has been "but the tsn guys said so". Find one report, you provided me with a news article that said he "could" go number 1. Fantastic and Mcdavid "could" go number 2 find one SCOUTING report. Fact is there hasn't been anything but speculation, once an official report is released lmk.

 

[Get North]

McDavid can do some pretty crazy things with the puck. He has better hands than Eichel, I think that's something pretty clear. McDavid just did something unique I've never seen another player do, he put the puck to the left sides of the defenceman's stick and lifted the stick then took a snapshot as the defenceman's stick was lifted, hard to explain but I think it was the Switzerland game. Some crafty work there and he can put the puck just a little bit ahead or in defencemen's feet and then juke around the defenceman or stop and pull the puck and shoot. He just passes the puck into a crowd infront of the net and a chance comes out of it or the opposition is on their heels just by a little pass to no one really.

Kid is more unreal than I thought and he can play gritty, plays down low, in the corners and wins puck battles.

He's 6'1 and hasn't even filled out while Eichel is 6'2 and pretty much filled out. Eichel probably has the shot but I mean Eichel doesn't do alot of nifty things, the goal against Finland was nice but I didn't really get too impressed when comparing that to things McDavid does.

 

[Brooklanders*]

Hall/Seguin all over again. . .

I agree.