Mid Season 2015 NHL Draft Discussion - Candidates at halfway point

[Rare Jewel]

Eichel is tearing up the NCAA in his freshman year with 15 points in 8 games. Guy is a beast. A nice little consolation prize for the team that picks 2nd overall.

Best American prospect since Modano?

Kessel, Actually.

 

[Rare Jewel]

I can't remember if it was CSS or ISS that ranked Jeremy Roy as a B level prospect (2nd round) this month. On top of this they still had Nic Roy as a first round guy. That was possibly the worst prospect watch I've seen in a while. J Roy imo could crack top ten of he can keep his play up, and he has the ability to challenge Kylington for second dman chosen.

#11 by Hockeyprospect.com
#27 by ISS Hockey
#17 by Future Considerations
#17 by McKeen's Hockey



He's kind of all over the place.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Maybe they just mixed up the first names before publishing?

Seems likely that was the biggest WTF I uttered in a while

 

[Ace88*]

Also, i feel i should say that in my opinion, what Jack Eichel is doing in Division 1 NCAA hockey as a freshman is absolutely unheard of. It's every bit as, maybe even more, impressive than what McDavid is doing in the CHL.

I'm not going to say that he should go 1st overall, but I'm starting to feel the gap between 1 and 2 is not very large at all.

 

[Cor]

Remember when I said to watch for Mitch Marner this season?

Yeah... kid is is absolutely killing it. Likely going top 5.

 

[Cor]

Also, i feel i should say that in my opinion, what Jack Eichel is doing in Division 1 NCAA hockey as a freshman is absolutely unheard of. It's every bit as, maybe even more, impressive than what McDavid is doing in the CHL.

I'm not going to say that he should go 1st overall, but I'm starting to feel the gap between 1 and 2 is not very large at all.

Has it ever been that big? McDavid gets more hype and exposure because he is in the CHL, but most hockey people would tell you that Eichel is just as good as McDavid.

Both are generational franchise centers.

 

[Green Snow Storm]

The top of this draft is just filthy. So many high calibre prospects.

 

[The Magic Man]

Remember when I said to watch for Mitch Marner this season?

Yeah... kid is is absolutely killing it. Likely going top 5.

His stats are incredible. What's his style like? He's rather small.

 

[sniper81]

Has it ever been that big? McDavid gets more hype and exposure because he is in the CHL, but most hockey people would tell you that Eichel is just as good as McDavid.

Both are generational franchise centers.

Both are generational centres.. The gap is bigger than you think

 

[BIitz]

Both are generational centres.. The gap is bigger than you think

No it's not. Eichel is an amazing prospect who possesses elite speed, elite vision, elite iq, elite shot, elite passer, and a big body. he's everything you can want in a prospect. He's a 1.9 PPG player, and the highest scorer in a stronger league.

Mcdavid is very good, and the consensus #1, but there's a lot of hockey to be played until June. Many people are going to be surprised with just how talented this kid is come the World Juniors. Also keep an eye out for Auston Matthews (2016 draft), he may be as talented as Eichel.

 

[sniper81]

No it's not. Eichel is an amazing prospect who possesses elite speed, elite vision, elite iq, elite shot, elite passer, and a big body. he's everything you can want in a prospect. He's a 1.9 PPG player, and the highest scorer in a stronger league.

Mcdavid is very good, and the consensus #1, but there's a lot of hockey to be played until June. Many people are going to be surprised with just how talented this kid is come the World Juniors. Also keep an eye out for Auston Matthews (2016 draft), he may be as talented as Eichel.

I've seen a lot more of Eichel than most on this board, and he is a generational talent with everything you just listed. The fact is, Mcdavid is the best player I've ever seen live in the CHL and the gap is big enough that he will be the consensus number 1 even if he doesn't play another game this year. Huge Matthews fan, hopefully he ends up in Everett, they could be a very dangerous team next year.

 

[theIceWookie]

Also, i feel i should say that in my opinion, what Jack Eichel is doing in Division 1 NCAA hockey as a freshman is absolutely unheard of. It's every bit as, maybe even more, impressive than what McDavid is doing in the CHL.

I'm not going to say that he should go 1st overall, but I'm starting to feel the gap between 1 and 2 is not very large at all.

I said much the same last year. Eichel is not as far behind a some might think. I think McDavid is still number 1 but Eichel should be in the conversation.

 

[Ace88*]

Seriously, nobody enters Div 1 NCAA (!!) and blows the competition like this as a FRESHMAN. It's mind boggling. I won't be the least bit surprised if Eichel steps right into the NHL and walks all over McDavid (who doesn't have the benefit of playing against much older, more developed guys).

 

[theIceWookie]

Seriously, nobody enters Div 1 NCAA (!!) and blows the competition like this as a FRESHMAN. It's mind boggling. I won't be the least bit surprised if Eichel steps right into the NHL and walks all over McDavid (who doesn't have the benefit of playing against much older, more developed guys).

It's what Gaudreau did in his final season, and we were talking about how incredible that play was...

To do it in a freshman season is...something else. Now it is still early, and I'd expect Eichel to fall to a lower pace but it's enough to say that he should be mentioned in the talk for number 1 even though it will ultimately go to McDavid.

Eichel is among one of the oldest prospects in the draft but still it's incredibly impressive

 

[Terrence]

Count me as a fan of Thomas Chabot. Big, raw, offensive blueliner. Think he could rise as the year progresses.

 

[QMJHLfollower]

Count me as a fan of Thomas Chabot. Big, raw, offensive blueliner. Think he could rise as the year progresses.

Definitely, big fan of Chabot as well.

Already have him as 3rd Q dman on my draft list after J.Roy and A.Carrier. Really like his game and upside.

 

[Ace88*]

This is a nasty draft for the Q.

 

[showtime8]

It's what Gaudreau did in his final season, and we were talking about how incredible that play was...

To do it in a freshman season is...something else. Now it is still early, and I'd expect Eichel to fall to a lower pace but it's enough to say that he should be mentioned in the talk for number 1 even though it will ultimately go to McDavid.

Eichel is among one of the oldest prospects in the draft but still it's incredibly impressive

Yea, not taking anything away from him, but the biggest problem that I could see for Eichel in the transition to the pros would be the amount of games that he misses out on by going the NCAA route.
I know that won't take anything away from his skill level, but how much does that weigh on scouts minds when it comes to drafting.

 

[QMJHLfollower]

This is a nasty draft for the Q.

Definitely.

That D crop is beautiful.

 

[Cor]

His stats are incredible. What's his style like? He's rather small.

He's what? 5'11, 170ish? Not that small for today's centers. When you look at Crosby, and Giroux and Datsyuk, they are all 5'11. Giroux is only 175, and Dats and Crosby are 190-200.

Those are arguably the three best centers in the league. Toews is only 3" taller, so not much of a difference there too.

If Marner bulks up a bit, kid can has the talent to be a star. He has a respectable defensive game as well.

Both are generational centres.. The gap is bigger than you think

Between McDavid and Eichel? Not much of a gap at all

 

[sniper81]

He's what? 5'11, 170ish? Not that small for today's centers. When you look at Crosby, and Giroux and Datsyuk, they are all 5'11. Giroux is only 175, and Dats and Crosby are 190-200.

Those are arguably the three best centers in the league. Toews is only 3" taller, so not much of a difference there too.

If Marner bulks up a bit, kid can has the talent to be a star. He has a respectable defensive game as well.



Between McDavid and Eichel? Not much of a gap at all

If Mcdavid doesn't play another game this year does he go first overall?

 

[Ace88*]

Definitely.

That D crop is beautiful.

Not just the defense either, some of the forwards are looking unreal as well (Svechnikov, Beauvillier, Sprong, Chlapik, Yan, Schweri, Meier, etc). Looking at this, i can't think of a deeper, more all around great Q draft class. Yeah 2013 had Drouin and Mackinnon but this year is definitely deeper. Good for the Q, i've always hated how it never gets the respect it deserves. It's every bit as good as the WHL and OHL.

 

[QMJHLfollower]

Not just the defense either, some of the forwards are looking unreal as well (Svechnikov, Beauvillier, Sprong, Chlapik, Yan, Schweri, Meier, etc). Looking at this, i can't think of a deeper, more all around great Q draft class. Yeah 2013 had Drouin and Mackinnon but this year is definitely deeper. Good for the Q, i've always hated how it never gets the respect it deserves. It's every bit as good as the WHL and OHL.

Yeah, definitely great forward as well. Trenin, Alain, Gagné, Marsh, Ty Fournier, etc. all have very solid upside as well.

And fair enough, the Q is easily as good as the O and W.

Roy, Carrier, Chabot, Meloche, Brisebois, Zboril, Léveillé, Lauzon, Bourque, Bell, Henley, etc. on the back-end is unreal. So much upside.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Between McDavid and Eichel? Not much of a gap at all

The difference is probably as large as Seguin/Hall except on a larger scale (so maybe Malkin/Ovechkin). I think many people expected Hall and Ovechkin to go first, but the differences in skill weren't as large as people thought.

 

[Cor]

If Mcdavid doesn't play another game this year does he go first overall?

He's going to play again, it's a broken hand, not a concussion or something. Even, hypothetically, he weren't, then it depends on how well Eichel does this season, and what type of injury it was that kept him out (concussion vs ACL for example)

Eichel's coming out party will be the WJC. And by coming out, I mean people finally realizing him.

Like I said, McDavid gets more hype because he is in the CHL, so to most fans he is the name they hear. McDavid this season has been impressive, but what Eichel has done this year is just as impressive.

I am not saying Eichel is better, but there isn't a large gap between Eichel and McDavid.