Most hyped 1st overall - 8th place

[Lucky7]

Which prospect received the most hype/buzz around the NHL world. (After that we will place Slaf, Bedard and Celebrini)

Don't be biased with the player's career. And I'm talking at the draft, not at 16 years old.

I will do it 18 times to have a top 18.

So far:

1- Sidney Crosby (136/235 - 57.9%)
2- Connor McDavid (116/138 - 84.1%)
3- Alexander Ovechkin (99/204 - 48.5%)
4- John Tavares (94/155 - 60.6%)
5- Auston Matthews (47/140 - 33.6%)
6- Rasmus Dahlin (44/104 - 42.3%)
7- Steven Stamkos (58/187 - 31,0%)

Click to read more...

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Nail. Bonus points for being the biggest bust in a long time.

 

[LeProspector]

We’re forgetting just how hyped Lafreniere was? He was more hyped than Stamkos, & and Dahlin for sure

 

[JackSlater]

We’re forgetting just how hyped Lafreniere was? He was more hyped than Stamkos, & and Dahlin for sure

Yeah I'm confused looking at the list and seeing Stamkos voted in before Lafreniere. Scouts had a higher opinion on Stamkos than fans did.

 

[FlyguyOX]

Laf had higher D-1 and D-2 hype, but in his draft year people soured a bit.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Laf had higher D-1 and D-2 hype, but in his draft year people soured a bit.

You must’ve forgotten the WJC. Captained the team to victory and was getting called the best Canadian prospect since McDavid and Crosby.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

MacKinnon was super well hyped with all the Crosby and Cole Harbour connections

Yakupov and Lafreniere next

 

[NyQuil]

I’m just seeing this poll now and I’d have Dahlin 4th above both Tavares and Matthews.

Tavares was more hyped as an underager in Junior than he was at the draft, so he’s a bit of a funny case.

At the draft, I’d be tempted to put him behind Matthews.

I’d have Stamkos behind Lafreniere as well, but I wouldn’t put Laf ahead of anyone else.

Sometimes you have to separate draft hype from TSN Team Canada WJC hype. He was still a winger and his competition was a raw project and a German kid who played wing against men in the DEL.

The term “generational” would only be applied to the first four draftees on my list at the time IMO. (Crosby, McDavid, Ovechkin, Dahlin)

Dahlin was supposed to be the first “generational” defenceman in quite some time. He’s a fine player and still very young but the hype was very real.

 

[Bubbles]

You must’ve forgotten the WJC. Captained the team to victory and was getting called the best Canadian prospect since McDavid and Crosby.

Was also chl player of the year two years in a row. People really cloud pre draft hype and post draft performance.

 

[FlyguyOX]

You must’ve forgotten the WJC. Captained the team to victory and was getting called the best Canadian prospect since McDavid and Crosby.

Yeah I must read different people than you. I saw that people soured on him because of lack of dynamic play in final year.

 

[Lucky7]

Yeah I must read different people than you. I saw that people soured on him because of lack of dynamic play in final year.

I have the same memory, but he was a hell of a prospect! We are talking about the 8th position. Players before him are awesome.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Nail. Bonus points for being the biggest bust in a long time.

In the 2012 draft preview on tsn Bob said if a 16 year old Mackinnon was eligible "many scouts" would have him #1.

His hype fell somewhat the next year after his poor wjc and then went back up after the memcup. Depends when you ask but I don't think Nail was ever valued above Mackinnon (in scouts eyes)

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Yeah I'm confused looking at the list and seeing Stamkos voted in before Lafreniere. Scouts had a higher opinion on Stamkos than fans did.

Yeah are we taking into account hfboards hype or scouts?

Hfboards was nutty for Yakupov but the Oilers scouts didn't even want to take him #1.

Stamkos is another who had more scout praise than message board hype.

 

[majormajor]

Yeah I must read different people than you. I saw that people soured on him because of lack of dynamic play in final year.

His junior play had stagnated, which worried some scouts.

But then I think most people wrote off the concerns saying that Laf wasn't playing great because he was too good for junior.

 

[Fatass]

Lafreniere physically matured early. He struggled in the nhl when all the player were men. He is a 50-60 point winger, who adds a physical element. A good player. But definitely overhyped coming into his draft.

 

[Jumptheshark]

AS an oiler fan with the first overall pick, Yakupov was not as hyped as some would like to believe. So much so that the oiler brass was going to take Murray until the owner stepped in,

Hyped for me is a clear cut number one and Yakupov was not. Murray and Yak were more or less 1a 1b with Galchenyuk being a dark horse. Many believe if he does not get injured in his draft year he goes number 1

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Lafreniere physically matured early. He struggled in the nhl when all the player were men. He is a 50-60 point winger, who adds a physical element. A good player. But definitely overhyped coming into his draft.

He’s gotten better every single year of his career. Pretty funny to be so sure of what you’re saying for a 23 year old.

 

[PAZ]

MacKinnon was super well hyped with all the Crosby and Cole Harbour connections

Yakupov and Lafreniere next

Mack was really not that hyped at all. There was debate who was going 1st overall until a week before the draft. Drouin, Jones, and Barkov all were thrown around as actual options.

 

[Albatros]

Many had Barkov lower than 4th in favor of Nichushkin or Lindholm. That he went 2nd was regarded quite the reach at the time.

 

[MXD]

Mack was really not that hyped at all. There was debate who was going 1st overall until a week before the draft. Drouin, Jones, and Barkov all were thrown around as actual options.

But Mack, Drouin and Jones were really hyped. On top of my head, Drouin was more hyped than half the remaining candidates, and Mack was hyped more than him.

So... from that remaining list, it's probably MacKinnon, though I must admit I have been probably more exposed to Yakupov doubters.