“Whether it be the Philadelphia Flyers, or Anthony Duclair slip sliding to the third round, a mock draft can go off the rails quicker than Connor McDavid can execute a wraparound. This draft class could be one for the ages with many pundits comparing it the revered class of 2003.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF02QdpPJlk

Analogous to the #FirstDraftEver, we all know who the kangaroo of this draft class is. Who might one consider the sloth (off-ice issues), wheat (boring, but practical pick) or the avocado (a pick that makes perfect sense) of this mock draft?

The NHL mock draft order is based upon the NHL Draft Lottery Simulator (ran on Match 8, 2015 to determine picks 1-14) and then on each team’s points per game played as of March 7th, 2015 (for remaining picks, taking into account the different numbers of games played by various clubs).

NHL Mock Draft: The Picks

March Madness Edition

Philadelphia Flyers: Connor McDavid

Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/185 lbs

Position:C

Team: Erie (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Dynamic forward; generational talent

Flyers fans rejoice as the franchise defies the lottery odds, winning the first overall pick with just 5% odds. A win for Philadelphia. A win for the NHL?

Buffalo Sabres: Jack Eichel

Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/193 lbs

Position: C

Team: Boston Univ. (NCAA)

Prospect Profiler Notes: High octane, cornerstone franchise centre

Edmonton Oilers: Noah Hanifin

Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/200 lbs

Position:D

Team: Boston College (NCAA)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Phenomenal skating ability, high hockey IQ, mature game

Drafting third overall may be a blessing in disguise for the Oilers as they land one of the most talented defenseman in the draft.

Arizona Coyotes: Mitch Marner

Ht/Wt: 5’10″/164 lbs

Position: C/RW

Team: London (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Exceptional acceleration and highly creative, “The Magician” won’t be denied at the next level; after slow start, perhaps most impressive CHLer this season

In Arizona, Marner joins fellow London Knights, Max Domi and Christian Dvorak as the next wave of Coyotes.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Dylan Strome

Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/177 lbs

Position: C

Team: Erie (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: NYI’s Ryan’s brother; creative, visionary offensive centre, defensively responsible

The Leafs fall this season is well documented; they’ve went from drafting 13th in The Next Ones’ New Year’s Mock Draft down to 5th.

Carolina Hurricanes: Mathew Barzal

Ht/Wt: 5’11″/174 lbs

Position: C

Team: Seattle (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Cerebral, visionary playmaking centreman

Columbus Blue Jackets: Ivan Provorov

Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/191 lbs

Position: D

Team: Brandon (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Highly skilled, versatile defender with laser-like precision passing skills

New Jersey Devils: Lawson Crouse

Ht/Wt: 6′ 3″/200 lbs

Position: LW

Team: Kingston (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Burgeoning power forward impressive as draft eligible prospect at World Juniors

Dallas Stars: Zack Werenski

Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/206 lbs

Position: D

Team: Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Versatile combination of size, skating, strength, two-way blueliner

Colorado Avalanche: Oliver Kylington

Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/180 lbs

Position: D

Team: Farjestads BK (SHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Outstanding skating, puck-moving dman; youngest player to score a goal in the SHL.

http://t.co/XjymQcv3NG

#12 Oliver Kylington @Olliekdot

Incredible anticipation & knack for knowing when to jump up ice. Developing two-way. — ISS Hockey (@ISShockey) February 14, 2015

San Jose Sharks: Pavel Zacha

Ht/Wt: 6′ 3″/200 lbs

Position: C/LW

Team: Liberec (CZE)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Tantalizing combination of size, skill, shot & work ethic

Florida Panthers: Mikko Rantanen

Ht/Wt: 6′ 4″/195 lbs

Position: C/RW

Team: TPS Turku (a) (SM-liiga)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Great size, high hockey IQ, tough on the boards, good puck protections skills

Ottawa Senators: Travis Konecny

Ht/Wt: 5’10″/172 lbs

Position: C

Team: Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Picasso-on-ice; sensational creativity, speed and blistering shot

Los Angeles Kings*: Timo Meier

Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/209 lbs

Position: RW

Team: Halifax Mooseheads

Prospect Profiler Notes: Good size, strong, responsible Swiss winger with excellent puck skills

https://twitter.com/ShawnTHW/status/574356874390290432

Boston Bruins: Kyle Connor

Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/170 lbs

Position:C

Team: Youngstown (USHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Two-way, intelligent playmaking centreman

Calgary Flames: Jeremy Roy

Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/183 lbs

Position: D

Team: Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Offensive, great puck skills, puckmoving defenseman, powerplay QB

What separates Jeremy Roy from other #NHLDraft2015 prospects? His desire to win & make a difference http://t.co/me0clzqfZD #MomentumHockey — Momentum Hockey (@Momentum_Hockey) March 6, 2015

Winnipeg Jets: Nick Merkley

Ht/Wt: 5’10″/175 lbs

Position: C/RW

Team: Kelowna (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Catalyst for positive plays all over the rink

Vancouver Canucks: Brandon Carlo

Ht/Wt: 6′ 5″/198 lbs

Position: D

Team: Tri-City (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Desirable monster sized defenseman who skates really well; understands defensive side of the puck, developing offensive side

Washington Capitals: Jansen Harkins

Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/177 lbs

Position: C

Team: Prince George (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Bloodlines, character, smart two-way playmaker

Minnesota Wild: Paul Bittner

Ht/Wt: 6′ 4″/201 lbs

Position: LW

Team: Portland (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Prototypical power forward with a good shot

Arizona Coyotes*: Colin White

Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/175 lbs

Position: C/RW

Team: USA U18 NTDP

Prospect Profiler Notes: Patrice Bergeron 2.0 – does all the small things coaches covet

Buffalo Sabres*: Brock Boeser

Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/192 lbs

Position: RW

Team: Waterloo (USHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: High hockey IQ and lethal shot

Philadelphia Flyers*: Thomas Chabot

Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/179 lbs

Position: D

Team: Saint John (QMJHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Blueliners’ surging stock reminiscent of that of Travis Sanheim’s in 2014.

Edmonton Oilers*: Jakub Zboril

Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/184 lbs

Position: D

Team: Saint John (QMJHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Well rounded defender with offensive flare

Detroit Red Wings: Daniel Sprong

Ht/Wt: 5’11″/175 lbs

Position: RW

Team: Charlottetown (QMJHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Flying Dutchman; electrifying offensive sparkplug originally from Amsterdam

Toronto Maple Leafs*: Jake DeBrusk

Ht/Wt: 6′ 0″/177 lbs

Position: LW

Team: Swift Current (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Louie’s son has explosive scoring ability and contributes currently on over one-third (35%) of the Broncos’s points registered, which is just above Nick Merkley’s team contributions and just behind Jansen Harkins.

Winnipeg Jets*: Jeremy Bracco

Ht/Wt: 5′ 9″/156 lbs

Position: C/RW

Team: USA U18 NTDP

Prospect Profiler Notes: Undersized but limitless offensive upside – creative, energetic, slick puck skills

Tampa Bay Lighting*: Matthew Spencer

Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/190 lbs

Position: D

Team: Peterborough (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: All around blueliner with very good skating, physicality and puck skills

Montreal Canadiens: Evgeni Svechnikov

Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/180 lbs

Position: LW

Team: Cape Breton (QMJHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Ridiculous upside; smooth North American transition for big, skilled forward

Anaheim Ducks: Thomas Novak

Ht/Wt: 5’11″/172 lbs

Position: C

Team: USA U18 NTDP

Prospect Profiler Notes: See FC Hockey’s scouting report:

FC Spotlight: Check out the scouting profile on Thomas Novak of @BlckHawksHockey! ~ http://t.co/mA6z5RmaXP #NHLDraft — FCHockey (@FCHockey) February 10, 2015

*1st Round Traded Draft Picks (via MyNHLdraft)

#14 – Carolina receives Los Angeles’s 2015 1st round pick (lottery protected this year, thus would not currently transfer) and Roland McKeown for Andrej Sekera.

# 21 – Arizona receives Chicago’s 2015 1st round pick and Klas Dahlbeck for Antoine Vermette.

# 22 – Buffalo receives the NY Islanders 2015 1st and 2nd round pick and Matt Moulson for Thomas Vanek.

#23 – Philadelphia Traded Braydon Coburn to Lightning for Radko Gudas, 2015 first round pick (Rangers pick if Lightning pick is #1 overall, else Lightning pick), 2015 third round pick on 2015-03-02 (Pro Sports Transactions)

# 24 – Edmonton receives Pittsburgh’s 2015 1st round pick and Rob Klinkhammer for David Perron.

# 26 – Toronto receives Nashville’s 2015 1st round pick, Brendan Leipsic and Olli Jokinen for Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli.

# 27 – Winnipeg receives the lesser of Buffalo’s acquired 1st round picks (either STL^ or NYI), Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux for Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and Jason Kasdorf.

^Buffalo receives St. Louis’s 2015 1st round pick, Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart and William Carrier for Ryan Miller and Steve Ott

# 28 – Tampa Bay receives the NY Rangers a 2015 1st and 7th round pick, 2014 1st round pick and Ryan Callahan for Martin St. Louis and a 2015 2nd round pick.