Kimelman's Draft

1. Connor McDavid, C, Erie (OHL) The consensus top player in the draft, McDavid (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) is considered by scouts the best draft prospect since Sidney Crosby in 2005. Most remarkable stat: Finished nine points behind Ontario Hockey League scoring leader and teammate Dylan Strome despite playing 21 fewer games. Fully healthy for the OHL playoffs, he had 21 goals and 49 points in 20 games.

2. Jack Eichel, C, Boston University (H-EAST) Big (6-2, 196), strong and skilled, Eichel dominated against older and more physically developed NCAA players. If he chooses to leave college, he could be Sabres' No. 1 center next season.

3. Noah Hanifin, D, Boston College (H-EAST) The Coyotes certainly could use scoring help, but the best way to spark that offense is with smart, puck-moving defensemen like Hanifin. At 6-3 and 203 pounds, he already has NHL size, a high hockey IQ and the ability to move the puck out of trouble with his stick or his feet.

4. Dylan Strome, C, Erie (OHL) One of the most creative playmakers available in the draft, the 6-3, 185-pound forward would fill a need for size and skill in the middle for the Maple Leafs. Strome was first in the OHL and tied for first in the Canadian Hockey League with 129 points.

5. Mitchell Marner, C, London (OHL) The high-scoring forward has the size (5-11, 160) and skill that has drawn comparisons to former London star Patrick Kane. The Hurricanes need all the offensive help they can get, and when Marner fills out physically he should be able to supply it.

6. Lawson Crouse, LW, Kingston (OHL) The Devils need size and skill up front and at 6-4 and 213 pounds Crouse supplies both; one scout compared his physical play to former NHL star Eric Lindros. Crouse led Kingston with 29 goals this season and also excelled in a fourth-line/energy role for Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.

7. Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS (FIN) The Flyers need help on the left side and their scouts have said they have seen Rantanen (6-4, 211) play there on their visits. He did well enough in Liiga, Finland's top professional league, that his 28 points in 56 games led all under-20 players. He also excelled at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, leading Finland with four goals.

8. Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon (WHL) The Blue Jackets have done well adding forwards in the draft but now they need to find some defensemen. The 6-foot, 201-pound left-shot defender led all Western Hockey League rookies in scoring and some scouts believe he has the skill to jump to the NHL next season.

9. Zachary Werenski, D, Michigan (BIG10) The 6-2, 206-pound left-shot defender didn't play like the youngest player in NCAA hockey this season. He had 25 points in 35 games against older, more developed opponents, made the U.S. team for the 2015 WJC, and scouts also like his poise and hockey sense.

10. Timo Meier, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)

The Avalanche need defensemen, but Meier (6-1, 209) is too good to pass on. He excelled this season with a Halifax-high 44 goals. He also excelled with top-end linemates; he played with Winnipeg Jets 2014 first-round pick (No. 8) Nikolaj Ehlers in Halifax, Nashville Predators rookie Kevin Fiala with Switzerland at the 2015 WJC and Connor McDavid at the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

11. Pavel Zacha, C, Sarnia (OHL) Panthers GM Dale Tallon has emphasized the need for size with skill, and the 6-3, 210-pound forward has both. He had 34 points in 37 games in his first North American season and also plays a strong 200-foot game. Having Nick Bjugstad (6-6, 218), Aleksander Barkov (6-3, 213) and Zacha down the middle would make for an impressive look.

12. Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle (WHL) Some scouts believe that had Barzal (5-11, 175) not missed nearly three months because of a fractured kneecap, he would have been in the conversation with Strome, Crouse and Marner for top-five consideration. The center was still second on Seattle with 57 points in 45 games.

13. Kyle Connor, LW, Youngstown (USHL) The 6-1, 177-pound forward led the United States Hockey League in scoring this season. Scouts love his speed, smarts and ability to be in the right spot in all areas of the ice. He's committed to the University of Michigan next season but the Kings don't need to rush him along.

14. Jakub Zboril, D, Saint John (QMJHL) Restocking the prospect base on defense is something the Bruins could look to do. The 6-1, 184-pound left-shot defender has a solid offensive game and enjoys the physical aspect of the game. As one scout said, "That's his game; keep your head up."

15. Jacob Larsson, D, Frolunda Jr. (SWE-JR) The Flames relied on their defense to create a significant amount of offense, and the 6-2, 191-pound left-shot defender has the skill set to fit right in. He played most of the season in the junior league but did well when he got the chance to play in the Swedish Hockey League.

16. (From PIT) Evgeny Svechnikov, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL) The Oilers have other needs, but it would be tough to pass on the big (6-2, 199), physical forward who led all Quebec Major Junior Hockey League rookies with 78 points in 55 games. Svechnikov made the move from Russia to North America seamlessly.

17. Thomas Chabot, D, Saint John (QMJHL) A talented offensive performer, the defenseman showed his mental strength this season by responding to an early-season benching with 12 goals and 41 points in 66 games. Chabot (6-2, 180) could be a nice complement to 2013 first-round pick (No. 13) Joshua Morrissey in a few seasons.

18. Travis Konecny, C, Ottawa (OHL) The Senators could use help down the middle and the speedy, feisty Konecny (5-10, 175), who played his junior hockey 20 minutes away from Canadian Tire Centre, would provide it.

19. Noah Juulsen, D, Everett (WHL) A strong second half boosted Juulsen's stock. The 6-2, 174-pound right-shot defenseman was well-regarded for his defensive skill and physical play, but this season he showed he could contribute in the offensive zone with nine goals and 52 points in 68 games. The more ice time he was given, the better he played.

20. Jansen Harkins, C, Prince George (WHL) The Wild like players with character on and off the ice, and Harkins (6-1, 182) has it. He's very close to his older brother, who has a genetic disorder; on the ice his smart, two-way game drew comparisons to Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal from one scout.

21. (From NYI) Nicholas Merkley, RW, Kelowna (WHL) The 5-10, 191-pound forward is among the best playmakers in the draft; his 70 assists were third in the Western Hockey League. He also has seen what it takes to reach the NHL, as his offseason training partners in previous summers have been Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle and Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green.

22. Paul Bittner, LW, Portland (WHL)

The power forward skates well for a player his size (6-4, 204). The Capitals already have good size up front, led by Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson and Jason Chimera. Adding a player with Bittner's size, skill set and aggression could make the Capitals a scary team to play against.

23. Brandon Carlo, D, Tri-City (WHL)

Finding young defensemen who can eventually step in for Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis is a priority. The 6-5, 196-pound right-shot defender likely won't be a big point producer in the NHL, but his mobility, size and reach will make him difficult to play against.

24. (From NSH) Ryan Pilon, D, Brandon (WHL)

At 6-2 and 206 pounds, Pilon already has NHL size and strength. Scouts loved the way he can see the ice and find holes in the opposition's forecheck. And he has an innate knowledge of the game in part because of his uncle, former NHL defenseman Rich Pilon.

25. (From STL) Brock Boeser, RW, Waterloo (USHL)

After adding a defenseman earlier in the draft, the Jets can bolster their scoring depth with Boeser (6-foot, 191), who tied for the United States Hockey League lead with 35 goals. He'll continue to develop next season at the University of North Dakota.

26. Jeremy Roy, D, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

Since drafting five defensemen in 2011 the Canadiens have selected three in the past three drafts. Rebuilding that prospect depth starts with the 6-foot, 180-pound right-shot defender. He was limited to 46 games this season but had 43 points.

27. Colin White, C, USA U-18 (USHL)

The Ducks have done a nice job adding depth on defense and now need to turn to building those numbers up front. White was hampered by injuries this season but was a point-per-game player when healthy and scored the gold medal-winning goal for the United States in overtime against Finland at the 2015 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

28. (From NYR) Daniel Sprong, RW, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

The 6-foot, 180-pound high-volume shooter led Charlottetown with 39 goals, 88 points and 270 shots on goal, 10th-most in the QMJHL. Scouts rave about Sprong's speed and the quick release on his shot.

29. (From TBL) Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Farjestad (SWE) An outstanding performance at the World Under-18 Championship in April, when he led Sweden with five goals in five games, was one reason Eriksson Ek rose from No. 22 on Central Scouting's midterm ranking of European skaters to No. 4 in the final ranking. The 6-2, 180-pound forward plays a smart, reliable game and was fearless in taking the puck to the net, even against men in the Swedish Hockey League.

30. (From CHI) Filip Chlapik, C, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

The 6-1, 196-pound forward had a smooth transition from his native Czech Republic to North America this season, tying for the lead among QMJHL rookies with 33 goals. He can produce offensively, and his skill without the puck makes him a solid two-way player.

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