There is no shortage of hype surrounding the 2015 NHL draft class. It’s regarded as having the potential to be the best draft since the incredibly strong 2003 crop.

For the most part, the draft has garnered a lot of attention because of Erie Otters centre Connor McDavid and Boston University commit Jack Eichel. But make no mistake about it, there's elite talent beyond the two phenoms.

Without further ado, here is an early look at the top 10 prospects of the draft class with the help of some astute scouts.

1. Connor McDavid, centre, Erie Otters (OHL) – McDavid is touted as the best forward to hit the draft floor since New York Islanders star John Tavares in 2009. He will make whichever team snags the first overall pick happy they went through a long 2014-15 season.

The 6-foot, 185-pound McDavid, who scored 28 goals and 99 points in 56 games last year, will not only lead his OHL club, the Otters, this year, but he’ll also be the backbone of Canada’s world junior club. Hockey Canada is counting on him to help them break their five-year gold medal drought at home in Toronto and Montreal.

Scout’s take: “As an individual, McDavid is neither flashy or arrogant, but it’s his elite hockey sense, attention to detail and team-first approach that makes him and his teammates a constant threat,” says Mckeen’s Hockey scout Brendan Ross. “McDavid has an innate ability to read his opponents and exploit their smallest of errors. Besides being average-sized, he excels in every other possible area of the game. He’s surprisingly strong and is downright fearless in his attacks, never holding back against larger defenders. His calm, cool and collective demeanor radiates confidence throughout the lineup and the ease at how he accomplishes everything on the ice is astonishing. Skating is considered lethal not because of blazing speed but rather a well-balanced stride and strong edge work, used to cut in and out of traffic.”

2. Jack Eichel, centre, Boston University (NCAA) – Eichel would be the clear-cut top forward in most draft classes, but since he’s in the same draft year as McDavid, he comes in a close second. He ultimately has the skill set and drive to develop into a franchise player in the NHL.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Eichel will play at Boston University this year following dominating the United States Development Program, where he scored 38 goals and 87 points in 53 games. The expectations are for him to jump straight into the NHL after one year of NCAA hockey.

Scout’s take: “Eichel has some elite speed and quickness to go along with his explosive skating stride, but the thing I really enjoy watching is his shot selection and accuracy,” says International Scouting Services scout Matt Grainda. “He has the skill to put the puck anywhere he wants. He can score in tight or from distance and his ability to navigate around the opposition in order to create excellent scoring opportunities is tremendous. He absolutely has upside on both the offensive and defensive sides of the game. USA U-18 coach Danton Cole's compares him to the Anaheim Duck's Ryan Getzlaf and Los Angeles King's Jeff Carter is very accurate. He has bits and pieces of those two in his own game to go along with his own unique talents.”

3. Noah Hanifin, defence, NTDP U18 (USHL) – The 6-foot-2, 201-pounder is currently regarded as the top blueliner of the draft. The combination of his size, strength and mobility has elicited comparisons between Hanifin and St. Louis Blues defender Alexander Pietrangelo.

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