TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button produces monthly rankings (October-June) of the top players eligible for the NHL Draft. Craig's rankings represent his own individual assessment of where players are slotted in the NHL draft.

(Prev. indicates previous ranking on Craig's List - November, 2014)

The team selecting first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft should give equal consideration to Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel.

To this point I have had McDavid number one and Eichel number two. No longer is that the case as I have them in a dead heat as the best player available for the 2015 NHL draft. Two generational talents and the debate will rage on as to who should be the first selection.

My opinion is that they both bring elements to the game that are unique to them. McDavid’s ability to play at high speed and execute. Eichel’s exceptional reach and ability to move laterally through traffic. It’s not that Eichel can’t execute at high speed or that McDavid doesn’t move laterally through traffic, only that it’s hallmarks of the each other’s games.

They both impact the game through their strengths and find ways to raise their level when required. The World Junior tournament will bring intense scrutiny but they have been under it for years and have not shown any sign of being shrinking violets. I know there can be only one player selected first overall but one day I lean towards selecting McDavid and another day it is Eichel. The day for deciding is far off but there is nothing separating these two players at the moment.

Noah Hanifin of Boston College is a very talented player but he no longer stands alone as the next best player after McDavid and Eichel. I have always felt that Zach Werenski of the Michigan Wolverines is very close to Noah in ability and potential. Both are 17-year-old defensemen playing NCAA hockey and both are faring well. Along with Oilver Kylington of AIK in the Swedish Allsvenkan and Ivan Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings, they comprise a quartet of defensemen who all show potential to be top two defensemen in the NHL.

All may have the opportunity to play in the TJC so scrutiny may very well extend beyond McDavid and Eichel.

Dylan Strome, Mitchell Marner, Nick Merkley and Kyle Connor round out the top 10 and they possess high end offensive talent that NHL teams covet. Teams picking after number two will have the opportunity to add players who can have a significant impact on their teams’ fortunes. It may not be any easier determining who a team may prefer but it certainly looks like the quality of player is extremely high.

1. Connor McDavid (Centre) - Prev: 1 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Erie (OHL) CAN 13/01/97 L 6'1 195

1. Jack Eichel (Centre) - Prev: 2 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Boston University (H.E.) USA 28/10/96 R 6'2 195

3. Noah Hanifin (Defence) - Prev: 3 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Boston College (H.E.) USA 25/01/97 L 6'2 201

4. Dylan Strome (Centre) - Prev. 4 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Erie (OHL) CAN 07/03/97 L 6'3 187

5. Mitchell Marner (Right Wing) - Prev: 5 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. London (OHL) CAN 05/05/97 R 5'11 154

6. Oliver Kylington (Defence) - Prev: 6 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Farjestad (SHL) SWE 19/05/97 L 6'0 180

7. Zach Werenski (Defence) - Prev: 8 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Michigan (Big 10) USA 19/07/97 L 6'1 201

8. Ivan Provorov (Defence) - Prev: 9 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Brandon (WHL) RUS 13/01/97 L 6'0 193

9. Nick Merkley (Centre) - Prev: 11 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Kelowna (WHL) CAN 23/05/97 R 5'11 188

10. Kyle Connor (Centre) - Prev: 10 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Youngstown (USHL) USA 09/12/96 L 6'1 170

11. Jansen Harkins (Centre) - Prev: 12 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Prince George (WHL) CAN 23/05/97 L 6'1 181

12. Jeremy Roy (Defence) - Prev: 22 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Sherbrooke (QMJHL) CAN 14/05/97 R 6'0 189

13. Daniel Sprong (Right Wing) - Prev: 7 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Charlottetown (QMJHL) NED 17/03/97 R 6'1 189

14. Evgeni Svechnikov (Right Wing) - Prev: 17 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Cape Breton (QMJHL) RUS 31/10/96 L 6'1 180

15. Brock Boeser (Right Wing) - Prev: 19 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Waterloo (USHL) USA 25/02/97 R 6'1 187

16. Mathew Barzal (Centre) - Prev: 14 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Seattle (WHL) CAN 26/05/97 R 6'0 178

17. Pavel Zacha (Centre) - Prev: 13 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Sarnia (OHL) CZE 06/04/97 L 6'3 210

18. Lawson Crouse (Left Wing) - Prev: 15 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Kingston (OHL) CAN 23/06/97 L 6'4 211

19. Colin White (Centre): Prev: 20 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. USA NTDP (USHL) USA 30/01/97 R 6'0 183

20. Travis Konecny (Centre): Prev: 16 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Ottawa (OHL) CAN 11/03/97 R 5'10 173

21. Thomas Novak (Centre) - Prev: 21 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Waterloo (USHL) USA 28/04/97 L 6'0 174

22. Miko Rantanen (Right Wing) - Prev: 23 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. TPS (SM Liiga-FIN) FIN 29/10/96 L 6'4 211

23. Nicolas Meloche (Defence) - Prev: 25 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Baie Comeau (QMJHL) CAN 18/07/97 R 6'3 199

24. Thomas Chabot (Defence) - Prev: 26 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Saint John (QMJHL) CAN 30/01/97 L 6'1 181

25. Jakub Zboril (Defence) - Prev: 27 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Saint John (QMJHL) CZE 21/02/97 L 6'1 184

26. Anthony Beauvillier (Left Wing) - Prev: 28 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Shawinigan (QMJHL) CAN 08/06/97 L 5'10 171

27. Jeremy Bracco (Right Wing) - Prev: 33 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. USA NTDP (USHL) USA 17/03/97 R 5'9 173

28: Filip Chlapik (Centre) - Prev: 29 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Charlottetown (QMJHL) CZE 03/06/97 L 6'0 194

29: Brendan Guhle (Defence) - Prev: NA Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Prince Albert (WHL) CAN 29/07/97 L 6'2 184

30. Jake Debrusk (Left Wing) - Prev: 52 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Swift Current (WHL) CAN 17/10/96 L 6'0 171

31. Jordan Greenway (Left Wing) - Prev: 18 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. USA NTDP (USHL) USA 16/02/97 L 6'5 222

32. Adam Musil (Centre/Right Wing) - Prev: 24 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Red Deer (WHL) CAN 26/03/97 R 6'3 206

33. Sabastian Aho (Right Wing) - Prev: 36 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Karpat Jr. (Finland Jr.) FIN 26/07/97 L 5'11 172

34. Guillaume Brisebois (Defence) - Prev: 35 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Acadie Bathurst (QMJHL) CAN 21/07/97 L 6'2 170

35. Timo Meier (Right Wing) - Prev: 80 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Halifax (QMJHL) SUI 08/10/96 L 6'1 208

36. Nicolas Roy (Centre) - Prev: 30 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Chicoutimi (QMJHL) CAN 05/02/97 R 6'4 202

37. Nikita Korostelev (Right Wing) - Prev: 39 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Sarnia (OHL) RUS 08/02/97 R 6'1 195

38: Mitchell Vande Sompel (Defence) - Prev: 59 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Oshawa (OHL) CAN 11/02/97 L 5'10 182

39: Gustav Bouramman (Defence) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) SWE 24/01/97 R 5'11 184

40. Rasmus Andersson (Defence) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Barrie (OHL) SWE 27/10/96 R 6'0 210

41. Vince Dunn (Defence) - Prev: 34 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Niagara (OHL) CAN 29/10/96 L 6'0 182

42. Brandon Carlo (Defence) - Prev: 32 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Tri-City (WHL) USA 26/11/96 R 6'5 198

43. David Kase (Centre) - Prev: 45 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Chomutov (Czech Jr.) CZE 28/01/97 L 5'11 169

44. Yakov Trenin (Centre) - Prev: 38 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Gatineau (QMJHL) RUS 13/01/97 L 6'2 192

45. Ryan Pilon (Defence) - Prev: 46 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Brandon (WHL) CAN 10/10/96 L 6'2 212

46. Noah Juulsen (Defence) - Prev: 40 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Everett (WHL) CAN 02/04/97 R 6'1 175

47. Jacob Larsson (Defence) - Prev: 43 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Frolunda (Sweden - J20) SWE 29/04/97 L 6'2 191

48. Andrew Mangiapane (Right Wing) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Barrie (OHL) CAN 04/04/96 L 5'10 170

49. Erik Foley (Left Wing) - Prev: 60 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Cedar Rapids (USHL) USA 30/06/97 L 6'0 185

50. Alexandre Alain (Centre) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Gatineau (QMJHL) CAN 03/03/97 R 6'0 173

51. Christian Fischer (Right Wing) - Prev: 57 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. USA NTDP (USHL) USA 15/04/97 R 6'1 212

52. Paul Bittner (Left Wing) - Prev: 41 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Portland (WHL) USA 04/11/96 L 6'4 206

53. Ryan Gropp (Left Wing) - Prev: 58 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Seattle (WHL) CAN 16/09/96 L 6'2 184

54. Felix Sandstrom (Goalie) - Prev: 55 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Brynas Jr. (Sweden J-20) SWE 12/01/97 L 6'2 191

55. Daniel Vlader (Goalie) - Prev: 56 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Kladno (Czech Jr.) CZE 20/08/97 L 6'5 185

56. Matthew Spencer (Defence) - Prev: 31 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Peterborough (OHL) CAN 24/03/97 R 6'2 200

57. Blake Speers (Centre) - Prev: 37 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) CAN 02/01/97 R 5'11 177

58. Adam Marsh (Left Wing) - Prev: 75 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) USA 22/08/97 L 6'0 160

59. Ethan Bear (Defence) - Prev: 48 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Seattle (WHL) CAN 26/06/97 R 6'0 202

60. Michael Spacek (Right Wing) - Prev: 54 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Pardubice Jr. (Czech Jr.) CZE 09/04/97 R 5'11 187

61. Callum Booth (Goalie) - Prev: 72 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Quebec (QMJHL) CAN 21/05/97 L 6'3 199

62. Jonas Siegenthaler (Defence) - Prev: 71 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. GCK Zurich (Swiss 2) SUI 06/05/97 L 6'3 220

63. Caleb Jones (Defence) - Prev: 62 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. USA NTDP (USHL) USA 06/06/97 L 6'0 194

64. Reid Gardiner (Centre) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Prince Albert (WHL) CAN 19/01/96 R 5'11 185

65. Julius Nattinen (Centre) - Prev: 44 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. JYP (Finland Jr.) FIN 14/01/97 L 6'2 191

66. Nathan Noel (Centre) - Prev: 42 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Saint John (QMJHL) CAN 21/06/97 R 5'11 170

67. AJ Greer (Left Wing) - Prev: 49 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Boston University (H.E.) CAN 14/12/96 L 6'3 204

68. Graham Knott (Left Wing) - Prev: 47 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Niagara (OHL) CAN 13/01/97 L 6'4 192

69. Mackenzie Blackwood (Goalie) - Prev: 61 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Barrie (OHL) CAN 09/12/96 L 6'4 215

70. Filip Ahl (Right Wing) - Prev: 53 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. HV71 (Sweden J20) SWE 12/06/97 L 6'3 211

71. Glenn Gawdin (Centre) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Swift Current (WHL) CAN 25/03/97 R 6'1 188

72. Jared Bethune (Centre) - Prev: 51 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Prince George (WHL) CAN 20/01/97 L 6'0 174

73. Deven Sideroff (Right Wing) - Prev: 77 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Kamloops (WHL) CAN 14/04/97 R 5'11 171

74. Alexander Dergachyov (Right Wing) - Prev: 91 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. SKA St. Petersburg (Russia - MHL) RUS 27/09/96 L 6'4 200

75. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson (Centre/Right Wing) - Prev: 86 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Omaha (USHL) SWE 31/10/96 R 6'1 192

76. Brent Gates (Centre) - Prev: 67 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Green Bay (USHL) USA 12/08/97 L 6'2 196

77. Lukas Jasek (Right Wing) - Prev: 64 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Trinec Jr. (Czech Jr.) CZE 28/08/97 R 5'11 165

78. Travis Dermott (Defence) - Prev: 63 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Erie (OHL) CAN 22/12/96 L 5'11 197

79. Erik Cernak (Defence) - Prev: 68 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Kosice (Slovak) SVK 28/05/97 R 6'3 192

80. Brendan Warren (Left Wing) - Prev: 73 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. USA NTDP (USHL) USA 07/05/97 L 6'0 191

81. Spencer Smallman (Right Wing) - Prev: 78 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Saint John (QMJHL) CAN 09/09/96 R 6'1 184

82. Dennis Yan (Left Wing) - Prev: 83 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Shawinigan (QMJHL) USA 14/04/97 L 6'1 180

83. Vladimir Tkachev (Right Wing) - Prev: 65 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Moncton (QMJHL) RUS 05/10/95 R 5'10 144

84. Denis Malgin (Centre) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Zurich (Suisse) SUI 18/01/97 R 5'8 163

85. Roman Dymacek (Left Wing) - Prev: 100 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Brno (Czech Jr.) CZE 06/01/97 L 6'1 175

86. Kevin Davis (Defence) - Prev: 74 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Everett (WHL) CAN 14/03/97 R 6'0 183

87. Gabriel Carlsson (Defence) - Prev: 70 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Linkoping (Sweden J20) SWE 02/01/97 L 6'4 183

88. Zachary Senyshyn (Right Wing) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) CAN 30/03/97 R 6'1 192

89. Aleksi Saarela (Centre) - Prev: 69 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Assat Pori (Finland Jr.) FIN 07/01/97 L 5'11 198

90. Samuel Dove-McFalls (Centre/Left Wing) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Saint John (QMJHL) CAN 10/04/97 L 6'2 207

91. Brien Diffley (Defence) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Boston University (H.E.) USA 08/07/95 L 6'1 176

92. Grant Gabrielle (Defence) - Prev: 81 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. USA NTDP (USHL) USA 17/04/97 R 6'1 167

93. Mathieu Joseph (Left Wing) - Prev: N/A Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Saint John (QMJHL) CAN 09/02/97 L 6'1 166

94. Kameron Kielly (Right Wing) - Prev: 66 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Charlottetown (QMJHL) CAN 13/12/96 R 6'0 180

95. Tory Dello (Defence) - Prev: 87 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Tri-City (USHL) USA 14/12/97 R 6'0 187

96. Robby Jackson (Left Wing) - Prev: 89 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Chicago (USHL) USA 22/08/97 L 5'10 183

97. Jesse Gabrielle (Left Wing) - Prev: 95 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Brandon (WHL) CAN 17/06/97 L 5'11 205

98. Jack Roslovic (Centre) - Prev: 98 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. USA NTDP (USHL) USA 29/01/97 R 6'1 182

99. Kyle Capobianco (Defence) - Prev: 96 Team (League) Country Birthdate Shot HT. WT. Sudbury (OHL) CAN 13/08/97 L 6'1 178