2015 NHL Draft

[sureLoss]

Another Eichel article
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/11...sity-lava-lamp

It's hard to picture him not playing in the NHL next season. A few NHL scouts today believe Eichel could step in and be a No. 1 center this season. Eichel is expected to go either first or second overall, depending on where Connor McDavid, who is playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, goes.

This has been predicted for a while now. This has NHL scouts and GMs salivating.

Eichel is a whisker over 6-foot-1, with 195 sinewy pounds on his frame. As he walked to the shooting practice cage underneath BU's Agannis Arena with Drake bumping in his earbuds, he has a spring to his step. He walks the Earth with mini-calf raises.

On the latest round of strength testing, he front-squatted 320 pounds, cleaned 335 pounds, had a close-grip bench press of 250 pounds, a pull-up max of 25 reps, and body fat percentage of 6.3 percent.

25 pull ups already? imagine how much better than Bennett he will be

Watching any young top NHL prospects, people often look for comparables to give them a vision of a player's style and perhaps potential. Sometimes players themselves do this.

"I like looking at Mike Modano," said Eichel, referring to the first overall pick in 1988. "Him being an American, and his career speaks for itself. I like watching [Sidney] Crosby and Toews; those guys do everything so well. But, I think I play pretty similar to Jeff Carter. Big, strong, skilled power forward."

Eichel has a long, powerful stride that makes him a deceptively fast skater, much like the stride Mario Lemieux had. He looks like he is not working hard, but that is because he has such a long, graceful, efficient stride, like he is floating on the ice.

Eichel has an abnormally long reach like Evgeni Malkin, and he does a great job protecting the puck with that reach. He also has great vision, seeing plays before they happen and plays that other players don't see. If you play with Eichel, you'd better make sure your stick is on the ice and never doubt that he can get you the puck.

He accelerates with his head up carrying the puck and has the skill and attitude to beat players one-on-one. What makes players like Eichel so promising at the next level is that he also has a big-time release and a goal-scoring touch and also scores from bad angles like great players seem to do. He's a game-changer who makes players around him better.

An area Eichel wants to improve on?

"I want to work on bearing down on the net," Eichel said. "Bearing down and getting that goal that can help separate us on the scoreboard. "

[SuperMatt18]

I wish the CHL would have let his rights switch to the OHL so we could have seen him go head to head with McDavid this season.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Whoever is finishing last will get them a generational prospect either way.

[nik-]

I'm already annoyed at hearing about these guys since they're just two more ridiculous players that are going to go to shameless teams.

[FlamesAddiction]

Eichel sounds like a beast. Someone better be restraining Pierre McGuire on draft day.

[CliffFletcher]

With all the hype around McDavid (especially in Canada) people have forgotten that even without McDavid this would be a draft with a player projected to be better than anyone since Crosby.

[Flash Walken]

Are people still saying this could be the best draft since 2003?

I seem to remember that being the speculation; that you'll be able to find players in the 2nd, 3rd and even 4th round.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Are people still saying this could be the best draft since 2003?

I seem to remember that being the speculation; that you'll be able to find players in the 2nd, 3rd and even 4th round.

I'd be surprised if there was that much variation between drafts. However, from what I've heard, even without McDavid and Eichel this would be a good draft. Hanifin is more highly regarded than Ekblad, and the guys projected to go 4th-9th would be top-5 picks in most drafts.

[sureLoss]

Kylington had 2 assists tonight to surpass Hedman and Brodin's point totals as 17 year olds in the SHL.

highlights here:
http://www.shl.se/shl-arena/38956/postgame/

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

With all the hype around McDavid (especially in Canada) people have forgotten that even without McDavid this would be a draft with a player projected to be better than anyone since Crosby.

And at least one defenseman more highly thought of than Ekblad

[codynw]

How does Hanifin compare to Seth Jones at the same age?

[mile]

Originally Posted by codynw

How does Hanifin compare to Seth Jones at the same age?

I've heard at least the same level, probably better.

[sureLoss]

Kyle Woodlief - Director of Scouting Red Line Report

October 31 - TSN 1290

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-129...wards-1.121603


Strength and Depth of the 2015 draft

• really strong draft
• a lot more exciting to be on the road this year than last year
• middle of November last year, thought it was going to be a long season watching some of the [2014 draft eligibles]
• this year not only really good top end talent, but you have really good depth deep into 2nd round this year - top 50 will be great
• if you can nab another 2nd round pick [along with your first and second] you will most likely get 2-3 top quality prospects

• this year is starting to look like it is top heavy with quality forwards
• top 20 is predominately forwards with 3 or 4 defencemen sprinked in (some really good defencemen)
• pretty good year for goalies, really likes Mackenzie Blackwood (big kid in OHL), loves the Slovakian Matej Tomek (playing in NAHL, very strong in international play last year and could sneak into the 1st round)

• Woodlief ranks this draft class as being in the top 3 of the last 20 years
• McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin would be legitimate 1st OA picks in any year
• McDavid is a generational talent, best kid to come along since Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin
• McDavid's hockey iq is off the charts, in all 3 zones he doesn't make a mistake
• McDavid never goes where the puck is, he goes where the puck is going to be 3 seconds from now
• no way he can't see McDavid not being a star first line player in the NHL
• Eichel is not far behind

in terms of where the players are coming from: WHL has a strong crop, QMJHL has above average, OHL has an average year

Tiers

• McDavid and Eichel top
• Hanifin and Kylington make the 2nd tier
• third tier - gaggle of forwards 8 or 10 deep

the way Woodlief describes the tiers and top 20, it seems unlikely that the Flames will get a defenceman with their 1st round pick (still early though)

[FlameZilla]

Eichel = the next Jeff Carter? Oh man, he's definitely one I hope we can nab. A big, skilled power forward with a RH shot must be #1 or #2 on our list.

It would take a fairly serious tank job to get in a position to draft him, though...

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Eichel = the next Jeff Carter? Oh man, he's definitely one I hope we can nab. A big, skilled power forward with a RH shot must be #1 or #2 on our list.

It would take a fairly serious tank job to get in a position to draft him, though...

No, just lottery luck :-)

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Eichel = the next Jeff Carter? Oh man, he's definitely one I hope we can nab. A big, skilled power forward with a RH shot must be #1 or #2 on our list.

It would take a fairly serious tank job to get in a position to draft him, though...

He'll be better than Jeff Carter from all I've heard and seen.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

He'll be better than Jeff Carter from all I've heard and seen.

If I had the 1st overall pick at this point I'd risk facing the wrath of TSN for passing on McDavid. I'd take Eichel.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

He'll be better than Jeff Carter from all I've heard and seen.

Yep. Has Carter's size, power, and shot, but his reach and lateral movement are being compared to Mario Lemieux. It's just bizarre that two players of the calibre of McDavid and Eichel are draft-eligible in the same year.

[nik-]

I want us to win that lottery somehow. Imagine the work ethic of our team, plus the prospects we have in place and then injecting someone like Eichel or McDavid into that.

God dammit

[CliffFletcher]

Yeah, the only way the Flames get one of those guys is if they win the lottery. But if there's such a thing as karma, the Flames deserve it.