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)