[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

He wasn't that clear. Certainly not like McDavid or Crosby. Probably closer to Hall and Seguin where no one would have been super surprised if Tyler went ahead of Taylor. Except there were sort of the four with MacKinnon, Jones, Drouin and less-so Barkov. At least that's what media would have had us believe.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=88636

(Jones is first)

https://www.si.com/hockey/news/2013-...aft-rankings-1

(Jones is first)

https://thehockeywriters.com/2013-nh...ouin-decision/

(Drouin is first, MacKinnon third)

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospe...february-2013/

(Jones is first, MacKinnon third)

The only realistic discussion for anyone over MacKinnon was Jones, and even that was very unlikely, as Cs are a safer bet than Ds in the high picks. Drouin and Barkov were great prospects, but a tier below MacKinnon and were never going to go 1st overall.

MacKinnon was being compared to Crosby pre-draft. He was the clear #1, even in a stacked draft class.