Bob McKenzie's Draft Ranking - June 23 5:30PM MT - TSN

[sureLoss]

starting in a few minutes


Bob's top 60 here:
http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=95289

1. Ekblad
2. Reinhart
3. Bennett
4. Draisaitl
5. Dal Colle
6. Ritchie
7. Virtanen
8. Fleury
9. Nylander
10. Ehlers

[RyZ]

Looks good to me, although that 6-10 group could be in almost any order and it would still work.

[AC]

This draft is nerve wracking as I think any of the 4 could fall to us, and I can't make up my mind on who I'd want most.

I think I almost prefer Bennett first, but that might be because he's who I see falling to 4.

[19Yzerman19]

I really hate 6-8. Would take Nylander or Ehlers over any of 'em.

[sureLoss]

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=455555

For example, as good as the 6-foot-4, 216-pound Ekblad is, some scouts wonder if he an upside greater than being a steady, reliable two-way defender. Is there a dynamic quality there that is usually associated with a potential first overall pick?

Barrie head coach Dale Hawerchuk, a former NHL star, doesn't know about dynamic, but he does know impactful, because that's what Ekblad has been from the moment he showed up to Barrie as a 15-year-old who was granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada to enter the OHL a year early.

"He's been a top pair, shutdown defenceman who played against the best players in our league from the day he got here," Hawerchuk said, "and there's no doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that he's going to be a really good top pair, shutdown defenceman who plays against the best players in the NHL. He's been impactful since Day 1. He does it all and he does it all consistently and he's going to be a 15 to 20 year top-pair NHL defenceman."

This year's top prospects earn rave reviews for some specific trait or quality, but the praise is accompanied by a question.

Reinhart's hockey sense, for example, is widely hailed, elite level, as good as it gets. But will his average speed and size put a second-line ceiling on him or reduce his effectiveness against men?

Bennett's complete game – equal parts skill, smarts, spirit, edge and work ethic – is lauded but can an average size centre translate that style to the NHL against men?

No. 4-ranked Leon Draisaitl, the Prince Albert Raiders' German-born and –trained centre, has a big NHL frame and can make plays but will the lack of a dynamic step keep him from being a first-liner?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

I really hate 6-8. Would take Nylander or Ehlers over any of 'em.

I hope Benning agrees with you

[StrykerSteve]

Ehlers is going to be the steal of the draft for whomever gets him.

[sureLoss]

McKenzie says scout call Ritchie a high-risk high-reward pick. Injury riddled and inconsistent effort and results in his 3 years in the OHL.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I'm going to be happy with anyone in the top 4. I have a preference for Bennett and probably like Drasaitil less but all things considered they all seem very close. Love Reinhart's vision and his hockey smarts, love Bennett's speed and all around aggressive and skilled game.

They all need to still be developed properly, Bennett can't be rushed into the league, even if he's picked first overall, he should go back to the CHL. None of them can be given NHL minutes they can't handle. It's not the elite level group of last year, or even close to the top guys next year but the top four are all going to be effective valuable NHL players if things go well.

Ehlers has that surprise superstar in the top ten feel.

[EldrickOnIce]

10 straight years Bob has had 1st pick correct

[Mr.Coffee]

Ekblad falling to Calgary would be freaking sweet.

[Stanathan]

I have the last 10 years right as well. With all the coverage it's not difficult, although I have no way of proving it.

[Stanathan]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Ekblad falling to Calgary would be freaking sweet.

If the Flames are able to snag any of Ekblad, Reinhart, or Bennett, I'll do jumping jacks in my living room until I have a heart-attack. I am prepared to be satisfied with Draisaitl though.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

10 straight years Bob has had 1st pick correct

Bob is basically recycling the central scouting rankings every year minus one or two picks. The first pick has been consensus almost every one of those years.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Bennett falling to Calgary would be freaking sweet.

I know you meant this..I just know it!

[dammage79]

Ugh, four more days.....

Draisaitl or Bennett is how I see it breaking down for the Flames. one of those two. Reinhart will be gone before pick three.

Either way, the Flames come out on top with their pick.

At this point I just want it to end already (everyone does by now) and enjoy the second and third rounds.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Bob is basically recycling the central scouting rankings every year minus one or two picks. The first pick has been consensus almost every one of those years.

AFAIK, Bob doesn't actually contribute any personal opinions to the list at all. It's all based on "interviews" with a select group of NHL scouts.

Listed is TSN's final NHL draft ranking - a compilation based on input from various scouts around the National Hockey League.

This is an interesting note from the TSN.ca story on the rankings:

Getting consensus for the TSN rankings was never more difficult than this year. Outside of perhaps the top 35 to 40, there was no real consensus. Even within the top 30 in the first round, there was a far greater variance from player to player than ever before.

TSN's rankings do not take into account the teams' order of selection; there's no allowance made for a team's personal or positional preference. These rankings are not so much an evaluation of which players will one day turn into the best NHLers as it is a forecast of what order in the draft this Friday and Saturday these players will reasonably be chosen. The list is determined on a mostly objective formula based on numerical rankings assigned by the scouts interviewed by TSN.

Like every year, people should keep this in mind when someone ranked in the mid-40s on the "TSN Consensus" goes in the 20s and someone ranked in the 20s drops to the end of the second round.

[Bunk]

This is his ranking, but is there also mock draft from him?

[mile]

Originally Posted by Bunk

This is his ranking, but is there also mock draft from him?

No, but the TSN mock draft is tomorrow.

[Jables16]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Ekblad falling to Calgary would be freaking sweet.

A lot would have to go right for that to happen:

- The Panthers are likely to pick Ekblad if they keep the pick, they would have to trade the pick to someone above us at 4 who doesn't want Ekblad (ie. Vancouver for Reinhart).

- Buffalo would have to take one of the remaining forwards which isn't a huge stretch since they used two high picks on Ristolainen and Zadorov last year.

- The biggest hurdle would be Edmonton at three. If they are sincere about being more concerned about size up the middle and Draisaitl is available it could happen, but I really have a hard time believing they would pass over Ekblad when he would fill such a glaring organizational weakness.