Before we get to this, the question was raised "why only the first three?" The honest answer is that the first three were pretty much without issue. Now I'm going with three each because it fits the time frame nicely. The second round will be in two parts. The third in one. If timing gets off I can just jumble everything together since it's finished anyways.
Continuing the saga.
1. Edmonton Oilers Select Connor McDavid 2. Buffalo Sabres Select Jack Eichel 3. Arizona Coyotes Select Mitchell Marner
4. The Toronto Maple Leafs Select Defenseman Noah Hanifin from Boston College in the NCAA
6’2 205lbs, 18 years old
37gp 5g 18a 23p
I can hear the hissing and booing from here. With so many OHL executives joining the Leafs it seems apparent that the Leafs might finally be interested in the contents of their backyard. Or at least ready to do their diligence in that regard. That said, I think they pick Hanifin in this situation. Yes the need for a number one centre is a glaring issue, but Rome wasn’t built in a day and if you think the Leafs are going to have a happy ending next season, you haven’t been paying attention. It sounds like they want to join the race for Auston Matthews. Which would be great. Grapes would throw a fit if they went into their rebuild on the backs of Swinns, Fedes and ‘Muricans. Hanifin is the kind of defenseman that does a little bit of everything just right. He is highly polished and plays a mature game with few holes. The worry is that the room for growth isn’t there and much like players of the ilk of Ryan Murray and Adam Larsson, his maturity of game might indicate a lack of raw upside. His steady play and smarts should be enough to entice any team in thinking long and hard about picking him, but then you add his skating ability to it and it’s a no brainer. I love Provorov, but at the moment it’s obvious who the superior defender is (at the moment!). Toronto’s defense has been a mess for so many years it’s become engrained in our minds. True two-way defenders are probably the most important element to any Cup contending team. If you don’t have one, you don’t win. Keith, Doughty, Chara, Niedermayer/Pronger, Lidstrom etc. Hanifin seems on track to become one.
NHL Comparable : Ryan Suter
Potential : Number One Two-Way Defenseman
5. The Carolina Hurricanes Select Defenseman Ivan Provorov from the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL
6’0 201lbs, 18 years old
60gp 15g 46a 61p
The Hurricanes haven’t selected a Russian born player since 2001, so it would be about time. Semin PTSD aside, Provorov has fought his way into the conversation for being the top defender in the draft. While Russian in name, there’s very little “Russian… about Provorov. He has played almost his entire life in North America, first coming through the US system before moving to the WHL. While his offensive prowess draws the eye, it’s Povorov’s overall game and attention to detail that makes him a special player. Provorov finished 4th in WHL scoring for defensemen and was one of only four players over a point per game. Not only is that impressive in its own right, but he did it as a rookie and likely would have led the league in scoring if he didn’t make the WJC squad. Speaking of, that was a real eye opener. Not only is he one of the only Russian defensemen to make a WJC squad at 17. It’s a truly rare phenomenon and I can’t think of a single example this decade. His play away from the puck was spectacular. So calm and poised with his stick and positioning. He has all the tools to be an Oliver Ekman-Larsson style/level of defenseman. Which as we all know from my friend Mr. Tanner is the best defenseman in the game. Carolina has many needs up and down their prospect pool, but they need to continue to build their defense out.
NHL Comparable : Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Potential : Top-Pairing Two-Way Defenseman
6. The New Jersey Devils Select Centre Dylan Strome from the Eerie Otters in the OHL
6’3 185lbs, 18 years old
68gp 45g 84a 129p
Yes, yes, I know, I’m an idiot. That’s fine. The second head of the two-headed monster in Eerie is the player I am most interested in this coming draft. Depending on which list you have he is anywhere between 3-6. In many ways it’s a testament to the strength of the top-end talent of this draft that there is any confusion as to where the CHL’s leading scorer might go. It’s even more insane that the leading scorer in the OHL was only on the Second All-Star Team. Playing behind McDavid has brought about two interesting discussions. Is a lot of his success coming from matching against weaker opponents? Is a lot of his success even more impressive since he doesn’t play with the best wingers? The notion that Strome was just as dominant when McDavid was injured/away is false. His PPG went down from 2.04 to 1.66. Now 1.66 is still an excellent pace and one worthy of a top selection in the draft, but it is a far cry from 2.04. It’s an odd world we live in where 22 points in 20 games can be considered a disappointing post season performance. His size is what is really keeping him in the conversation for the third selection, but for those comparing him to Getzlaf, that’s a poor comparison. Getzlaf is a mean and nasty player. Strome on the other hand might contend for a Lady Byng someday. That’s just not his game. Jason Spezza would be more apt to be honest. Whoever gets Strome will be happy, but there are a few wrinkles here and there.
NHL Comparable : Jason Spezza
Potential : First Line Centre
Thanks for reading.