NHL RELEASES MID-SEASON RANKINGS FOR 2015 DRAFT McDavid Ranks No. 1 in North America, Edging Eichel Our Coverage Sponsored by Cosmopolitan Dental, Official Dentist of Whom You Know
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Center Connor McDavid (Newmarket, Ont.) of the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters has been named the top draft-eligible skater from North America, edging Boston University freshman Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) for the top spot, as the NHL Central Scouting Bureau today released its mid-season rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft. McDavid aims to be the seventh OHL player selected first overall in the past nine years, following Patrick Kane (2007, London Knights), Steven Stamkos (2008, Sarnia Sting), John Tavares (2009, London Knights), Taylor Hall (2010, Windsor Spitfires), Nail Yakupov (2012, Sarnia Sting) and Aaron Ekblad (2014, Barrie Colts).
McDavid, who was granted exceptional player status by Hockey Canada to be eligible for the 2012 OHL Priority Selection as a 15-year-old, is skating in his third season with Erie, where he has recorded 60 points (21-39—60) in 23 games. A member of Canada’s gold medal-winning entry at the 2015 World Junior Championship, McDavid tied for the tournament lead with 11 points (3-8—11), led the tournament in assists and was named to the media all-star team.
Eichel, a freshman center at Boston University, leads all NCAA Division I skaters with 34 points (11-23—34) in 20 games. Internationally, Eichel has won gold with Team USA at the 2014 Under-18 World Junior Championship and represented his country at the 2014 and 2015 World Junior Championships.
Joining McDavid and Eichel among the top North American skaters are: No. 3 Noah Hanifin (Norwood, Mass.), a freshman defenseman with Boston College (H-EAST); No. 4 Lawson Crouse (Mount Brydges, Ont.), a left wing with the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL); and No. 5 Dylan Strome (Mississauga, Ont.), a center with the Erie Otters (OHL) and brother of New York Islanders center Ryan Strome.
Defenseman Oliver Kylington (Sundbyberg, Sweden) and right wing Mikko Rantanen (Nousiainen, Finland) are the No. 1- and 2-ranked skaters from Europe, respectively. Both have skated in their country’s top league, with Kylington recording 2-3—5 in 17 games with Farjestad of the Swedish Hockey League before joining AIK in the second division, and Rantanen notching 4-11—15 in 36 games for TPS of the Finnish Elite League.
Top-rated North American goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (Thunder Bay, Ont.)is 20?7-1 this season with a 2.81 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 29 appearances for the Central Division-leading Barrie Colts (OHL). His 20 wins are fourth-best among OHL goaltenders.
The mid-season rankings feature the top 210 skaters and 35 goaltenders in North America as well as the top 112 skaters and 11 goaltenders from Europe.
In its 40th year of operation, NHL Central Scouting provides evaluation and scouting of draft-eligible players to NHL member clubs. Headed by Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting employs eight full-time and 15 part-time scouts throughout North America. To report on prospects playing in Europe, the NHL employs the services of Goran Stubb and his staff at European Scouting Services based in Finland.
Combined, NHL Central Scouting and European Scouting Services will see in excess of 3,000 games this season.
The full mid-season rankings in all categories are available on NHL.com and media.NHL.com as well as from the NHL’s Public Relations Department in Toronto (416-359-7900) and New York (212-789-2000).
The 2015 NHL Draft will be held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. The 2015 Draft will be the second for the Panthers and Broward County, after also playing host to the 2001 NHL Draft.
