I have decided to double my output from the previous two
draft rankings bringing you my top 20 players for the 2015 draft. I chose to
include more players as I want to cover as many players as possible over the
course of the season. I understand more player’s means more reading which can
get time consuming. I tried to structure this in a way that you can read it in
parts and come back to it if necessary.
- Conner McDavid – C Erie Otters
- Jack Eichel – C Boston University
- Oliver Kylington – LD Farjestad
- Noah Hanifin – LD Boston College
- Travis Konecny – C Ottawa 67’s
- Mitchell Marner – C London Knights
- Mathew Barzal – C Seattle Thunderbirds
- Daniel Sprong – RW Charlottetown Islanders
- Kyle Conner – C Youngstown Phantoms
- Dylan Strome – C Erie Otters
No movement yet among the top 10 as not enough hockey has happened to justify moving any player. The only major action that has happened so far has been the Ivan Hlinka tournament. The majority of players played only 5 games, which isn’t enough of a sample size to make too much of a judgement. There will be more information available in next month’s update as by that point the CHL season will be underway.
The newcomers
White had an excellent season playing for the Under 17 US National Development Program. He put up 64 points in 47 games good for a 1.36 ppg. Those 64 points are the second most ever for a U17 player, behind only teammate Jermey Bracco (discussed below). What gives White the edge here is he was given the chance to play 8 games with the U-18 team where Bracco didn’t receive any, and that White had a better Under-17 World Hockey Championship Tournament. In 6 games White had 18 points compared to “just” 11 for Bracco.
12. Jermey Bracco – C/RW USNDP
Bracco has not been ranked very highly thus far. The big reason for this is his size; he is small listed at just 5’09. However there is no denying his skill level. As mentioned he led the Under 17 team in points putting up 74 in 54 games (1.37ppg). Those are the most points ever by a U17 player on the U17 team. He ranks ahead of notable NHL stars, Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane. Granted those stars’ played fewer games and when looking at Bracco ppg rank he falls below those two guys. However he still ranks 5th all time when looking at his point per game rate, which is rather impressive.
13. Pavel Zacha – LW Sarnia Sting
As the first overall selection in the 2014 CHL import draft, Zacha joins some elite company of other former first overall picks. In recent memory Ivan Barbishev and Olli Maatta are two of the standouts. This past season Zacha played in the Czech league were he put up 8 points in 38 games. That doesn’t seem very impressive but some context is needed as Zacha was a 16yr old playing in the Men’s league. His 8 points are the 10th best all time for a U17 player in the Czech league, ahead of Jiri Hudler and Michael Frolik. His 38 games played rank third all-time for a U17 ahead of the legend Jaromir Jagr.
14. Jeremy Roy – RD Sherbrooke Phoenix
Roy was workhorse for the Phoenix this past season. He is estimated to have received about 27 minutes a night. His competition level suggested he was being sheltered from the toughest guys as he received the third toughest assignments on the team. Roy’s bread and butter this season was the power play. He played 80% of Sherbrooke’s power-play minutes and scored 6 of his 14 goals when up a man. He had 44 points in 64 games, which at 0.69 is nicely above the 0.6 “barrier.” He ranked in the top 10 of scoring for CHL 16 year olds which is impressive enough on its own, but as a defencemen looks even better. What is slightly concerning however is that only 16 of his points came at even strength.
15. Nick Merkley – C Kelowna Rockets
Merkley played for a very good and very deep Rockets team last season. The Rockets ran away with the WHL’s Western Conference finishing with 118 points, five more than second place Portland. Being on such a deep team really limited the opportunities for Merkely. He is estimated to have played a little over 15 minutes a night at even strength which is pretty low relative to what other players above him on this list are getting. He also received minimal time on the power estimated to have played just 28% of the Rockets power-play time, the 6th most on the team. Merkely made the most of the opportunities he did have to put up the sixth most points for a 16 year old CHL player this past season with 58 in 66 games (0.88ppg). His 43 even strength points bump him up to 4th. He could see a rise in his ranking if he is able to perform well this season with more ice time.
16. Paul Bittner – LW Portland Winterhawks
Bittner was in a very similar situation to Merkley last season. Played on a very good team and received fewer opportunities because of it. What keeps Bittner below Merkley is that Bittner scored 10 fewer points, registering 49. The big culprit for that was opportunity as Bittner only played in 16% of the Winterhawks power-play time. What also may have contributed to the lower point total was the fact that Bittner played some the toughest competition for the Winterhawks. This is a clearly a positive for Bittner, however keep in mind he played on the top line for the Winterhawks with Nic Petan and Brendan Leipsic. From what we know about those players, it is likely they were the ones driving the bus (Petan in particular) and carrying Bittner.
17. Zack Werenski – LD USNDP
Werenski had a very good season with the Under 17 program putting up 31 points in 47 games. Those 31 points put him in a tie with Wil Butcher for second most ever by a defencemen on the U17 team. His point per game rate of 0.66 ranks fourth all time among players with at least 30 games played, ahead of Seth Jones and Erik Johnson. Playing on the same team as Noah Hanifin definitely helped Werenski to an extent. He has the chance to step out of Hanifin’s shadow so to speak as Werenski heads to the University of Michigan next season.
18. Rasmus Andersson – RD Barrie Colts
Spent last season playing in Sweden for Malmo of the Allsvenskan league. He put up 13 points in 43 games which is the second best season ever for a U18 defencemen, behind Oliver Ekman Larsson. He also finished ahead of two elite level Swedish prospects in Andre Burakovsky and Jacob de la Rose. Anderson heads to Barrie next season after the Colts selected him 37th overall in the CHL import draft. Anderson should get a ton of minutes on the back end as Barrie looks to fill the void of likely NHL bound Aaron Ekblad.
19. Nicolas Roy – RW Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Roy is a very talented hockey player. He was selected first overall in the 2013 QMJHL Draft by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He was traded to Chicoutimi before the season started for three first round picks. Playing for a rebuilding team gave Roy plenty of opportunities; especially when the team traded arguably its best player in Charles Hudon after 33 games. Roy received just over 19 minutes a night at even strength, as well as playing in 36.1% of Chicoutimi’s powerplay time. He put up 41 points in 63 games for the Sagueneens which ranked 12th among CHL 16 year olds last season.
20. Dante Salituro – C Ottawa 67’s
As I follow these players mosre closely throughout the season I have a feeling this is going to be a guy I like a lot, as I expect him to be overlooked by scouts. First of all his size alone is going to get him overlooked as he's listed at just 5.08’ and 178lbs. He will also be one of the older players in the draft as he has a November birthday. As well he plays on the same team as the guy I have ranked #5; Travis Konecny. Because of these factors Salituro is going to have to prove himself just a little bit more than everyone else, and I think he can do it. He has good puck skills a solid ability to protect the puck. He has used those skills to score 22 goals and 59 points this past season. He finished the season tied with Mitchell Marner for fourth in CHL scoring for 16 year olds.
Disagree with my top 20? Leave a comment below or find me on twitter @PaulBerthelot
All stats from eliteprospects.com and Extraskater. All scouting tidbits from the Hockey Prospects 2014 Black Book.
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