2015 NHL Draft Guide: The Next Ones

2015 NHL Draft Guide: The Next Ones: 

"Consider this your live home page for information for the 2015 NHL entry draft. Bookmark and check back often as it will be constantly updated leading up to hockey’s version of Christmas.

THW’s 2015 NHL Entry Draft Guide – The Next Ones is your quintessential draft resource featuring:

• Detailed unique prospect profiles in The Next Ones and The War Room formats 
• Mock Drafts 
• Exclusive rankings 
• Fantasy-based rankings 
• Team Previews 
• Historical draft features
• Looking ahead to the 2016 draft and beyond"

LINK to full article

*Connor McDavid photo - OHL Images

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2015 NHL Mock Draft: New Year’s Edition

2015 NHL Mock Draft: New Year’s Edition

McDavid has soared ahead of Eichel in
the race for top spot in the 2015 NHL Draft.

While awaiting my latest mock draft soon to be published at THW, here's my last one:

Excerpt:

"Whether it be the Philadelphia Flyers going off the board to take Samuel Morin, the rapid rise of a Swedish blueliner’s stock, or Anthony Duclair slip sliding to the third round, a mock draft can go off the rails quicker than Connor McDavid can execute a wraparound. This draft class could be one for the ages with many pundits comparing it to the revered class of 2003.

2015 NHL Mock Draft: The Next Ones New Year’s Edition

The draft order is based on each team’s points per game played as of January 9th, 2015 taking into account the differing number of games played by various clubs."

Link to full article here

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Connor McDavid Worthy of 'The Next One' Moniker

Connor McDavid Worthy of 'The Next One' Moniker

Connor McDavid (OHL Images)

Excerpt:

"Not much left to say that hasn’t already been said. I always enjoy cross-sport player comparisons –USA Today’s Johnny Saraceno called Connor the “Lebron James of hockey”, comparing McDavid to one of the NBA’s most complete superstars of all time. Whether he’s destined to centre Evander Kane in Buffalo, Taylor Hall in Edmonton, revitalize the Canes or become the centre of the centre of the hockey universe (highly debated) in Toronto, NHL fans are the winners when this phenom breezes into the big league."

Link to full article here

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Jack Eichel: Hockey’s Ultimate Consolation Prize

Jack Eichel: Hockey’s Ultimate Consolation Prize

Jack Eichel (Photo: Dan and Margaret Hickling)

Excerpt:

"...However, that Canadian dominance at centre is likely to end three or four years down the road when Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews emerge as big 6’2-6’3, 205-215 lb. centres with NHL star qualities and abilities.

Editor’s Note: While north of the border rival Connor McDavid is worthy of The Next Onemoniker, Jack Eichel is the complete package with ridiculous upside and it’s only a matter of time when he will be in contention for hockey’s top American player."

Link to full article here

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Magical Mitch Marner: McDavid's Malkin?

Magical Mitch Marner: McDavid's Malkin?

Mitch Marner (OHL Images)

Excerpt:

"Does Mitch “The Magician” Marner have an outside shot at making an appearance in the 2015 NHL Draft just after Connor McDavid? Hypothetically speaking, if I were an NHL GM or head of scouting, I would be tempted to do just, despite the immensely talented, athletic and proficient Jack Eichel in the mix. Realistically, he’s more likely to go in the aforementioned 3 to 6 range, but a team could do worse by building around this unique, relentless, uber-talented prospect. While Eichel is still the probably frontrunner to be this year’s Evgeni Malkin to McDavid (as Geno was to Ovechkin in the 2004 draft as the 2nd overall pick), don’t count out The Magician."

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Sonny Milano: NHL Draft Prospect Profile: "Magic Hands" Displays Brilliant Stick Tricks

From the THW War Room Eldon MacDonald, THW: A few words on Sonny Milano:

***Click here for complete profile on Milano***

• Magic hands – Give him the puck and you will see magic at top speed that will make a magician green with envy. 
• Skills – His acceleration and agility are money. Combine them with a good high gear, a great shot with a quick release and outstanding vision and you get the leading scorer on Team USA – U18 NTDP. 
• Intangibles – He has that will to be better that coaches love. 
• Defense – Could be better but he plays with enough grit and shows enough determination that he will eventually overcome any lingering deficiencies. Draft position – 15-20 on most lists, Sonny could go higher with a break out U18 WJC performance.

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• Sonny Milano - The Next Ones: NHL 2014 Draft Prospect Profile
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THW: 2014 NHL Mock Draft: Olympic Hockey Edition

The Hockey Writers2014 NHL Mock Draft: Olympic Hockey Edition:

"Whether it be the Phoenix Coyotes going off the board to take a Blake Wheeler or the Los Angeles Kings selecting Thomas Hickey seemingly out of nowhere, one’s mock draft can be wrecked quicker than Jake Virtanen can do a lap around the rink.

Still, inevitably it is difficult to hold back and not go through the futile process of creating a NHL mock draft. My 2013 NHL Mock Draft Final Edition turned out to be one of my most accurate efforts to date, but even then NHL GMs thwarted hockey draft prognostications planet wide with events like:"

Read full article at #THW (click here)

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