The 2015 NHL Draft is less than two weeks away.
Just about every position — with the exception of goaltender — is loaded with Grade-A prospects, most notably at center, which is where four of the top five prospects play.
Here are the top 50 players available in what many scouts believe is a deep and very talented draft. (Click the link at the bottom of the rankings to read about the best goalies).
1) Connor McDavid, 6-1, 195 pounds (Center, Erie Otters/OHL)
Stats:Â 47 GP, 44 G, 76 A, 120 P
McDavid is the best prospect we have seen since Wayne Gretzky. He scores goals, creates chances for teammates, excels on special teams and thinks the game two seconds quicker than everyone on the ice. He’s billed as a top-six center from Day 1Â who many believe will reach the Hockey Hall of Fame.
No pressure, Connor.
2) Jack Eichel, 6-2, 196 (Center, Boston University/NCAA)
Stats: 40 GP, 26 G, 45 A, 71 P
Eichel is a highly skilled and strong center who has very few weaknesses. He’d be the no-brainer No. 1 pick in just about every other draft in the last 25 years.
3) Noah Hanifin, 6-2, 205 (Defenseman, Boston College/NCAA)
Stats: 37 GP, 5 G, 18 A, 23 P
Hanifin is the best defenseman available with an excellent two-way game. He’s also a high-character kid with a high hockey IQ.
4) Dylan Strome, 6-3, 185 (Center, Erie Otters/OHL)
Stats: 65 GP, 45 G, 84 A, 129 P
Strome is a scoring machine with size and hockey smarts. It’ll be tough for the Arizona Coyotes to pass on him with the No. 3 pick.
5) Ivan Provorov, 6-0, 200 (Defenseman, Brandon/WHL)
Stats: 60 GP, 15 G, 46 A, 61 P
Provorov is an excellent skater who creates scoring chances and displays great positioning and awareness defensively.
6) Mitch Marner, 5-11, 160 (Center, London Knights/OHL)
Stats: 63 GP, 44 G, 82 A, 126 P
Marner lacks size, but he’s the fourth-best offensive prospect in this class and was among the most exciting players in the CHL this season.
7) Mikko Rantanen, 6-4, 211 (Right Wing, TPS/Finland)
Stats: 56 GP, 9 G, 19 A, 28 P
Rantanen is the best playmaking winger in this class and uses his high-end speed and quickness to create scoring chances for himself and linemates.
8) Lawson Crouse, 6-4, 215 (Left Wing, Kingston Frontenacs/OHL)
Stats:Â 56 GP, 29 G, 22 A, 51 P
Depending on who you talk to, Crouse is either a sure thing or a huge risk. What you cannot deny is there’s no other prospect with the same blend of skill, strength and size as the Kingston forward. He has the prototypical power forward skill set.
9)Â Zach Werenski, 6-2, 215 (Defenseman, Michigan/NCAA)
Stats: 35 GP, 9 G, 16 A, 25 P
Werenski wins puck battles, blocks shots and moves the puck very well. He also has ideal size and skating ability to excel in the quick, uptempo style of play that is taking over the NHL.
10) Pavel Zacha, 6-3, 210 (Center, Sarnia Sting/OHL)
Stats: 37 GP, 16 G, 18 A, 34 P
Zacha scores goals and plays the type of gritty, power forward-type of game NHL general managers adore.
11) Mathew Barzal, 5-11, 175 (Center, Seattle Thunderbirds/WHL)
Stats: 44 GP, 12 G, 45 A, 57 P
Barzal is a fantastic playmaker, but he’s also capable of consistently scoring goals with his powerful, accurate shot.
12) Travis Konecny, 5-10, 175 (Center/RW, Ottawa/OHL)
Stats: 60 GP, 29 G, 39 A, 68 P
Konecny is a hard-working center with a powerful shot and a high hockey IQ. He could be a steal in the middle of the first round.
13)Â Jakub Zboril, 6-2, 185 (Defenseman, Saint John/QMJHL)
Stats: 44 GP, 13 G, 20, 33 P
Zboril is a defense-first player who can be relied on to make the smart, simple plays in his own end. He’s also talented enough offensively to provide consistent scoring production. Overall, he has an impressive two-way game.
14)Â Jeremy Roy, 6-0, 185 (Defenseman, Sherbrooke/QMJHL)
Stats: 46 GP, 5 G, 43 A, 43 P
Roy impressed as a playmaker and power-play quarterback this season, but his strong suit is defense. He’s a very smart defender and is rarely caught out of position.
15) Thomas Chabot, 6-2, 180 (Defenseman, Saint John/QMJHL)
Stats: 66 GP, 12 G, 29 A, 41 P
Chabot is a puck-moving defenseman with good puck retrieval skills and excellent skating.
16) Timo Meier, 6-1, 209 (Left Wing, Halifax Mooseheads/QMJHL)
Stats: 61 GP, 44 G, 46 A, 90 P
Meier is an offensively gifted forward who plays a physical style of hockey. He also provides valuable versatility as a winger who can play on the left and right side.
17)Â Kyle Connor, 6-1, 177 (Center/Left Wing, Youngstown/USHL)
Stats: 56 GP, 34 G, 46 A, 80 P
Connor is a skilled winger who can rack up a ton of points and also display the defensive skill and responsible decision-making to excel in his own end. He can play multiple forward positions as well.
18) Colin White, 6-0, 183 (Center, USA-U18/USHL)
Stats: 45 GP, 16 G, 26 A, 42
White’s NHL player comparison is Patrice Bergeron because he’s an excellent defensive center who also can kill penalties and displays a high hockey IQ.
19) Jansen Harkins, 6-1, 182 (Center, Prince George Cougars/WHL)
Stats: 70 GP, 20 G 59, 79 P
Harkins is one of the best defensive centers in this class and uses good patience and vision to make smart, simple plays in high-pressure situations.
20) Evgeny Svechnikov, 6-2, 200 (Left Wing, Cape Breton/QMJHL)
Stats: 55 GP, 32 G, 46 A
Svechnikov has just about every offensive tool: an accurate shot, high-end speed, above average passing ability, etc. However, his defensive game needs a lot of work.
21) Jake DeBrusk, 6-0, 176 (Defenseman, Swift Current/WHL)
Stats: 72 GP, 42 G, 39 A, 81 P
DeBrusk is a puck-moving defenseman with excellent playmaking skill, smooth skating and the passing ability to start crisp, clean breakouts out of the defensive zone. His defensive game also tremendously improved this past season for Swift Current, making him one of the best D-man prospects available.
22) Nick Merkley, 5-10, 191 (Center/RW, Kelowna Rockets/WHL)
Stats: 72 GP, 20 G, 70 A, 90 P
Merkley can play multiple positions and is a quality playmaker with fantastic passing skills and vision. He’s also a huge threat on the power play with the quick release on his wrist shot.
23) Oliver Kylington, 6-0, 185 (Defenseman, Farjestad/Sweden)
Stats: 35 GP, 6 G, 6 A, 12 P (between Farjestad and AIX)
Kylington is a puck-moving defenseman with tremendous skating ability and a willingness to join the rush and get involved offensively. He’s a bit turnover prone, though.
24)Â Filip Chlapik, 6-1, 196 (Center, Charlottetown/QMJHL)
Stats: 64 GP, 33 G, 42 A, 75 P
Chlapik skates well and racks up a ton of points with his passing, vision and goal-scoring ability.
25)Â Brandon Carlo, 6-5, 196 (Defenseman, Tri-City/WHL)
Stats: 63 GP, 4 G, 21 A, 25 P
Carlo is a strong defensive defenseman and would be a great fit for a team lacking shot blocking, penalty killing skill and size on its blue line.
26) Ryan Pilon, 6-2, 206 (Defenseman, Brandon/WHL)
Stats: 68 GP, 11 G, 41 A, 52 P
Pilon has excellent size and strength, and he uses them to play a punishing style of hockey. He’s also capable of killing penalties. His offensive upside isn’t great, though, and he’s not a great skater.
27) Brock Boeser, 6-0, 191 (Right Wing, Waterloo/USHL)
Stats: 55 GP, 34 G, 31 A, 65 P
Boeser is an excellent goal scorer, but he also displays a solid two-way game while playing a physical style of hockey. He’s without question one of the better power forwards in this class.
28) Anthony Beauvillier, 5-10, 173 (Left Wing, Shawinigan/QMJHL)
Stats: 67 GP, 42 G, 52 A, 94 P
Beauvillier is a highly skilled, speedy winger. He has plenty of offensive tools, but he lacks ideal size for the NHL game.
29) Vince Dunn, 6-0, 187 (Defenseman, Niagara/OHL)
Stats: 68 GP, 18 G, 38 A, 56 P
Dunn is an offensive defenseman who pushes the pace of play with accurate breakout passes and smooth skating. He needs to improve defensively, but he has the potential to be a good puck-moving blueliner at the NHL level.
30) Noah Juulsen, 6-2, 174 (Defenseman, Everett/WHL)
Stats: 68 GP, 9 G, 43 A, 52 P
Juulsen’s best asset is his defense, but he racked up plenty of assists for Everett with his above-average passing skill and vision.
31) Gabriel Carlsson, 6-4, 183 (Defenseman, Linkoping Jr./Sweden-JR)
Stats: 39 GP, 0 G, 7 A, 7 P
Carlsson is a quality defensive defenseman with good size, strength and a high hockey IQ.
32) Jacob Larsson, 6-2, 191 (Defenseman, Frolunda-JR/Sweden-JR)
Stats: 30 GP, 8 G, 11 A, 19 P
Larsson is a good skater with underrated strength and enough playmaking skill to generate scoring chances at even strength and the power play. He’s also played well for Sweden in international tournaments
33) Joel Eriksson Ek, 6-2, 180 (Center, Farjestad/Sweden)
Stats: 34 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 P
Eriksson-Ek scores goals with an excellent shot and the hands needed to execute effective dekes and 1-on-1 moves on defensemen and goaltenders.
34) Daniel Sprong, 6-0, 180 (Center, Charlottetown/QMJHL)
Stats: 68 GP, 39 G, 49 A, 88 P
Sprong uses his speed to create scoring chances and a heavy, accurate shot to capitalize on those opportunities.
35) Michael Spacek, 5-11, 187 (Right Wing, Pardubice/Czech Republic)
Stats: 40 GP, 5 G, 7 A, 12 P
Spacek is a smart player who makes up for a lack of size with an above average shot and strong work ethic.
36)Â Paul Bittner, 6-4, 204 (Left Wing, Portland/WHL)
Stats: 66 GP, 34 G, 37 A, 71 P
Bittner, much like Crouse, combines good offensive skill with tremendous size.
37) Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, 6-1, 190 (Center, Omaha/USHL)
Stats: 50 GP, 15 G, 38 A, 53 P
Forsbacka is a good faceoff center and uses a quick release on his shot to beat goaltenders.
38) Thomas Novak, 6-0, 179 (Center, Waterloo/USHL)
Stats: 45 GP, 14 G, 34 A, 48 P
Novak could be a steal late in the first round or early in the second round. He’s a good passer, a smooth skater and is reliable in any type of late-game situation.
39) Denis Gurianov, 6-3, 192 (Right Wing, Togliatti/Russia-JR)
Stats: 23 GP, 15 G, 10 A, 25 P
Gurianov is an exciting winger with the high-end speed and shot to create scoring chances off the rush.
40) Robin Kovacs, 6-0, 159 (Right Wing, Aik/Sweden-2)
Stats: 52 GP, 17 G, 11 A
Kovacs is a hard-working center with a pretty good two-way skill set. He put up impressive scoring totals for an 18-year-old forward in Sweden’s second tier.
41) Mitchell Vande Sompel, 5-10, 182 (Defenseman, Oshawa/OHL)
Stats: 58 GP, 12 G, 51 A, 63 P
Vande Sompel set a career high in scoring in a much-improved sophomore season for Oshawa, and he followed it up with an impressive performance in the playoffs, with 13 points in 16 games.
42)Â Christian Fischer, 6-1, 212 (Right Wing, USA-U18/USHL)
Stats: 57 GP, 28 G, 25 A, 53 P
Fischer is a power forward who’s tough to play against. He battles hard for puck possession all over the ice and never misses an opportunity to lay a hit. He has enough upside offensively to be a second-round selection.
43) Dennis Yan, 6-1, 185 (Left Wing, Shawinigan/QMJHL)
Stats: 59 GP, 33 G, 31 A, 64 P
Yan became an important part of Shawinigan’s much-improved offense and also proved to be a force in the playoffs with eight points (seven goals, one assists) in seven games.
44) Austin Wagner, 6-1, 178 (Left Wing, Regina/WHL)
Stats: 61 GP, 20 G, 19 A, 39 P
Wagner is a smart, reliable two-way player who doesn’t blow you away with any one particular skill, but he does all the little things coaches ask of their players.
45) Zachary Senyshyn, 6-1, 192 (Right Wing, Sault Marie/OHL)
Stats: 66 GP, 26 G, 19 A, 45 P
Senyshyn enjoyed a good rookie season for the Greyhounds and made an impact offensively in the playoffs with seven points in 14 games. His defensive game needs work, but he’s worth a second-round pick.
46) John Roslovic, 6-0, 182 (Center, USA U-18/USHL)
Stats: 57 GP, 21 G, 46 A, 67 P
Roslovic is a smart, strong center who played some of his best hockey in tournaments and against collegiate competition this season.
47) Filip Ahl, 6-3, 211 (Left Wing, Hv Jr/Sweden-JR)
Stats: 34 GP, 20 G, 22 A, 42 P
Ahl provides excellent size and uses that, in addition to his soft hands, to protect the puck and stickhandle through traffic. He has all the tools to score at the next level.
48) Jordan Greenway, 6-5, 222 (Left Wing, USA U-18/USHL)
Stats: 22 GP, 5 G, 15 A, 20 P
Greenway won’t be in the NHL anytime soon, but a player of his size with a powerful shot and a high hockey IQ definitely is a first-round talent. Not too many wingers stick handle through traffic and protect the puck better than this American left winger.
49) Jens Looke, 6-0, 180 (Right Wing, Brynas/Sweden)
Stats: 43 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
Looke skates very well and has the speed and quickness to take on defensemen off the rush. He also has an accurate shot and isn’t afraid to battle for dirty goals in front of the net. Looke could be a steal in Round 2.
50) Nicolas Meloche, 6-2, 204 (Defenseman, Baie-Comeau/QMJHL)
Stats: 44 GP, 10 G, 24 A, 34 P
Meloche is a puck-moving defenseman with a huge shot from the point and the vision required to quarterback a power play.
Click for best goalies in 2015 draft class>>
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@CCMHockey
