McKeen's Head Scout Grant McCagg analyzes the 2015 NHL Draft and provides grades for all thirty teams in a series of article by division for ours subscribers. Here is a free sample from the articles featuring one team from each division.
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Enjoy.
Central Division - Winnipeg Jets
| Rnd | Overall | Player | Pos | Country | HW/WT | Team (League) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Kyle Connor | C | USA | 6-1/185 | Youngstown (USHL) |
| 1 | 25 | Jack Roslovic | C | USA | 6-0/185 | NTDP (USA) |
| 2 | 47 | Jansen Harkins | C | Canada | 6-1/180 | Prince George (WHL) |
| 3 | 78 | Erik Foley | LW | USA | 5-11/185 | Cedar Rapids (USHL) |
| 4 | 108 | Michael Spacek | C | Czech | 5-11/190 | Pardubice (Cze) |
| 6 | 168 | Mason Appleton | C | USA | 6-2/195 | Tri-City (USHL) |
| 7 | 198 | Sami Niku | D | Finland | 6-0/175 | JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin) |
| 7 | 203 | Matteo Gennaro | C | Canada | 6-2/190 | Prince Albert (WHL) |
The Jets were the beneficiaries of Connor dropping on draft day. Ranked 12th overall by McKeen's, the 6-1 left winger led the USHL in scoring thanks to his plethora of offensive tools, including speed, reach, puck protection skills, vision and shot. Roslovic was another solid pickup in the first round, giving Winnipeg two of the draft's top offensive talents. Projected to play center next season at Miami (Ohio), he may push for a top-six role in three years time. Harkins represented decent value at 47th overall...he needs to get stronger and quicker, but he's a smart playmaker. Foley had a productive season in Cedar Rapids, and there were some whispers that he may go in the second round, while Spacek went from being a second-round lock early in the year to a fourth-round Jets' selection due to his lackluster play. Gennaro is a big body with good skating skills who lacks creativity and finishing skills. Grade: A
Atlantic Division - Ottawa Senators
| Rnd | Overall | Player | Pos | Country | HW/WT | Team (League) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Thomas Chabot | D | Canada | 6-1/180 | Saint John (QMJHL) |
| 1 | 21 | Colin White | C | USA | 6-0/185 | NTDP (USA) |
| 2 | 36 | Gabriel Gagne | RW | Canada | 6-5/190 | Victoriaville (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 48 | Filip Chlapik | C | Czech | 6-1/195 | Charlottetown (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 107 | Christian Wolanin | D | USA | 6-2/185 | Muskegon (USHL) |
| 4 | 109 | Filip Ahl | LW | Sweden | 6-3/210 | HV 71 (Swe) |
| 5 | 139 | Christian Jaros | D | Slovakia | 6-3/200 | Lulea (Swe) |
| 7 | 199 | Joel Daccord | G | USA | 6-2/185 | Cushing Academy (USHS-MA) |
The Senators had spots to fill in their prospect pool on defence and at center, and through some draft-day maneuvering were able to come away with two of our top rated prospects in defenceman Thomas Chabot and center Colin White. Ottawa selected five players ranked in McKeen's top 100, and two honourable mentions in Wolanin and Jaros, two overage defencemen who really improved their play this season. Wolanin caught scouts' attention with his strong performance at the World Junior A Challenge, while Jaros was a rock for Slovakia at the U-20's. Chabot was one of the draft's best skaters, and in an age where mobile, puck-moving blueliners are becoming more and more valuable, Chabot is a good addition to the club. White is a smart two-way center with good wheels who will challenge for a second-line spot some day, as will Chlapik, good value at 48th overall. AHL was thought by many to be a second-round pick early on but had a disappointing season...to get him 109th overall though was well worth the risk. Gagne is the only pick where we thought the club overreached..he will have to play with more grit at the pro level, but the size and scoring ability are certainly there. Grade: A
Metropolitan Division - Philadelphia Flyers
| Rnd | Overall | Player | Pos | Country | HW/WT | Team (League) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Ivan Provorov | D | Russia | 6-0/195 | Brandon (WHL) |
| 1 | 24 | Travis Konecny | C | Canada | 5-10/175 | Ottawa (OHL) |
| 3 | 70 | Felix Sandstrom | G | Sweden | 6-2/190 | Brynas (Swe) |
| 3 | 90 | Matej Tomek | G | Slovakia | 6-2/180 | Topeka (NAHL) |
| 4 | 98 | Samuel Dove-McFalls | LW | Canada | 6-2/205 | Saint John (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 104 | Mikhail Vorobyov | C | Canada | 6-2/195 | Salavat Ufa (Rus) |
| 5 | 128 | David Kase | C | Czech | 5-11/170 | Chomutov (Cze) |
| 6 | 158 | Cooper Marody | C | USA | 6-0/180 | Sioux Falls (USHL) |
| 7 | 188 | Ivan Fedotov | G | Russia | 6-6/190 | Nizhnekamsk (Rus) |
The Flyers had a spate of high picks entering the draft, and through some maneuvering and shrewd drafting were able to draft seven players ranked in McKeen's top 120. Provorov was the plum pick, a terrific two-way defenceman who may play in the NHL as soon as this season given his talent, guile and poise. Konecny's selection 24th overall was one of the steals of the draft...don't let his size fool you...he will be an extremely effective NHLer given his tenacity and skill. Sandstrom was considered to be second-round goalie prospect in the scouting community most of the season, but had a mediocre U-18 that evidently hurt his draft stock. Tomek was a standout netminder in the NAHL, giving the Flyers two solid young goalies in the system for the first time in years. Vorobyov might be the best value pick of all, and that's saying a lot....a crafty, two-way center with second-line upside. Dove-McFalls is a defensively conscientious center who will compete for a bottom-line roster spot in a few years. Kase is undersized, but given his skill and compete level was a stellar fifth-round selection. Grade: A+
Pacific Division - Calgary Flames
| Rnd | Overall | Player | Pos | Country | HW/WT | Team (League) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 53 | Rasmus Andersson | D | Sweden | 6-0/210 | Barrie (OHL) |
| 2 | 60 | Oliver Kylington | D | Sweden | 6-0/185 | Farjestads (Swe) |
| 5 | 136 | Pavel Karnaukhov | LW | Belarus | 6-2/195 | Calgary (WHL) |
| 6 | 166 | Andrew Mangiapane | LW | Canada | 5-10/170 | Barrie (OHL) |
| 7 | 196 | Riley Bruce | D | Canada | 6-6/195 | North Bay (OHL) |
The Flames addressed a team need for defence sooner rather than later by acquiring Dougie Hamilton for draft picks..which automatically gave them a passing grade. The team maintained the focus on defence with a couple of 6-0 Swedish defenceman that have offensive abilities..but who also pose some risks. Both will have to improve defensively to make the big step. Kylington is one of the draft's best skaters while Andersson might be one of the worst thanks to some weight issues...Andersson for us was a bit of a reach at 53. Kylington will have to overcome some issues with his decision making. The later picks were okay value..but none were top 100 prospects on McKeen's board. Karnaukhov has the talent to play pro, but is the desire there? Mangiapane was passed over last draft because of size concerns..a solid junior player, but he didn't grow in the past year. Draft Grade: B
Follow Grant on twitter: @grantmccagg