Talk To Me About 2015 (Depth)

[WeissAsNice]

Obviously, we keep hearing that this draft has huge potential (with two giant names). My question is, just how deep is this class? The reason I ask is because I'm in a keeper league where you can capitalize by trading future 1st round picks, a season in advance. The drafts pretty much only have the rookies in them. I'm the owner of a top end team, so I want to know whether it is worth hanging onto my 2015 1st (which will probably be between 25-30). Will the bottom of round 1 have 2003 potential? Or does it dry up after a certain number? If I'm not likely to land a real solid prospect in the bottom half or so of round 1, I'll probably move the pick. Thanks all!

[Fast Tony DeNiro]

My outlook on draft picks has changed a lot in the last couple years. Unless it's a top 5 or maybe even 10 pick it's open season on trading it. The odds of a drafted player becoming an impact NHL'er outside of the top 10 drastically fall, so if you can get an established NHL player in return it's usually worth it.

[roenick27]

I'm no expert, but I'd say this draft has top end talent (potentially generational in McDavid and Eichel), has a good 2nd tier in : Hanafin, Strome, Zacha, Barzal) and then a good solid third tier of as much as 10 guys or so that could be impactful (I know I left some guys out). I don't know if it will be as deep as 2003, but I think it should be pretty deep, maybe up until late 1st round or so

[mounD]

After McDavid, Eichel, and Hanifin (clear cut top three) the top 10-15 picks should have loads of talented guys like Zacha, Barzal, Kylington, Strome, Konecny, Marner, White, Sprong, Connor, Rantanen, Roy, Crouse, Werenski, etc.

I'm not sure there are tons of "impact" guys to be had in the late first-round, though. I'd probably wait until a little bit into the draft year, get some more scouting and development time on these guys.

[dodospice]

1- McDavid (OHL)
2- Eichel (NCAA)
3- Hanifin (NCAA)
4- Kylington (SWE)
5- Zacha (OHL)
6- Barzal (WHL)
7- Strome (OHL)
8- White (USHL)
9- Konecny (OHL)
10- Sprong (QMJHL)
11- J.Roy (QMJHL)
12- Marner (OHL)
13- Zboril (QMJHL)
14- Crouse (OHL)
15- Svechnikov (QMJHL)
16- Connor (USHL)
17- Werenski (NCAA)
18- Greenway (USNDTP)
19- N.Roy (QMJHL)
20- Spencer (OHL)
21- Novak (USHL)
22- Rantanen (FIN)
23- Bittner (WHL)
24- Brisebois (QMJHL)
25- Meloche (QMJHL)
26- Pilon (WHL)
27- Gropp (WHL)
28- Greer (NCAA)
29- Noel (QMJHL)
30- Cernak (SVK)

HM:
Andersson (OHL)
Merkley (WHL)
Yan (QMJHL)
Provorov (WHL)
Harkins (WHL)

Players by League:
WHL- 7
OHL- 8
QMJHL- 9
NCAA- 4
USHL- 3
USNDTP- 1
SWE- 1
SVK- 1
FIN- 1

This is just an early list by me, things are obviously going to change as the season plays out and I will update that as time goes along.

[Quinmar]

Thanks for the break down.