Advertisement

Erie Otter duo leads top 10 NHL draft prospects in CHL’s playoff picture

Connor McDavid's Otters play the Sting in the first-round of the OHL playoffs. (Marc Mead, The Associated Press)
Connor McDavid's Otters play the Sting in the first-round of the OHL playoffs. (Marc Mead, The Associated Press)

With the CHL’s second season kicking off on Thursday, the junior league’s draft eligible prospects will have one last opportunity to impress scouts on the ice.

Regardless of how the playoffs unfold, Erie Otters superstar Connor McDavid will inevitably have his named called first at the 2015 NHL draft in Florida. It is not so cut and dry beyond the Newmarket, Ont., native, though. A strong or poor effort in the post-season could have a significant impact on the draft stock of many other prospects.

Here is a look at the top 10 NHL draft prospects to watch in the CHL playoffs.

1. Connor McDavid, centre, Erie Otters (OHL) – This will be the last hurrah for the best talent the CHL has seen since Sidney Crosby. Moreover, with McDavid NHL bound next season, it will be his last shot to lead Erie to its first OHL championship since 2002 following losing out to the Guelph Storm in the Western Conference finals last year.

After notching 44 goals and 120 points in 47 contests, it will be tough for the 6-foot-1, 187-pound McDavid to exceed expectations in the second season, which begins in a first-round matchup against the Sarnia Sting. No one really bats an eye anymore when he scores four or five points in a game. That’s just McDavid being McDavid.

2. Dylan Strome, centre, Erie Otters (OHL) – Strome is heading into the playoffs with a hot stick. He captured the OHL’s scoring race in his last regular-season game against the Niagara IceDogs by scoring four goals and two assists, giving him 45 goals and 129 points in 68 matches on the year.

The 6-foot-3, 187-pounder’s elite vision, speed and crafty hands has put him in the mix as the third best prospect in the draft behind Boston University star Jack Eichel. A strong playoff could give him an edge on the likes of London Knights winger Mitchell Marner and Boston College defenceman Noah Hanifin on the draft floor.

3. Mitchell Marner, wing, London Knights (OHL) – It seemed Marner was going to win the OHL’s scoring race until Strome went on a rampage. He managed to rack up 44 goals and 126 points in 63 games this year.

The biggest knock on Marner is his smaller 5-foot-11, 164-pound frame, but like former Knight Patrick Kane, his elite skill overshadows his lack of size. He possesses excellent foot speed, incredible vision, a quality wrist shot and plays with a lot of grit. His talent has impressed some scouts enough to contemplate whether the Thornhill, Ont., native, whose Knights play the Kitchener Rangers in the first round, could make the jump to the NHL next season.

4. Lawson Crouse, wing, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) – Crouse is a bit of a wildcard in the 2015 draft class. Some scouts believe he is the third best player in the draft while others feel he will be picked closer to the 10th selection.

If there were such a thing as a “safe pick,” it would be Crouse because of his imposing 6-foot-3, 212-pound stature, smooth skating ability, physicality and top-notch offensive skill. In addition, he improved his offensive finish as his sophomore season went on, netting 29 goals and 51 points in 56 games. The Frontenacs will need him to continue to find the back of the net in the post-season to have a chance at knocking off the third-place North Bay Battalion in the first round.

5. Ivan Provorov, defence, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) – The 6-foot, 200-pound Provorov has emerged as one of the top rearguards of the draft in his rookie WHL season. He is already considered a polished prospect because of his ability to change the game’s pace and thrive at both ends of the ice.

The Russia native, who posted 15 goals and 61 points in 60 contests this year, will anchor Brandon’s back end as the first-place organization sets out on a quest to win its first championship since 1996, which begins against the Edmonton Oil Kings. He will be relied on to play big minutes in all situations.

6. Pavel Zacha, centre, Sarnia Sting (OHL) – The Czech Republic product is believed to be a top 10 prospect of the draft despite only playing 37 OHL games this year mostly because of injuries. He has an enticing blend of size (6-foot-3, 210-pounds), speed, skill and a physical edge. He was nearly a point-per-game player with 16 goals and 34 points on the year.

7. Mathew Barzal, centre, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) – Up against the rival Portland Winterhawks in the first round, Barzal, who posted 12 goals and 57 points in 44 matches, will have an opportunity to solidify himself as a top 10 prospect. The 17-year-old sophomore’s vision is near the top of the draft, but there are some consistency concerns with his game.

8. Timo Meier, wing, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) – The Switzerland native has emerged as the next offensive star out of Halifax. The combination of his hard, accurate shot, physicality and versatility led to him scoring 44 goals and 90 points in 61 matches this year. The Mooseheads will count heavily on the sophomore wing and Winnipeg Jets pick Nikolaj Ehlers in order to knock off the Shawinigan Cataractes in the first round.

9. Nick Merkley, wing, Kelowna Rockets (WHL) – Merkley is a big reason why the Rockets, who play the Tri-City Americans in the first round, won the B.C. Division in both of his seasons in the Dub. The dazzling playmaker captured the WHL’s Rookie of the Year award last year and managed to notch 20 goals and 90 points in 72 games this season.

10. Thomas Chabot, defence, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) – The 6-foot-2, 179-pound blueliner, whose Sea Dogs play the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the first round, broke out in his second season in the QMJHL. While racking up 12 goals and 41 points in 66 games, he developed quality offensive abilities, especially a good first pass, and the know-how to read plays well in all three zones.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen