Top four a consensus in NHL.com mock drafts

Monday, 04.20.2015 / 12:00 PM / 2015 NHL Draft

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Top four a consensus in NHL.com mock drafts
Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Dylan Strome lead latest NHL.com mock drafts.

With the balls bouncing in favor of the Edmonton Oilers at the NHL Draft Lottery, one of the bigger pieces of the puzzle for the 2015 NHL Draft has been set into place.

The draft lottery set the order for the first 14 selections for the 2015 draft, to be held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. It also allowed for NHL.com draft experts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to make their predictions for how those teams could select.

Both writers agreed that the Oilers would select center Connor McDavid from the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League with the No. 1 pick.

McDavid had 44 goals and 120 points in 47 regular-season games and has been just as outstanding in the OHL playoffs, leading all players with 11 goals and 23 points in nine games. That includes 14 points during a four-game sweep of the London Knights in the second round.

"He's not only the most productive junior player, but also the most dynamic," Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish said after winning the lottery.

The writers also were in agreement that the Buffalo Sabres would select Boston University freshman center Jack Eichel with the No. 2 pick.

Eichel had an outstanding season, winning the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey, and leading all NCAA players with an average of 1.77 points per game. He also led the Terriers to the NCAA championship game. The talent gap between McDavid and Eichel is considered very slim.

"McDavid and Eichel really separated themselves and are elite generational-type players," Central Scouting's David Gregory said. "It was great to be able to scout and watch these two players."

There was further agreement on the third and fourth picks, but after that there were some differences in opinion.

Does one draft seem more accurate? Let us know in the comment section.