BUFFALO -- Jack Eichel is expected to be the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, behind Connor McDavid.

But Eichel firmly believes he is the No. 1 player in this draft, and he has been telling teams at the NHL Scouting Combine, including the Buffalo Sabres, who hold that second pick, just that.

"I'm pretty confident in my own abilities," Eichel said Friday after word of his self-assessment leaked out. "I know everyone's making a big deal that I said a comment like that; I don't think it was meant at all about ... it wasn't me comparing myself to Connor or anything like that, it was more of me thinking that I'm the best player in the draft.

"It's more of just confidence in my own self; I didn't really think it was going to be a big deal. I thought that was pretty confidential within the team, but ..."

McDavid, expected to be taken No. 1 by the Edmonton Oilers, who won the NHL Draft Lottery, was asked if he felt he was the best player in this draft class.

"That's not up for me to decide," McDavid told the Sabres website. "I think a lot of people do a lot of talking and they'll judge for their own eyes. I believe in my abilities and that's the main thing. But if I feel I'm the best player in the draft, I'm not sure. Maybe you'll hear a different answer from Jack. But, we'll see."

BUFFALO -- The top-four North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings didn't need to come to the Draft Combine this week to get acquainted. If anything, some of them know each other all too well.

Forwards Connor McDavid, expected to be the first player taken, and Dylan Strome were teammates with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. Boston University forward Jack Eichel, likely to be the second player taken, played against defenseman Noah Hanifin at archrival Boston College.

Those four players headline what's believed to be one of the most talented draft classes in years, though McDavid and Eichel are getting the majority of the attention.

BUFFALO -- Goaltender Luke Opilka offered a simple approach to the two stationary bike tests the players at the 2015 NHL Scouting Combine will take part in at HarborCenter during the next two days.

"I haven't prepared ahead of time other than my regular training. But I'm going in there with the mindset to do my best and just ride until I drop; that's my plan," Opilka said.

He might not be alone in his approach.

BUFFALO -- The Edmonton Oilers, who have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs nine straight seasons, will be picking first at the NHL Draft for the fourth time since 2010 on June 26 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.

They will do so with a new general manager in Peter Chiarelli and coach in Todd McLellan. Bob Nicholson, the new chief executive officer and vice chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group, hopes the changes at the top will help steer the organization in a promising direction.

If there was ever a year to own a pick at the very top of the draft, this was it, with Erie Otters center Connor McDavid and Boston University center Jack Eichel in the mix. Each is projected to be a generational talent, an instant difference-maker for any organization in need of one.

BUFFALO -- The last time the Arizona Coyotes owned a top-five pick in the NHL Draft was eight years ago when center Kyle Turris was chosen third in 2007 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Coyotes general manager Don Maloney, who was serving as GM at the time Turris was drafted, enters the 2015 NHL Draft, to be held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., with the No. 3 pick once again. Despite what many scouts claim to be as deep a prospect pool as there has been in some time, Maloney said he remains open-minded with regard to the No. 3 choice.

"There's a couple of defensemen we really like, some centermen and some dynamic wingers, but we have all kinds of options," Maloney said. "I'm not locked into anything. We do have holes to fill on our roster next season, so if we can fill a hole and get a relatively high pick in return, that's an option."

BUFFALO -- Erie Otters center Connor McDavid and Boston University center Jack Eichel got their first taste of what life might be like in the NHL during the first day of team interviews at the 2015 NHL Scouting Combine on Tuesday at First Niagara Center.

McDavid interviewed with two teams, among them the Edmonton Oilers, who hold the No. 1 pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, which will be held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. He has three interviews remaining Wednesday.

Eichel had three of his scheduled six interviews Tuesday, including one with the Buffalo Sabres, who hold the No. 2 pick.

After 10 months and more than 90 games, the Oshawa Generals and Kelowna Rockets will play the final game of the Canadian Hockey League season Sunday in the championship game of the 2015 Memorial Cup in Quebec City (7 p.m. ET; NHLN-US).

Kelowna, the champions of the Western Hockey League, advanced to the championship game by defeating the host Quebec Remparts 9-3 on Friday.

"We're going in to play a team that's great defensively, so to have that outburst is good," Kelowna captain Madison Bowey (Washington Capitals) said Friday, according to the Canadian Press. "We're not going to get the chances we had tonight against Oshawa. It's going to be a two-way, hard-nosed game and whoever works harder and wants it more will win."

Connor McDavid, who is projected to be the top pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, was named the Canadian Hockey League Sportsnet Player of the Year on Saturday.

It was one of three awards won by McDavid, who plays center for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.

He also won the Jack Link's Top Prospect of the Year award and the Subway Scholastic Player of the Year award.

The awards were handed out as part of the 2015 Memorial Cup in Quebec City, Quebec.

McDavid was third in the OHL with 120 points and tied for fourth with 44 goals in 47 regular-season games. He had nine fewer points than League-leader and Erie teammate Dylan Strome despite playing 21 fewer games.

Center Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League was named a finalist for three Canadian Hockey League year-end awards, the CHL announced Friday.

The award winners will be announced Saturday in conjunction with the 2015 Memorial Cup tournament being held in Quebec City, Quebec.

McDavid, No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters and the expected No. 1 pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, is a finalist for the Sportsnet Player of the Year award, the Jack Link's Top Draft Prospect award and the Subway Scholastic Player of the Year award.

The top prospects eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft will be put to the test June 1-6 at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo.

Dan Marr, the Director of NHL Central Scouting, said he anticipates having 120 players, 99 North American prospects and 21 from Europe, at the Combine, which will be held at HarborCenter and First Niagara Center.

"The Combine not only is moving to the new HarborCenter but it is also implementing a new format and testing as a result of a Combine review that was conducted with the 30 NHL clubs," Marr said. "The fitness testing will be moved into an arena offering an increased viewing area, better sight lines and live result monitors, allowing for the testing to be captured on video."

Edmonton Oilers head amateur scout Stu MacGregor, whose team has the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, said he looks forward to the Combine each year.