The Latest Buzz on the Top Prospects in the 2015 NHL Draft Class

The month of April is finally here, and in a few weeks, the NHL will hold a draft lottery to find out which lucky team will draft first overall in June. The regular season is over for all draft-eligible prospects, but the playoffs are currently in progress.

Last month, I gave you an updated top-10 ranking, and this week, I will fill you in on what the top 10 is currently doing.

For example, Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome and the Erie Otters currently have a 3-1 series lead over the Sarnia Sting in the first round of the OHL playoffs, and Jack Eichel's Boston University Terriers are about to start the NCAA Frozen Four.

This is the time of year when prospects will make their final push toward improving their draft stock, so here's the latest buzz on the top prospects for the 2015 NHL draft.

10. Timo Meier, Halifax Mooseheads

The Halifax Mooseheads are in the middle of a first-round series with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL, and the squad is coming off a big win at home to tie the series at two games apiece.

Timo Meier has three goals and three assists for six points in four games, and that's good enough for a tie for second place on the team in playoff scoring. The Mooseheads play again at home on Friday, and they will look to pick up a victory before heading back to Shawinigan for the final games of the series.

Meier finished the regular season with 90 points in 61 games and could be a real steal early in the first round.

9. Zach Werenski, Univ. of Michigan

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

The Michigan Wolverines did not make the NCAA playoffs this year, so Zach Werenski's freshman season is over. The 6'2", 214-pound defender had a fine season for head coach Red Berenson, and he finished with nine goals, 16 assists and 25 points in 35 games. 

For a freshman defender, that is an impressive feat, and it should be noted that he also represented Team USA at the World Junior Championship tournament in January.

8. Ivan Provorov, Brandon Wheat Kings

The Brandon Wheat Kings eliminated the Edmonton Oil Kings in five games in the first round of the WHL playoffs. During the series, Ivan Provorov, who is one of two rookie defenders for Brandon, tied for the lead in scoring amongst defenders.

He picked up three assists during the series and will look to keep it up when the Wheat Kings start their second-round matchup at home vs. the Regina Pats.

During the regular season, Provorov tallied 15 goals and 46 assists for 61 points in 60 games, so it is clear he can have a sizable impact on offense.

7. Mathew Barzal, Seattle Thunderbirds

The Seattle Thunderbirds are currently tied 2-2 in a series with the Portland Winterhawks. Mathew Barzal has three goals and two assists thus far, and that puts him in a tie for second in team scoring. The playoffs will give Barzal an opportunity to improve his draft stock, because he was limited to 44 games this season.

Despite this, the Thunderbirds pivot finished first on the team in points per game with an average of 1.30 and second overall with 57 points. He is a really talented player who could end up being a major steal, but right now, he is focused on helping his team win a first-round matchup.

6. Mikko Rantanen, TPS

Mikko Rantanen's team did not make the playoffs this year, so there isn't anything to report on that front.

He finished the season with nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points in 56 games, and that's a solid year for a rookie. For the sake of comparison, Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers finished his rookie season in Finland with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 32 games according to his profile on Elite Prospects.

Both Rantanen and Barkov averaged 0.50 points per game in their respective rookie years, so it is safe to say the former is on the right path in his development as a young player. The 2015 top prospect is pretty much the same size as the 6'3", 213-pound Barkov, as he currently stands at 6'4" and weighs 209 pounds.

5. Noah Hanifin, Boston College

Noah Hanifin and the Boston College Eagles were dropped in the opening round of the NCAA playoffs in a 5-2 loss to Denver. The star defender should return for at least another year of NCAA hockey, because joining a bad NHL team would only hurt his development.

In 37 games, Hanifin tallied five goals and added 18 assists for 23 points, and he also tallied two points in five games with Team USA at the WJC tournament.

It will be interesting to see where he is drafted, because there hasn't been a ton of hype surrounding him. I make mention of this, because another American defender was making headlines at this time two years ago.

Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks was pegged as a potential No. 1 pick, but he fell to No. 4 during his draft year. With 26 points in 79 games, Jones is coming into his own with the Nashville Predators, and he's a player that could have really helped the Edmonton Oilers.

It depends on how the draft lottery shakes out, because there are a ton of teams who could use an impact forward soon. Even though Hanifin as a defender will be able to make a difference once he is ready, he could fall on draft day.

4. Dylan Strome, Erie Otters

The Sarnia Sting were in a position to tie their first-round series at two games apiece in Game 4, but a quick response by Erie has put the Sting on the brink of elimination. The Otters trailed 3-0 during the second period, but a goal in the second and two quick third-period goals sent the game to overtime.

When the game was on the line, Dylan Strome tallied the game-winner, and it was just another example of why the young pivot is one of the best players in the draft. It was his third goal and fifth point of the series, and he's currently second overall in playoff points behind Connor McDavid.

Erie can eliminate Sarnia on Friday with a win, and at this point, it looks like Strome and the Otters are a team on a mission.

3. Mitchell Marner, London Knights

Mitchell Marner is earnestly trying to make a case for a team to draft him over Jack Eichel, and it is hard to ignore his production at this point. He finished the regular season with 44 goals and 82 assists for 126 points in 63 games, and his playoff production to date is simply insane.

In only four games, Marner already has eight goals and five assists for 13 points! Yes, that is 13 points in four games, or a points-per-game average of 3.25. 

His 5'11", 163-pound frame may discourage NHL teams, but it should be noted that former London Knight Patrick Kane was practically the same size at 5'10" and less than 170 pounds when he was drafted first overall back in 2007.

Marner has the tools to be a great player, and it will be interesting to see what team he ends up on after the draft.

2. Jack Eichel, Boston University

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Jack Eichel had an amazing rookie season with Boston University, and he finished with 24 goals, 43 assists and 67 points. He also tallied four points in the five games for which he captained Team USA at the 2015 WJC.

Boston is set to face North Dakota in the semifinal of the Frozen Four on April 9, and the winner will advance to the final on April 11.

Thus far throughout the Hockey East and NCAA playoffs, Eichel has tallied six goals and six assists for 12 points, per HockeyEastOnline.com, and that's good for a 2.00 points-per-game average through six games.

This could be a one-and-done season for Eichel, and if he wins a national championship, it will certainly be one of the most memorable ones in recent history. Although it appears that Eichel has the stuff to make the jump to the NHL, it isn't a done deal quite yet.

Eichel was recently on ESPN for an in-studio interview, saying, "It's always been my dream to play college hockey." He also said he wasn't thinking about a future NHL team, and that may be the best course of action for him.

Nashville Predators forward Colin Wilson, who, like Eichel, attended BU, told The New York Times, "That second year at BU for me really changed my life. I found my game, I grew as a person and we won a championship."

In that same story, Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Phil Kessel voiced his regret of leaving after one season at Minnesota. Based on his first two years in Boston, it is easy to understand why.

Jonathan Toews is another player who was highly touted as a freshman, but the University of North Dakota star returned for a sophomore season despite being taken No. 3 in the 2006 draft. There will be a ton of pressure on Eichel, but going to a bad team right away could hamper his development.

1. Connor McDavid, Erie Otters

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There may be some doubt with Eichel, but based on his 2014-15 campaign it will be surprising if Connor McDavid doesn't turn pro.

McDavid and the Erie Otters hold a 3-1 series lead over the Sarnia Sting. The sensational pivot had a tremendous—albeit short—season for Erie in which he amassed 120 points in only 47 games. His points-per-game average of 2.55 was rather impressive, and he's continued his scoring ways in the playoffs.

McDavid leads Erie with six points in four games, and he will look to have a glorious run in what could be his final games of CHL hockey. 

Stats via Elite Prospects unless otherwise noted.