NHL Draft 2015: Complete Lottery Results and Prospects to Watch

In theory, a team with an 11.5 percent chance to win the NHL draft lottery actually landing that top pick is surprising. In reality, it is never a surprise when the Edmonton Oilers grab the first pick.

For the fourth time in six years, the Oilers will draft first overall, and this time, the prize is hockey’s most coveted prospect since Sidney Crosby. Connor McDavid immediately became Edmonton’s next great hope when the NHL revealed the envelopes Saturday evening.

Andrew Brandt of ESPN and Sports Illustrated wasn’t surprised with the lottery results:

While Edmonton was the big story from Saturday’s lottery, here is a look at the complete results and a few prospects to watch next year and beyond.

Pick	Team	Percent Chance at No. 1 Pick
1	Edmonton Oilers	11.5
2	Buffalo Sabres	20
3	Arizona Coyotes	13.5
4	Toronto Maple Leafs	9.5
5	Carolina Hurricanes	8.5
6	New Jersey Devils	7.5
7	Philadelphia Flyers	6.5
8	Columbus Blue Jackets	6
9	San Jose Sharks	5
10	Colorado Avalanche	3.5
11	Florida Panthers	3
12	Dallas Stars	2.5
13	Los Angeles Kings	2
14	Boston Bruins	1

Connor McDavid

If McDavid lives up to his potential, he is the NHL’s next megastar.

The 18-year-old center for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League is a once-in-a-generation talent who tallied 44 goals and 120 points this season and 285 points in 166 career games in the OHL. Prospects often receive too much hype leading up to the draft, but McDavid truly is a franchise-saving player.

McDavid’s vision stands out when watching him on film, and he is a dynamic playmaker who controls the game whenever the puck is on his stick. Between a deadly accurate shot, precise passing ability and electrifying speed in the open ice, McDavid is the entire package that teams want in a center.

An NHL executive discussed McDavid’s future impact, per Scott Burnside of ESPN.com: "Yes, he is a terrific player and person. Will make an immediate impact if he has someone to play with. Best I've seen since Ovi [Alex Ovechkin] and Crosby."

It must be pointed out that McDavid is only 18 years old, and there will be an immense amount of pressure on his shoulders the minute he steps on the ice.

As hard as it may be, Edmonton fans will have to exercise a degree of patience before McDavid is dominating at the NHL level.

An NHL scout suggested as much, per Burnside: "As far as their team success, I believe it'll be 2-3 years before real change is made in that regard. He can really only affect one line per game, so I don't see immediate or drastic change for the team. He is very talented but don't see an Eric Lindros type that can dominate as an 18-year-old."

Oilers fans can afford to wait two or three years if McDavid turns out to be as good as advertised.

Jack Eichel

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Fortunately for the Buffalo Sabres, McDavid isn’t the only superstar in the making in this draft. Boston University center Jack Eichel also has overwhelming ability and will make an impact right away.

ESPN’s Marc Stein demonstrated optimism from the Sabres’ perspective:

Eichel would go No. 1 in most drafts, which makes him much more enticing than most consolation prizes. He won the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s best men’s hockey player and led Boston to the national championship game, where it lost to Providence in a heartbreaker. 

Eichel is a supremely talented skater who moves with game-changing speed and silky smooth dekes. He often leaves defenders striking at air and converts on opportunities with a powerful shot. Eichel is also a formidable defender and will be a two-way force at the NHL level.

Noah Hanifin

This draft isn’t all about centers and offensive playmakers. Noah Hanifin is the most talented defender available, and the Boston College product will serve the role of physical enforcer for the Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs or whichever team drafts him early in the first round.

He already boasts NHL defenseman size at 6’3” and 205 pounds, per Boston College’s official website, and he attacks offensive players with overwhelming strength and the ability to make plays on the wall. Hanifin is much more than an enforcer, though, and brings impressive speed and skating to the table that help him cut off angles and make up for lost ground when the play gets behind him.

Hanifin will also contribute on the offensive end and is an excellent facilitator on the power play. 

Between his mobility, physicality and precise passing, Hanifin is a potential superstar on the back end of a defense. Teams trying to shore up that side of the ice should look no further on draft day.

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek