Ranking the 10 Best Power-Play Specialists in the 2015 NHL Draft
Among the exceptional crop of prospects for the 2015 NHL draft, there are several outstanding special teams players. These young men are good at even strength but also give their teams an exceptional weapon on the power play or penalty kill.
The power-play specialists are going to get paid if they can deliver similar production when they arrive in the NHL. The candidates to be impact power-play weapons are many and impressive this year.
Here are the 10 best power-play specialists in this year's draft.
Note: Rankings are based on percentage of offense delivered on the power play, and rankings are not reflective of final draft number.
10. Jack Eichel, Boston University Terriers (NCAA)
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The Numbers: Jack Eichel is an impact scorer in the NCAA for the Boston University Eagles. His 23 power-play points make up 32 per cent of his 71 total points, a mammoth number for a college season.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Eichel can make a difference in all areas: winning board battles, creating havoc in front of the net, passing to the open man and finishing things with his quick release.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? He is a unique talent, offering a complete skill set from outstanding to elite. Eichel is a lock for quality production in all three disciplines as an NHL player. He offered further proof during his dynamic performance at the World Hockey Championships.
9. Connor McDavid, Erie Otters (OHL)
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The Numbers: Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters scored nine power-play goals and added 32 assists with the extra man. He scored 120 total points, so the power play represented 34 per cent of his overall offense.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? He is a generational player, and the power play gives McDavid a chance to use all of his skills—speed, making plays at high speed, passing, shot and vision. As a result, the opposition pays the price.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? McDavid's even-strength performance was more impressive than his power-play work this past season. He'll likely play a major role in all situations when he matures.
8. Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
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The Numbers: Mathew Barzal of the Seattle Thunderbirds is an effective offensive player. His two power-play goals and 19 assists reflect 37 per cent of his overall total of 57 points.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Almost 80 per cent of Barzal's offense—45 assists—came courtesy of his exceptional play-making ability. He's a terrific quarterback for the offense when his team is up by a goal.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? Barzal is an impact setup man and will flourish on the power play in the NHL. Teams will love that he's a right-handed shot, which makes him an ideal match for a lefty sniper. Right-handed skill centers are a rare and valuable item.
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7. Timo Meier, RW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
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The Numbers: Timo Meier delivered a substantial return on the power play for the Halifax Mooseheads. His 23 goals and 12 assists indicate 39 per cent of his 90 points came with the man advantage.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Meier is a pure shooter—his 316 shots on goal is an enormous total—and he's an excellent trigger man for the Mooseheads' power play.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? Teams are always looking for snipers, and that will increase Meier's value on draft day. He may not get power-play time in abundance as a rookie, but that part of his game should flourish when he arrives in the NHL.
6. Dylan Strome, C, Erie Otters (OHL)
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The Numbers: Dylan Strome scored 14 goals and 36 assists for the Erie Otters in 2014-15 on the power play. His 129 total points led the OHL, and his power-play offense represented 39 per cent of his total points.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Strome has good size to protect the puck well, and his passing ability is exceptional for a big man. He finished third overall in goals scored last season, which indicates he's a first-shot scorer of considerable ability.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? His skills should transfer well to the NHL, as size is often a difficult thing for young players to overcome when jumping to the pro level. Strome is 6'3", 187 pounds and still has room to grow and time to mature.
5. Nick Merkley, RW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
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The Numbers: Nick Merkley of the Kelowna Rockets is a tremendous offensive weapon on the power play. He scored five goals and 32 assists with the extra man; therefore, his production in the discipline represented 41 per cent of his 90 points.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Elite vision and the ability to feather passes tape-to-tape are key elements of Merkley's game, but his elusiveness one-on-one sets up everything else.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? Merkley's power-play production is a significant portion of his overall skill set. A team drafting him will probably grow to count on him in this situation.
4. Mitch Marner, RW, London Knights (OHL)
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The Numbers: During the 2014-15 season, Mitch Marner scored 15 power-play goals and led the OHL with 40 power-play assists. That represents 44 per cent of his 126 total points for the season with the London Knights.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Marner's skill set is ideally suited to the man advantage, as his elite passing and vision are matched by a scorer's instinct and the ability to find open ice. He's phenomenal with the puck on his stick.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? It is rare for a player so young to impact an OHL power play in this way, and his 55 total points are an amazing total. Nothing is guaranteed, but the team that drafts Marner can be reasonably certain it is getting a power-play wizard.
3. Anthony Beauvillier, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
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The Numbers: Anthony Beauvillier is an impact offensive player for the Shawinigan Cataractes. His power-play totals are outstanding—16 goals and 31 assists—and indicate much of his overall offense comes on special teams. Beavillier's 47 power-play points are 50 per cent of his 94 total points.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Beauvillier is double trouble on the power play, as his 31 assists were good enough for No. 4 in the QMJHL last season. He's also a shooter—his 337 shots led the league last season—and so opponents have to be aware of the complete skill package.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? There's so much skill in Beauvillier's game that an NHL team that is looking to draft him would value his special teams ability in a big way. We might be looking at an impact power-play performer based on his QMJHL season.
2. Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
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The Numbers: Ivan Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings is an impact offensive defenseman. His eight goals and 24 assists made up 52 per cent of his 61 total points in 2014-15.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Provorov can really wheel with the man advantage, using his exceptional speed to gain the zone, get his team set and the dish the puck smartly to advance the offense.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? He's a young player, but in terms of offensive vision Provorov shows real maturity. Added to his speed, he may surprise fans by quickly establishing himself in the NHL as a power-play quarterback.
1. Jeremy Roy, D, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
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The Numbers: Jeremy Roy is money on the power play for the Sherbooke Phoenix. In 2014-15, his 26 assists—he did not score with the man edge—represented 60 per cent of his 43 total points. To show this is no fluke, his six goals and and 20 assists meant 59 per cent of his 44 points came with the man advantage.
How Does He Impact the Power Play? Roy has a terrific shot, but more than that he is skilled at getting the puck to the net. Blocked shots are a big part of modern penalty killing, and Roy appears to have the answer for it.
Will This Skill Transfer to the NHL? Roy has a nice range of skills, so he should survive as a useful player in the NHL even without the power-play boost. His team will give him every chance to show his prowess with the man advantage.
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