Can you believe that we’re already eight years into our Draft countdown? Including today’s list, we’ll have looked at 72 NHL prospects that were selected within the 7-15th range to see if there are any patterns or lessons that we can learn when it comes to the 10th overall pick that’s coming up in June. Is it even possible to think about an upcoming Draft based on what’s happened in the past? We shall see.
Today, we dive into the 2015 McDraft.

Ivan Provorov (7) – D – Philadelphia Flyers

2017-18 Season: 82GP – 17G, 24A for 41 points
Rookie Season (2016-17 w/ Philadelphia Flyers): 82: 6G, 24A for 30 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Provorov was one of the best defenders available in the 2015 NHL Draft, and now he is Philadelphia’s most talented blue line prospect. A lot is expected from the young defenseman, who brings offensive skills, good skating ability and high hockey IQ. While Provorov can aid with offense, he plays a 200-foot game and is a physical defender.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-PGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
Philadelphia Flyers
NHL
82
17
24
41
20
17
6
0
3
3
0
NHL Totals
164
23
48
71
54
6
0
3
3
0

Zach Werenski (8) – D – Columbus Blue Jackets

2017-18 Season: 77GP – 16G, 21A for 37 points
Rookie Season (2016-17 w/ Columbus Blue Jackets): 78GP – 11G, 36A for 47 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Werenski is a high-end defenseman. His understanding of the intricacies of playing defense shouldn’t be understated, nor is his smooth skating stride or elite vision. Werenski moves the puck carefully, and has the wheels to skate himself out of trouble. He is a calculated, cerebral blueliner.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-PGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL
77
16
21
37
16
8
6
1
2
3
2
NHL Totals
155
27
57
84
30
9
2
2
4
2

Timo Meier (9) – RW – San Jose Sharks

2017-18 Season: 81GP – 21G, 15A for 36 points
Rookie Season (2016-17 w/ San Jose Sharks): 34GP – 3G, 3A for six points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“A big and strong forward who can skate, Meier was one of the more improved forwards in the QMJHL over the course of the 2014-15 season. He is already 6’1” and over 200 pounds, and he takes full advantage of that size by using it to get to the net and clear out space for both himself and his teammates effectively. He’s at his best when playing along the boards in the offensive zone, utilizing the cycle game. He is also a big game player, having looked his best at the BMO Top Prospects game in 2014-15, a year in which he also finished second in the CHL with 10 game-winning goals.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-PGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
San Jose Sharks
NHL
81
21
15
36
51
2
10
2
3
5
10
NHL Totals
115
24
18
42
61
15
2
3
5
12

Mikko Rantanen (10) – RW – Colorado Avalanche

2017-18 Season: NHL: 81GP – 29-55-84
Rookie Season (2016-17 w/ Colorado Avalanche): 75GP – 20G, 18A for 38 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“He possesses a competitive motor, engages physically and wants to make a difference on every shift – all projectable character skills. Rantanen owns the size and willingness to engage physically in board battles and is efficient in high-traffic areas handling the puck. Beyond these impressive offensive attributes, Rantanen is a workhorse competitor, never giving up on a play.”
SEASONTEAMLGEGPGAPTSPIM+/-PGPGAPTSPIM
2017-18
Colorado Avalanche
NHL
81
29
55
84
34
0
6
0
4
4
0
 NHL Totals
165
49
73
122
58
6
0
4
4
0

Lawson Crouse (11) – LW – Florida Panthers

2017-18 Season: 11GP – 1G, 0A for one point
Rookie Season (2016-17 w/ Arizona Coyotes): 72GP – 5G, 7A for 12 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Crouse is a big, physical winger who protects the puck well, effectively using his frame to overpower opponents at the junior level. He can forecheck and cycle the puck better than most, if not all, his age and is an adept defensive forward. Crouse isn’t the fastest skater but his skating is far from a weakness, and, despite concerns over his offensive ability, he has a quick shot and uses his size to clean up any garbage in front of the net.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2017-18
Arizona Coyotes
NHL
11
1
0
1
7
-6
2017-18
Tucson Roadrunners
AHL
56
15
17
32
70
3
NHL Totals
83
6
7
13
55

Denis Gurianov (12) – RW – Dallas Stars

2017-18 Season: AHL: 74GP – 19G, 15A for 34 points
Rookie Season: Maybe next year
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Guryanov is a complete player without obvious weaknesses and is one of the top talents from Russia amongst his peers. While he can improve his defensive game and awareness, he tries to play a 200-foot game, getting back on defense and helping out his linemates. Technically sound like most Russian prospects, Guryanov is gifted with good size and skating, attributes that make him a very intriguing young player and a prospective scoring line player in the NHL.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2017-18
Texas Stars
AHL
74
19
15
34
11
-10
NHL Totals
1
0
0
0
0

Jakub Zboril (13) – D – Boston Bruins

2017-18 Season: AHL: 68GP – 4G, 15A for 19 points
Rookie Season: Still waiting for one
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Zboril is one of the more NHL-ready defensemen playing in the CHL. The Czech native is a quick-moving skater who can get up and down the ice with ease and plays a sound defensive game. At 6’2” and 185 pounds, he doesn’t lack size and isn’t afraid to play a physical game. He is an above-average offensive defenseman at the junior level. Zboril owns a booming shot that can help a team’s power-play and is good at making proper outlet passes.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-PGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
Providence Bruins
AHL
68
4
15
19
38
12
4
0
0
0
2

Jake DeBrusk (14) – LW – Boston Bruins

Rookie Season (2017-18 w/ Boston Bruins): 70GP – 16G, 27A for 43 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“DeBrusk was a consistent scoring threat all season long. His value to the Broncos became glaringly apparent when he was injured in the post-season and missed the last four periods of a first round sweep against the Regina Pats. DeBrusk can compete physically across the WHL, skates very well and knows how to find scoring areas in the attacking zone. Perhaps the purest goal scorer among the WHL’s draft-eligible forwards in 2015.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-PGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
Boston Bruins
NHL
70
16
27
43
19
13
12
6
2
8
8
NHL Totals
70
16
27
43
19
12
6
2
8
8

Zachary Senyshyn (15) – RW – Boston Bruins

2017-18 Season: AHL: 66GP – 12G, 14A for 26 points
Rookie Season: Nah, not yet.
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Senyshyn played behind a lot of talented players with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last year but still managed to be a dependable producer with less playing time than he would get elsewhere. Thanks to his trademark determination and strong skating, he is always tough to defend one-on-one.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-GPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
Providence Bruins
AHL
66
12
14
26
14
3
4
0
1
1
0

THE WRAP…

Ah yes, the 2015 Draft. What a time to be alive, amirite? Frankly, by the time the 7-15 picks were made, I was so drunk at our McDraft party that I really didn’t remember much about who went where apart from knowing that Barzal went at #16 with the pick that once belonged to the Oilers. Fortunately, this countdown focuses only on the 7-15 picks from that draft year so I didn’t have to include his ridiculous rookie season numbers to make me mad again. Yeah, I know, I know the Oilers weren’t going to use the pick on him anyway, which is a completely different problem in itself but that’s a story for another day. Today’s story has to do with the guys selected in the mid-first round and whether or not that affects our thinking when it comes to the 10th pick at the Draft coming up in Dallas.
From where I blog, I still see a cluster of valuable assets that are likely to add to the long term benefit of the organization more so than trading it for a (likely) overpriced veteran with who knows how long left on their deal. That said, who knows what kind of wheeling and dealing that Chiarelli is doing behind the scenes and maybe this will be the trade that shows us his true bartering skills and blows us all away with its beauty! Dare to dream? What do you guys think?

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