Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Craig Button's Final Prospects Ranking

05/29/2015 at 1:55pm EDT

from Craig Button of TSN,

Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel started the season as the top ranked NHL prospects and they finish 1-2 on the final Craig's List of the season. The NHL can only hope No. 1-ranked McDavid and No. 2-ranked Eichel develop a rivalry similar to the one Crosby and Ovechkin launched 10 years ago.

Two Ontario Hockey League rivals are next on my final list: Erie centre Dylan Strome at No. 3 and London right winger Mitch Marner at No. 4. Why Strome over Marner at three? The answer is simple. When players are so close in ability, I choose the centre over the winger. While Marner may eventually score at a higher rate than Strome in the NHL, top line centres are instrumental to team success. Strome has a complete yet unspectacular game in the style of Ron Francis. Strome is an elite complete player.

Marner is a unique and creative player who brings people out of their seats. Arizona is interesting at No. 3 in the draft order because either Strome or Marner would add significantly to an already deep prospect pool that includes Marner's London teammate, Max Domi.

The NHL Central Scouting Service has Boston College defenceman Noah Hanifin ranked third among North American skaters, behind only McDavid and Eichel. But Hanifin is No. 12 on my list. He's a fantastic skater, but I'm not yet convinced he will make an impact in the NHL worthy of investing such a high pick.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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