Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; A general view of the stage between picks during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
The Buffalo Sabres are nearly geared up for the 2015 NHL draft this Friday evening, and we here at SabreNoise are just about ready ourselves.
The NHL draft always has some surprises for which players get taken where they do (i.e When Seth Jones fell to #4 overall) and making this list was not an easy task I assure you.
As the Draft nears, this is the final Mock Draft for 2015 and is the best fits (that I see) for each player and each team.
1. Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid. 1. player. 148. Still undoubtedly the top prospect in the entire draft pool. The Edmonton Oilers will not pass up the opportunity to draft a player with the potential to become like the top player in the world, Sydney Crosby.. Center. Erie (OHL)
2. Buffalo Sabres Jack Eichel. 2. player. 12. Jack Eichel has all but accepted his future of being on the Buffalo Sabres and Sabres fans are already raving about how goo this kid will be. There is no doubt he will be chosen in the second slot by the Buffalo Sabres come Friday evening.. Center. Boston U (NCAA)
3. Arizona Coyotes Dylan Strome. 3. player. 121. With the top source of their offense coming from defenseman <strong><a href=. Center. Erie (OHL)
4. Toronto Maple Leafs 4. player. 116. As the Leafs look for a full scale rebuild, they plan to shed the likes of <strong><a href=. Defense. Boston C (NCAA). Noah Hanifin
5. Carolina Hurricanes Defense. Brandon (WHL). Ivan Provorov. 5. player. 109. What have the Carolina Hurricanes lacked in the last few seasons? Well yes a goaltender is true, but even a good goaltender cannot succeed without defense. Provorov is a reliable defender that will help build up a depleted Carolina team. <strong><a href=
Next: Picks 6-10
Feb 3, 2015; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils celebrate goal by center
Adam Henrique (14) during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
6. New Jersey Devils 6. player. 85. Since <strong><a href=. Right Wing. London (OHL). Mitch Marner
7. Philadelphia Flyers player. 68. The Flyers have a great source of offense in <strong><a href=. Left Wing. Kingston (OHL). Lawson Crouse. 7
8. Columbus Blue Jackets 9. San Jose Sharks 120. A relentless player on the puck and has an uncanny ability to create scoring chances from nearly nothing. With a San Jose team looking to get younger, he would compliment that mentality. Also being of Czech origins, he would possible mesh well with a slumping <strong><a href=. Center. Sarnia (OHL). Pavel Zacha. 9. player
10. Colorado Avalanche 10. player. 103. Great size and skill down the right wing, Meier would add some future scoring and physical punch to the Colorado offense. Should he be taken here, the Avs would have a great future up front by having him with <strong><a href=. Right Wing. Halifax (QMJHL). Timo Meier
Next: Picks 11-15
Mar 7, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers center
Aleksander Barkov (16) skates in the second period of a game against the New York Islanders at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
11. Florida Panthers Nick Merkley. 11. player. 87. The Panthers are pretty solid in the Center depth chart so they need to add some offensive push on the wing. After taking <strong><a href=. Right Wing. Kelowna (WHL)
12. Dallas Stars Defense. Saint John (QMJHL). Jakub Zobril. 12. player. 119. As <strong><a href=
13. Los Angeles Kings Travis Konecny. 13. player. 67. A Winger that would add some scoring punch to the Kings front lines. He is small, but he is very capable of putting the puck in the back of the net. He has plenty of players to come to his aide and make space for him already so he would be a good fit.. Right Wing. Ottawa (OHL)
14. Boston Bruins Seattle (WHL). Mathew Barzal. 14. player. 70. A top level two way center that would create some much needed relentless play. He would be a great number two center under <strong><a href=. Center
15. Calgary Flames 15. player. 112. Should Rantanen fall to 15 then the Flames would be crazy to not take him. With Sam Bennet Proving he is ready for the NHL and <strong><a href=. Right Wing. TPS (SM Liiga). Mikko Rantanen
Next: Picks 16-20
Apr 7, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left winger
Taylor Hall (4) is seen out on the ice as they took on the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
16. Edmonton Oilers (from Pittsburgh Penguins) Goaltender. Magnitogorsk (Russia). Ilya Samsonov. 16. player. 148. The Oilers have shown they are not afraid to take Russian players, and they are in need of a steady goaltender. Samsonov is only 18 years old, but he may be ready in only a few years. He may be the answer to their goaltending issues.
17. Winnipeg Jets 30. A great overall talent. He has the smarts to create the right plays and is a great skater. Connor could turn into the top center that the Jets so desperately need.. Center/Left Wing. Youngstown (USHL). Kyle Connor. 17. player
18. Ottawa Senators player. 91. A potential top level scoring winger that is needed to provide some offense in the Canadian Capital. <strong><a href=. Right Wing. C. Brenton (QMJHL). Evgeni Svechnikov. 18
19. Detroit Red Wings 20. Minnesota Wild Left Wing. Swift Current (WHL). Jake Debrusk. 20. player. 98. A speedy and skilled forward with the ability to find scoring zones. Having a desire to get to the front of the net is one of his better qualities, and could very well see chemistry with the likes of <strong><a href=
Next: Picks 21-25
Oct 13, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center
Sam Reinhart (23) looks for the puck during the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
21. Buffalo Sabres (from New York Islanders) Portland (WHL). Paul Bittner. 21. player. 12. A large powerful forward with offensive upside. Bitter would be a very valuable pickup for the Buffalo Sabres at this slot.. Right Wing
22. Washington Capitals Brandon Carlo. 22. player. 19. A large steady defenseman that will be sorely needed to make up for the spotty defensive responsibility of the Washington offense (cough cough Ovechkin).. Defense. Tri City (WHL)
23. Vancouver Canucks The Cankucks still lack some good defensive depth. Carlton would eventually be in their top 4 if he is developed well. Needs work on his shot, but is still a capable defender.. Defense. Linkoping (Swe-J20). Gabriel Carlsson. 23. player. 104
24. Toronto Maple Leafs (from New York Islanders) 25. Winnigpeg Jets (from St. Louis Blues) Defense. Farjestad (SHL). Oliver Kylington. 25. player. 30. A puck moving defenseman that will round out the top 4 of the Jets very well. Might compliment the likes of newly acquired <strong><a href=
Next: Picks 26-30
May 12, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Montreal Canadiens center
Alex Galchenyuk (27) skates before game six of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated Montreal Canadiens 4-1 to win the series 4 games to 2. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
26. Montreal Canadiens 26. player. 152. A steady defender with some two way game. With the right development, he could be a solid top 6 defender on the Habs.. defense. Swift Current (WHL). Jeremy Roy
27. Anaheim Ducks player. 105. A large physical force that is able to lay the body down with enthusiasm. Not the bets offensive player, but he would play well with the likes of <strong><a href=. Right Wing. St.Petersburg (MHL). Alexander Dergachyov. 27
28. Tampa Bay Lightning (from New York Rangers) Thomas Chabot. 28. player. 23. An offensive minded defenseman. He would add depth to the already great core of the Tampa blue line. . Defense. St. John(QMJHL)
29. Philadelphia Flyers (from Tampa Bay Lightning) 68. One of the best shots in the draft, he is an explosive offensive force. He would add to the scoring depth that the Flyers already have. . Right Wing. Togilatti (MHL). Denis Gurianov. 29. player
30. Arizona Coyotes (from Chicago Blackhawks) Right Wing. Charolettet'n (QMJHL). Daniel Sprong. 30. player. 121. With the potential to be a top level scoring winger, Sprong is one of the draft’s deeper talents. The Coyotes would not be disappointed to have this kid along with Strome on the same line feeding off of one another.
Next: Could Sabres Draft Bittner?
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