I agree that EJ should be the new #1. His stock raised immensely during the WJC. Size, skill, poise, skating, decision making and physical play were all top notch. However, lots can change by the end of the Under 18 Championship in April.
As for Kessel, there is no doubt that he has all the raw tools of a #1 pick. However, he reminds me of Shawn Belle where people said of him, "He has all the tools, but no toolbox." His hockey sense isn't anywhere as high as his skills. Before I get flamed about this opinion, all you have to do is look at how he reacts to being challenged. For the most part, he can find open lanes and use his speed to his advantage, but as he gets to higher leagues, that advantage isn't as prominent. His bag of tricks (inside-out drag is the only one I've seen) is not extensive and is predictable. After being stood up 3 or 4 times by Canada's defense while trying the same move, he did not adjust. Players with natural hockey sense would make an adjustment in that situation. I would have liked to see him fake his inside-out drag and just take the puck wide with his speed. The fact that he couldn't make a little adjust like that spoke volumes to me about how he perceives the game. A lot of people talk about Kessel's flaws and that he can fix them through coaching. Well, I'm sorry to tell you this, but technique and systems can be taught, hockey sense cannot.
There have been plenty of players that dominated early based on size, speed and raw talent, but it doesn't always translate to the big leagues. Kessel could very well turn out to be a 40 goal scorer in the NHL, but thinking that he will turn into some kind of superstar seems somewhat far fetched to me.
In him, I see parallels to Daigle.