Aaron Ekblad, (Defense)
A lot of people on this board have criticized me for being too high on Ekblad. Well, I stand by what I've said - I think he will be a 20-year player in the NHL and an elite defenseman, one of the best, if not the best in the league when he hits his prime. I also think he's ready to make the jump to the NHL next year, because he's physically ready and already reads the game at such an awesomely high level. I was blown away by him in Hlinka and I enjoy watching him play for Barrie as well. Why people think he might not even be a true number one is beyond me. Ekblad is the real deal. As far as comparables go, I have no choice but to compare him to Duncan Keith, simply because I think he is truly that good, and hopefully his talents won't end up being wasted in Florida.
Sam Reinhart, (Centre)
I'll admit I've seen very little of Sam Reinhart because I primarily follow the OHL, but what I have seen has been pretty impressive. Burke wasn't kidding when he called Sam "Einstein on skates" - he probably has the highest hockey IQ of any forward in this draft, maybe even better than Draisaitl's, and he of course has the skillset to put it all together as well. I think he can jump in and play next year, as well, and will have an extended career as a franchise centre for whoever he plays for. As a comparable, I like to compare him to Claude Giroux because the two players have similar hockey IQs and a similar tendency to dismantle opposing defenses that I really like. While I would be thrilled if he fell to us at #4, I think he goes to Edmonton.
Sam Bennett, (Centre/Left Wing)
When I first saw Bennett play, I worried that his high-octane, no-holds-barred game might not A) translate well to the NHL or B) be indicative of his value as a team player. However, the more I learn about Bennett the more I know that I would not be worried if the Flames picked him at #4. While his game is downright chaotic, he seems to me to be solid in all zones and a true team player. Given that he's modeled his entire game after him, it's tough to compare him to anyone but Doug Gilmour, although he probably does not have the same offensive capabilities and is happily a bit taller. I do, however, think Sam's career will be a little truncated by injury, and although I think he has the ability to jump into the NHL this year, I think he'll end up retiring in his mid-30s before he becomes ineffectual as a power forward. Happily, I think we pick him right here at #4 and he plays for quite some time in Calgary.
Leon Draisaitl, (Centre/Left Wing)
Like I said before, I mostly follow the OHL, so I haven't had too many opportunities to watch Draisaitl work his magic out west, and obviously his ejection from the WJCs against the Americans was disappointing, but from the little I've seen, I've grown to greatly enjoy his game. I think he has an incredible skill to control the pace of the game and while he's not going to be a franchise forward like someone like Reinhart or Bennett might, he will make a solid first-liner at whichever position he plays. I compare his game favourably to Patrick Marleau and I bet he'll have a similar career. While a lot of people have him falling to us at #4, I think his skill on-ice and ability to read plays is going to stand out to all the teams above us, and his skill at playing wing (where I eventually think he will end up staying) will mean that he'll be selected second overall by Buffalo.
Michael Dal Colle, (Centre/Left Wing)
Dal Colle is another great power forward who I think could pan out being a first-line player if he reaches his potential, but I see him in many ways to be Bennett-lite (obviously with less physicality in his game, but the same sort of action-packed play). I think the comparison would be even more astute if he stuck at centre this year, but left wing is where he'll probably end up in the NHL anyways. As a player, he has great skill and I bet will work nicely in the NHL after a year or two more in junior. His style of play in general reminds me of Alexander Steen, especially considering the way Steen played this year. All that being said, I am not blown away by what he offers given the picks we would probably still have available, and while he would be far from a reach, I would much rather pick one of the previous four. I still, however, think he will look nice playing alongside John Tavares for the New York Islanders.
Nick Ritchie, (Right Wing)
I know he is a nightmare defensively. I know he has consistency issues. But he is so ****ing fun to watch, and he plays a position of need for us. It's tough for me to count him out, because I think he has an extremely high offensive ceiling that will expand by the time he spends playing in the NHL and conditioning up here as well, and while his 200-foot game leaves something to be desired, pure offense is hard to come by. Imagine him playing on a line with Monahan and Gaudreau... a bit of skill, a bit of two-way, a bit of pure ****ing awesome... Honestly, there is no player currently in the NHL who plays like Ritchie, which makes me think he might bust - the closest I can come up with is James Neal (a medium-to-big-bodied agitator and goal-scorer). But his pure ability makes him almost worth the reach down from #4. Regardless, I really do hope he busts because I see him as being picked up at sixth overall by Vancouver.