2. Lucas Edmonds - Wing - Kingston Frontenacs
I've seen some rankings with Edmonds as a first round pick. Personally, I think that's a bit of a stretch considering some of his limitations physically. However, there's no doubting that he is a worthy NHL draft selection. Some may be confused by Edmonds' eligibility, given that he is a 2001 born, OHL overager. However, NHL Central Scouting considers him a "Euro" prospect for eligibility purposes and thus he receives an extra year of eligibility for the draft. Edmonds stands out because of his creativity and IQ. His hands are among the best in the OHL. He makes defenders miss routinely with subtle fakes and moves, which work to give him extra time to survey the ice for options. He's also the kind of player that the puck gravitates to magnetically in the offensive zone, which points to how intelligent he is. He just consistently finds those soft spots and times his cuts perfectly. A late bloomer physically, Edmonds still has room to add bulk and that should help him bring the best out of his skill set at the next level. His skating is not likely to ever be an asset for him. His explosiveness and top speed are average for the OHL level, meaning that they would be below average for the AHL and NHL levels. Hopefully adding more strength and power to his lower half helps him gain quickness, because he will need that moving forward to continue to succeed as a scorer. However, his skill and sense impresses greatly. You have to take a chance on him to see what your development team can do with him.