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With Carolina’s win over Philadelphia tonight, the Maple Leafs have unofficially secured the fourth overall draft pick, pending the April 18 lottery results.

Assuming either the Leafs or someone above them win the lottery (a 54.5% probability), this draft selection will be the highest the Leafs have made since they drafted Scott Thornton third overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. It comes in a generational draft year where fourth overall projects to be more than your average fourth overall pick.

That’s the type of news Leafs fans have sorely been craving after the worst three months in recent team history.

(Fewest Pts. to Most)New Draft Lottery Odds
120.00%
213.50%
311.50%
*4**9.50%*
58.50%
67.50%
76.50%
86.00%
95.00%
103.50%
113.00%
122.50%
132.00%
141.00%

Here is a list of NHL draft rankings pulled from various scouting services/websites.

2015 NHL Draft Rankings


ISS=International Scouting Service
SN=Sportsnet
MK=McKeens
HP=Hockeyprospects.com
BM=Bob McKenzie
CB=Craig Button
PlayerPHtWtTeamLgCBISSSNMKHPBM
McDavid, ConnorLC6.00.75195ErieOHL111111
Eichel, JackRC6.02196Boston U.H.E.222222
Hanifin, NoahLD6.02.75203Boston C.H.E.1243333
Strome, DylanLC6.03185ErieOHL334864
Marner, MitchellRC5.11160LondonOHL467455
Crouse, LawsonLW6.04215KingstonOHL1155686
Provorov, IvanLD6.00.5201BrandonWHL5965712
Werenski, ZachRD6.02206MichiganBigTen61110798
Rantanen, MikkoRW6.03.5211TPS TurkuFinE147812199
Barzal, MathewRC5.11.25175SeattleWHL1889101710
Zacha, PavelLC6.03210SarniaOHL281014947
Connor, KyleLC6.01177YoungstownUSHL71318141113
Ek Eriksson, JoelLC6.01.75180FarjestadSweJE022018043
Meier, TimoRW6.01209HalifaxQMJHL91512131520
Senyshyn, ZacharyRW6.01192S.S. MarieOHL51280000
Konecny, TravisRC5.09.75175OttawaOHL231215112015
Bittner, PaulLW6.04204PortlandWHL24142520014
Merkley, NickRC5.10.5191KelownaWHL131813171619
Bracco, JeremyRW5.09.25173U18 NTDPUSHL492700029
Chabot, ThomasLD6.01.5180Saint JohnQMJHL101923151227
Svechnikov, EvgenyRW6.01.75199Cape BretonQMJHL151617231821
Zboril, JakubLD6.00.75184Saint JohnQMJHL202019162116
Kylington, OliverRD6180FarjestadSweE292411271311
Carlsson, GabrielLD6.04183LinkopingSweJE84300000
Harkins, JansenC/LW6.01.25182Prince GeorgeWHL16252702531
Larsson, JacobLD6.02191FrolundaSweJE4126025033
Roy, JeremyRD6188SherbrookeQMJHL212921221025
White, ColinRW6183U18 NTDPUSHL332320192618
Greenway, JordanLW6.04.75222U18 NTDPUSHL6617280022
Carlo, BrandonRD6.05196Tri-CityWHL452126212217
Boeser, BrockRW6'1187WaterlookUSHL800000

Probably the most controversial part of this table, we asked Gus Katsaros to clarify the surprisingly low rank on Dylan Strome in the McKeen’s rankings:

The Otters forward’s primary concern is slushy feet, a trait that can be worked on and overcome – similar to brother Ryan. There’s definite touch and skill at the end of his blade.

The ranking in March was precipitated by the stories being written about the players around that range, Mitch Marner was pushing the case to be ranked 3rd overall while Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski threw themselves in the mix after what seems to be a stable top two (McDavid, Eichel). He was listed as 6th in the previous ranking so a drop to 8th isn’t that great a drop.

Player rankings fluctuate (sometimes unjustly) in their draft year, but usually within a range and Strome falls in that range from 4th to 8th, and other players and team valuations could influence that selection very quickly on draft day. Sean Couturier is a prime example of a player highly touted dropping to 8th overall, yet is a prime contributor to the Flyers.

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