The 2015 NHL Draft won't offer much in the way of drama, at least for the first couple of picks. For well over a year, the safe assumption has been that whoever got the No. 1 overall pick in 2015 would use it to take superstar prospect Connor McDavid. Many consider McDavid to be the best player in the draft since Sidney Crosby in 2005 and he's been labeled a generational talent.
The hype had bubbled to the point where a handful of teams appeared to be tanking so they could increase their chances of winning the 2015 NHL draft lottery and the opportunity to draft the 18-year-old 6-foot-1, 197-pound center from Richmond Hill, Ont. But all the scrutiny, the likes of which haven't been seen since Crosby was a prospect, didn't affect McDavid's performance this season with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
MORE: NHL's history of No. 1 overall picks | Connor McDavid's shot makes puck explode | Wayne Gretzky sees McDavid's potential greatness
McDavid flourished despite a broken finger he sustained in a fight in November. He finished just short of the OHL's scoring title, but did enough to earn OHL player of the year, MVP of the playoffs, plus he helped lead Team Canada to its first World Junior Championships gold medal in five years. By all accounts, he's a can't-miss player with an unbelievable set of skills and assets for someone his age and has been showing improvement as he goes.
What team will draft Connor McDavid?
After finishing the regular season third from the bottom of the NHL standings in 2014-15, the Edmonton Oilers won the 2015 NHL Draft lottery and are expected to take McDavid No. 1 overall. The Oilers have had an eventful offseason hiring former Sharks coach Todd McLellan and former Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli to lead them into their new era. They also fired four scouts just days before the draft. The Oilers had the No. 1 overall pick in 2010 (Taylor Hall), 2011 (Ryan Nungent-Hopkins) and 2012 (Nail Yakupov) and all three are still on the roster, and whoever gets to play alongside him will benefit.
MORE NHL DRAFT 2015 PROSPECTS: Jack Eichel | Noah Hanifin | Dylan Strome | Mitchell Marner
What will Connor McDavid bring to the Oilers?
The expectations for Connor McDavid in Edmonton are simple: restore hope, and return a once-proud franchise to the upper echelon of the NHL. He may begin his rookie season as the No. 2 center behind Nugent-Hopkins, but McDavid will eventually be expected to compete for scoring titles and MVP honors while dealing with comparisons to Crosby and Wayne Gretzky.
What are Connor McDavid's stats?
McDavid had 44 goals and 76 assists for 120 points in 47 games played for the Otters. The previous year, he had 28 goals and 71 assists for 99 points in 56 games played. In the 2014-15 playoffs, McDavid had 21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points in 20 games, compared to the year before when he had four goals and 15 assists in 14 games. McDavid broke a finger in his right hand in November when he swung at Mississauga Steelheads player Bryson CIanfrone during a fight and hit the glass instead. He missed almost six weeks with the injury.
Why is Connor McDavid so good?
McDavid possesses everything a team looks for in a franchise player. He has next-level speed and acceleration and can make tight moves on the go. In addition, he is strong on his skates and tough to bring down, and has superior touch, instincts, hand/eye coordination, puck protection abilities, and great leadership qualities. Although it's clear he is an offensive superstar, he is a strong defensive player well.
Connor McDavid highlights
Words can only do so much to describe what make McDavid so special. He can do a lot to show what the big deal is, and that mostly involves making opposing players look silly, like right here:
Here are McDavid's outstanding jets on display:
Here he is weaving through defenders like it's no big deal:
Because of McDavid's speed, slick moves and quick trigger, it looks like the opposition either doesn't know what's coming until it's too late, or can see it coming and can't do anything about it. Here are some more of the reasons McDavid won playoff MVP.
They don't call him McJesus for nothing. McDavid will soon be a blessing to watch for hockey fans everywhere.