The No. 11 spot on our community board was taken by U.S.-born forward Kyle Connor, a Michigan native who comes to us from the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. He took the spot in what was mostly a two-horse race in the poll, picking up 37 percent of the vote to Sarnia center Pavel Zacha’s 33 percent.
Connor is a bit of an unknown in this part of the draft. That’s not to be taken too literally — obviously, he’s a well-regarded prospect, and it’d be surprising to see him get past the 15th or so spot on the board come draft night. But compared to his peers, most of whom have had significant exposure in the CHL or NCAA or Europe, Connor’s a name that may be less well-known in the public eye after three seasons in the USHL.
He’s listed at center or left wing, depending on where you look (though I’ve ceen center much more frequently), and has pretty average size, at 6’1″ and 183 pounds (he could likely stand to add a few pounds to that figure). Look at how he plays, though, and it’s hard to find much not to like. His most pronounced trait is probably his skating, which fuels his ability in all three zones of the ice.
He’s described as a high-effort guy, with one report suggesting that it’s his drive more than anything else that makes him so successful as a defensive forward. There’s no area on the ice he won’t go to in an effort to make a play, whether it’s the net or the corners. Couple that with a good shot and solid puck skills and you can pretty easily see how he ended up blowing away the rest of the USHL in scoring this past season one year after finishing second in the league’s scoring race.
All in all, though, there’s still not a ton out there in the public eye regarding Connor — which isn’t to say that teams haven’t been scouting him or doing their homework on him, but is to say that fans may not know a ton about him. That should change this fall, when he begins at the University of Michigan.
If you’re looking for a best-case scenario for him, check out the trajectory of Red Wings 2014 draft pick (and 2014 BSH mock draft choice!) Dylan Larkin. Larkin, another fast two-way center with skill, was a USNTDP product that put up outstanding numbers as a freshman with the Wolverines, who then came to the AHL at the very end of this past year. He figures to be an AHLer this year, but may have an outside chance at cracking the Red Wings’ roster at some point in the 2015-16 season, and by all accounts looks to have a prosperous career ahead of him. If Connor is able to follow that kind of a track, whoever takes him would have to be pleased.
There would likely be a number of complaints regarding the Flyers making a typical Flyers pick if they were to take Connor, a center hailed for his two-way play. But he’s a very good talent who figures to be a top-six forward, and there’s reason to believe the Flyers will like his skill set (especially if they think he can play left wing). Enough to take him at their own pick? Prooooooobably not. Still, he’s someone to watch out for on draft night.
On to No. 12. Keeping the options the same for now. Who’s your pick?
* * *
The 2015 BSH Community NHL Draft Board
- Connor McDavid, C, Erie (OHL)
- Jack Eichel, C, Boston University (NCAA)
- Dylan Strome, C, Erie (OHL) (45% of the vote)
- Mitch Marner, C/RW, London (OHL) (54%)
- Noah Hanifin, D, Boston College (NCAA) (77%)
- Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon (WHL) (45%)
- Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle (WHL) (39%)
- Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS (Liiga) (41%)
- Zach Werenski, D, Michigan (NCAA) (35%)
- Lawson Crouse, LW, Kingston (OHL) (31%)
- Kyle Connor, C/LW, Youngstown (USHL) (37%)
- ???
* * *
As always, please use your vote below to answer the following question: If all of the players listed were available when the Flyers were on the clock, who would you want them to pick?
Who should be No. 12 on the Community Big Board?
| Travis Konecny | 22 |
| Oliver Kylington | 5 |
| Timo Meier | 36 |
| Nick Merkley | 3 |
| Jeremy Roy | 0 |
| Evgeni Svechnikov | 4 |
| Colin White | 3 |
| Pavel Zacha | 80 |
