NHL Draft: Dynasty League Rankings

With the 2015 NHL Entry Draft in the books, it's time to churn out our dynasty league rankings for the players who were drafted last month. This isn't necessarily the order that these players will slot in when our Top 100 list comes out in September. In addition to that list, for the first time, we will be unveiling a piece that covers the top 10 prospects for each NHL team. It is intended to give readers a more in-depth experience in regards to future players in each organization. Now, on to the rankings…

1) Connor McDavid, F, Edmonton: Are you surprised? McDavid is the most hyped prospect in recent memory, and for good reason. I honestly believe that he can rank as a top-10 scorer in the league within the next two years. He has that much ability, and he has a quality supporting cast around him. Say what you want about the Oilers' defense, but they do have a bevy of young, offensive talent on their roster. He's going to have massive fantasy value in his rookie season.

2) Jack Eichel, F, Buffalo: Eichel has signed his entry-level contract with the Sabres and will be playing in the NHL next season. Not that there was really any doubt. His game is more than ready for the highest level. I don't think he's going to produce as much as McDavid next year. Selecting Eichel in a dynasty league is looking for massive production two or three years down the road. I would expect somewhere around 50 points in his rookie year, which would give him value from Day 1 in deeper leagues. He has franchise-altering ability, but I think it will take some time for him to harness the full extent of his skills.

3) Mitch Marner, F, Toronto: Marner easily has the highest offensive upside of anyone in this draft not named McDavid or Eichel. I'm higher on Marner than most. While I think the comparisons to Patrick Kane are a bit much, I do see him as that type of dynamic offensive talent. It helps that the Leafs have other talented offensive prospects in their system like William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen, who was acquired in the Phil Kessel deal. I expect Marner to return to junior in the coming season. But the long-term upside is there.

4) Dylan Strome, F, Arizona: Arizona has extremely talented wingers in their system in Max Domi and Anthony Duclair, but they don't have many centers. Strome has a ton of offensive ability -- he was the third overall pick, after all -- but I'm rating him so high mostly because I think he's going to be playing with extremely talented players down the road. He'll be the kind of player who will produce 65-to-70 points at his peak. Not a superstar, but a useful asset.

5) Kyle Connor, F, Winnipeg: I was shocked that Connor fell as far as he did in the draft, and the Jets are going to reap the rewards. Connor has elite offensive talent. He's going to probably need at least two years in college, but the skills are there. He will also eventually get to play with Nikolaj Ehlers (who I ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in our last rankings) and Nicolas Petan. Connor's defensive game needs work, and I don't think the Jets will rush him, but he will be worth the pick down the line.

6) Mathew Barzal, F, New York Islanders: The Islanders thought enough of Barzal to deal Griffin Reinhart -- the fourth overall pick just three years ago -- to get him. Barzal missed a ton of time this season due to a freak injury, but he's a playmaking machine. He's the kind of player whose game may translate better to the fantasy realm than people think. If your league values assist totals more than most, an argument can be made that Barzal should be a top-five dynasty asset from this draft.

7) Timo Meier, F, San Jose: There are people out there who think Meier will only be a solid third-line player who can chip in 15 goals a season. I'm not one of them. I see a guy who has an NHL-ready frame and all the tools to be an effective top-six forward. He's almost certainly going to need another year in junior, but I could see him making a jump to the NHL after just one more season in the QMJHL. The Sharks, especially at forward,, are getting old. They need players like Meier to step up.

8) Zach Werenski, D, Columbus: I don't think Werenski will be the best pure defenseman to come out of this draft. I do think that he has the best chance of being a future power-play quarterback and putting up more points on an annual basis than any other defensemen in this draft. I could see Werenski eventually putting up point totals like Calder Trophy winner Aaron Ekblad did this past season -- 12 goals and 49 points. By no means do I think he will be as good an overall player as Ekblad has become, but he has the tools to match him offensively.

9) Mikko Rantanen, F, Colorado: I liked Rantanen's game in Finland enough this season that I thought he was a surefire top-10 talent. The Avs ended up grabbing him at 10th overall. Outside of McDavid and Eichel, I think he has the best chance of any player in this draft to be playing in the NHL next season. Despite being just 18 years old, Rantanen's body (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) will already play in the NHL. Even if he does make the team, I expect Colorado to work him in slowly. He has all the tools to be an effective power forward in the NHL.

10) Noah Hanifin, D, Carolina: It's difficult to believe that Carolina would rush Hanifin to the NHL this season. They're going to be a terrible team, and it would seem to be detrimental to his development to work him in right away.. I don't see Hanifin having the offensive upside that Werenski does, but I think he will be a better all-around player and as a result, on the ice more often. He should have more than enough ability to at least contribute somewhat on the power play. When you combine all that with the fact that Carolina's defensive prospect pool is barren, it makes Hanifin an attractive pick.

11) Ivan Provorov, D, Philadelphia: It was no secret that the Flyers were in love with Provorov throughout the draft process, and they got very lucky that they were able to select him without having to trade up. Philadelphia, whose prospect pool has ranked among the worst in the league for years, suddenly has the best group of young defensemen prospects in the entire NHL. I think Provorov is on the fast track to the parent club.. He could be ready after one more season in either the WHL or AHL. He has the talent and all-around game to be a fantasy standout.

12) Ilya Samsonov, G, Washington: Anyone who needs help next year (or the next three years) shouldn't be selecting Samsonov. He has the best chance of any of the goalies selected in this draft to be an elite netminder, but he's multiple years away. There were rumors that his KHL contract has another three years on it, so we may not see him in North America until 2018. If that turns out to be the case, he should be able to contribute as soon as he comes over. If you have a deep team and can afford to stash Samsonov, he's worth the dynasty selection.

13) Jeremy Bracco, F, Toronto: If you are a frequent RotoWire reader, you know I like Bracco more than most. I see a guy who has elite playmaking skills and a chance to be a productive second-line center. He needs to get much stronger and work on his defensive game, but the talent is undoubtedly there. He's another guy who is several years away from contributing at the NHL level, however.

14) Pavel Zacha, F, New Jersey: Theoretically, Zacha has the tools to be a dominant power forward at the NHL level. The first thing the Devils need to do to ensure that happens is to switch him from center to wing. Considering New Jersey's prospect pool, I would have taken someone safer with my top-10 pick. Zacha has also had health and discipline issues in the OHL last season. The Devils' forward group is so bad at the NHL level that I could see Zacha being with the parent club within the next two years. Even though the upside is there, I'm the first one to admit that I don't know if Zacha will ever reach it.

15) Denis Guryanov, F, Dallas: Speaking of risks, here's another huge one. My biggest concern about Guryanov is that I (nor anyone for that matter) have no any idea when he plans to come over to North America. He's big, strong, and can fly, but he's much like Chris Kreider of the Rangers: he's either the best player on the rink, or he's completely invisible. I probably wouldn't take the risk in a dynasty league unless I had multiple picks. Too many unknowns here.

16) Travis Konecny, F, Philadelphia: The biggest issue that Konecny is going to have in professional hockey will be injuries -- specifically, concussions. A smallish player who plays as hard as Konecny does is always at risk for being seriously injured. Add in the fact that he's dealt with concussion problems in the past, and he becomes a major risk. I liked that the Flyers moved up to draft someone with his offensive skill set, but I'd be worried about him in fantasy leagues. I'm just not totally confident he's going to be able to stay on the ice.

17) Brock Boeser, F, Vancouver: I'm not as high on Boeser as some other draftniks, but I admit that he has the tools to be a very productive NHL player. I also think he has the potential to make a huge jump up the prospects rankings by this time next year. My thinking regarding Boeser is akin to how I viewed Minnesota prospect Alex Tuch last year. I didn't see enough of him to give him a higher ranking, but I could see him improving massively in the next 12 months.

18) Daniel Sprong, F, Pittsburgh: If a team like the Penguins didn't draft Sprong, I'd have him lower on this list. He's a purely offensive player and he's going to an offensive team. I think he can flourish playing with guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but it's going to take some time. His defensive game is nowhere near NHL ready. He's one guy who I think will be available later in fantasy drafts and will be worth the risk.

19) Nicholas Merkley, F, Arizona: I was extremely surprised that Merkley lasted all the way to the 30th overall pick. He's small, but he's a smart player and he's great with the puck on his stick. Merkley is another player who has a high risk of getting injured at the NHL level, but we are seeing more and more undersized players succeed every year. Going to a team that is loading up on top-flight offensive prospects doesn't hurt either.

20) Oliver Kylington, D, Calgary: When Kylington eventually makes it to the NHL, I think he will be a better fantasy player than a real-life one. While their game is different, I think Kylington could have an impact similar to Edmonton's Justin Schultz. Kylington can be mobile and good on the power play, but he's a guy who struggles in his own zone and is a liability at even strength. His plus/minus rating may suffer as a result, but that's not the end of the world for fantasy owners.

21) Evgeni Svechnikov, F, Detroit: Svechnikov strikes me as a guy who can be in the NHL within two years or so, but that seems unlikely since he was drafted by Detroit. The Red Wings are notoriously slow with promoting their top prospects, preferring to develop them over multiple seasons. Svechnikov is a big body and a talented goal scorer, so his game should fit well in Detroit with other prospects like Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin.

22) Zachary Senyshyn, F, Boston: This is another project. Senyshyn received limited ice time this season, and his numbers suffered as a result. He is another guy who could be flying up the rankings by this time next year. The Bruins got bashed (and rightfully so) for some of the things they did on draft weekend, but I think this pick is going to work out for them. Senyshyn has all the tools to be a extremely productive NHL player.

23) Lawson Crouse, F, Florida: As you may already know, I'm of the mind that Crouse will be a third-line winger who struggles to produce offensively. The only reason he is on this list is because he theoretically has the upside to be a dominant NHL power forward. I by no means expect it to happen, but I acknowledge that it's possible. He's worth a shot if you have multiple picks or later selections in your dynasty draft, but there is no way I'd spend a high pick on Crouse.

24) Paul Bittner, F, Columbus: Bittner is another guy for whom I only see two outcomes: a dominant NHL power forward or a complete bust. He has the size and skills to be a big-time scorer, but he's extremely inconsistent and his work ethic has been called into question. Bittner isn't the type of player that I normally like to spend a draft pick on, but he isn't the first 18-year-old kid with consistency issues. Many of them figure it out and go on to enjoy successful pro careers.

25) Anthony Beauvillier, F, New York Islanders: Beauvillier wasn't talked about much leading up to the draft, but the Islanders traded up to select him with the last pick of the first round. He's an undersized, dynamic offensive center that could very well end up being a steal considering how late he was drafted. Beauvillier still needs to get much stronger and is several years away.