By @MichaelCaples –
The 2014 NHL Draft took place less than two weeks ago.
That means that scouts are two weeks into preparing for next year’s draft class.
NHL Central Scouting released their ‘Futures’ list today, giving their first list of players to watch for the 2015 NHL Draft at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. (home of the Florida Panthers).
The 2015 edition will be headlined by the battle between the OHL’s Connor McDavid and NTDP product Jack Eichel for the top spot, while there will be plenty of Michigan names to keep an eye on, as well. Zach Werenski and Kyle Connor have already been discussed in the hockey circles as potential first-round picks, and with there being almost a year until next year’s draft, who knows who will move up or down on draft boards throughout the season.
Here are the Michigan names that appear on the NHL Central Scouting 2015 ‘Futures’ List for North-American born players (in no particular order):
Sam Miletic – Left Wing – Cranbrook-Kingswood (MI HS) – 5-foot-11, 188 pounds
Doug Blaisdell – Defenseman – Kitchener (OHL) – 6-foot-2, 205 pounds
Nick Boka – Defenseman – U.S. NTDP (USHL) – 6-foot-1, 193 pounds
Kyle Connor – Center – Youngstown (USHL) – 6-foot-1, 170 pounds
Brent Gates – Center – Green Bay (USHL) – 6-foot-1, 172 pounds
Cooper Marody – Center – Muskegon (USHL) – 5-foot-11, 165 pounds
Brendan Warren – Left Wing – U.S. NTDP (USHL) – 6-foot, 176 pounds
Zach Werenski – Defenseman – U.S. NTDP (USHL) – 6-foot-1, 206 pounds