If you were sitting in the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, back in June 2015, you probably knew you were watching history. It wasn't just the humidity outside. It was the tension. We all knew Connor McDavid was the "Next One," a generational talent whose highlights on Vine (remember those?) were already breaking the hockey internet. But looking back a decade later, the 2015 NHL Entry Draft wasn't just about the kid from Erie. It was an absolute heist for almost every team in the first round. Honestly, it’s rare to see a draft where the talent is so deep that you could find a franchise pillar at pick twenty-four.
The 2015 class didn't just meet the hype. It shattered it.
Think about it. Most drafts have a "drop-off" point. Usually, after pick ten or fifteen, you’re looking at guys who might be solid third-liners or bottom-pair defensemen. Not this time. In 2015, stars were falling out of the sky. From McDavid and Eichel at the top to absolute steals like Sebastian Aho in the second round, the league was fundamentally altered over a forty-eight-hour period in South Florida. It changed how we value speed. It changed how we value puck-moving defensemen. Basically, it changed everything.
The McDavid vs. Eichel Era Begins
The lead-up to the 2015 NHL Entry Draft was dominated by one phrase: "McEichel." It was the hockey version of "Coke vs. Pepsi," though, in hindsight, one of those sodas turned into a rocket ship. Connor McDavid was coming off a season with the Erie Otters where he put up 120 points in 47 games. Just absurd. He was the consensus number one, and the Edmonton Oilers, having won the lottery for the fourth time in six years, weren't about to pass him up.
Then you had Jack Eichel.
Eichel was doing things at Boston University that eighteen-year-olds shouldn't be able to do against grown men. He won the Hobey Baker. He was powerful, he had that long, deceptive stride, and he was the clear "consolation prize" for the Buffalo Sabres. For a long time, people debated if Eichel could actually challenge McDavid for the top spot. He couldn't, obviously. But being the second-best player in a draft like this is like being the second-best guitarist in the Beatles. You're still a legend.
McDavid’s impact was instant. Even with a broken collarbone early in his rookie year, he showed a level of "skating at 40mph while handling a puck" that the league hadn't seen since Pavel Bure. Maybe ever. He’s already secured multiple Hart Trophies and Art Ross trophies. He’s the benchmark. If you’re a scout today, you aren't looking for the next Gretzky; you’re looking for the next McDavid.
That Ridiculous First Round Depth
Look past the top two. Seriously. The talent in the top ten of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft is staggering. Dylan Strome went third to Arizona. Mitch Marner went fourth to Toronto. Noah Hanifin went fifth to Carolina. Marner, specifically, became a polarizing but undeniably elite playmaker for the Maple Leafs. He’s a guy who can kill penalties and put up 90-plus points while looking like he’s playing a game of pond hockey.
Then you hit the middle of the round.
Mikko Rantanen went tenth to Colorado. Think about that for a second. One of the most dominant power forwards in the modern era, a guy who is a massive reason why the Avalanche won the Cup in 2022, was the tenth player off the board. If you re-drafted today, he’s comfortably top three.
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- Mathew Barzal (16th overall): The Islanders got a franchise center and a Calder winner in the middle of the round. His edge work is still some of the best in the world.
- Kyle Connor (17th overall): Winnipeg grabbed one of the most consistent 40-goal scorers in the league here.
- Thomas Chabot (18th overall): Ottawa found their workhorse defenseman who can play 28 minutes a night.
It’s just talent after talent. Usually, by pick twenty, you’re taking a "project" player. In 2015, you were still getting elite, All-Star caliber NHLers.
The Boston Bruins and the "Three Picks" Infamy
We have to talk about it. If you’re a Bruins fan, skip this part. It hurts. Boston had three consecutive picks in the middle of the first round: 13, 14, and 15. They took Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zachary Senyshyn.
Now, DeBrusk has had a very solid NHL career. He’s a 20-25 goal guy. But the names that went immediately after them?
Mathew Barzal. Kyle Connor. Thomas Chabot.
If Boston hits on even two of those three, the "Perfection Line" era might have resulted in two or three Stanley Cups instead of just a lot of "what ifs." It’s become the go-to example for why scouting is an inexact science. You can have all the draft capital in the world, but in a loaded 2015 NHL Entry Draft, you still have to pick the right kids. Boston went for specific "types" of players—gritty, North-South guys—while the league was pivoting toward the skill and speed of guys like Barzal and Connor.
Beyond the First Round: Finding Diamonds
The second round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft was arguably better than the first rounds of some other years.
Sebastian Aho. Pick 35.
Carolina stole a legitimate number-one center in the second round. Aho has become the heartbeat of the Hurricanes. He’s smart, he’s mean when he needs to be, and his hockey IQ is off the charts. Then you have Roope Hintz going 49th to Dallas. Hintz is a burner, one of the fastest players in the league, and a consistent scoring threat.
Even further down, you find guys like Kirill Kaprizov. The Minnesota Wild took him in the fifth round (135th overall).
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Fifth round!
Kaprizov is a superstar. He’s a "put fans in the seats" kind of player. Finding that kind of talent at 135 is like finding a gold bar in a thrift store bin. It happens, but usually not in the same year that everyone else is also finding gold.
Defensive Game Changers
The defensemen from this class deserve their own spotlight. It wasn't just about the flashy forwards. Ivan Provorov (7th), Zach Werenski (8th), and Noah Hanifin (5th) all became top-pairing guys early in their careers.
Werenski, in particular, changed the dynamic in Columbus. He brought a modern, offensive flair to a blue line that desperately needed it. And let's not forget guys like Rasmus Anderson (53rd overall) or Vince Dunn (56th overall). These aren't just "NHL players." These are guys who play huge minutes and drive puck possession.
Why 2015 Changed Scouting Forever
Before the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, there was still a bit of a bias toward "size." You wanted the 6'3" winger who could grind. But 2015 proved that the "small" guys—the Marners, the Barzals, the Ahos—were the ones who were going to dominate the scoreboard.
The league became faster overnight.
Coaches started realizing that if you didn't have guys who could skate like the 2015 class, you were going to get left behind. The "heavy" game started to fade, replaced by a transition game that favored vision and edge work. You can trace the current "skill-first" era of the NHL directly back to the success of this specific draft group. They didn't just join the league; they took it over.
The Goalie Void?
Interestingly, if there’s one "weakness" in the 2015 draft, it’s the goaltending.
Only a handful of goalies from this class have made a significant impact. Ilya Samsonov was the only goalie taken in the first round (22nd by Washington). MacKenzie Blackwood (42nd) and Adin Hill (76th) have had their moments—Hill eventually winning a Cup with Vegas—but compared to the skaters, the goalie crop was relatively thin. It’s a weird anomaly. Perhaps it’s because the skaters were so good that they just made the goalies look worse in junior? Who knows.
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Misconceptions About the 2015 Class
One big misconception is that everyone knew it would be this good. While we knew the top was heavy, many scouts worried about the "undersized" nature of the mid-round talent. There were genuine concerns that Mitch Marner was too slight for the NHL. People thought Travis Konecny (24th overall) might get bullied.
Obviously, that didn't happen.
The other misconception is that the "Oilers wasted the draft" because they only got McDavid. While it's true their later picks didn't all pan out, getting a McDavid is a "win" regardless of what else happens. You take 97 and you run.
Real-World Impact: The Cup Factor
Look at the rosters of recent Stanley Cup champions. You’ll find 2015 fingerprints everywhere.
- Vegas Golden Knights: Had Adin Hill in net and Jack Eichel as their leading scorer during their 2023 run.
- Colorado Avalanche: Mikko Rantanen was a force in 2022.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: While their core was older, they supplemented with 2015-era talent like Anthony Cirelli (72nd overall).
This draft didn't just provide individual stars; it provided the "missing pieces" for championship puzzles. It gave teams the depth they needed to survive two-month playoff grinds.
The Financial Ripple Effect
The 2015 NHL Entry Draft also changed the salary cap landscape. Because so many of these guys became stars so quickly, they jumped into massive "second contracts" that reset the market.
When McDavid signed his 8-year, $100 million extension, it set the ceiling. Marner’s negotiation with Toronto became a multi-year saga that changed how Restricted Free Agency (RFA) worked. Teams started locking up their 2015 draftees to maximum-term deals as soon as humanly possible because they knew the price was only going up.
Assessing the Legacy
If we rank the greatest drafts of all time, 2003 usually takes the crown. It gave us Fleury, Getzlaf, Perry, Burns, and Bergeron. It was deep. But 2015 is the only year that truly challenges it for the throne.
The sheer "star power" at the top of 2015 is arguably higher. McDavid is better than anyone from 2003. Eichel, Marner, Rantanen, Kaprizov, and Aho are all perennial All-Stars. We are talking about a group that will likely produce five or six Hall of Famers when all is said and done.
Actionable Insights for Hockey Fans
If you’re a fan trying to understand the current state of the NHL, looking back at 2015 is the best "cheat code."
- Watch the "Gap": Compare how McDavid skates vs. a player from the 2010 or 2012 draft. You’ll see the evolution of the "modern stride" that 2015 popularized.
- Scouting Evolution: Notice how teams now value "Hockey IQ" and "Processing Speed" over raw size. This is the 2015 influence.
- Fantasy Hockey Strategy: In dynasty leagues, 2015 players are still the "gold standard" for reliability. Most are in their prime right now (ages 27-29). This is the peak of their production window.
- Re-watch the Highlights: Go back and look at the 2015 World Juniors. It was basically a preview of the NHL’s current elite tier.
The 2015 NHL Entry Draft wasn't just a meeting in Florida. It was a pivot point. The league stopped being about "clutching and grabbing" and started being about "speed and space." Whether you’re an Oilers fan enjoying the McDavid show or a Hurricanes fan watching Aho lead the charge, you’re living in the world that 2015 built. It’s the draft that keeps on giving, and honestly, we might not see another one like it for a long, long time.