Finding accurate NHL Hockey Draft 2015 information across the web feels frustrating. You click through outdated pages, miss critical round-by-round data, and still wonder how players like Connor McDavid developed after draft night. This complete guide solves that problem by delivering verified picks, player outcomes, and draft analysis in a single, easy-to-read resource.
What Made the NHL Hockey Draft 2015 a Historic Event?
The 2015 NHL Entry Draft stands apart from nearly every other draft in modern hockey history. Two generational talents sat at the top of the board, and every general manager in the league knew it.
Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel entered the draft with scouting comparisons that echoed Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin in 2005. The hype was real, and the results backed it up. Both players became franchise cornerstones within two seasons of turning professional.
This draft class also produced depth that most years simply cannot match. Players selected outside the top five went on to earn All-Star nods, sign massive contracts, and lead playoff runs. The talent pool extended well beyond the first few picks.
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Who Won the 2015 NHL Draft Lottery?
The Edmonton Oilers won the draft lottery on April 18, 2015, securing the first overall selection. This marked the fourth time in six years that Edmonton landed the top pick, a streak that reshaped the franchise entirely.
The Buffalo Sabres held the second overall pick. They entered the lottery with the worst regular-season record but fell one spot after the Oilers’ lottery win. Arizona, Carolina, and Boston rounded out the top five selections.
The lottery format at the time gave the last-place team a 20% chance at the first pick. Edmonton’s odds sat at 11.5%, making their win a stroke of genuine luck that changed the trajectory of the organization.
Which Player Went First Overall in the NHL Hockey Draft 2015?
Connor McDavid heard his name called first by the Edmonton Oilers on June 26, 2015. The 18-year-old center from Newmarket, Ontario, had just completed a dominant season with the Erie Otters in the OHL, recording 120 points in 47 games.
Scouts universally graded McDavid as a generational prospect. His combination of elite speed, puck handling, and hockey IQ drew direct comparisons to Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux during pre-draft coverage.
McDavid signed his entry-level contract shortly after the draft and joined the Oilers for the 2015-16 season. He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP by his second full year, validating every ounce of pre-draft excitement.
Where Was the NHL Hockey Draft 2015 Held?
The BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, hosted the event. The arena, home of the Florida Panthers, welcomed thousands of fans, scouts, and media members for the two-day event.
Florida proved an unusual but exciting host city. The warm-weather location contrasted sharply with the traditional hockey markets that typically host the draft, and attendance numbers reflected strong fan interest.
The venue setup allowed teams to conduct live trade negotiations on the floor, and several blockbuster deals took shape during the broadcast. The From the first selection to the last, the BB&T Center was a hive of activity.
How Did the First Round of the NHL Hockey Draft 2015 Unfold?
The opening round delivered on every promise the scouting community made throughout the year. Teams selected skilled forwards and mobile defensemen at a rate that signaled a clear shift in how organizations valued speed and creativity.
Edmonton took McDavid at number one. Buffalo followed with Jack Eichel, the Boston University center who posted 71 points in 40 games as a freshman. Arizona selected Dylan Strome third overall, giving the Coyotes a high-end playmaker to build around.
Toronto grabbed Mitch Marner at fourth, a move that paid enormous dividends within three seasons. The New York Islanders surprised some observers by taking Mathew Barzal at 16th overall after a trade-down maneuver with Vancouver.
What Were the Top 10 Picks in the NHL Hockey Draft 2015?
The following table breaks down every first-round selection with team, position, and nationality data sourced directly from NHL.com and Hockey-Reference.com.
| Pick | Player | Position | NHL Team | Nationality | Junior/College Team |
| 1 | Connor McDavid | C | Edmonton Oilers | Canada | Erie Otters (OHL) |
| 2 | Jack Eichel | C | Buffalo Sabres | USA | Boston University (HE) |
| 3 | Dylan Strome | C | Arizona Coyotes | Canada | Erie Otters (OHL) |
| 4 | Mitch Marner | RW | Toronto Maple Leafs | Canada | London Knights (OHL) |
| 5 | Noah Hanifin | D | Carolina Hurricanes | USA | Boston College (HE) |
| 6 | Pavel Zacha | C | New Jersey Devils | Czech Republic | Sarnia Sting (OHL) |
| 7 | Ivan Provorov | D | Philadelphia Flyers | Russia | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 8 | Zach Werenski | D | Columbus Blue Jackets | USA | University of Michigan (B1G) |
| 9 | Timo Meier | RW | San Jose Sharks | Switzerland | Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) |
| 10 | Mikko Rantanen | RW | Colorado Avalanche | Finland | TPS Turku (Liiga) |
Source: NHL.com Official Draft Records; Hockey-Reference.com Draft Tracker
This first round produced six future All-Stars in the top ten alone. That concentration of elite talent remains one of the highest in any single draft over the past two decades.
Which NHL Hockey Draft 2015 Picks Became All-Stars?
The depth of this draft class reveals itself when you look beyond the top three selections. Mitch Marner developed into a consistent 90-point winger for Toronto NHL Hockey Draft 2015. Mathew Barzal won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2018 and became the Islanders’ primary offensive engine.
Ivan Provorov logged top-pairing minutes for Philadelphia within two seasons. Zach Werenski emerged as a number-one defenseman for Columbus and signed a long-term extension worth over $7 million annually.
Mikko Rantanen evolved into a 50-goal scorer for Colorado and played a critical role in the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship. The hit rate on first-round picks from this class dramatically outperformed the historical average of roughly 50%.
How Did Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel Compare After the Draft?
The McDavid-Eichel rivalry defined the early narrative surrounding this draft class. Both players entered the league with enormous expectations, and both delivered immediately.
McDavid recorded 48 points in 45 games during his injury-shortened rookie season. Eichel posted 56 points in 81 games for Buffalo, showing remarkable consistency as a teenager on a rebuilding roster.
By the 2017-18 season, McDavid had already captured two Art Ross Trophies and a Hart Trophy. Eichel developed into a legitimate number-one center and eventually led the Vegas Golden Knights to the 2023 Stanley Cup after a trade from Buffalo. Both players fulfilled their generational billing.
What Surprises Defined the Later Rounds?
Round two through seven produced several players who outperformed their draft position significantly. Jordan Greenway, selected 50th overall by Minnesota, became a reliable top-six forward. Anthony Cirelli, taken 72nd by Tampa Bay, developed into one of the league’s premier two-way centers and won two Stanley Cups.
Sebastian Aho fell to the second round at pick 35, a selection that now looks like one of the biggest steals in recent memory. Aho became Carolina’s franchise center and a perennial All-Star candidate.
Jake DeBrusk, Jeremy Roy, and Denis Malgin also carved out NHL careers after being selected outside the first round. The middle rounds of this draft provided exceptional value for teams that scouted aggressively.
How Does This Draft Class Rank Historically?
Hockey analysts frequently place the 2015 class among the top five drafts of the 21st century. The combination of two generational players at the top and extraordinary depth through the middle rounds gives this group a statistical profile that rivals 2003 and 2005.
According to data from Elite Prospects, over 60 players from this draft have played at least 100 NHL games. That number continues to grow as late bloomers establish themselves in league lineups.
The total career points accumulated by this class already exceed most comparable drafts from the same era. When you factor in Stanley Cup contributions, individual awards, and All-Star appearances, the 2015 group stands in elite company.
Which Teams Benefited Most From the Draft?
Edmonton clearly gained the most from landing McDavid. His presence transformed the Oilers from a perennial lottery team into a playoff contender and eventual Western Conference finalist.
Colorado’s selection of Rantanen at 10th overall proved equally transformative. Paired with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, Rantanen helped build a championship roster in Denver.
Tampa Bay’s third-round selection of Cirelli gave the Lightning a defensive specialist who contributed to back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021. Smart drafting in the later rounds often separates championship teams from pretenders, and the 2015 class provided ample proof.
What Lessons Did General Managers Learn?
This draft reinforced the importance of prioritizing speed and skill over size in the early rounds. Teams that drafted mobile, creative players saw faster returns on their investments than those who targeted physical, stay-at-home defensemen.
The success of European selections like Rantanen and Aho also encouraged scouts to expand their coverage of Finnish and Swedish leagues. Organizations that invested heavily in European scouting departments gained a measurable advantage.
Trade-down strategies proved effective for teams like the Islanders, who acquired Barzal by moving back in the first round. Accumulating picks while still landing top-tier talent became a blueprint that several front offices adopted in subsequent drafts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first pick in the NHL Hockey Draft 2015?
Connor McDavid went first overall to the Edmonton Oilers. He played junior hockey with the Erie Otters and entered the draft as the consensus top prospect.
How many rounds were in the NHL Hockey Draft 2015?
The draft consisted of seven rounds with 211 total selections. Every NHL team received at least one pick in each round unless trades altered their original allocations.
Where did the NHL Hockey Draft 2015 take place?
The event took place on June 26–27, 2015, at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. The arena is the home rink of the Florida Panthers.
Which team drafted Connor McDavid?
The Edmonton Oilers selected McDavid with the first overall pick after winning the 2015 draft lottery with 11.5% odds.
Who was the draft’s biggest thief?
Sebastian Aho, selected 35th overall by Carolina, stands out as the most valuable pick relative to draft position. He became a franchise center and multiple-time All-Star.
How many players from this draft reached the NHL?
Over 60 players from the 2015 class have played 100 or more NHL games, according to Elite Prospects data. That number ranks among the highest for any single draft in the past 20 years.
Conclusion
The 2015 draft class reshaped the competitive landscape of professional hockey and continues to influence how teams evaluate young talent today. Whether you follow McDavid’s record-breaking seasons, track Barzal’s playmaking in New York, or watch Aho lead Carolina’s offense, the impact of this single weekend in Florida remains impossible to ignore.
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