The Friesen Files: McDavid dreams of being a Maple Leaf; Eichel’s chance at Beanpot title delayed

In the midst of going through one of the worst stretches in the history of the storied franchise, Connor McDavid preached music to the ears of Toronto Maple Leafs fans. The Erie Otters superstar talked about how he grew up dreaming about one day playing for the Maple Leafs in a recent interview.

“That would be an absolute dream come true,” McDavid told Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun on the possibility of being drafted by the Maple Leafs. “It’s pretty crazy to even think about.”

Unfortunately for Toronto hockey fans, it seems quite unlikely that McDavid will don a blue and white sweater at the 2015 draft. Albeit the Leafs’ odds will go up if the team continues to struggle, they currently only have a 6.5 per cent shot at winning the draft lottery according to 2015 NHL Draft Lottery Simulator. The Buffalo Sabres (20 per cent), Edmonton Oilers (13.5 per cent) and Arizona Coyotes (11.5 per cent) lead the way in the sweepstakes.

In the meantime, the 6-foot-1, 187-pound McDavid has continued to dominate the OHL. He has notched at least one point in all 13 games that he has played in 2015 while racking up 10 goals and 17 assists. He clearly has nothing left to prove as an individual in the OHL, but a championship would be a nice way to end his major junior career. His Otters are near the top of the list among CHL powerhouses with a 36-12-1-2 record.

Jack Eichel, meanwhile, hasn’t skipped a beat since rejoining the NCAA’s Boston Terriers after representing the USA at the world junior championship in Toronto and Montreal. He has bettered his points-per-game ratio in his freshman season by netting seven goals and 16 points in nine 2015 matches.

The North Chelmsford, Mass., native hit centre stage at the prestigious Beanpot tournament on Feb. 3 at TD Garden in Boston. Even though he didn’t register a point, his strong play, which included 10 shots and 25 of 39 faceoff wins, was crucial in helping Boston University top Harvard 4-3 in overtime. He won’t, however, get a shot at the Beanpot title in a matchup against Northeastern until Feb. 23 because inclement weather forced the tourney planners to postpone the game.

“With each shift, Jack’s tremendous hockey sense was on full display,” says International Scouting Services scout Matt Grainda on Eichel’s Beanpot performance. “He knows how to patiently wait for his chances, but is also aware of when to attack the play. His high hockey intelligence allows him to stay in the optimum on-ice position. With the puck on his stick, you really see him showcase his smooth, efficient skating stride and excellent puck control.”

Five To Watch

Matthew Barzal, centre, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) – The Coquitlam, B.C., native headed into this year as a potential top five pick, but a combination of a cracked kneecap injury, some consistency concerns and not quite living up to expectations on the stats sheet (10G-29P-26GP) has dropped his draft stock a notch or two. He now seems to be in a two-horse race with Brandon Wheat Kings blueliner Ivan Provorov to be the first WHL player selected in the upcoming draft. His outstanding vision and play-making abilities should ensure that he will be selected with a top 15 selection, though.

Paul Bittner, wing, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) – With an enticing 6-foot-4, 194-pound stature, Bittner is one of the top power-forwards in the draft. He has used his size, speed and solid shot to rack up 21 goals and 43 points in 47 games this season. His appealing blend of size and skill should ensure that he will be selected with a first-round pick even though there are some consistency issues in the Crookston, MN., native's game.

Mackenzie Blackwood, goalie, Barrie Colts (OHL) – Blackwood is touted by most scouts as the top goalie of the draft class largely because of his imposing 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame and calm, cool and collected demeanor. The traditional-butterfly netminder, who has a 2.90 average and .912 save percentage in 36 matches, positions himself well to give opponents little to shoot at while having the ability to react quickly to shots.

Timo Meier, wing, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) – The Switzerland native has blossomed into a superstar in his second season with the Mooseheads. He has almost doubled his point total from last year with 31 goals and 67 points in 45 games. This offensive production combined with his physicality and versatility led NHL CSS to rank him 12^th among North American skaters in its midterm ranking.

Brock Boeser, wing, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) – The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Boeser, who has 23 goals and 41 points in 37 contests, is regarded as a potential late first-round pick because of his dynamic offensive abilities. His hockey sense is off the charts and he possesses a quick and accurate shot that helps him finish off plays. In addition, advanced stats scouts/bloggers are especially high on him because of his ability to control puck possession.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen