Face off: McDavid, Eichel ready to make a difference

BUFFALO, N.Y. — It’s a narrative we’ve seen countless times before: The one where two young prospects are pitted against each other leading up to the NHL draft. In 2010 it was Taylor Hall vs. Tyler Seguin. After that it was Nathan McKinnon vs. Seth Jones and last year the fight to see who would reign as the NHL’s first-overall pick was between Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett.

This year the media construct involves Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. And as much as you will read about these two names being inextricably linked, there is no real debate here. McDavid will go first-overall at the NHL draft on June 26 in Sunrise, Fla. The Edmonton Oilers currently hold the top pick thanks to the draft lottery.

Eichel will go second-overall, most likely to the Buffalo Sabres who are in possession of that No. 2 slot. They are – by far- the best two players eligible for the draft, with McDavid, who has been in the centre of the spotlight since he was 15 years old, holding the edge.

“It’s a fine line,” said Dan Marr, the director of the NHL’s central scouting service at the draft combine. “And I think if you try to project 10 years down the road it’s still going to be a fine line. They both bring a little something a little different to the table, but they’re both going to be big contributors in the National Hockey League, they’re going to make a difference for their team.

“They’re going to impact and put up numbers and they’re going to be special players.”

In the Ontario Hockey League with the Erie Otters, McDavid had a banner year finishing third in scoring with

120 points in only 47 games. He was named the league’s most outstanding player with 94 percent of the media vote. In the playoffs he fell three points shy of breaking the league’s 16-year-old playoff scoring record finishing with 49 points in 20 games. Much to the chagrin of the champion Oshawa Generals, despite losing in the OHL final with Erie, McDavid was still named playoff MVP. Oh, and he also won a gold medal with Canada at the world juniors in which he was named a tournament all-star.

It’s no wonder the reporters were out in droves on Friday afternoon at the NHL’s draft combine in Buffalo, N.Y. to talk to him.

“This is probably the biggest media scrum I’ve ever done – world juniors included,” said McDavid, standing in front of dozens of microphones, cameras and digital recorders. “This has been a big turnout and I understand with the NHL draft it’s a pretty big deal. This is the last step towards that (draft).”

The scrum was no smaller for Eichel, whose accomplishments this season were just as impressive in the

NCAA. The 18-year-old American became only the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award given to the best player in the NCAA. He led the league in scoring with 71 points in 40 games and was one of the best players for Team USA at the world juniors.

On Thursday, Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray told local radio station WGR 550 that Eichel had told teams during their prospect interviews that he would be better than McDavid in the NHL.

“Why should he not believe that,” said Murray.  “Why should he not believe his skill set and whole package? He's confident in it. He's backed that up and had a tremendous year. I don't know why he wouldn't believe that he's the best player.”

Eichel stood by those comments on Friday, though he seemed a little miffed Murray had made them public, especially considering the media focus at the combine.

“I’m pretty confident in my own abilities,” said Eichel. “I know everyone’s making a big deal that I said a comment like that, but I don’t think it was meant at all like that. That wasn’t me comparing myself to Connor or anything like that. It was more me thinking that I’m the best player in the draft – it’s more confidence in my own self.

“I didn’t really think it was going to be a big deal. I thought that was confidential within the team.”

Eichel said he had done interviews with five different NHL teams, while McDavid said he had only spoken with a “couple.” At this point in the season, for these two players at least, the combine testing will have little to no impact on their draft status.

“No player has to prove anything here really,” said Marr. “It’s not a competition. This is an avenue for the strength coaches to get a feel and an assessment for where they are in their athletic development.”

At last year’s combine Calgary Flames prospect Sam Bennett made headlines when he failed to complete a single pull-up at the testing in Toronto. McDavid and Bennett are friends and the fourth-overall pick tweeted to tell the young phenom to “watch out for that pull-up bar.”

McDavid said he’s coming into the testing with one goal in mind.

“Not to embarrass myself,” said the 18-year-old.

This year’s draft is expected to produce a bumper crop of talent, one that could rival the 2003 NHL draft which had every single first-round pick play in at least one NHL game. That draft featured future stars like Eric Staal, Dustin Brown, Corey Perry and Jeff Carter.

“This draft here you’ve got the top two players who are truly exceptional,” said Marr. “You go through the rest of the top 10 and there are a lot of all-star players in this group.”

Despite all the hype linking that exceptional pair together, McDavid and Eichel only met recently prior to the testing at the combine where they spent time getting to know one another. This definitely makes the drama between the two feel more constructed than it is in reality.

“I got to know him a little bit better,” said McDavid of meeting Eichel. “It’s been interesting because we’ve been linked together for so long now, that you start to feel like you know him. It was good to finally meet him and get to know him a little bit better.

“He’s a nice guy.”