2015 NHL Draft Preview: Best Players Available

The NHL Draft begins tonight with the first round. 30 players will begin a new chapter of their careers as professional players for NHL organizations.

It should be an eventful night with many picks and potential trades.

Flyerdelphia has you covered with your guide to the best players available in the draft at each position. Here are the top five at each position with some information about the player and his stats from the previous season.

Additionally, you'll find links to all of our draft prospect profiles from the past two months.

Centers
Connor McDavid – Erie Otters (OHL), 6'1", 194 lbs, 18 years old, 47 GP, 44 G, 76 A, 120 P
Jack Eichel – Boston University, 6'2", 196 lbs, 18 years old, 40 GP, 26 G, 45 A, 71 P
Dylan Strome – Erie Otters (OHL), 6'3", 185 lbs, 18 years old, 68 GP, 45 G, 84 A, 129 P
Pavel Zacha – Sarnia Sting (OHL), 6'3", 212 lbs, 18 years old, 37 GP, 16 G, 18 A, 34 P
Mathew Barzal – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), 6'0", 181 lbs, 18 years old, 44 GP, 12 G, 45 A, 57 P

Wingers
Mitch Marner – London Knights (OHL), 5'11", 163 lbs, 18 years old, 63 GP, 44 G, 82 A, 126 P
Lawson Crouse – Kingston Frontenacs (OHL), 6'4", 216 lbs, 17 years old, 56 GP, 29 G, 22 A, 51 P
Mikko Rantanen – TPS (Liiga), 6'4", 212 lbs, 18 years old, 56 GP, 9 G, 19 A, 28 P
Timo Meier – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL), 6'1", 209 lbs, 18 years old, 61 GP, 44 G, 46 A, 90 P
Kyle Connor – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), 6'1", 183 lbs, 18 years old, 56 GP, 34 G, 46 A, 80 P

Defenseman
Noah Hanifin – Boston College, 6'2", 205 lbs, 18 years old, 37 GP, 5 G, 18 A, 23 P
Ivan Provorov – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 6'0", 201 lbs, 18 years old, 60 GP, 15 G, 46 A, 61 P
Zach Werenski – Michigan, 6'1", 201 lbs, 17 years old, 35 GP, 9 G, 16 A, 25 P
Jakub Zboril – St. John Sea Dogs (QMJHL), 6'0", 184 lbs, 18 years old, 44 GP, 13 G, 20 A, 33 P
Brandon Carlo – Tri-City Americans (WHL), 6'4", 198 lbs, 18 years old, 63 GP, 4 G, 21 A, 25 P

Goalies
Ilya Samsonov – Stalnye Lisy Magnitorgorsk (WHL), 6'3", 203 lbs, 18 years old, 18 GP, 2.66 GAA, .918 SV%
Mackenzie Blackwood – Barrie Colts (OHL), 6'4", 216 lbs, 18 years old, 51 GP, 3.09 GAA, .906 SV%
Daniel Vladar – HC Kladno (Czech2), 6'5", 185 lbs, 17 years old, 8 GP, 1.97 GAA, .933 SV%
Callum Booth – Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), 6'3", 198 lbs, 18 years old, 41 GP, 3.05 GAA, .900 SV%
Samuel Montembeault – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL), 6'3", 174 lbs, 18 years old, 52 GP, 2.59 GAA, .891 SV%

Draft Prospect Profiles
Travis Konecny – Ottawa 67's (OHL), 5'10", 176 lbs, 18 years old, 60 GP, 29 G, 39 A, 68 P
Nick Merkley – Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 5'10", 192 lbs, 18 years old, 72 GP, 20 G, 70 A, 90 P
Paul Bittner – Portland Winterhawks (WHL), 6'4", 203 lbs, 18 years old, 66 GP, 34 G, 37 A, 71 P
Joel Eriksson Ek – Farjestad (SHL), 6'2", 183 lbs, 18 years old, 34 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 P
Oliver Kylington – AIK (Allsvenskan), 6'0", 181 lbs, 18 years old, 17 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 P
Thomas Chabot – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL), 6'2", 181 lbs, 18 years old, 66 GP, 12 G, 29 A, 41 P
Brock Boeser – Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL), 6'0", 192 lbs, 18 years old, 57 GP, 35 G, 33 A, 68 P
Jake DeBrusk – Swift Current Broncos (WHL), 6'0", 176 lbs, 18 years old, 72 GP, 42 G, 39 A, 81 P
Jeremy Roy – Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL), 6'0", 187 lbs, 18 years old, 46 GP, 5 G, 38 A, 43 P
Jansen Harkins – Prince George Cougars (WHL), 6'1", 183 lbs, 18 years old, 70 GP, 20 G, 59 A, 79 P
Filip Chlapik – Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL), 6'1", 196 lbs, 18 years old, 64 GP, 33 G, 42 A, 75 P
Nicolas Meloche – Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL), 6'3", 205 lbs, 17 years old, 44 GP, 10 G, 24 A, 34 P
Matej Tomek – Topeka RoadRunners (NAHL), 6'3", 181 lbs, 18 years old, 33 GP, 1.83 GAA, .928 SV%

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.