2014 NHL Draft: Panthers take Aaron Ekblad 1st overall

Draisaitl, 18, is a left-handed shooting center who has spent time at left wing. The German born forward was selected with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2012 Canadian Hockey League import draft by the Prince Albert Raiders. Draisaitl registered a highly decorated career with the Jungalder Mannheim U18 team of the Deutsche Nachwuchs Liga prior to continuing his career in North America. Some of the accolades he collected included the DNL Player of the Year and the DNL championship in 2011-12.

Draisaitl has registered 163 points in 128 games in the Western Hockey League, a total that was bolstered by a 105 point performance this past season. Draisaitl was ranked as the No. 2 overall North American skater by the ISS during the mid-term evaluation, but dropped down to No. 5 in the final ranking report.

Reinhart, 18, has spent the last three-plus seasons as a member of the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League and acted as the club’s captain over the span of the 2013-14 season. In over 200 games played to date, Reinhart has amassed 254 points and recorded consecutive seasons with at least 35 goals.

Sam is a right-handed forward who has played center and right-wing. Reinhart is praised for his critical thinking and creativity, via the ISS:

In 175 career games, the right-handed shooting defenseman has amassed 116 points and bolstered that total with career high numbers in all three primary offensive categories last season (23 goals, 30 assists and 53 points). In addition to offensive input, Ekblad adds size and strength to the backend. Listed at 6’4, 216 lbs, the young man has the potential to be a physical force once he is introduced to professional strength and nutrition programs.

The term exceptional is often used in association with Ekblad, as the promise of his future is bright, via the ISS: