NHL Draft: Top 10 prospects

This year's NHL draft is considered the most talent-rich in recent memory, and it all begins with Friday's first round in Sunrise, Fla.

Barring the unforeseen, Ontario Hockey League star Connor McDavid will be selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers, with fellow centre Jack Eichel of Boston University going second to the Buffalo Sabres.

From there, it's anyone's guess, given team needs and the potential for clubs to move up or down the draft order through trades.

Below, we profile the projected top 10 picks based on the final NHL Central Scouting rankings:

Connor McDavid

Age: 18

Hometown: Newmarket, Ont.

Position: Centre

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 187 pounds

Junior team: Erie (OHL)

2014-15 stats: 47 games, 44 goals, 76 assists, 120 points

OHL career (3 seasons): 166 games, 97 goals, 188 assists, 285 points

Notes: Considered the best NHL prospect since Pittsburgh chose Sidney Crosby No. 1 overall in 2005 … Explosive skater with soft, skilled hands and excellent vision … Named Canadian junior hockey's player of the year as well as top prospect and scholastic player of the year … Helped Erie reach the OHL final with 21 goals and 49 points in 20 playoff games … Tied for the scoring lead at the 2015 world junior championship with 11 points in seven games to help Canada win gold medal.

Jack Eichel

Age: 18

Hometown: Chelmsford, Mass.

Position: Centre

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 196 pounds

College team: Boston University (NCAA)

2014-15 statistics: 40 games, 26 goals, 45 assists, 71 points

NCAA career: Same as above

Notes: Won Hobey Baker Award in April as top player in U.S. college. First freshman to earn award since ex-NHLer Paul Kariya in 1993 … His 71 points were the most by a freshman since Kariya in '93 … Dynamic centre that possesses elite-level skill set and is a consistent scoring threat … Named Hockey East rookie of the year, Hockey East player of the year and Hockey East tournament MVP … Eichel's plus-51 rating was best in the U.S.

Noah Hanifin

Age: 18

Hometown: Norwood, Mass.

Position: Defence

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 205 pounds

College team: Boston College (NCAA)

2014-15 statistics: 37 games, 5 goals, 18 assists, 23 points

NCAA career: Same as above

Notes: Considered the best defence prospect in draft … Described by scouts as an exceptionally strong skater with excellent hockey sense who isn't afraid to skate with puck. Defensively, Hanifin is said to be aggressive, reliable and patient … Has drawn comparisons to versatile Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty … Represented the U.S. at the 2015 world junior championship.

Dylan Strome

Age: 18

Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.

Position: Centre

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 187 pounds

Junior team: Erie (OHL)

2014-15 statistics: 68 games, 45 goals, 84 assists, 129 points

OHL career (2 seasons): 128 games, 55 goals, 113 assists, 168 points

Notes: Scored 4 goals, 6 points on final day of regular season to win OHL scoring title … His 84 assists and 129 points set an Otters record … Played somewhat in the shadow of Connor McDavid as Erie's second-line centre … Strome is known for his size and playmaking skill … Took most of the faceoffs when he and McDavid were on the ice … Known for his willingness to constantly improve … Scouts say Strome is patient and has puck possession skills to work in traffic.

Lawson Crouse

Age: 17

Hometown: Mt. Brydges, Ont.

Position: Left wing

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 212 pounds

Junior team: Kingston (OHL)

2014-15 statistics: 56 games, 29 goals, 22 assists, 51 points

OHL career (2 seasons): 119 games, 44 goals, 34 assists, 78 points

Notes: Ranked as high as No. 3 on some mid-term reports behind McDavid and Eichel … A big guy that can skate, there are mixed views from scouts. Some view Crouse as a Cam Neely or Milan Lucic-type power forward while others are concerned about his offensive production … Tied for 63rd in OHL scoring but was voted "hardest worker" in the league's end-of-season coaches' poll.

Mitch Marner

Age: 18

Hometown: Thornhill, Ont.

Position: Right wing

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 164 pounds

Junior team: London (OHL)

2014-15 statistics: 63 games, 44 goals, 82 assists, 126 points, plus-36

OHL career (2 seasons): 127 games, 57 goals, 128 assists, 185 points, plus-74

Notes: Finished second to Erie's Dylan Strome in OHL scoring … Named Canadian Hockey League player of the month for November 2014 … Became fastest 17-year-old in Knights history to score 40 goals in a season (56 games) … Has been compared to former Knight Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks … Scouts say Marner possesses exceptional hands, shot, quickness and acceleration.

Ivan Provorov

Age: 18

Hometown: Yaroslavl, Russia

Position: Defence

Height: 6 feet

Weight: 200 pounds

Junior team: Brandon (WHL)

2014-15 statistics: 60 games, 15 goals, 46 assists, 65 points

WHL career: Same as above

Notes: Had 13 points in 19 playoff games this spring … Described as a gifted defenceman, a quick and agile skater with an accurate shot … Provorov was drafted by his hometown team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, in the third round of the 2014 KHL draft but opted to play in the WHL … His defence partner with Brandon, Ryan Pilon, says Provorov can play a physical game and also score highlight-reel goals.

Pavel Zacha

Age: 18

Hometown: Brno, Czech Republic

Position: Centre

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 210 pounds

Junior team: Sarnia (OHL)

2014-15 statistics: 37 games, 16 goals, 18 assists, 34 points

OHL career: Same as above

Notes: Chosen in the second round of the 2014 KHL draft by Donbass Donetsk … Played five games for the Czech Republic at the 2015 world junior championship ... Played 2013-14 season for Liberec in Czech Republic's top league and was mentored by former Vancouver Canucks forward Petr Nedved … Scouts say Zacha looks like a pro, a big power forward with skill.

Zachary Werenski

Age: 17

Hometown: Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Position: Defence

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 207 pounds

College team: University of Michigan (NCAA)

2014-15 statistics: 35 games, 9 goals, 16 points, 25 points

NCAA career: Same as above

Notes: Werenski is known as a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenceman … Scouts also say he plays well under pressure and possesses good vision and awareness on the ice … His 25 points led all U. of Michigan blue-liners … Tied for the Michigan lead with 59 blocked shots … Werenski models his game after Michigan alumni Jack Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jacob Trouba of the Winnipeg Jets.

Timo Meier

Age: 18

Hometown: St. Gallen, Switzerland

Position: Right-winger

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 209 pounds

Junior team: Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

2014-15 statistics: 61 games, 44 goals, 46 assists, 90 points, plus-20

QMJHL career (2 seasons): 127 games, 61 goals, 63 assists, 124 points

Notes: A physical, versatile winger who can be used on a skill line or play the shutdown role … Meier nearly doubled his shot rates this season to 5.5 from 2.8 per game last season … Scored a franchise-record 23 power-play goals this season and tied for second in the Canadian Hockey League with 10 game-winning goals, but some question Meier's speed and there are mixed reports on his defensive game.