Working on a rumor update but first I wanted to pass along some info that I found fascinating.

I am the first to admit that the NHL Draft is not my forte. I generally don't get much chance to track even the top prospects until shortly before the Draft and I do not usually become seriously interested in most until they get on the radar screen of being contracted -- or not contracted, such as the case of Justin Schultz a year ago -- young NHL players.

Of course, there are some exceptions. Connor McDavid is one of them. The fact that NHL people are even talking about him TWO YEARS before he becomes eligible for the 2015 Draft speaks to how exciting his potential is. Since the early 1990s, I can only think of four players who were people's NHL Draft radar THAT far ahead of their Draft eligibility: Eric Lindros, Joe Thornton, Sidney Crosby and John Tavares.

I recently spoke with a longtime NHL scout about McDavid who told me that he's not only the likely 2015 top overall pick at this point, at his current development level, he could have been drafted THIS year if he'd have been eligible and would almost definitely be a top-four pick a year from now. The scout said that there is "almost too much time" to evaluate McDavid because expectations are already so high and the more scouts see a player, the more they pick apart his weak points. There's likely to be some of that with McDavid in his draft year but when all is said and done -- just like Tavares before him -- he still projects as pretty much the no-brainer first overall pick of 2015.

I couldn't help but ask this question: "Do you think he's going to be the next Crosby?"

"It's way too early to say that, and no one wants to put that sort of pressure on a kid," the scout said. "But what I will say is that he's on track right now to become the type of player who goes on to be a star in the NHL."

McDavid was incredible for gold-medalist Canada at the Under-18 WJC earlier this year, according the scout. He dominated almost at will in putting up 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) in just 7 games, and it wasn't just statistical dominance. He shredded defenses at will.

It's going to a fun next two years following this kid right up the 2015 Draft.

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