2015 NHL Draft Mock Drafts: BC’s Hanifin Looks Like A Top Pick

While most around here are thinking about Christmas, some around Boston College hockey are thinking about six months from now. The 2015 NHL Draft mock drafts show why for Noah Hanifin and others.

In 2014, the Boston College Eagles had one recruit taken in the first round (it would have been two if not for Sonny Milano’s it’s-not-you-it’s-me about-face), but also got one of their active roster players selected in the second round. The Eagles could again have a player on their current roster taken early in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Yet, Noah Hanifin might not be the only Eagle with draft hopes for June 2015. Keeping in mind that there is a lot of college and junior hockey left to go before the teams make their choices in Florida — and the draft order should see some tweaks — what are those mock drafts saying?

2015 NHL Draft Mock Drafts: Noah Hanifin, D

• DraftSite: Round 1, Pick 3 (Carolina Hurricanes)

• MyNHLDraft: Round 1, Pick 3 (Arizona Coyotes)

2015 NHL Draft Mock Drafts: Colin White, C

• DraftSite: Round 1, Pick 12 (Florida Panthers)

• MyNHLDraft: Round 1, Pick 16 (Calgary Flames)

2015 NHL Draft Mock Drafts: Jeremy Bracco, RW

• DraftSite: Round 2, Pick 35 (New Jersey Devils)

• MyNHLDraft: Round 1, Pick 28 (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Boston College Eagles

Hanifin is a freshman on the Boston College hockey roster; White and Bracco are set to join the program in 2016-17 and 2015-16, respectively.

All three of the above are featured on the Elite Prospects NHL Draft big board of the top 82 names available. They are also considered top-30 NHL Draft prospects by HockeyProspect.com in their most up-to-date rankings for December. Only Jack Eichel of Boston University is a higher-ranked American than Hanifin.

Hanifin has appeared in all 17 games for the Eagles so far this season, recording two goals and five assists. The 6-foot-3 defenseman is still only 17 years old and his best hockey on the Heights and professionally is in front of him. Eagles fans will not have to wait until the team returns from break to see him again: he will be representing the United States in the World Juniors, which begin on Friday.