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SAN JOSE – Timo Meier was briefly Connor McDavid's journeyman.
The Sharks winger played with Edmonton Oilers in the CHL Top Prospects first leg in 2015. They were the top two players in the Canadian Major Junior Championship prior to this year's draft. mid-season ranking of skaters playing in North America.
Still, it was clear to Meier that McDavid far exceeded others.
"You can say that McDavid," said Meier Monday at the Sharks' practice center, "and [eventual No. 2 pick Jack Eichel] were ready to be the best players in the NHL. You could see him right away.
The Meier Sharks will face McDavid's Oilers for the first time this season on Tuesday, and both players have been on the roll for years. McDavid scored 28 points in his first 20 games, more than any of his previous seasons. Meier, meanwhile, scored 12 goals in his first 21 goals and was 11th in the league on Tuesday.
They are not alone either.
On Tuesday morning, three of the NHL's top five scorers this season were 2015 rookies. Winger Mikko Rantanen, who the Colorado Avalanche took a place after Meier in 10th overall, led the league with 32 points. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner – choice # 4 – tied for third with McDavid.
In fact, nine of the 64 players who had scored at least 18 points at that time were drafted in 2015. It was more than any other draft class and equaled the two previous combined projects.
McDavid and Eichel were the only ones playing on their second contract.
"Everyone is looking for cheap talent," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said Monday, "and the only inexpensive talent that currently exists is that of the youngsters. [on their entry-level contracts]. I think this has opened the door for teams to be a little more willing to give a little more look to younger guys, maybe earlier than in the past. "
The draft class 2015 is up. Five players recruited in 2015, including McDavid and Eichel, have formed a team of stars before this year. This group does not include Marner, Rantanen, Mathew Barzal, winner of the Calder Trophy, nor Thomas Chabot, the second defenseman with the most goals in the NHL.
DeBoer regards the 2003 class project as the best he has seen in the last 20 years. He coached or coached a lot of them in juniors and later in the NHL. He is not alone in his assessment either, as 28 players – including current Sharks Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski – in this class have formed a team of stars.
It remains to be seen whether or not the 2015 class will reach these heights, as the most experienced players are only in their fourth season. But, their impact at the beginning of the 2018-2019 campaign is undeniable.
Meier said he did not follow closely the exploits of his peers. However, he occasionally keeps an eye, and he said that seeing their success can be an important motivator.
"You try to push yourself when you see guys your age doing that right," said Meier. "So, I think it's a motivation to see that, and you obviously want to compare yourself with these guys and push your game to improve."
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