Top-Four NHL Draft Picture Is Starting to Crystalize

The mock drafts are starting to agree on one thing - the top of this class is not nearly as messy as people wanted it to be. When enough outlets begin landing on the same four names, it usually means the league’s scouting consensus is hardening behind the scenes. That does not mean the draft room is settled, because one surprise pick can blow up a whole board in a hurry. For teams sitting near the top, the real drama is whether the gap between Nos. 2 and 4 is smaller than everyone thinks.