I specify that these are not the choices that I will make but what I think the franchises will do
1 O.Power - Buffalo
By selecting Power, Buffalo makes his weak point his strong point and gives Dahlin some serious help. The prospect of a defensive body led by Dahlin and Power is very attractive. Eichel should bite into this project with Cozens and Mittelstadt in C2 and C3.
2 M.Beniers - Seattle
New team without pool prospect, Seattle should go on a center. Beniers or Eklund. I rather see Seattle going to Beniers to follow the dominant trend.
3 W.Eklund - Anaheim
This prospect is very underestimated. Yet he is more valuable than Lucas Raymond last year. Anaheim selected Drysdale last year and offensively it's poor. The franchise likes the Swedes. The temptation to take Luke Hughes exists but by rereading Anaheim's current workforce and hopes, the void seems too spectacular to me. Anaheim needs an additional elite striker alongside Zegras and Comtois. Preferably a player capable of playing center.
4 L.Hughes - New Jersey
Clarke is more suited to New Jersey's needs. But Luke Hughes is Jack's brother and that matters. For the cohesion of a collective project, in the perspective of the signing of contract (which makes more the difference than the draft), I think that New Jersey will choose to surround Jack by Luke. With the prospect of getting Quinn in the future if Ty Smith keeps pushing up his hill. However, Graeme Clarke is also in the organization. So family reasons are equally valid for each other. The choice of New Jersey could be made easier by the selection of L. Hughes in 3.But considering that W. Eklund is selected in 3; I see L.Hughes in 4. Choice perhaps too influenced by my desire.
5 B.Clarke - Columbus
Seth Jones wants to leave. Brandt Clarke would automatically resolve his replacement issue and Columbus could steer Seth Jones' trade towards an forward. If Clarke is available in 5, I hardly see Columbus going to a cross considering that this need will be met by a trade with Jones. If Jones did not want to leave, the decision would inevitably be opposed.
6 K.Johnson - Detroit
Larkin has been weak this year. Veleno will never be an elite center in NHL. There is much less need on the wing and in defense. I think Detroit will pick a creative and technical center capable of leading a line with Raymond as the assisting winger and / or Zadina as the scoring winger. I didn't even take into account that Johnson was already playing in Michigan.
7 D.Guenther - San Jose
It wouldn't be my choice as I would rather go to Lucius, Wallstedt or Edvinsson if I chose for San Jose. But I rather see San Jose selecting Guenther. I hesitated with Wallstedt but the fact that Knight and Askarov weren't top 10 picked blocked that thought. Very clearly, I see San Jose not making the best choice in my eyes. Every year these are things that happen. Edvinsson may not seem strong enough to be chosen in Guenther's place, and Lucius must not appear safe enough.
8 S.Edvinsson - LA Kings
The pool prospect is already complete in offensive. Cal Petersen has shown some interesting things that may deter Wallstedt's selection. I can see LA being seduced by this player to lead the new defensive generation.
9 C.Sillinger - Vancouver
Prospect too underestimated. I don't see Vancouver picking a defender if Lambos is the BPA in 9. I can see Vancouver choosing a pure center by giving in to the temptation of having two elite centers in the future for a decade. The other alternative would be Lucius. But he is less physical, has played less. Sillinger played in the WHL and his father in the organization. These are reasons that may lead Vancouver to have collected more information on this player.
10 J.Wallstedt - Ottawa
Last year, I would have rather selected Askarov in 5 but I saw Ottawa not do it. I have very little respect for Ottawa's choices. Sanderson for Drysdale, Thomson for Heinola. On draft day it seemed like a mistake to me. The time that has passed has reinforced these feelings. Lucius can be thought to complement Stutzle and Tkachuk. But the need for the goalkeeper position is too great. Ottawa has been dragging this issue around for too long and it's not Mads Sogaard, another bad choice from Ottawa, who will solve it. Ottawa would pleasantly surprise me by taking what I think is the right direction.
11 C.Lucius - Chicago
I have Lucius in high esteem. 7th on my board. But I see him slipping. Last year Chicago made the two choices I would have made in their place: Reichel and Commesso. The guardian position is no longer a problem and in any case Wallstedt is no longer available in my mock. Dach has enormous qualities but I see him more as a physical and mobile C2 that weighs on the defenses. Lucius has qualities that match Dach's weaknesses, and Dach fills Lucius' weaknesses. Kane and Toews won't really be in the game anymore when Dach and Lucius enter their prime.
12 M.McTavish - Calgary
Player over-rated by NHL central roster. But in 12, even though he's only 13th on my board, I don't see him slipping any lower. More physical than Lucius, McTavish had a very good U18 tournament. But it must be remembered that it was worn by two players younger than him while Lucius was away. He can indeed start higher considering precedents like Hayton. But that would be a mistake as Hayton was a mistake. McTavish should appear as a safe choice in 12 for Calgary.
13 F.Pinelli - Philadelphie
Philadelphia has a need for a center. I am used to seeing reachs for centers even if this was not the case in 2019 and 2020. But in the middle of the table in the first round, with mainly wingers and defenders still available, I can see a reach for Pinelli by a team that esteems him higher. Why is my intuition leading me to Philadelphia? Arguably the rest of the trauma of WTF 2018 pick: Jay O'Brien. Considering the fact that no talent center has taken over the past 3 years, that Patrick is finished before he started, I see Philadelphia doing what would be a good reach. Aatu Raty doesn't seem to me to come across as a true center to attract Philadelphia and he should be penalized by his poor season and inability to show himself as a playmaker.
14 S.Pastujov - Dallas
Other alternatives: Lysell, Lambos, Raty, Chibrikov... I have Pastujov very high on my list (11th). I think we undervalue USDP players in mocks every year, including in 2019. Dallas has often surprised. My choice was influenced by the fact that Dallas has no winger in its pool prospect and the NHL winger is not very interesting even taking into account the progress of Robertson.
15 A.Raty - NY Rangers
The prospect pool is so deep in defense that NY Rangers are forced to free up chairs and there is still room for Schneider or even Robertson. So I don't think NY Rangers will select Lambos. Wingers outnumber centers in the roster. I see NY Rangers selecting Aatu Raty by giving in to the temptation to get an elite center if he's well developed.
