newdimension
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- May 18, 2013
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Another draft year is here. It seems like an intriguing year overall and should be a fun one to follow. As always with the pre-WJC mock, it's still really early, so there's tons of time for drastic changes, including variations and edits to my comparisons.
The draft order is a post-playoffs format, based on the rankings as of December 3rd, my cutoff date. Right now, I'm predicting Florida and the New York Rangers to come out of the East, with Dallas and Los Angeles as the final 2 in the west. I'm then predicting Dallas wins the Cup, defeat Florida, who become back-to-back runners-up.
As for the lottery, the results as per tankathon:
1. Columbus; 2. Chicago.
ROUND ONE
1. Columbus: Macklin Celebini, C
After having Adam Fantilli land in their lap last year, they further build up their middle depth by winning the lottery in this scenario. Celebrini is "the guy" for this year's draft and would held build up their center depth, along with the aforementioned Fantilli.
Comparison: For me, the best way to describe him is as a mixture of Matthew Beniers and Nathan MacKinnon. Blessed with great speed, he's not as dynamic and explosive as MacKinnon, nor is he as tall as Beniers, but some sort of blend of energetic, two-way center with excellent goal-scoring potential is a possibility.
2. Chicago: Cayden Lindstrom, C/RW
If the Hawks manage to luck out and win another lottery pick, it'd be something else. In this case, I sense they could turn their sights on Cayden Lindstrom, who would give their forward core an immediate boost in size, skill and physicality. Thanks to his offensive output and abdundant upside, he's been rocketing up draft boards, possibly making him a threat to go 2nd overall.
Comparison: Think of him as a Brady Tkachuk/Johan Franzen-meets-Eric Staal type of hybrid. He's a huge power forward that's versatile, brings physicality and offensive prowess. His size and strength alone should help him succeed in the next few years.
3. San Jose: Cole Eiserman, LW
As first, I considered Demidov in this spot. Ultimately, I'm sticking with their Boston connections, pushing them to take Cole Eiserman. They could feel that he'd make a good combo alongside Will Smith in the future, giving them a potential top line sniper to put pucks in the net.
Comparison: Vladmir Tarasenko. All of his strengths are in his shooting ability -- ranging from shot strength, to accuracy to his overall release. Paired with the right center, he could become a dynamic 40+ goal guy, even with concerns about his overall, two-way game.
4. Minnesota: Berkly Catton, C/LW
The Wild are in need of center depth. If they continue their season of despair, someone like Berkly Catton feels like someone their analytics team would highly covet. He's soeone whose ranking is quite inconsistent, so he could find himself taken earlier if a team likes him.
Comparison: Tim Stutzle. A zone-entry machine, Catton brings superb skill to a team, working as either a center o a wing. Not only can he be a dangeorus setup guy, he also possesses excellent playmaking vision.
5. Ottawa: Anton Silayev, D
You can't deny the Sens love their guys with size. They may also look to deepen their talent pool on defense by adding the hulking blueliner. Drafting a Russian may be out of the ordinary for them at this point, yet they can't pass on the potential Silayev could bring them.
Comparison: Jay Bouwmeester. Standing a massive 6'7", Silayev is huge on defense. For his size, he skate supremely well and is an active, mobile two-way defender with tons of potential. While he's a little raw now, he could very well turn into a top tiered defenseman.
6. Edmonton: Sam Dickinson, D
On one hand, the Oilers could opt to trade this pick for immediate help. If not, they could straight up select Dickinson, who fits the criteria of what they love in players. They need someone that can play defense and shutdown opposition, which is exactly what he can provide for them.
Comparison: Something between a Kaiden Guhle and Jake Sanderson type of defenseman. Whether Dickinson has #1D potential remains to be seen, but he boasts plenty of tools. He's not an offensive guy; his bread and butter will be shutting down opponents with his excellent skating, physicality and two-way play.
7. Anaheim: Ivan Demidov, RW
They've been arming themselves with elite forward talent the past few years and the trend continues here, with the Russian factor, injuries and size pushing Demidov down the board. He could be the crown jewel for their right wing in a few years; and may even find himself in consideration for the top 3 by the end of the year.
Comparison: Artemi Panarin. While not the largest guy, Demidov brings plenty of offensive skill from the wing position. He's got the potential to be that rare breed of offensive winger that drives play and can carry a line.
8. Seattle: Artyom Levshunov, D
The Kraken could use a potentially elite defenseman to add to their core. With his play in the NCAA, Levshunov fits that to a tee. There's absolutely top pairing potential with him, it just depends on if he can reel in his play or not.
Comparison: Zack Werenski. Levshunov's a roving defenseman that loves to attack, often at the detriment of his own defense. He loves putting shots on goal and can provide plenty of offense from the point.
9. Buffalo: Zayne Parekh, D
They've leaned on drafting forwards in recent years. They may look to grab an offensive defenseman such as Parekh for their selection this year. He's had a breakout campaign in the OHL and it could get him rocketing up draft lists, perhaps even within the top 10.
Comparison: PK Subban. An offensive, attacking defenseman, he skates well, rushes with the puck, owns goal-scoring instincts and even engages physically. His defensive coverage may be lacking, but there's still tons of time for him to develop a two-way game.
10. Nashville: Konsta Helenius, C/RW
Helenius is someone that could challenge for a top 5 selection, with the only thing holding him back being his lack of size. If they can get him here, Nashville would be thrilled. It'd give them a potential top line forward with elite hockey senses, aiding in the rebuilding of their core, with Helenius on an absolute tear in the Liiga, putting up excellent numbers.
Comparison: Sebastian Aho. Blessed with high hockey IQ, Helenius gets by with his elite smarts. While he's not the biggest guy on the ice, he uses his skill to produce at both ends of the ice.
11. Montreal: Trevor Connelly, LW/RW
Tearing up the USHL, Connelly's has found himself quickly rising up draft boards especially in part due to an incredible Hlinka tournament. With the Habs going defense in recent drafts, they need an influx of skilled, offensive forwards pretty badly. Connelly could be atop that list, giving them a potential top line forward with tons of versatility.
Comparison: Jonathan Huberdeau. Connelly's a slick, talented scoring winger that brings plenty of versatility, playmaking and scoring touch. If he keeps developing at his current pace, he could turn into a high-impact offensive winger at the pro level.
12. Calgary: Tij Iginla, RW
Drafting Jarome Iginla's son to the Flames seems like a perfect fit. He's been leaping up draft boards with vigor due to his offensive firepower. Knowing that they also need snipers in their system, it'd be difficult for them to pass on him if he's there.
Comparison: Something between a Sam Bennett and TJ Oshie. There's a lot to like about Iginla, possibly even being comparable to his own dad. For now, though; I'll compare him to something like a cross between Oshie and Sam Bennett -- a goal-scoring/sniper that works hard, can be aggressive and feisty when on the ice.
13. New Jersey: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW
Set to become the highest Norweigan talent ever drafted, Nygard exemplifies the type of winger that the Devils are looking for. They'd love to add some physical, goal scoring wingers to play alongside their top end centers, with Nygard being one of the best of the bunch.
Comparison: Adrian Kempe. Nygard's got a stellar release, can punish with hard body checks and brings an aura of stability and leadership when on the ice. He's a high-character player that plays a scoring power winger's game, while also being defensively sound and is able to step in right away to play.
14. San Jose [from Pittsburgh]: Zeev Buium, D
The Sharks could use a potential powerplay quarterback in their prospect pipeline. They address this by taking Buium, who's leapfrogging up draft boards, thanks to being an offensive whirlwind on skates at the NCAA level. Mike Grier and company love their American kids, so he could be the latest on their radar.
Comparison: Jamie Drysdale. Buium's one of the best pure skaters in the draft, able to move and weave about with ease. He uses this strength to help add offense from the blueline and can be counted on as a future powerplay contributor.
15. Chicago [from Tampa Bay]: Carter Yakemchuk, D
Again, they go back to western Canada, an area they've shown a lot of interest in during previous draft sessions. At minimum, Yakemchuk gives them more depth on the right-hand side, giving them a dependable guy that adds leadership to their young core.
Comparison: K'Andre Miller. Yakemchuk has a lot of pro tools that can stand out, if given a proper developmental path. He's got the skating, the size, physicality and a big shot that keeps opposing teams earnest. He's an upside guy that needs to work on his decision making.
16. Philadelphia: Adam Jiricek, D
The Flyers could take a chance on a falling Jiricek, who came into the season thought of as a top 10 selection. Unfortunately, injuries and lack of production have set him back slightly. Danny Briere has shown a willingness to jump on fallers, so he does the same here.
Comparison: Cam Fowler. The hope is that he can become an ideal #2-3 two-way defenseman at the top end, who can also provide good speed and a well-rounded game. He relies more on offense, but can settle things down defensively, as well.
17. St. Louis: Liam Greentree, RW
Greentree has been the lone brightspot on a very bad Windsor team. The Blues could take notice of his efforts and jump on him here, loving the potential he could bring, thinking they have the right guys to surround him in order to find success.
Comparison: Matthew Boldy. Greentree is a work in progress. He's not the fastest or the best skater, but he provides good complementary offense and has quality overall, well-rounded play.
18. New York Islanders: Alfons Freij, D
The Islanders could look to fill their blueline depth by adding the Swedish defenseman, Alfons Freij. They're not strange to drafting players developing overseas, with Freij likely being someone on their radar. They'd be willing to give him plenty of time to develop to see what they have on their hands.
Comparison: Devon Toews. Something like Toews could be Freij's upside. Consider him a very mobile defenseman that brings smart playmaking and two-way smarts.
19. Arizona: Igor Chernyshov, LW/RW
They've been open to drafting Russians in the past. Why stop now? Chernyshov would go great with the kids they've taken in recent years. He's got potential -- it just remains to be seen what his overall upside is.
Comparison: Alex Tuch. Chernyshov's another two-way power forward type that plays a dependable game at both ends of the rink. He engages physically, able to truck opposing players with big hits, while also defending well and adding offense.
20. Washington: Nikita Artamanov, LW/RW
Speaking of a team that's been a welcome home to Russian talent, the Capitals are on the board. With Artamanov having a spectacular season overseas, he may be flyng high on their radar, willing to take the risk on the Russian factor, hoping they have a steal on their hands.
Comparison: Teuvo Teravainen. Artamanov is a highly skilled, high-motor player that's able to produce excellent playmaking and well-rounded play.
21. Winnipeg: Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D
The past few years, they've focused on drafting forwards. This year, they may opt to change things up a bit by targeting their defense. Wallenius has been on fire in Sweden this year, showing his instincts as a puck-mover. It might be the type of player that the Jets would be willing to bet on, liking the fact that he can play on either side of the ice.
Comparison: Cam York. He's a speedy, puck-rushing defenseman that can push the pace of play, along with bringing good two-way on-ice smarts and ability.
22. Toronto: Ryder Ritchie, RW/LW
The son of former NHL role player, Byron Ritchie, Ryder brings some bloodline to the Leafs prospect core. His versatility and skill would be a welcome addition to their overall prospect ranks, with Ritchie definitely having the probably of being a 30 goal/30 assist forward in the future.
Comparison: Joel Farabee. Adorned with great shooting skill, along with versatility, speed and well-rounded play, Ritchie's an average-sized forward that can fit oto various lines and can add scoring depth.
23. Carolina: Emil Hemming, RW
Battling inconsistency at times, Hemming's a power winger with skill, who could go earlier than expected. If not, he's probably off the board here for Carolina, who's always shown love for Finns.
Comparison: Chris Kreider. Hemming's shown a tendency to be a hot/cold scoring power winger with some bonus skill. There's top 6 potential there, he just needs to find consistency.
24. Detroit: Beckett Sennecke, RW/LW
Still growing into his body, Sennecke is a project pick for the Wings, who love to take players with size and good skating for their first round selections. He's someone they envision as a potential linemate for Nate Danielson or Marco Kasper, giving them a great core for cycling pucks.
Comparison: Drake Batherson. Sennecke is a playmaking power winger with underrated skill and compete, who likely competes as a skilled, middle-six complementary winger at the pro level.
25. Vancouver: Sacha Boisvert, C
The Canucks could look to deepen their center depth with the addition of Boisvert. The Quebec-born talent is developing within the American collegiate systems, with the Canucks willing to give him plenty of time to hopefully develop into a middle-six center.
Comparison: Shane Pinto. Boisvert's got the size, speed, shooting ability and two-way prowess to become a well-rounded top-nine center. He works hard on the ice and can become a useful contributor at the top level.
26. Colorado: Michael Hage, C/RW
Early season injuries set him back slightly. However, his recent play leaves plenty of hope for his future development, potentially pushing him up draft lists in the future. He's got plenty of skill and it'd make a contending team like Colorado thrilled to grab him.
Comparison: Jordan Kyrou. Hage boasts major speed and scoring instincts. His size is fine, he can play down the middle and has the potential to be a top-six offensive forward.
27. Ottawa [from Boston]: Dean Letourneau, C
After grabbing 6'7" defenseman, Anton Silayev, earlier, wouldn't it be wild if they grab 6'7" center, Dean Letourneau, next? Well, maybe. Either way, they love their size and it'd be a huge (figuratively and literally) swing for the fences. It might be worth a shot at this point.
Comparison: Downside is probably something like a Martin Hanzal. Overall upside, obviously, is something like Tage Thompson. Thanks to his size, he's going to be a long-term project and will need plenty of seasoning... yet there's potential there.
28. Vegas: Charlie Elick, D
Elick is a western kid that plays with speed and physical -- exactly what the Golden Knights love to see in their players. He's someone they see making a seamless transition to the pros, which would be perfect for a contending team.
Comparison: Jake Muzzin. Elick's not someone that'll be counted for offense, but he does possess a hard, accurate shot. He's a two-way, shutdown type that likes to use physicality to get his job done.
29. Los Angeles: Aron Kiviharju, D
It's been a rough season for Kiviharju. First, he hasn't shown the production expected out of him. Next, he receives a bad injury that likely puts him out for the WJC. The Kings could take a chance on him in the late first, hoping he rebounds and that they can get a steal on their hands.
Comparison: Jared Spurgeon. Kiviharju's a small, but extremely smart defenseman. At his best, he can add defense with his elite positioning and transitioning skill... but he just needs to rebound and work on his game in order to take the next step.
30. New York Rangers: Kamil Bednarik, RW/C
The Rangers love drafting Americans. Perhaps they could take a chance of Bednarik, who'd fit in well as a Swiss Army Knife type of forward for them. He's likely a kid that sooner slides in and contributes, even if it's in a depth role.
Comparison: Dawson Mercer. A do-it-all type of forward that'll do everything asked of him. His versatility, speed and skill allow him to play various roles on any line, able to chip in both offensively and defensively.
31. Philadelphia [from Florida]: Tanner Howe, LW/C
There are Konecny vibes with Tanner Howe, with the Flyers certainly loving. Howe spent time playing with Connor Bedard and looks to find similar success in potentially playing with Matvei Michkov. It'd give them more scoring talent upfront.
Comparison: Travis Konecny. Undersized, yet highly skilled, tenacious and physical, Howe's someone that's got top-six potential as a well-rounded winger.
32. Dallas: Terik Parascarak, RW
Parascarak sneaks into the first round due to having a solid start to the year. He's been a goal scoring machine in the WHL, which has done wonders to his draft stock. If he's able to keep it up througout the year, he could rise even higher. The Stars would be thrilled to grab him at this spot, going for the best player available.
Comparison: Tyler Toffoli. Parascarak is a shoot-first, goal-scoring winger. While only average in size, he's not a speed burner, but makes up for it with good hockey smarts and two-way play, with an even better scoring ability.
Guys on the cusp, just missing out on the first round, who could potentially rise:
- Cole Hutson
- Henry Mews
- Luke Misa
- Veeti Vaisanen
- Maxim Masse
- Matvei Shuravin
- Dominik Badinka
- Andrew Basha
- Adam Jecho
The draft order is a post-playoffs format, based on the rankings as of December 3rd, my cutoff date. Right now, I'm predicting Florida and the New York Rangers to come out of the East, with Dallas and Los Angeles as the final 2 in the west. I'm then predicting Dallas wins the Cup, defeat Florida, who become back-to-back runners-up.
As for the lottery, the results as per tankathon:
1. Columbus; 2. Chicago.
ROUND ONE
1. Columbus: Macklin Celebini, C
After having Adam Fantilli land in their lap last year, they further build up their middle depth by winning the lottery in this scenario. Celebrini is "the guy" for this year's draft and would held build up their center depth, along with the aforementioned Fantilli.
Comparison: For me, the best way to describe him is as a mixture of Matthew Beniers and Nathan MacKinnon. Blessed with great speed, he's not as dynamic and explosive as MacKinnon, nor is he as tall as Beniers, but some sort of blend of energetic, two-way center with excellent goal-scoring potential is a possibility.
2. Chicago: Cayden Lindstrom, C/RW
If the Hawks manage to luck out and win another lottery pick, it'd be something else. In this case, I sense they could turn their sights on Cayden Lindstrom, who would give their forward core an immediate boost in size, skill and physicality. Thanks to his offensive output and abdundant upside, he's been rocketing up draft boards, possibly making him a threat to go 2nd overall.
Comparison: Think of him as a Brady Tkachuk/Johan Franzen-meets-Eric Staal type of hybrid. He's a huge power forward that's versatile, brings physicality and offensive prowess. His size and strength alone should help him succeed in the next few years.
3. San Jose: Cole Eiserman, LW
As first, I considered Demidov in this spot. Ultimately, I'm sticking with their Boston connections, pushing them to take Cole Eiserman. They could feel that he'd make a good combo alongside Will Smith in the future, giving them a potential top line sniper to put pucks in the net.
Comparison: Vladmir Tarasenko. All of his strengths are in his shooting ability -- ranging from shot strength, to accuracy to his overall release. Paired with the right center, he could become a dynamic 40+ goal guy, even with concerns about his overall, two-way game.
4. Minnesota: Berkly Catton, C/LW
The Wild are in need of center depth. If they continue their season of despair, someone like Berkly Catton feels like someone their analytics team would highly covet. He's soeone whose ranking is quite inconsistent, so he could find himself taken earlier if a team likes him.
Comparison: Tim Stutzle. A zone-entry machine, Catton brings superb skill to a team, working as either a center o a wing. Not only can he be a dangeorus setup guy, he also possesses excellent playmaking vision.
5. Ottawa: Anton Silayev, D
You can't deny the Sens love their guys with size. They may also look to deepen their talent pool on defense by adding the hulking blueliner. Drafting a Russian may be out of the ordinary for them at this point, yet they can't pass on the potential Silayev could bring them.
Comparison: Jay Bouwmeester. Standing a massive 6'7", Silayev is huge on defense. For his size, he skate supremely well and is an active, mobile two-way defender with tons of potential. While he's a little raw now, he could very well turn into a top tiered defenseman.
6. Edmonton: Sam Dickinson, D
On one hand, the Oilers could opt to trade this pick for immediate help. If not, they could straight up select Dickinson, who fits the criteria of what they love in players. They need someone that can play defense and shutdown opposition, which is exactly what he can provide for them.
Comparison: Something between a Kaiden Guhle and Jake Sanderson type of defenseman. Whether Dickinson has #1D potential remains to be seen, but he boasts plenty of tools. He's not an offensive guy; his bread and butter will be shutting down opponents with his excellent skating, physicality and two-way play.
7. Anaheim: Ivan Demidov, RW
They've been arming themselves with elite forward talent the past few years and the trend continues here, with the Russian factor, injuries and size pushing Demidov down the board. He could be the crown jewel for their right wing in a few years; and may even find himself in consideration for the top 3 by the end of the year.
Comparison: Artemi Panarin. While not the largest guy, Demidov brings plenty of offensive skill from the wing position. He's got the potential to be that rare breed of offensive winger that drives play and can carry a line.
8. Seattle: Artyom Levshunov, D
The Kraken could use a potentially elite defenseman to add to their core. With his play in the NCAA, Levshunov fits that to a tee. There's absolutely top pairing potential with him, it just depends on if he can reel in his play or not.
Comparison: Zack Werenski. Levshunov's a roving defenseman that loves to attack, often at the detriment of his own defense. He loves putting shots on goal and can provide plenty of offense from the point.
9. Buffalo: Zayne Parekh, D
They've leaned on drafting forwards in recent years. They may look to grab an offensive defenseman such as Parekh for their selection this year. He's had a breakout campaign in the OHL and it could get him rocketing up draft lists, perhaps even within the top 10.
Comparison: PK Subban. An offensive, attacking defenseman, he skates well, rushes with the puck, owns goal-scoring instincts and even engages physically. His defensive coverage may be lacking, but there's still tons of time for him to develop a two-way game.
10. Nashville: Konsta Helenius, C/RW
Helenius is someone that could challenge for a top 5 selection, with the only thing holding him back being his lack of size. If they can get him here, Nashville would be thrilled. It'd give them a potential top line forward with elite hockey senses, aiding in the rebuilding of their core, with Helenius on an absolute tear in the Liiga, putting up excellent numbers.
Comparison: Sebastian Aho. Blessed with high hockey IQ, Helenius gets by with his elite smarts. While he's not the biggest guy on the ice, he uses his skill to produce at both ends of the ice.
11. Montreal: Trevor Connelly, LW/RW
Tearing up the USHL, Connelly's has found himself quickly rising up draft boards especially in part due to an incredible Hlinka tournament. With the Habs going defense in recent drafts, they need an influx of skilled, offensive forwards pretty badly. Connelly could be atop that list, giving them a potential top line forward with tons of versatility.
Comparison: Jonathan Huberdeau. Connelly's a slick, talented scoring winger that brings plenty of versatility, playmaking and scoring touch. If he keeps developing at his current pace, he could turn into a high-impact offensive winger at the pro level.
12. Calgary: Tij Iginla, RW
Drafting Jarome Iginla's son to the Flames seems like a perfect fit. He's been leaping up draft boards with vigor due to his offensive firepower. Knowing that they also need snipers in their system, it'd be difficult for them to pass on him if he's there.
Comparison: Something between a Sam Bennett and TJ Oshie. There's a lot to like about Iginla, possibly even being comparable to his own dad. For now, though; I'll compare him to something like a cross between Oshie and Sam Bennett -- a goal-scoring/sniper that works hard, can be aggressive and feisty when on the ice.
13. New Jersey: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW
Set to become the highest Norweigan talent ever drafted, Nygard exemplifies the type of winger that the Devils are looking for. They'd love to add some physical, goal scoring wingers to play alongside their top end centers, with Nygard being one of the best of the bunch.
Comparison: Adrian Kempe. Nygard's got a stellar release, can punish with hard body checks and brings an aura of stability and leadership when on the ice. He's a high-character player that plays a scoring power winger's game, while also being defensively sound and is able to step in right away to play.
14. San Jose [from Pittsburgh]: Zeev Buium, D
The Sharks could use a potential powerplay quarterback in their prospect pipeline. They address this by taking Buium, who's leapfrogging up draft boards, thanks to being an offensive whirlwind on skates at the NCAA level. Mike Grier and company love their American kids, so he could be the latest on their radar.
Comparison: Jamie Drysdale. Buium's one of the best pure skaters in the draft, able to move and weave about with ease. He uses this strength to help add offense from the blueline and can be counted on as a future powerplay contributor.
15. Chicago [from Tampa Bay]: Carter Yakemchuk, D
Again, they go back to western Canada, an area they've shown a lot of interest in during previous draft sessions. At minimum, Yakemchuk gives them more depth on the right-hand side, giving them a dependable guy that adds leadership to their young core.
Comparison: K'Andre Miller. Yakemchuk has a lot of pro tools that can stand out, if given a proper developmental path. He's got the skating, the size, physicality and a big shot that keeps opposing teams earnest. He's an upside guy that needs to work on his decision making.
16. Philadelphia: Adam Jiricek, D
The Flyers could take a chance on a falling Jiricek, who came into the season thought of as a top 10 selection. Unfortunately, injuries and lack of production have set him back slightly. Danny Briere has shown a willingness to jump on fallers, so he does the same here.
Comparison: Cam Fowler. The hope is that he can become an ideal #2-3 two-way defenseman at the top end, who can also provide good speed and a well-rounded game. He relies more on offense, but can settle things down defensively, as well.
17. St. Louis: Liam Greentree, RW
Greentree has been the lone brightspot on a very bad Windsor team. The Blues could take notice of his efforts and jump on him here, loving the potential he could bring, thinking they have the right guys to surround him in order to find success.
Comparison: Matthew Boldy. Greentree is a work in progress. He's not the fastest or the best skater, but he provides good complementary offense and has quality overall, well-rounded play.
18. New York Islanders: Alfons Freij, D
The Islanders could look to fill their blueline depth by adding the Swedish defenseman, Alfons Freij. They're not strange to drafting players developing overseas, with Freij likely being someone on their radar. They'd be willing to give him plenty of time to develop to see what they have on their hands.
Comparison: Devon Toews. Something like Toews could be Freij's upside. Consider him a very mobile defenseman that brings smart playmaking and two-way smarts.
19. Arizona: Igor Chernyshov, LW/RW
They've been open to drafting Russians in the past. Why stop now? Chernyshov would go great with the kids they've taken in recent years. He's got potential -- it just remains to be seen what his overall upside is.
Comparison: Alex Tuch. Chernyshov's another two-way power forward type that plays a dependable game at both ends of the rink. He engages physically, able to truck opposing players with big hits, while also defending well and adding offense.
20. Washington: Nikita Artamanov, LW/RW
Speaking of a team that's been a welcome home to Russian talent, the Capitals are on the board. With Artamanov having a spectacular season overseas, he may be flyng high on their radar, willing to take the risk on the Russian factor, hoping they have a steal on their hands.
Comparison: Teuvo Teravainen. Artamanov is a highly skilled, high-motor player that's able to produce excellent playmaking and well-rounded play.
21. Winnipeg: Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D
The past few years, they've focused on drafting forwards. This year, they may opt to change things up a bit by targeting their defense. Wallenius has been on fire in Sweden this year, showing his instincts as a puck-mover. It might be the type of player that the Jets would be willing to bet on, liking the fact that he can play on either side of the ice.
Comparison: Cam York. He's a speedy, puck-rushing defenseman that can push the pace of play, along with bringing good two-way on-ice smarts and ability.
22. Toronto: Ryder Ritchie, RW/LW
The son of former NHL role player, Byron Ritchie, Ryder brings some bloodline to the Leafs prospect core. His versatility and skill would be a welcome addition to their overall prospect ranks, with Ritchie definitely having the probably of being a 30 goal/30 assist forward in the future.
Comparison: Joel Farabee. Adorned with great shooting skill, along with versatility, speed and well-rounded play, Ritchie's an average-sized forward that can fit oto various lines and can add scoring depth.
23. Carolina: Emil Hemming, RW
Battling inconsistency at times, Hemming's a power winger with skill, who could go earlier than expected. If not, he's probably off the board here for Carolina, who's always shown love for Finns.
Comparison: Chris Kreider. Hemming's shown a tendency to be a hot/cold scoring power winger with some bonus skill. There's top 6 potential there, he just needs to find consistency.
24. Detroit: Beckett Sennecke, RW/LW
Still growing into his body, Sennecke is a project pick for the Wings, who love to take players with size and good skating for their first round selections. He's someone they envision as a potential linemate for Nate Danielson or Marco Kasper, giving them a great core for cycling pucks.
Comparison: Drake Batherson. Sennecke is a playmaking power winger with underrated skill and compete, who likely competes as a skilled, middle-six complementary winger at the pro level.
25. Vancouver: Sacha Boisvert, C
The Canucks could look to deepen their center depth with the addition of Boisvert. The Quebec-born talent is developing within the American collegiate systems, with the Canucks willing to give him plenty of time to hopefully develop into a middle-six center.
Comparison: Shane Pinto. Boisvert's got the size, speed, shooting ability and two-way prowess to become a well-rounded top-nine center. He works hard on the ice and can become a useful contributor at the top level.
26. Colorado: Michael Hage, C/RW
Early season injuries set him back slightly. However, his recent play leaves plenty of hope for his future development, potentially pushing him up draft lists in the future. He's got plenty of skill and it'd make a contending team like Colorado thrilled to grab him.
Comparison: Jordan Kyrou. Hage boasts major speed and scoring instincts. His size is fine, he can play down the middle and has the potential to be a top-six offensive forward.
27. Ottawa [from Boston]: Dean Letourneau, C
After grabbing 6'7" defenseman, Anton Silayev, earlier, wouldn't it be wild if they grab 6'7" center, Dean Letourneau, next? Well, maybe. Either way, they love their size and it'd be a huge (figuratively and literally) swing for the fences. It might be worth a shot at this point.
Comparison: Downside is probably something like a Martin Hanzal. Overall upside, obviously, is something like Tage Thompson. Thanks to his size, he's going to be a long-term project and will need plenty of seasoning... yet there's potential there.
28. Vegas: Charlie Elick, D
Elick is a western kid that plays with speed and physical -- exactly what the Golden Knights love to see in their players. He's someone they see making a seamless transition to the pros, which would be perfect for a contending team.
Comparison: Jake Muzzin. Elick's not someone that'll be counted for offense, but he does possess a hard, accurate shot. He's a two-way, shutdown type that likes to use physicality to get his job done.
29. Los Angeles: Aron Kiviharju, D
It's been a rough season for Kiviharju. First, he hasn't shown the production expected out of him. Next, he receives a bad injury that likely puts him out for the WJC. The Kings could take a chance on him in the late first, hoping he rebounds and that they can get a steal on their hands.
Comparison: Jared Spurgeon. Kiviharju's a small, but extremely smart defenseman. At his best, he can add defense with his elite positioning and transitioning skill... but he just needs to rebound and work on his game in order to take the next step.
30. New York Rangers: Kamil Bednarik, RW/C
The Rangers love drafting Americans. Perhaps they could take a chance of Bednarik, who'd fit in well as a Swiss Army Knife type of forward for them. He's likely a kid that sooner slides in and contributes, even if it's in a depth role.
Comparison: Dawson Mercer. A do-it-all type of forward that'll do everything asked of him. His versatility, speed and skill allow him to play various roles on any line, able to chip in both offensively and defensively.
31. Philadelphia [from Florida]: Tanner Howe, LW/C
There are Konecny vibes with Tanner Howe, with the Flyers certainly loving. Howe spent time playing with Connor Bedard and looks to find similar success in potentially playing with Matvei Michkov. It'd give them more scoring talent upfront.
Comparison: Travis Konecny. Undersized, yet highly skilled, tenacious and physical, Howe's someone that's got top-six potential as a well-rounded winger.
32. Dallas: Terik Parascarak, RW
Parascarak sneaks into the first round due to having a solid start to the year. He's been a goal scoring machine in the WHL, which has done wonders to his draft stock. If he's able to keep it up througout the year, he could rise even higher. The Stars would be thrilled to grab him at this spot, going for the best player available.
Comparison: Tyler Toffoli. Parascarak is a shoot-first, goal-scoring winger. While only average in size, he's not a speed burner, but makes up for it with good hockey smarts and two-way play, with an even better scoring ability.
Guys on the cusp, just missing out on the first round, who could potentially rise:
- Cole Hutson
- Henry Mews
- Luke Misa
- Veeti Vaisanen
- Maxim Masse
- Matvei Shuravin
- Dominik Badinka
- Andrew Basha
- Adam Jecho
