NHL Entry Draft: Ermo's 2018 December Mock Draft

[Ermo20]

Obviously, with the WJCs ahead of us and six months to go before draft day, this a crapshoot. I'm mostly doing this so we can look back on it and laugh in a few months.

Disclaimer: I'm no scout, and haven't done much research on any of these guys. This is merely for fun, an attempt to simulate the first round of the draft if it were to happen today.

That being said, I simulated the lottery via Tankathon and got these results: 1. Arizona, 2: Buffalo, 3: Colorado

The rest of the order is simply based on current standings; no conference finals and Stanley Cup predictions.

1:
Rasmus Dahlin (LHD, Frolunda HC, SHL)

2:
Andrei Svechnikov (RW, Barrie Colts, OHL)

3: (+7)
Adam Boqvist (RHD, Brynas IF, SHL)

4: (-1)
Brady Tkachuk (LW, Boston University, NCAA)

5: (-1)
Quinton Hughes (LHD, University of Michigan, NCAA)

6: (-1)
Filip Zadina (LW, Halifax Mooseaheads, QMJHL)

7: (-1)
Oliver Wahlstrom (C, USNTDP, USHL)

8: (-1)
Ty Smith (LHD, Spokane Chiefs, WHL)

9: (-1)
Joseph Veleno (C, Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL)

10: (-1)
Rasmus Kupari (C, Hermes, Mestis)

11:
Bode Wilde (RHD, USNTDP, USHL)

12:
Joel Farabee (LW, USNTDP, USHL)

13:
Ryan McLeod (C, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL)

14: (from Calgary)
Jett Woo (RHD, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL)

15:
Dominik Bokk (LW, Vaxjo Lakers HC, SHL)

16:
Jared McIsaac (LHD, Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)

17:
Mattias Samuelsson (LHD, USNTDP, USHL)

18:
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C, Assat, Liiga)

19:
K'Andre Miller (LHD, USNTDP, USHL)

20:
Jack McBain (C, Toronto Jr. Canadiens, OJHL)

21:
Barrett Hayton (C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL)

22:
Akil Thomas (C, Niagara IceDogs, OHL)

23:
Evan Bouchard (RHD, London Knights, OHL)

24:
Noah Dobson (RHD, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL)

25:
Calen Addison (RHD, Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL)

26:
Adam Samuelsson (LHD, USNTDP, USHL)

27:
Filip Hallander (LW, Timra IK, Allsvenskan)

28: (from St. Louis)
Anderson MacDonald (LW, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL)

29:
Grigori Denisenko (LW, Loko Yaroslavl, MHL)

30:
Nando Eggenberger (LW, HC Davos, NLA)

31:
Isac Lundestrom (C, Lulea HF, SHL)

Click to read more...

 

[Tryamkin]

I’m not a Lundestrom fan but he’s way better than Hallander. Dobson and Bouchard too low. There’s no Ryan Merkley.. he’s a bad defender but he’s easily a 1st rounded.

 

[ViktorBaeArvidsson]

Dobson, and Bouchard lower than McIsaac I disagree with. Also Veleno I don't think will end up a Top 10 pick unless a team is desperate for a center (Which ik Montreal is, but Veleno is a very hit or miss prospect, if I'm Montreal I take a defense-man). Lastly another mock draft having Denisenko to Nashville, I guess it's destiny. Good mock

 

[Ermo20]

I’m not a Lundestrom fan but he’s way better than Hallander. Dobson and Bouchard too low. There’s no Ryan Merkley.. he’s a bad defender but he’s easily a 1st rounded.

I think Merkley's a first rounder too... there seems to always be one worthy player I forget in mock drafts. Tried to make the mock more based on team needs rather than current player rankings so there was bound to be some players going too high or too low.

 

[Ermo20]

Dobson, and Bouchard lower than McIsaac I disagree with. Also Veleno I don't think will end up a Top 10 pick unless a team is desperate for a center (Which ik Montreal is, but Veleno is a very hit or miss prospect, if I'm Montreal I take a defense-man). Lastly another mock draft having Denisenko to Nashville, I guess it's destiny. Good mock

It's such a great draft for d-men, we all have our own vastly different opinions on where to rank them. I'm kind of a McIsaac fan but I could see Dobson and Bouchard going over him (in fact maybe they should go ahead of him...). Had Veleno to Montreal because IMO he's the best center available and the Habs badly need a center with true 1C potential. Had Denisenko to Nashville because the Preds seem like the kind of team willing to take a chance on hit or miss prospects, and I view Denisenko as one.

 

[Crosscrease14]

Happy from a leafs PoV, Bouchard or Merkley (omitted) would be great, Kravtsov (also not on the list) as well.

 

[Dan Kelly]

There’s no Ryan Merkley.. he’s a bad defender but he’s easily a 1st rounded.

does that mean Merkley will stay a "bad defender" forever? he can learn to play good defense can't he? and with his great offensive abilities, this makes him a top draft prospect who, as of December, would likely be taken no later than mid 1st round.

 

[Habs76]

As a Habs fan, ew.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Would much prefer Isac Lundestrom, Akil Thomas there over McBain for Boston.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Buffalo takes Boqvist or Hughes over Svechnikov.