newdimension
Registered User
- May 18, 2013
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As per usual, it's a new month, which means it's time for a new mock. I'll add another round on this month and use the standings as of when I originally started this write-up: March 8th, after the completion of all games. Some other notes:
- I'm not a scout or super informed on the needs of other teams. It's all done in good fun. Any comments or comparisons made should be taken lightly. Obviously not everyone is going to be the exact similar player as their comparable; many probably won't even make the league or straight out bust.
- It's a post-playoff draft ranking, including who I think comes out of the West and East. Right now, I have Tampa Bay steamrolling their way into the finals and winning the Cup by taking out Washington. Meanwhile, in the West, I have Nashville going to the finals by beating San Jose.
- Results of the lottery, via tankathon: 1. Detroit; 2. Vancouver; 3. New Jersey.
- For the "tl,dr" crew, I have a summary of each team's pick at the end.
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:: Round 1 ::
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1. Detroit: Jack Hughes, C
He's the number one prospect in the draft and is the big prize for the lottery winner. Despite being undersized, they'd be thrilled to add his pure offensive arsenal to their lineup. Whether he plays center or wing, it'd be a great add for a team that needs more talent.
Comparison: Patrick Kane. He's an elite playmaking forward, with amazing hands, vision, creativity and all-around offensive skill. As of now, he doesn't have Kane's shooting ability -- in fact, it's one of Hughes's weaker areas -- but it's something he's been working on.
2. Vancouver: Kaapo Kakko, RW/C
Whether they bring him in as a winger or a center, they've got an incredible player on their hands. For example: imagine him playing alongside Elias Pettersson. They could be offensive catalysts for years on end, making a perfect match.
Comparison: Mikko Rantanen-meets-Rick Nash. A big, strong, scoring and playmaking winger that can make a difference during games, charges hard to the net and plays an excellent all-around game that should help him to dominate sooner than later.
3. New Jersey: Bowen Byram, D
By taking Byram, along with last year's addition of Ty Smith, they up their defensive core, giving them an excellent 1-2 combo on the left side. Byram's solidifying himself as a top performer with his clutch play, making him highly sought after, with the Devils running away with him.
Comparison: Mark Giordano. A well-rounded, all-situations defenseman that can do a bit of everything, including shutting down opponents. He may not a be a pure "elite" defender, but can still be a good, safe top pairing guy.
4. Colorado [from Ottawa]: Alex Turcotte, C
Needing center depth, they grab Turcotte, who's been putting up excellent numbers since returning from injury, putting himself in top 5 discussions. They need someone that'll play center behind Nathan MacKinnon and he'd be the perfect fit.
Comparison: Henrik Zetterberg is probably a good comparison. Both of them play(ed) hard and fast, with excellent two-way ability, smarts and elite speed, which sometimes resulted in them wearing down and getting injured.
5. Los Angeles: Dylan Cozens, C
The Kings need an influx of speed into their lineup. Cozens has a combination of size, scoring, skill and speed, which makes him an absolute perfect match. He's a big shoot-first forward that's probably close to contributing at a pro level, making him a nice addition.
Comparison: Mika Zibanejad. He's likely to become a heavy, but fast, two-way center that can score goals and can be counted on to play many roles.
6. Anaheim: Kirby Dach, C
They are going to need a replacement for Ryan Getzlaf eventually. Why not take the guy that many have compared him to? He might slip out of the top 5 due to consistency issues, but his combination of size and potential makes him a top line center candidate.
Comparison: Ryan Johansen-meets-Mark Stone type of big pass-first forward, with decent defensive skills.
7. Chicago: Matthew Boldy, LW
He has the potential to become a top line winger for the Hawks, which is something they'll be looking for. Thanks to his size and style of play, he's probably not too far out from contributing.
Comparison: Gabriel Landeskog. A leader on the ice, he can contribute in multiple ways, whether it's via scoring, hitting or using his two-way play to shutdown opponents.
8. New York Rangers: Pavel Dorofeyev, LW
This could be the first real surprise of the draft. They already have Kravtsov for their right side, they could pass on someone such as Podkolzin to take Dorofeyev, who has very intriguing offensive skills. They're a team that's known to differ from consensus. If they really like him, he could be their guy.
Comparison: David Pastrnak. A highly skilled winger that can score, pass and be an offensive wizard on the ice.
9. Edmonton: Peyton Krebs, C/LW
If there's one thing the Oilers are missing, it's players that have high hockey IQ. Outside of McDavid and Draisaitl, no forward really matches that criteria, thus they grab the Albertan boy, Krebs, who plays with reckless abandon. He's been a strong force, leading the way on a weak team, putting up great numbers al by himself.
Comparison: Brayden Point. An electric, speedy, two-way uptempo center/winger that can play a high speed, high hockey IQ game.
10. Buffalo: Trevor Zegras, C/LW
The Sabres love drafting out of American developmental systems. At this point, Zegras would be the best player available. They'd love his pure offensive skill, hands and vision, feeling like he'd be a great addition to their rebuilding core.
Comparison: Mathew Barzal. An incredibly shifty playmaking forward that can play center or wing that can also aide with offense.
11. Florida: Spencer Knight, G
It's a little unorthodox for goaltenders to go this high in recent drafts. However, the Panthers are deeply in need of goaltender depth. They could start by taking the best goalie available, with Knight getting rave reviews, with many thinking he's not far along from making the league. With teams seeing how guys such as Carter Hart and Jordan Binnington doing wonders for their team, it may prompt teams such as Buffalo, Edmonton, Chicago, Colorado, etc. to consider taking him early.
Comparison: He's a John Gibson type of big, quality startending goaltender.
12. Colorado: Vasili Podkolzin, RW
Despite having top 5 level of talent, I could see Podkolzin falling due to the Russian factor and fears of him not coming over. That said, the Avs were able to grab Alex Turcotte with their Ottawa pick, they can afford to take a risk with the slipping Podkolzin, especially if they miss out on Spencer Knight.
Comparison: Maybe a Timo Meier type. To me, he's a physical, solid two-way guy that can drive to the net and help score goals, while simultaneously aiding on the defensive end as well.
13. Arizona: Connor McMichael, C
If they were high on Barrett Hayton last year, then I could see them being high on McMichael this year as well. They need center depth and a duo of Hayton and McMichael would be good pickups to address this need.
Comparison: Logan Couture. He's a goal-scoring center with good speed, which enables him to be a really solid all-around type.
14. Philadelphia: Victor Soderstrom, D
Chuck Fletcher, while with Minnesota, often went overseas to look for talent. It could be the same situation here, as they could take Soderstrom in order to build up their right side of defense.
Comparison: Josh Morrissey. He's an all-situations type of defender that can move the puck along with good pace, drop some hits, play defensively and is able to do many things well. Like Morrissey, his offensive upside is probably not elite; but his puck-movement ability can still get the job done, especially if he plays on a stacked team.
15. Ottawa [from Columbus]: Alex Newhook, C/LW
After trady away a litany of offensive players, they need to get some offensive potential back. Taking Newhook would be a good first step in rebuilding their offense. Concerns over him playing in a lower league such as the BCHL keep him out of the top 10, but he's been putting up insane numbers as of late, which has him still sought after.
Comparison: Kyle Connor. Blessed with blazing speed, he can shoot and pass, able to put up good offensive numbers whether it's at center or wing.
16. Minnesota: Bobby Brink, RW
I know they need centers, but I find it hard to believe they would pass on such a talented local kid. He's been the guy pushing the play and leading the offense for Sioux City this year and his play at tournaments could really push him up the board.
Comparison: Joe Pavelski. Like Pavelski, he's a shorter player that doesn't really excel in any one area, but gets by on his vast hockey smarts and two-way play. He's been driving the play for his USHL team, putting up points by the handful.
17. Dallas: Ryan Suzuki, C/RW
Despite him falling in consensus rankings, I think some teams will still keep him high on their list. Dallas is a team that drafts a lot from the OHL and they don't have that many pure playmakers in their system. He could be a good setup man for some of the bigger goal scorers that have coming up.
Comparison: David Krejci. He probably could become a decent #2 playmaking center and a pretty good setup guy on a powerplay.
18. Buffalo [from St. Louis]: Moritz Seider, D
The Sabres love drafting out of Europe. Seider's a big 6'4" shutdown type of guy that skates really well and they could feel he'd make a perfect complement to a Rasmus Dahlin.
Comparison: Darnell Nurse. Big, 6'4" defender that can be physical, skates well and can move the puck.
19. Vegas: Philip Broberg, D
They're a team that's build around skating and puck movement. While Broberg hasn't lived up to expectations from the start of the season, there's still a lot to like and he could be an interest project to let develop. After trading away Erik Brannstrom, they'd like to replace him with another high potential defender.
Comparison: At top end, he could be a Rasmus Ristolainen type of big, speedy, puck-moving defenseman that can get plenty of shots on net and keep a constant pace on attack. Otherwise, maybe he becomes a Ron Hainsey type of role playing center that can skate well with his size.
20. Montreal: Ville Heinola, D
Heinola's been moving up draft boards, looking dynamite at both ends of the ice since his return from his WJC injury, playing like a Heiskanen-lite. We know the Habs scout heavily from Finland and need left-handed defense. He could be perfect for them, having tremendous upside. If he has a strong U18 tournament, he could possibly go even higher.
Comparison: Erik Gustafsson. He's a minute-eating puck-moving defenseman that can put up offense and use his smarts to play a solid two-way game.
21. Carolina: Arthur Kaliyev, Lw
At this point, he'd be the best player available and that'd be the 'Canes's stragety. He slips due to fears over his one-dimensional game. On the other hand, he's up to 50 goals in the OHL and that's pretty exceptional.
Comparison: James van Riemsdyk. Sluggish, goal scoring winger with some flaws in his game.
22. Pittsburgh: Cam York, D
He might fall a little due to his size. If so, the Pens would glad take him here, thinking he has top 4 upside and good offensive ability.
Comparison: Kevin Shattenkirk. A crisp offensive defenseman that can keep things simple and makes plays with ease.
23. New York Rangers [from Winnipeg]: Cole Caufield, RW
They'd probably love to be able to snag the pure sniper in this area. They have a lot of parts going forward and Caufield would be yet another great addition for them.
Comparison: Cam Atkinson. Standing only 5'7", he's a pure sniper that knows how to get plenty of shots on net, blessed with plenty of energy.
24. New York Islanders: Raphael Lavoie, RW/C
Lou Lamoriello loves his big players with character; and the Isles also love drafting from the QMJHL. It all matches up quite nicely, with the Islanders loving the option of drafting the big, versatile power forward.
Comparison: David Backes. Standing at 6'4", Lavoie can be a power forward that can use his imposing size to help on offense and punish with physicality. He's even had history of playing center, which is another reason the Isles could like him.
25. Los Angeles [from Toronto]: Thomas Harley, D
After grabbing Cozens earlier in the draft, they go back up and take a defenseman, with Harley being their target. His size and impressive skating would make the Kings think they're getting a steal and would be another rebuilding step.
Comparison: He's probably something of a Jake Gardiner-to-Shea Theodore type of defenseman. Basically, a highly mobile defenseman that can put up points and plenty of assists.
26. Boston: Jakob Pelletier, LW
The Bruins have found success with players that are small, feisty and talented... so they go take type of forward. He'd give the Bruins some more depth upfront, as they go for the BPA route.
Comparison: Travis Konecny. An undersized, feisty, tenacious forward that gives 100% at all times, also bringing some good skill.
27. Calgary: Matthew Robertson, D
He's a big 6'4" defenseman from Alberta that profiles as a shutdown-style of defender, with a hard shot. The Flames need more defense in their pipeline, so he seems like the smart addition.
Comparison: Hampus Lindholm, another big, shutdown style of defenseman that plays a simple, smart game.
28. Anaheim [from San Jose]: Ryan Johnson, D
They've jettisoned quite a few defenders out these past few years. They need to start re-stocking some more talented guys, taking the local kid, which would be a nice add for the Ducks.
Comparison: Alec Martinez. He profiles as a mobile, two-way defender that can aide in shutting down opponents and is good at the transition game as well.
29. Washington: Brett Leason, RW
The Capitals take the best player they feel is available. He's a double-overager, which means he's closer to contributing than most. For a contending team such as the Caps, he'd be an ideal pickup to make sure they have a steady dosage of youth.
Comparison: Alex Tuch. A big power forward that's had a breakthrough year and has really improved his skating and playmaking.
30. Nashville: Nils Hoglander, LW
Undersized, but incredibly pesky and talented, playing like a mini-power forward. He seems like the type of player that the Predators would be interested in.
Comparison: Viktor Arvidsson. An energetic winger that can be shifted around a lineup, who owns good hands, can rile up the opposition and can score goals.
31. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay): Yegor Spiridonov, C
The Rangers go back to Russian and add the big, two-way center that's aggressive on the penalty kill and has some very solid-two way appeal. At best, he's probably a 2nd line center that can play an important role, such as taking draws at the end of a game.
Comparison: Jordan Staal. An aggressive, two-way center that can eat you up on defense on the penalty kill, while also getting plenty of shots on net.
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:: Round 2 ::
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32. Ottawa: Samuel Poulin, LW
He's a sturdy, heavy power winger with definitely NHL upside, even if it's just as a middle 6 type. The Sens need to grab guys that have potential and they like drafting from the Q. He might be an option at this area.
Comparison: Wayne Simmonds. Think of him as a power winger that can stand in front of a net to cause damage, go to the hard areas and can be a physical force on the ice.
33. Los Angeles: Philip Tomasino, C/RW
The speedy, industrious forward plays with Akil Thomas in Niagara. They'd likely have seen him plenty of times and love the speed game he brings.
Comparison: Colin White. A versatile, speedy center/winger that can put up decent numbers.
34. Detroit: Yegor Afanasyev, LW/RW
He's come through the Little Caesars program in Michigan, meaning the Red Wings could have had eyes on him. He definitely has the size that they love. They grab him here before anyone else can.
Comparison: Chris Kreider. He's yet another big, heavy power winger that can rush to the net and crash and bang to put up points.
35. New Jersey: Jamieson Rees, C/W
His size and injuries might be a little risky for teams, but I think he has top 31 potential. The Devils need more center/forward depth and he could be a good addition for the type of speedy game they like to play.
Comparison: His upside is probably something of a Vincent Trochek type of high energy center/winger with some offensive upside. Maybe more of a Vladimir Sobotka type if his offense doesn't translate.
36. Anaheim: Albin Grewe, RW
He seems like the type of player the Ducks would love. First of all, he's Swedish and they love their Swedes; he hits hard; and he knows how to put up points.
Comparison: Patric Hornqvist. A guy that hits, scores and can be a sparkplug on the ice.
37. Vancouver: Lassi Thomson, D
If they can land Kakko in the first round, they can supplement him with fellow Finn, Lassi Thomson. He can bring swift puck movement and offense from the blueline
Comparison: Brandon Montour. An offensive, puck-moving defenseman who does excellent work in the opposing team's zone, while being a little chaotic in his own.
38. Chicago: Alex Vlasic, D
Standing 6'6", his size gets him taken relatively high, with some even considering him a first round talent. The Hawks could think he'd make a nice defense partner for Henri Jokiharju, so they're quick to grab him.
Comparison: Brandon Carlo. Tall, shutdown defenseman that doesn't stand out in any one way, but has decent enough skating for his size and does a lot of things "just right".
39. New York Rangers: Samuel Fagemo, LW
He's an overager that gets scooped off the board before the next few teams could grab him. He's an industrious goal scorer with good skill and could add secondary scoring to a lineup. He should have been drafted last year. He won't be passed over again.
Comparison: Mike Hoffman. Goal scoring winger that should be able to play in a top 9 role, especially as a complement to skilled players.
40. Edmonton: Nicholas Robertson, LW/RW
They tend to draft heavily from the OHL. Robertson's one of the younger players in the draft, so there's plenty more room to develop. Not only that, he and Krebs showed excellent chemistry at the Top Prospects Game. Reuniting them to see if it continues might be worth a gamble.
Comparison: Jaden Schwartz. An undersized, but a highly offensive winger with good smarts, playmaking ability and can even snipe the puck.
41. Carolina [from Buffalo]: John Beecher, C/LW
The 'Canes need more center depth in their lineup. They also like taking Americans developing in American systems, loving his size and all-around versatility and physicality. He's the type of player that you win with because he makes it so hard to play against.
Comparison: Mark Jankowski. He's a power-center that can kill penalties, bring physicality and play an all-around game that should also allow him to put up some points.
42. Ottawa [from Florida]: Kaedan Korczak, D
The Sens go to the Kelowna defense factory and take Korczak, who has excellent upside as a two-way defender with some physicality. They need help on the right side of defense and he could be a good future partner for a guy such as Erik Brannstrom.
Comparison: Josh Manson. He could be a big workhorse type of defenseman that eats up plenty of minutes, hits hard and adds two-way play.
43. Colorado: Nolan Foote, LW
Not only could he be the best player on the board at this range, he also has familiar ties to the organization. His father, Adam Foote, played for the Avs and they scoop him up, adding a power-scoring winger to their ranks.
Comparison: Anders Lee is probably his top end. Maybe a Brett Ritchie type. Big, sluggish skater that has good smarts and an excellent shot. He might make it as a middle 6 type of power winger that can slot around in various roles.
44. Arizona: Michal Teply, LW
The Coyotes add size and depth to their wings by taking the Czech winger. He stands 6'3", can fire the puck with gusto, has some physicality... but isn't the most graceful skater. Nevertheless, the Coyotes think he'd look good in a top 9 role.
Comparison: Josh Anderson. He's a big bull on skates, with the ability to put the puck in/on the net.
45. Philadelphia: Mikko Kokkonen, D
It's a BPA type of selection. He falls only because his overall game doesn't really stand out and his skating isn't picture-perfect. The Flyers would like to keep rebuilding their blueline and his hockey IQ could take him to a potential 2nd pairing situation.
Comparison: Anton Stralman. A simple, yet effective defenseman, who likes to keep things calm, cool and collected; possibly able to play on a second pairing.
46. Montreal [from Columbus]: Tobias Bjornfot, D
For their first 2nd rounder, the Habs again go for a left shot European defender. This time, they nab Bjornfot, who's a mobile, all-situations defenseman. He joins Jacob Olofsson as the latest Swede to join their prospect ranks. The Habs love drafting players with high hockey IQ and Bjornfot would fit that bill.
Comparison: Jonas Brodin. A likely middle-pair type of defenseman that offers good mobility, speed, leadership and all-around appeal.
47. Minnesota: Ryder Donovan, C/RW
Not only is he a Minnesota kid, which would be a positive for them; but he fits all the criteria that they're looking for. They'd like to keep adding potential depth down the middle, liking his versatility to also play wing.
Comparison: Kevin Hayes. Standing 6'4", he's a tall forward with decent puck-handling and skill.
48. New York Rangers [from Dallas]: Antti Tuomisto, D
They went to Finland and grabbed a quality guy in Tarmo Reunanen. They return there and take another quality Finn, Antti Tuomisto. He plays on the right side, further shoring up that area and gives them excellent depth for the future.
Comparison: To me, he's an Esa Lindell type -- meaning he's a big, two-way defender that can do a bit of everything, making him the perfect complementary type.
49. St. Louis: Ilya Nikolayev, C
The Blues wouldn't mind adding some center depth. They've also never been afraid of the Russian factor. In this instance, they grab Nikolayev, who's put up good showings in multiple tournaments throughout the year. He might have some upside.
Comparison: Mikael Backlund. At this best, he's probably a two-way, playmaking 2nd line center.
50. Vegas: Anttoni Honka, D
Vegas again goes for defense, shoring up their blueline, especially after trading away Erik Brannstrom. In a way, he has some similar qualities, with not as high of an upside. He's a pure chaos defender, though; having high upside if he can somehow get it all together.
Comparison: Shayne Gostisbehere. A mobile, undersized, offense-first defenseman that needs to work on his defensive issues.
51. Montreal: Patrik Puistola, LW
Going back to their first round pick, Heinola, they venture back to Finland and grab the goal scoring Finn. It gives Montreal some more scoring wingers to insulate Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
Comparison: Ondrej Kase. Like Kase, he's an offensive forward that can score goals and has some versatility.
52. Carolina: Mads Sogaard, G
While they currently have a lot of pieces going forward, they clearly need to find a goalie to run with. They hae a few guys already in the system, but someone such as Sogaard may have higher potential and could be a starter.
Comparison: Ben Bishop. He's a massively tall goalie that covers the net with his size and is decent at handling pucks.
53. Florida [from Pittsburgh]: Vladislav Koltachonok, D
With Flint being such a disaster, it might hurt his draft stock. The Panthers would jump on him if he's there, needing to boost their blueline depth.
Comparison: Jaccob Slavin. Decent sized defenseman that plays many roles, can work special teams and whose skating allows him to aide on offense as well.
54. Winnipeg: Martin Hugo Has, D
The Jets love drafting for size. Taking the Czech defender, Has, would be right up their alley. He'd build depth on their right hand side and provides solid shutdown ability, along with a good, hard shot.
Comparison: Scott Mayfield. He has good mobility for his size, along with a hard shot that allows him to put up some offense. Mainly a shutdown type of guy.
55. Detroit [from New York Islanders]: Artemiy Kniazev, D
The Red Wings need more help on the blueline, thus grabbing the speedy Russian defenseman. They've gone to the QMJHL a few times these past few years, it may serve them well to do so again.
Comparison: Nick Leddy. He's a speedy offensive defenseman that helps in transition, but has some defensive lapses.
[n]56. Toronto:[/b] Simon Holmstrom, RW
The Leafs tend to draft a lot from Sweden. Holmstrom's had an injury plagued season, which gets him dropping... but he still has plenty of offensive firepower. They can afford to take the risk.
Comparison: Gustav Nyquist. He's a Swedish playmaking winger who might be a little more susceptible to injury, despite his talent.
57. New Jersey [from Boston]: Billy Constantinou, D
Looking to add more depth to their right side of defense, the Devils grab Constantinou, who's a sleek offensive defenseman. He's dropped a little due to being traded to a lesser team; however there is a lot to like about him.
Comparison: Vince Dunn. He's an offensive rearguard that can use his skating and smarts to provide help from the blueline.
58. New York Islanders [from Calgary]: Nikita Alexandrov, C/LW
He's a center and high-volume shooter and the Isles need depth down the middle. It could be an interesting matchup, since the Isles often draft from the Q.
Comparison: Nazem Kadri. A shoot-first center that can do a bit of everything, produce on special teams, kill penalties, etc..
59. Detroit [from San Jose]: Michael Vukojevic, D
The Wings have been known to take a lot of players from the OHL. He's a complete defender that has good size and two-way skill.
Comparison: Justin Braun. A well-rounded, solid defenseman that can do a bit of everything, while keeping the puck in transition.
60. Washington: Robert Mastrosimone, LW/RW
At this slot, Mastrosimone would be a potential steal. He drops due to being a little one-sided and small, but he's a goal scorer and that's what makes him a good pickup at this locale.
Comparison: Mike Cammalleri. Undersized sniper that can get into the areas to score goals.
61. New Jersey [from Nashville]: John Farinacci, C
Farinacci is a New Jersey native, with the Devils taking a local guy to further buildup their center depth. Playing in American developmental systems, he could become an energetic uptempo depth guy.
Comparison: Frans Nielsen. His top end is probably a good 3rd line center that can sometimes shift up to play 2c, using his smarts and frenetic play to help him during games.
62. Tampa Bay: Maxim Cajkovic, LW/RW
Cajkovic's had a weird year. He's been playing on a brutal team, but going from that to being drafted by the Lightning would be one hell of a turnaround.
Comparison: Jason Pominville. A speedy, offensive forward that can be a leader on the ice, owns good hands and vision and is a provider of offense.
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:: Round 3 ::
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63. Colorado [from Ottawa]: Pyotr Kochetkov, G
After missing out on Spencer Knight, the Avs take another highly regarded goaltender. Kochetkov's an overager that's put up good numbers and had a pretty good WJC. They badly need depth in goal.
Comparison: Frederik Andersen. He's your standard big, athletic goalie that can stand tall in the net and has good athleticism.
64. Los Angeles: Leevi Aaltonen, LW
The Kings have gone to Finland several times before. They're on the lookout for speedy. Despite his lack of size, Aaltonen's one of the speediest in the draft class.
Comparison: Yanni Gourde. An undersized, speedy winger that can put up points.
65. Detroit: Hunter Jones, G
The Wings head back to the OHL and grab Hunter Jones. They need depth in goal and this should be right around the area he's drafted.
Comparison: Connor Hellebuyck.
66. Philadelphia [from New Jersey]: Nathan Legare, RW
With Wayne Simmonds gone, they're gonna need some more heavy players upfront that can hit and score. Legare drops only due to skating issues and scouts being wary of the QMJHL, but he could be a steal at this spot.
Comparison: At top end, he can be a Dustin Brown type of top 6 scorer that can also hit hard. Maybe he's more of a Michael Ferland type of complementary winger that hits, scores and can be slotted all over a lineup.
67. New Jersey [from Anaheim]: Ilya Konovalov, G
The Devils need goaltender depth and they need it soon. They can take Konovalo, who's been putting up excellent numbers in the KHL as one of the younger goalies. They can get him over soon, hoping he can contribute.
Comparison: Jonathan Quick. He's not a giant or overly huge, he's an athletic goalie with really good upside and regular size.
68. Vancouver: Henry Thrun, D
He's an American defender that plays a simple and effective game. He'd give them some blueline depth, which is a big need.
Comparison: Brett Pesce. This American defender keeps things safe, mobile and effective.
69. Arizona [from Chicago]: Shane Pinto, C/RW
It's more size and skill for the Coyotes. Pinto's looked good all season long and could even be a 2nd rounder. Getting him at #69 could be a steal.
Comparison: Charlie Coyle. Plays a power forward's game that enables him to score goals and goes hard to the net.
70. New York Rangers: Ethan Keppen, LW
Despite playing on a weak Flint team, he's looked decent. He could be a decent depth power winger, with the Rangers taking him liking his potential.
Comparison: Jake Virtanen. He's a smooth-skating power winger that can hit and score.
71. Florida [from Edmonton]: Marcus Kallionkieli, LW
The Panthers love their Finns. They take Kalliokieli, feeling he could make a decent depth winger with speed and some goal scoring ability.
Comparison: Andreas Athanasiou. His game is focused on good speed and the ability to score goals. Most likely a depth guy at the professional level.
72. Buffalo: Marshall Warren, D
Their defense gets yet another upgrade, with Warren having the potential to be a solid skating defender. He could replace Brendan Guhle, whom they recently traded away.
Comparison: Nate Schmidt. His play revolves around his skating ability, which enables him to play well at both ends of the ice with a non-flashy game.
73. Nashville [from Florida]: Rhett Pitlick, LW/RW
They drafted his brother a few years ago. They reunite them by taking the younger Pitlick, who is an undersized speed demon.
Comparison: Michael Grabner. Pitlick's main asset is his speed and skating, which makes him an offensive threat in multiple ways. He's not the biggest player, which could hamper him, but he's been getting top 62 talk.
74. Colorado: Samuel Bolduc, D
The Avs could use some left-shot defenders to maintain depth in that area. Bolduc's skating, despite being 6'4", is pretty good and it could make him possible to keep pace with a Cale Makar.
Comparison: Adam Larsson is probably his upside, albeit he'll probably be lower tiered than him. Maybe he'll be more of a Joel Edmundson type, playing a mobile shutdown type.
75. Arizona: Isaiah Saville, G
The Coyotes take him, bolstering their goaltender depth. He's looked good throughout the season, especially at some tournaments. He might have starter upside, which is something they obviously hope for.
Comparison: Semyon Varlamov. An athletic, fast goalie with a speed glovehand that can snatch pucks out of the air.
76. Philadelphia: Austen Swankler, C
It might be a little early to draft him, but the Flyers jump on him now. He's a Pennsylvania native and is also one of the youngest players in the draft, meaning he'll have that extra year to percolate, which should do wonders for his growth.
Comparison: Jake Guentzel. He's a pick for potential, with the Flyers hoping he can develop into an offensive forward.
77. Columbus: Brayden Tracey, LW/RW
With only few picks in the draft, the Blue Jackets will hope to land a few steals. Tracey is the highest scoring rookie in the WHL and could even be a top 62 pick.
Comparison: Jordan Eberle. He's a quick-strike type of scoring winger that plays on the perimeter, looking to put up points.
78. Minnesota: Tuukka Tieksola, RW
He's been slowly rising up draft lists thanks to his increased level of play. He seems like the type of player that the Wild could like, feeling he had mores skill to their forward depth.
Comparison: At top end, he's another Mikael Granlund type. Otherwise, maybe a Kevin Labanc type of undersized playmaking winger that can put up a high assist total.
79. New Jersey [from Dallas]: Graeme Clarke, RW
The Devils have taken guys from the OHL before and they go back there again, taking Clarke, who has good goal scoring potential. He might have top 6 upside, it's best to see how he develops.
Comparison: Tyler Toffoli. Like Toffoli, his skating isn't graceful or elite. Instead, he has good hands and the ability to put the puck in the net.
80. St. Louis: Drew Helleson, D
The Blues add a mobile defenseman with good size and who'll be developing within a solid system. It could be seen as a good depth move.
Comparison: Michael Matheson. His top potential could be as a middle pairing defenseman that moves the puck well.
81. Vegas: Sasha Mutala, RW
Vegas's game is all about speed and possession. Grabbing Mutala would be a nod to that, even if his upside isn't elite.
Comparison: Darren Helm. He's a good, solid character winger with excellent speed and two-way ability.
82. Montreal: Alex Beaucage, RW
He has plenty of tools and a deft scoring touch. However, his skating ability is poor, which causes him to drop. At this area, the Habs take a chance on him, hoping he can become a power-scoring forward at the top level.
Comparison: Nino Niederreiter. Despite being a goal scorer with a really good shot, he skates like he has a piano on his back and it could affect his draft stock.
83. Carolina: Ben Brinkman, D
The Hurricanes have a history of taking defensemen with good size in the middle rounds. Even though their defense area is a lock, he gives them more depth and options going forward.
Comparison: David Savard. He's a strong defenseman with a sturdy base that can do a little of everything, including defend well.
84. Ottawa [from Pittsburgh]: Valentin Nussbaumer, C/LW
The Sens add another offensive forward, hoping for upside. They keep hedging their bets on talent, hoping someone can break through.
Comparison: Daniel Sprong. He's the owner of a good pair of hands and can fight through traffic to score.
85. Vegas [from Winnipeg]: Matvei Guskov, LW/C
While it hasn't been an ideal season for Guskov, he has the potential to be a decent mobile forward that can be a role player at the top level. He seems like the type of player that Vegas would like.
Comparison: Matt Cullen. He could become a speedy role player that can do a bit of everything, working well as a depth guy.
86. Edmonton [from New York Islanders]: Dustin Wolf, G
He's not a huge goalie, but he's got a lot of upside and potential. If I'm the Oilers, I draft him and hope for the best, feeling that he could develop into a guy that could push for a starting role.
Comparison: Jusse Saros. Not a big guy at all, he's got plenty of talent and puts up excellent numbers that could be transferrable to a pro style.
87. Toronto: Daniil Misyul, D
The Leafs have a history of targeting Russians in the middle rounds. This time, they grab the 6'3" defender with good mobility and upside.
Comparison: Connor Murphy. The 6'3" Russian is a mobile defenseman with good size and ability.
88. Boston: Jackson Lacombe, D
The Bruins notoriously draft a lot from the American developmental systems. Lacombe could be the next guy to follow that path, with Boston adding more fuel to their blueline.
Comparison: Devon Toews. He's a mobile blueliner with upside and skill that can be counted to play a two-way game.
89. Calgary: Simon Lundmark, D
The Flames grab more defensive depth, having gone to Sweden a few other times to do so. He profiles as a depth blueliner that has some decent skill.
Comparison: Colin Miller. He's a mobile defenseman that owns a hard shot, speed and two-way ability.
90. San Jose: Antti Saarela, LW/RW
He's the exact type of toolsy player the Sharks love drafting. He definitely has pro upside, even if it's as a 3rd/4th line character player.
Comparison: Bryan Rust. He's a multi-purpose forward that can do a little bit of everything, likely finding a home as a 3rd line winger and special teams guy.
91. Los Angeles [from Washington]: Adam Beckman, LW/C
He's a teammate of Jaret Anderson-Dolan, current Kings prospect, which means they've surely seen him a bunch. He could be a good pickup for that reason alone.
Comparison: Mathieu Joseph. He's a scoring forward that's putting up good goal totals, with a decent sized frame.
92. Vegas [from Nashville]: Harrison Blaisdell, Lw
The Golden Knights draft the speedy, energetic Blaisdell, who has good scoring skill and goes hard to the net to put up points. He's been playing in a lesser league, which drops him, but the Knights take a shot on him.
Comparison: Jason Zucker. He's an energetic winger that skates hard to the net and could look good on a scoring line.
93. Tampa Bay: Roman Bychkov, D
Tampa Bay loves drafting speedy players and Russians. Put them both together and they get Bychkov, who could be a puck-moving defenseman that helps in transition.
Comparison: Thomas Hickey. His game is all about speed, speed and more speed. It should help him play a two-way transition game.
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:: Round 3 ::
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94. Ottawa: Jordan Spence, D
The Sens return to the Q and take the puck-mover, Spence. He's a smaller puck-moving defenseman.
Comparison: Will Butcher. A mobile puck-mover who is shorter in stature.
95. Los Angeles: Hugo Alnefelt, G
The Kings add another potential starter to their mix. They'll hope to cash in on at least one of the guys they've drafted the past few years.
Comparison: David Rittich. He's a big, talented goalie that has upside as a starter.
96. Detroit: Karl Henriksson, LW/C
The Wings go to an area they're well-versed in: Sweden. They take Henriksson, who's had an underrated season, feeling his versatility and offensve could be translatable to the NHL.
Comparison: Jesper Bratt. An undersized forward that can play with energy and skill.
97. New Jersey: Matias Macelli, LW
They can add a slick, scoring winger with upside. Macelli's been putting up excellent numbers in the USHL and if he's still here, they'd be dumb to pass on him.
Comparison: Jussi Jokinen. He has good hands, vision and overall skill, which could possibly allow him to become a middle 6 winger.
98. Anaheim: Patrick Moynihan, C/LW
He could become a depth energy guy with two-way skill, the ability to score goals and some peskiness in his game. He seems like a Ducks-type of player.
Comparison: Blake Coleman. A depth forward that can hit and score, while having some two-way ability. Likely in a bottom 6 type role.
99. Vancouver: Nikola Pasic, LW
The Canucks have always had pretty good success with Swedes. He's one of the best left available.
Comparison: Andreas Johansson. This Swedish winger is smaller in size, but knows how to put up offense.
100. Chicago: Colten Ellis, G
Looking for more goaltender depth, they take Ellis, hoping he has staring upside.
Comparison: Ryan Miller. He's an athletic, quick goalie that can come up clutch at important times.
101. Minnesota [from New York Rangers]: Mike Koster, D
The Wild get this pick because I have Boston moving into the 2nd round. It can be similar to when they drafted Mike Reilly a few years back, the grab another local defenseman with good offensive talent. They'll give him developmental time and see how he pans out.
Comparison: Ty Barrie. An undersized, offensive defenseman who knows how to put points on the board.
102. Edmonton: Josh Nodler, RW
The Oilers build up their winger depth by taking the USHL player that has shown some scorin skill. He'll likely be a depth player in the NHL if he makes it.
Comparison: Alex Killorn. A role player type that can aide in offense and defense, able to contribute in multiple ways.
103. Pittsburgh [from Buffalo]: Trevor Janicke, RW
They like drafting out of American systems. They return there and take Janicke, whose got a good combination of speed and skill. He seems like their type of player.
Comparison: Ryan Dzingel. An energetic depth scorer that can score goals, drive to the net and could be a middle 6 forward.
104. Florida: Kim Nouisianen, D
We know they always keep their eye on Finnish talent. The grab him, giving them another blueliner to build for the future. His only drawback is his lack of size, standing only 5'9".
Comparison: Jared Spurgeon. He's an undersized offensive blueliner that can move the puck quite well, plays a positional game and can put up points.
105. Nashille [from Colorado]: Semyon Chistyakov, D
The Preds are a team that puts a lot of focus on their blueline. As such, they tend to draft a lot of defenders, taking the chance on Chistyakov, who's past few months of play has him jumping up the board.
Comparison: At top end, he's probably a Dmitry Orlov type that can combine offense, puck-movement and hard physicality. Otherwise, he's a Radko Gudas type of hard-hitting defenseman.
106. Arizona: Jake Lee, D
He's the best player available. The Coyotes would love to add the big blueliner at this point.
Comparison: Michael Stone. He's a big defenseman that can play with physicality and some edge.
107. Philadelphia: Daniil Gutik, LW
Again, it's another best player available pick. Gutik would give the Flyers some nice offensive depth on the wing.
Comparison: Pavel Buchnevich. Like Buchnevich, he has a lot of talent and playmaking skill, falling only due to skating and consistency concerns.
108. New York Rangers [Columbus]: Judd Caulfield, RW
They keep adding more strength and heavyweights to their winger depth. He could be a 3rd/4th line power winger that can contribute as a complementary type.
Comparison: Marcus Foligno. Big power winger that has enough skill in his game to make him a translatable offensive player.
109. Florida [from Minnesota]: Kalle Loponen, D
See: their pick of Kim Nouisianen. But this time, it's a right-shooting defender, boosting that area as well.
Comparison: At top end, he's an Alex Goligoski type of defender that can play in a 4-6 role, provides offense, puck movement and has a hard shot to produce on a powerplay.
110. Dallas: Michael Gildon, LW
He's a kid from Texas and that could interest Dallas. While his skill may not be the highest, he's the type that can grind it out and help your team win, especially in the playoffs.
Comparison: Trevor Lewis. He's got good speed and two-way ability, allowing him to go into the corners to pull pucks out with a hard-nosed style.
111. Toronto [from St. Louis]: Valeri Orekhov, D
The Leafs love to draft overagers. Orekhov's looked good playing in the KHL, playing against men, which bodes well for his future. All they'd need is to get him to transfer over.
Comparison: Markus Nutivaraa. He's a safe, mobile defenseman that keeps the puck in transition and has solid all-around play.
112. Vegas: Josh Williams, RW
It's been a disappointing season for Williams. The Golden Knights take a chance on him, hoping he can rebound next year after not finding his scoring touch and consistency this year.
Comparison: Josh Leivo. An inconsistent winger that likes to score goals.
113. Montreal: Alexander Campbell, LW
He's a local talent playing in the BCHL, who will also be developing in the NCAA, which they usually tend to love. For the 4th round, it could be an interest long-term pickup.
Comparison: Conor Garland. An undersized, skilled winger that can score goals and help with offense.
114. Carolina: Henri Nikkanen, C
The put a lot of faith in their Finnish scouts. They grab Nikkanen to further boost their center depth, thinking he has good two-way ability and size.
Comparison: Oskar Sundqvist. He's a big center with good speed and two-way ability that could play a depth role.
115. Florida [from Pittsburgh]: Ethan Phillips, RW
Vastly undersized, he's an incredibly energetic forward that's had a good season. His size will obviously work against him, but he could be a useful energy forward in the future.
Comparison: Paul Byron. He's small in stature, standing only 5'9", but he brings excellent speed and versatility, which could allow him to play multiple roles.
116. Winnipeg: Zac Jones, D
The Jets love drafting American hidden gems. He could be that guy. He's a smaller defenseman that moves the puck aplomb and could add good depth to a system.
Comparison: Trevor Daley. He's your typical undersized defenseman that moves the puck with ease and is able to do a little of everything.
117. New York Islanders: Cade Webber, D
The Isles take the huge defender that's playing with the US national team. They like their players that develop within American systems, so it makes sense. It'd give them more defensive depth at least.
Comparison: He has potential to become a big shutdown type, ala Braydon Coburn.
118. Toronto: Joe Carroll, LW
Dubas goes back to his Greyhounds connections, taking the developing power winger. He could become a guy that crashes and bangs, opening position for their more talented players.
Comparison: Jujhar Khaira. A depth power forward that can hit, make plays and can do a bit of everything.
119. Chicago [from Boston]: Vladislav Firstov, LW
The Hawks grab one of the more talented players available, following their usual drafting motto. He's put up good numbers in the USHL, so he'd be worth a shot right.
Comparison: Craig Smith. A decent sized winger that can put the puck in the net while playing a depth role.
120. Los Angeles [from Calgary]: Bryce Brodzinski, RW
They already have his younger brother on the team. They could reunite the two by taking the overager, Brodzinski, who probably should have been taken last year.
Comparison: Joel Ward. Possibly a strong role-playing winger at the pro level.
121. Buffalo [from San Jose]: Samuel Hlavaj, G
The Sabres grab a goalie to help shore up their depth in goal. He plays behind a weak team, so he may have more upside than given. He had a good WJC, which should keep him drafted high enough.
Comparison: Martin Jones. He's your standard "big" goalie with upside, but might face some growing pains.
122. Washington: Case McCarthy, D
He hasn't lived up to expectations this season, resulting in a drop. That said, taking him in this area could be a nice pick.
Comparison: Robert Hagg. A physical defender that can work in a depth role, aiding in two-way play.
123. Nashville: Mikhail Abramov, C
The Preds need center depth. They don't draft often out of the CHL, although they have gone to the QMJHL several times. They could do so again, taking the pure playmaking center.
Comparison: At top end, Abramov is similar to a Mikael Granlund. However, he's probably more likely to end up like an Alex Kerfoot type of undersized center that knows how to pass the puck and put up assists.
124. Tampa Bay: Yegor Serdyuk, RW
They've gone to the Q to select players before. The fact that Serdyuk is Russian makes him even more intriguing. He doesn't have great size or skating and it may hold him back from becoming more than a depth scorer.
Comparison: Oliver Bjorkstrand. He's likely a depth scorer that can put up respectable numbers at the pro level.
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Noted names just missing the cut and likely to go in the 5th round: Ryan Siedem; Cole Moberg; Luke Toporowski; Vojtech Strondala; Dillon Hamaliuk; Matej Blumel; Cole Mackay; Albert Johansson; Taylor Gauthier; Reece Newkirk; Arvid Costmar; Ilya Mironov; Ronnie Attard; etc.
SUMMARY:
Anaheim:
6. Kirby Dach, C
28. Ryan Johnson, D
36. Albin Grewe, RW
98. Patrick Moynihan, LW/C
Arizona:
13. Connor McMichael, C
44. Michal Teply, LW
69. Shane Pinto, C/RW
75. Isaiah Saville, G
106. Jake Lee, D
Boston:
26. Jakob Pelletier, LW
88. Jackson Lacombe, D
Buffalo:
10. Trevor Zegras, LW/C
18. Moritz Seider, D
72. Marshall Warren, D
121. Samuel Hlavaj, G
Calgary:
27. Matthew Robertson, D
89. Simon Lundmark, D
Carolina:
21. Arthur Kaliyev, LW
41. John Beecher, C/LW
52. Mads Sogaard, G
83. Ben Brinkman, D
114. Henri Nikkanen, C
Chicago:
7. Matthew Boldy, LW
38. Alex Vlasic, D
100. Colten Ellis, G
119. Vladislav Firstov, LW
Colorado:
4. Alex Turcotte, C
12. Vasili Podkolzin, RW
43. Nolan Foote, LW
63. Pyotr Kochetkov, G
74. Samuel Bolduc, D
Columbus:
77. Brayden Tracey, LW/RW
Dallas:
17. Ryan Suzuki, C
110. Michael Gildon, LW
Detroit:
1. Jack Hughes, C
34. Yegor Afanasyev, LW/RW
55. Artemiy Kniazev, D
59. Michael Vukojevich, D
65. Hunter Jones, G
96. Karl Henriksson, LW/C
Edmonton:
9. Peyton Krebs, C/LW
40. Nicholas Robertson, LW/RW
86. Dustin Wolf, G
102. Josh Nodler, RW
Florida:
11. Spencer Knight, G
53. Vladislav Kolyachonok, D
71. Marcus Kallionkieli, LW
104. Kim Nouisianen, D
109. Kalle Loponen, D
115. Ethan Phillips, RW
Los Angeles:
5. Dylan Cozens, C
25. Thomas Harley, D
33. Philip Tomasino, C/RW
64. Leevi Aaltonen, LW
91. Adam Beckman, LW
95. Hugo Alnefelt, G
120. Bryce Brodzinski, RW
Minnesota:
16. Bobby Brink, RW
47. Ryder Donovan, C/RW
78. Tuukka Tieksola, RW
101. Mike Koster, D
Montreal:
20. Ville Heinola, D
46. Tobias Bjornfot, D
51. Patrik Puistola, LW
82. Alex Beaucage, RW
113. Alexander Campbell, LW
Nashville:
30. Nils Hoglander, LW
73. Rhett Pitlick, RW
123. Mikhail Abramov, C
New Jersey:
3. Bowen Byram, D
35. Jamieson Rees, C/LW
57. Billy Constantinou, D
61. John Farinacci, C
67. Ilya Konovalov, G
79. Graeme Clarke, RW
97. Matias Macelli, LW
New York Islanders:
24. Raphael Lavoie, RW/C
58. Nikita Alexandrov, C/LW
117. Cade Webber, D
New York Rangers:
8. Pavel Dorofeyev, LW
23. Cole Caufield, RW
31. Yegor Spiridonov, C
39. Samuel Fagemo, LW/RW
48. Antti Tuomisto, D
70. Ethan Keppen, LW
108. Judd Caulfield, RW
Ottawa:
15. Alex Newhook, C/LW
32. Samuel Poulin, LW
42. Kaedan Korczak, D
84. Valentin Nussbaumer, C/LW
94. Jordan Spence, D
Philadelphia:
14. Victor Soderstrom, D
45. Mikko Kokkonen, D
66. Nathan Legare, RW
76. Austen Swankler, C
107. Daniil Gutik, LW
Pittsburgh:
22. Cam York, D
103. Trevor Janicke, RW
San Jose:
90. Antti Saarela, LW/RW
St. Louis:
9. Ilya Nikolayev, C
80. Drew Helleson, D
Tampa Bay:
62. Maxim Cajkovic, LW/RW
93. Roman Bychkov, D
124. Yegor Serdyuk, RW
Toronto:
56. Simon Holmstrom, RW
87. Daniil Misyul, D
111. Valeri Orekhov, D
118. Joe Carroll, LW
Vancouver:
2. Kaapo Kakko, RW
37. Lassi Thomson, D
68. Henry Thrun, D
99. Nikola Pasic, LW
Vegas:
19. Philip Broberg, D
50. Anttoni Honka, D
81. Sasha Mutala, RW
85. Matvei Guskov, LW/C
92. Harrison Blaisdell, LW
112. Josh Williams, RW
Washington:
29. Brett Leason, RW
60. Robert Mastrosimone, LW/RW
122. Case McCarthy, D
Winnipeg:
54. Martin Hugo Has, D
116. Zac Jones, D
- I'm not a scout or super informed on the needs of other teams. It's all done in good fun. Any comments or comparisons made should be taken lightly. Obviously not everyone is going to be the exact similar player as their comparable; many probably won't even make the league or straight out bust.
- It's a post-playoff draft ranking, including who I think comes out of the West and East. Right now, I have Tampa Bay steamrolling their way into the finals and winning the Cup by taking out Washington. Meanwhile, in the West, I have Nashville going to the finals by beating San Jose.
- Results of the lottery, via tankathon: 1. Detroit; 2. Vancouver; 3. New Jersey.
- For the "tl,dr" crew, I have a summary of each team's pick at the end.
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:: Round 1 ::
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1. Detroit: Jack Hughes, C
He's the number one prospect in the draft and is the big prize for the lottery winner. Despite being undersized, they'd be thrilled to add his pure offensive arsenal to their lineup. Whether he plays center or wing, it'd be a great add for a team that needs more talent.
Comparison: Patrick Kane. He's an elite playmaking forward, with amazing hands, vision, creativity and all-around offensive skill. As of now, he doesn't have Kane's shooting ability -- in fact, it's one of Hughes's weaker areas -- but it's something he's been working on.
2. Vancouver: Kaapo Kakko, RW/C
Whether they bring him in as a winger or a center, they've got an incredible player on their hands. For example: imagine him playing alongside Elias Pettersson. They could be offensive catalysts for years on end, making a perfect match.
Comparison: Mikko Rantanen-meets-Rick Nash. A big, strong, scoring and playmaking winger that can make a difference during games, charges hard to the net and plays an excellent all-around game that should help him to dominate sooner than later.
3. New Jersey: Bowen Byram, D
By taking Byram, along with last year's addition of Ty Smith, they up their defensive core, giving them an excellent 1-2 combo on the left side. Byram's solidifying himself as a top performer with his clutch play, making him highly sought after, with the Devils running away with him.
Comparison: Mark Giordano. A well-rounded, all-situations defenseman that can do a bit of everything, including shutting down opponents. He may not a be a pure "elite" defender, but can still be a good, safe top pairing guy.
4. Colorado [from Ottawa]: Alex Turcotte, C
Needing center depth, they grab Turcotte, who's been putting up excellent numbers since returning from injury, putting himself in top 5 discussions. They need someone that'll play center behind Nathan MacKinnon and he'd be the perfect fit.
Comparison: Henrik Zetterberg is probably a good comparison. Both of them play(ed) hard and fast, with excellent two-way ability, smarts and elite speed, which sometimes resulted in them wearing down and getting injured.
5. Los Angeles: Dylan Cozens, C
The Kings need an influx of speed into their lineup. Cozens has a combination of size, scoring, skill and speed, which makes him an absolute perfect match. He's a big shoot-first forward that's probably close to contributing at a pro level, making him a nice addition.
Comparison: Mika Zibanejad. He's likely to become a heavy, but fast, two-way center that can score goals and can be counted on to play many roles.
6. Anaheim: Kirby Dach, C
They are going to need a replacement for Ryan Getzlaf eventually. Why not take the guy that many have compared him to? He might slip out of the top 5 due to consistency issues, but his combination of size and potential makes him a top line center candidate.
Comparison: Ryan Johansen-meets-Mark Stone type of big pass-first forward, with decent defensive skills.
7. Chicago: Matthew Boldy, LW
He has the potential to become a top line winger for the Hawks, which is something they'll be looking for. Thanks to his size and style of play, he's probably not too far out from contributing.
Comparison: Gabriel Landeskog. A leader on the ice, he can contribute in multiple ways, whether it's via scoring, hitting or using his two-way play to shutdown opponents.
8. New York Rangers: Pavel Dorofeyev, LW
This could be the first real surprise of the draft. They already have Kravtsov for their right side, they could pass on someone such as Podkolzin to take Dorofeyev, who has very intriguing offensive skills. They're a team that's known to differ from consensus. If they really like him, he could be their guy.
Comparison: David Pastrnak. A highly skilled winger that can score, pass and be an offensive wizard on the ice.
9. Edmonton: Peyton Krebs, C/LW
If there's one thing the Oilers are missing, it's players that have high hockey IQ. Outside of McDavid and Draisaitl, no forward really matches that criteria, thus they grab the Albertan boy, Krebs, who plays with reckless abandon. He's been a strong force, leading the way on a weak team, putting up great numbers al by himself.
Comparison: Brayden Point. An electric, speedy, two-way uptempo center/winger that can play a high speed, high hockey IQ game.
10. Buffalo: Trevor Zegras, C/LW
The Sabres love drafting out of American developmental systems. At this point, Zegras would be the best player available. They'd love his pure offensive skill, hands and vision, feeling like he'd be a great addition to their rebuilding core.
Comparison: Mathew Barzal. An incredibly shifty playmaking forward that can play center or wing that can also aide with offense.
11. Florida: Spencer Knight, G
It's a little unorthodox for goaltenders to go this high in recent drafts. However, the Panthers are deeply in need of goaltender depth. They could start by taking the best goalie available, with Knight getting rave reviews, with many thinking he's not far along from making the league. With teams seeing how guys such as Carter Hart and Jordan Binnington doing wonders for their team, it may prompt teams such as Buffalo, Edmonton, Chicago, Colorado, etc. to consider taking him early.
Comparison: He's a John Gibson type of big, quality startending goaltender.
12. Colorado: Vasili Podkolzin, RW
Despite having top 5 level of talent, I could see Podkolzin falling due to the Russian factor and fears of him not coming over. That said, the Avs were able to grab Alex Turcotte with their Ottawa pick, they can afford to take a risk with the slipping Podkolzin, especially if they miss out on Spencer Knight.
Comparison: Maybe a Timo Meier type. To me, he's a physical, solid two-way guy that can drive to the net and help score goals, while simultaneously aiding on the defensive end as well.
13. Arizona: Connor McMichael, C
If they were high on Barrett Hayton last year, then I could see them being high on McMichael this year as well. They need center depth and a duo of Hayton and McMichael would be good pickups to address this need.
Comparison: Logan Couture. He's a goal-scoring center with good speed, which enables him to be a really solid all-around type.
14. Philadelphia: Victor Soderstrom, D
Chuck Fletcher, while with Minnesota, often went overseas to look for talent. It could be the same situation here, as they could take Soderstrom in order to build up their right side of defense.
Comparison: Josh Morrissey. He's an all-situations type of defender that can move the puck along with good pace, drop some hits, play defensively and is able to do many things well. Like Morrissey, his offensive upside is probably not elite; but his puck-movement ability can still get the job done, especially if he plays on a stacked team.
15. Ottawa [from Columbus]: Alex Newhook, C/LW
After trady away a litany of offensive players, they need to get some offensive potential back. Taking Newhook would be a good first step in rebuilding their offense. Concerns over him playing in a lower league such as the BCHL keep him out of the top 10, but he's been putting up insane numbers as of late, which has him still sought after.
Comparison: Kyle Connor. Blessed with blazing speed, he can shoot and pass, able to put up good offensive numbers whether it's at center or wing.
16. Minnesota: Bobby Brink, RW
I know they need centers, but I find it hard to believe they would pass on such a talented local kid. He's been the guy pushing the play and leading the offense for Sioux City this year and his play at tournaments could really push him up the board.
Comparison: Joe Pavelski. Like Pavelski, he's a shorter player that doesn't really excel in any one area, but gets by on his vast hockey smarts and two-way play. He's been driving the play for his USHL team, putting up points by the handful.
17. Dallas: Ryan Suzuki, C/RW
Despite him falling in consensus rankings, I think some teams will still keep him high on their list. Dallas is a team that drafts a lot from the OHL and they don't have that many pure playmakers in their system. He could be a good setup man for some of the bigger goal scorers that have coming up.
Comparison: David Krejci. He probably could become a decent #2 playmaking center and a pretty good setup guy on a powerplay.
18. Buffalo [from St. Louis]: Moritz Seider, D
The Sabres love drafting out of Europe. Seider's a big 6'4" shutdown type of guy that skates really well and they could feel he'd make a perfect complement to a Rasmus Dahlin.
Comparison: Darnell Nurse. Big, 6'4" defender that can be physical, skates well and can move the puck.
19. Vegas: Philip Broberg, D
They're a team that's build around skating and puck movement. While Broberg hasn't lived up to expectations from the start of the season, there's still a lot to like and he could be an interest project to let develop. After trading away Erik Brannstrom, they'd like to replace him with another high potential defender.
Comparison: At top end, he could be a Rasmus Ristolainen type of big, speedy, puck-moving defenseman that can get plenty of shots on net and keep a constant pace on attack. Otherwise, maybe he becomes a Ron Hainsey type of role playing center that can skate well with his size.
20. Montreal: Ville Heinola, D
Heinola's been moving up draft boards, looking dynamite at both ends of the ice since his return from his WJC injury, playing like a Heiskanen-lite. We know the Habs scout heavily from Finland and need left-handed defense. He could be perfect for them, having tremendous upside. If he has a strong U18 tournament, he could possibly go even higher.
Comparison: Erik Gustafsson. He's a minute-eating puck-moving defenseman that can put up offense and use his smarts to play a solid two-way game.
21. Carolina: Arthur Kaliyev, Lw
At this point, he'd be the best player available and that'd be the 'Canes's stragety. He slips due to fears over his one-dimensional game. On the other hand, he's up to 50 goals in the OHL and that's pretty exceptional.
Comparison: James van Riemsdyk. Sluggish, goal scoring winger with some flaws in his game.
22. Pittsburgh: Cam York, D
He might fall a little due to his size. If so, the Pens would glad take him here, thinking he has top 4 upside and good offensive ability.
Comparison: Kevin Shattenkirk. A crisp offensive defenseman that can keep things simple and makes plays with ease.
23. New York Rangers [from Winnipeg]: Cole Caufield, RW
They'd probably love to be able to snag the pure sniper in this area. They have a lot of parts going forward and Caufield would be yet another great addition for them.
Comparison: Cam Atkinson. Standing only 5'7", he's a pure sniper that knows how to get plenty of shots on net, blessed with plenty of energy.
24. New York Islanders: Raphael Lavoie, RW/C
Lou Lamoriello loves his big players with character; and the Isles also love drafting from the QMJHL. It all matches up quite nicely, with the Islanders loving the option of drafting the big, versatile power forward.
Comparison: David Backes. Standing at 6'4", Lavoie can be a power forward that can use his imposing size to help on offense and punish with physicality. He's even had history of playing center, which is another reason the Isles could like him.
25. Los Angeles [from Toronto]: Thomas Harley, D
After grabbing Cozens earlier in the draft, they go back up and take a defenseman, with Harley being their target. His size and impressive skating would make the Kings think they're getting a steal and would be another rebuilding step.
Comparison: He's probably something of a Jake Gardiner-to-Shea Theodore type of defenseman. Basically, a highly mobile defenseman that can put up points and plenty of assists.
26. Boston: Jakob Pelletier, LW
The Bruins have found success with players that are small, feisty and talented... so they go take type of forward. He'd give the Bruins some more depth upfront, as they go for the BPA route.
Comparison: Travis Konecny. An undersized, feisty, tenacious forward that gives 100% at all times, also bringing some good skill.
27. Calgary: Matthew Robertson, D
He's a big 6'4" defenseman from Alberta that profiles as a shutdown-style of defender, with a hard shot. The Flames need more defense in their pipeline, so he seems like the smart addition.
Comparison: Hampus Lindholm, another big, shutdown style of defenseman that plays a simple, smart game.
28. Anaheim [from San Jose]: Ryan Johnson, D
They've jettisoned quite a few defenders out these past few years. They need to start re-stocking some more talented guys, taking the local kid, which would be a nice add for the Ducks.
Comparison: Alec Martinez. He profiles as a mobile, two-way defender that can aide in shutting down opponents and is good at the transition game as well.
29. Washington: Brett Leason, RW
The Capitals take the best player they feel is available. He's a double-overager, which means he's closer to contributing than most. For a contending team such as the Caps, he'd be an ideal pickup to make sure they have a steady dosage of youth.
Comparison: Alex Tuch. A big power forward that's had a breakthrough year and has really improved his skating and playmaking.
30. Nashville: Nils Hoglander, LW
Undersized, but incredibly pesky and talented, playing like a mini-power forward. He seems like the type of player that the Predators would be interested in.
Comparison: Viktor Arvidsson. An energetic winger that can be shifted around a lineup, who owns good hands, can rile up the opposition and can score goals.
31. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay): Yegor Spiridonov, C
The Rangers go back to Russian and add the big, two-way center that's aggressive on the penalty kill and has some very solid-two way appeal. At best, he's probably a 2nd line center that can play an important role, such as taking draws at the end of a game.
Comparison: Jordan Staal. An aggressive, two-way center that can eat you up on defense on the penalty kill, while also getting plenty of shots on net.
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:: Round 2 ::
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32. Ottawa: Samuel Poulin, LW
He's a sturdy, heavy power winger with definitely NHL upside, even if it's just as a middle 6 type. The Sens need to grab guys that have potential and they like drafting from the Q. He might be an option at this area.
Comparison: Wayne Simmonds. Think of him as a power winger that can stand in front of a net to cause damage, go to the hard areas and can be a physical force on the ice.
33. Los Angeles: Philip Tomasino, C/RW
The speedy, industrious forward plays with Akil Thomas in Niagara. They'd likely have seen him plenty of times and love the speed game he brings.
Comparison: Colin White. A versatile, speedy center/winger that can put up decent numbers.
34. Detroit: Yegor Afanasyev, LW/RW
He's come through the Little Caesars program in Michigan, meaning the Red Wings could have had eyes on him. He definitely has the size that they love. They grab him here before anyone else can.
Comparison: Chris Kreider. He's yet another big, heavy power winger that can rush to the net and crash and bang to put up points.
35. New Jersey: Jamieson Rees, C/W
His size and injuries might be a little risky for teams, but I think he has top 31 potential. The Devils need more center/forward depth and he could be a good addition for the type of speedy game they like to play.
Comparison: His upside is probably something of a Vincent Trochek type of high energy center/winger with some offensive upside. Maybe more of a Vladimir Sobotka type if his offense doesn't translate.
36. Anaheim: Albin Grewe, RW
He seems like the type of player the Ducks would love. First of all, he's Swedish and they love their Swedes; he hits hard; and he knows how to put up points.
Comparison: Patric Hornqvist. A guy that hits, scores and can be a sparkplug on the ice.
37. Vancouver: Lassi Thomson, D
If they can land Kakko in the first round, they can supplement him with fellow Finn, Lassi Thomson. He can bring swift puck movement and offense from the blueline
Comparison: Brandon Montour. An offensive, puck-moving defenseman who does excellent work in the opposing team's zone, while being a little chaotic in his own.
38. Chicago: Alex Vlasic, D
Standing 6'6", his size gets him taken relatively high, with some even considering him a first round talent. The Hawks could think he'd make a nice defense partner for Henri Jokiharju, so they're quick to grab him.
Comparison: Brandon Carlo. Tall, shutdown defenseman that doesn't stand out in any one way, but has decent enough skating for his size and does a lot of things "just right".
39. New York Rangers: Samuel Fagemo, LW
He's an overager that gets scooped off the board before the next few teams could grab him. He's an industrious goal scorer with good skill and could add secondary scoring to a lineup. He should have been drafted last year. He won't be passed over again.
Comparison: Mike Hoffman. Goal scoring winger that should be able to play in a top 9 role, especially as a complement to skilled players.
40. Edmonton: Nicholas Robertson, LW/RW
They tend to draft heavily from the OHL. Robertson's one of the younger players in the draft, so there's plenty more room to develop. Not only that, he and Krebs showed excellent chemistry at the Top Prospects Game. Reuniting them to see if it continues might be worth a gamble.
Comparison: Jaden Schwartz. An undersized, but a highly offensive winger with good smarts, playmaking ability and can even snipe the puck.
41. Carolina [from Buffalo]: John Beecher, C/LW
The 'Canes need more center depth in their lineup. They also like taking Americans developing in American systems, loving his size and all-around versatility and physicality. He's the type of player that you win with because he makes it so hard to play against.
Comparison: Mark Jankowski. He's a power-center that can kill penalties, bring physicality and play an all-around game that should also allow him to put up some points.
42. Ottawa [from Florida]: Kaedan Korczak, D
The Sens go to the Kelowna defense factory and take Korczak, who has excellent upside as a two-way defender with some physicality. They need help on the right side of defense and he could be a good future partner for a guy such as Erik Brannstrom.
Comparison: Josh Manson. He could be a big workhorse type of defenseman that eats up plenty of minutes, hits hard and adds two-way play.
43. Colorado: Nolan Foote, LW
Not only could he be the best player on the board at this range, he also has familiar ties to the organization. His father, Adam Foote, played for the Avs and they scoop him up, adding a power-scoring winger to their ranks.
Comparison: Anders Lee is probably his top end. Maybe a Brett Ritchie type. Big, sluggish skater that has good smarts and an excellent shot. He might make it as a middle 6 type of power winger that can slot around in various roles.
44. Arizona: Michal Teply, LW
The Coyotes add size and depth to their wings by taking the Czech winger. He stands 6'3", can fire the puck with gusto, has some physicality... but isn't the most graceful skater. Nevertheless, the Coyotes think he'd look good in a top 9 role.
Comparison: Josh Anderson. He's a big bull on skates, with the ability to put the puck in/on the net.
45. Philadelphia: Mikko Kokkonen, D
It's a BPA type of selection. He falls only because his overall game doesn't really stand out and his skating isn't picture-perfect. The Flyers would like to keep rebuilding their blueline and his hockey IQ could take him to a potential 2nd pairing situation.
Comparison: Anton Stralman. A simple, yet effective defenseman, who likes to keep things calm, cool and collected; possibly able to play on a second pairing.
46. Montreal [from Columbus]: Tobias Bjornfot, D
For their first 2nd rounder, the Habs again go for a left shot European defender. This time, they nab Bjornfot, who's a mobile, all-situations defenseman. He joins Jacob Olofsson as the latest Swede to join their prospect ranks. The Habs love drafting players with high hockey IQ and Bjornfot would fit that bill.
Comparison: Jonas Brodin. A likely middle-pair type of defenseman that offers good mobility, speed, leadership and all-around appeal.
47. Minnesota: Ryder Donovan, C/RW
Not only is he a Minnesota kid, which would be a positive for them; but he fits all the criteria that they're looking for. They'd like to keep adding potential depth down the middle, liking his versatility to also play wing.
Comparison: Kevin Hayes. Standing 6'4", he's a tall forward with decent puck-handling and skill.
48. New York Rangers [from Dallas]: Antti Tuomisto, D
They went to Finland and grabbed a quality guy in Tarmo Reunanen. They return there and take another quality Finn, Antti Tuomisto. He plays on the right side, further shoring up that area and gives them excellent depth for the future.
Comparison: To me, he's an Esa Lindell type -- meaning he's a big, two-way defender that can do a bit of everything, making him the perfect complementary type.
49. St. Louis: Ilya Nikolayev, C
The Blues wouldn't mind adding some center depth. They've also never been afraid of the Russian factor. In this instance, they grab Nikolayev, who's put up good showings in multiple tournaments throughout the year. He might have some upside.
Comparison: Mikael Backlund. At this best, he's probably a two-way, playmaking 2nd line center.
50. Vegas: Anttoni Honka, D
Vegas again goes for defense, shoring up their blueline, especially after trading away Erik Brannstrom. In a way, he has some similar qualities, with not as high of an upside. He's a pure chaos defender, though; having high upside if he can somehow get it all together.
Comparison: Shayne Gostisbehere. A mobile, undersized, offense-first defenseman that needs to work on his defensive issues.
51. Montreal: Patrik Puistola, LW
Going back to their first round pick, Heinola, they venture back to Finland and grab the goal scoring Finn. It gives Montreal some more scoring wingers to insulate Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
Comparison: Ondrej Kase. Like Kase, he's an offensive forward that can score goals and has some versatility.
52. Carolina: Mads Sogaard, G
While they currently have a lot of pieces going forward, they clearly need to find a goalie to run with. They hae a few guys already in the system, but someone such as Sogaard may have higher potential and could be a starter.
Comparison: Ben Bishop. He's a massively tall goalie that covers the net with his size and is decent at handling pucks.
53. Florida [from Pittsburgh]: Vladislav Koltachonok, D
With Flint being such a disaster, it might hurt his draft stock. The Panthers would jump on him if he's there, needing to boost their blueline depth.
Comparison: Jaccob Slavin. Decent sized defenseman that plays many roles, can work special teams and whose skating allows him to aide on offense as well.
54. Winnipeg: Martin Hugo Has, D
The Jets love drafting for size. Taking the Czech defender, Has, would be right up their alley. He'd build depth on their right hand side and provides solid shutdown ability, along with a good, hard shot.
Comparison: Scott Mayfield. He has good mobility for his size, along with a hard shot that allows him to put up some offense. Mainly a shutdown type of guy.
55. Detroit [from New York Islanders]: Artemiy Kniazev, D
The Red Wings need more help on the blueline, thus grabbing the speedy Russian defenseman. They've gone to the QMJHL a few times these past few years, it may serve them well to do so again.
Comparison: Nick Leddy. He's a speedy offensive defenseman that helps in transition, but has some defensive lapses.
[n]56. Toronto:[/b] Simon Holmstrom, RW
The Leafs tend to draft a lot from Sweden. Holmstrom's had an injury plagued season, which gets him dropping... but he still has plenty of offensive firepower. They can afford to take the risk.
Comparison: Gustav Nyquist. He's a Swedish playmaking winger who might be a little more susceptible to injury, despite his talent.
57. New Jersey [from Boston]: Billy Constantinou, D
Looking to add more depth to their right side of defense, the Devils grab Constantinou, who's a sleek offensive defenseman. He's dropped a little due to being traded to a lesser team; however there is a lot to like about him.
Comparison: Vince Dunn. He's an offensive rearguard that can use his skating and smarts to provide help from the blueline.
58. New York Islanders [from Calgary]: Nikita Alexandrov, C/LW
He's a center and high-volume shooter and the Isles need depth down the middle. It could be an interesting matchup, since the Isles often draft from the Q.
Comparison: Nazem Kadri. A shoot-first center that can do a bit of everything, produce on special teams, kill penalties, etc..
59. Detroit [from San Jose]: Michael Vukojevic, D
The Wings have been known to take a lot of players from the OHL. He's a complete defender that has good size and two-way skill.
Comparison: Justin Braun. A well-rounded, solid defenseman that can do a bit of everything, while keeping the puck in transition.
60. Washington: Robert Mastrosimone, LW/RW
At this slot, Mastrosimone would be a potential steal. He drops due to being a little one-sided and small, but he's a goal scorer and that's what makes him a good pickup at this locale.
Comparison: Mike Cammalleri. Undersized sniper that can get into the areas to score goals.
61. New Jersey [from Nashville]: John Farinacci, C
Farinacci is a New Jersey native, with the Devils taking a local guy to further buildup their center depth. Playing in American developmental systems, he could become an energetic uptempo depth guy.
Comparison: Frans Nielsen. His top end is probably a good 3rd line center that can sometimes shift up to play 2c, using his smarts and frenetic play to help him during games.
62. Tampa Bay: Maxim Cajkovic, LW/RW
Cajkovic's had a weird year. He's been playing on a brutal team, but going from that to being drafted by the Lightning would be one hell of a turnaround.
Comparison: Jason Pominville. A speedy, offensive forward that can be a leader on the ice, owns good hands and vision and is a provider of offense.
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:: Round 3 ::
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63. Colorado [from Ottawa]: Pyotr Kochetkov, G
After missing out on Spencer Knight, the Avs take another highly regarded goaltender. Kochetkov's an overager that's put up good numbers and had a pretty good WJC. They badly need depth in goal.
Comparison: Frederik Andersen. He's your standard big, athletic goalie that can stand tall in the net and has good athleticism.
64. Los Angeles: Leevi Aaltonen, LW
The Kings have gone to Finland several times before. They're on the lookout for speedy. Despite his lack of size, Aaltonen's one of the speediest in the draft class.
Comparison: Yanni Gourde. An undersized, speedy winger that can put up points.
65. Detroit: Hunter Jones, G
The Wings head back to the OHL and grab Hunter Jones. They need depth in goal and this should be right around the area he's drafted.
Comparison: Connor Hellebuyck.
66. Philadelphia [from New Jersey]: Nathan Legare, RW
With Wayne Simmonds gone, they're gonna need some more heavy players upfront that can hit and score. Legare drops only due to skating issues and scouts being wary of the QMJHL, but he could be a steal at this spot.
Comparison: At top end, he can be a Dustin Brown type of top 6 scorer that can also hit hard. Maybe he's more of a Michael Ferland type of complementary winger that hits, scores and can be slotted all over a lineup.
67. New Jersey [from Anaheim]: Ilya Konovalov, G
The Devils need goaltender depth and they need it soon. They can take Konovalo, who's been putting up excellent numbers in the KHL as one of the younger goalies. They can get him over soon, hoping he can contribute.
Comparison: Jonathan Quick. He's not a giant or overly huge, he's an athletic goalie with really good upside and regular size.
68. Vancouver: Henry Thrun, D
He's an American defender that plays a simple and effective game. He'd give them some blueline depth, which is a big need.
Comparison: Brett Pesce. This American defender keeps things safe, mobile and effective.
69. Arizona [from Chicago]: Shane Pinto, C/RW
It's more size and skill for the Coyotes. Pinto's looked good all season long and could even be a 2nd rounder. Getting him at #69 could be a steal.
Comparison: Charlie Coyle. Plays a power forward's game that enables him to score goals and goes hard to the net.
70. New York Rangers: Ethan Keppen, LW
Despite playing on a weak Flint team, he's looked decent. He could be a decent depth power winger, with the Rangers taking him liking his potential.
Comparison: Jake Virtanen. He's a smooth-skating power winger that can hit and score.
71. Florida [from Edmonton]: Marcus Kallionkieli, LW
The Panthers love their Finns. They take Kalliokieli, feeling he could make a decent depth winger with speed and some goal scoring ability.
Comparison: Andreas Athanasiou. His game is focused on good speed and the ability to score goals. Most likely a depth guy at the professional level.
72. Buffalo: Marshall Warren, D
Their defense gets yet another upgrade, with Warren having the potential to be a solid skating defender. He could replace Brendan Guhle, whom they recently traded away.
Comparison: Nate Schmidt. His play revolves around his skating ability, which enables him to play well at both ends of the ice with a non-flashy game.
73. Nashville [from Florida]: Rhett Pitlick, LW/RW
They drafted his brother a few years ago. They reunite them by taking the younger Pitlick, who is an undersized speed demon.
Comparison: Michael Grabner. Pitlick's main asset is his speed and skating, which makes him an offensive threat in multiple ways. He's not the biggest player, which could hamper him, but he's been getting top 62 talk.
74. Colorado: Samuel Bolduc, D
The Avs could use some left-shot defenders to maintain depth in that area. Bolduc's skating, despite being 6'4", is pretty good and it could make him possible to keep pace with a Cale Makar.
Comparison: Adam Larsson is probably his upside, albeit he'll probably be lower tiered than him. Maybe he'll be more of a Joel Edmundson type, playing a mobile shutdown type.
75. Arizona: Isaiah Saville, G
The Coyotes take him, bolstering their goaltender depth. He's looked good throughout the season, especially at some tournaments. He might have starter upside, which is something they obviously hope for.
Comparison: Semyon Varlamov. An athletic, fast goalie with a speed glovehand that can snatch pucks out of the air.
76. Philadelphia: Austen Swankler, C
It might be a little early to draft him, but the Flyers jump on him now. He's a Pennsylvania native and is also one of the youngest players in the draft, meaning he'll have that extra year to percolate, which should do wonders for his growth.
Comparison: Jake Guentzel. He's a pick for potential, with the Flyers hoping he can develop into an offensive forward.
77. Columbus: Brayden Tracey, LW/RW
With only few picks in the draft, the Blue Jackets will hope to land a few steals. Tracey is the highest scoring rookie in the WHL and could even be a top 62 pick.
Comparison: Jordan Eberle. He's a quick-strike type of scoring winger that plays on the perimeter, looking to put up points.
78. Minnesota: Tuukka Tieksola, RW
He's been slowly rising up draft lists thanks to his increased level of play. He seems like the type of player that the Wild could like, feeling he had mores skill to their forward depth.
Comparison: At top end, he's another Mikael Granlund type. Otherwise, maybe a Kevin Labanc type of undersized playmaking winger that can put up a high assist total.
79. New Jersey [from Dallas]: Graeme Clarke, RW
The Devils have taken guys from the OHL before and they go back there again, taking Clarke, who has good goal scoring potential. He might have top 6 upside, it's best to see how he develops.
Comparison: Tyler Toffoli. Like Toffoli, his skating isn't graceful or elite. Instead, he has good hands and the ability to put the puck in the net.
80. St. Louis: Drew Helleson, D
The Blues add a mobile defenseman with good size and who'll be developing within a solid system. It could be seen as a good depth move.
Comparison: Michael Matheson. His top potential could be as a middle pairing defenseman that moves the puck well.
81. Vegas: Sasha Mutala, RW
Vegas's game is all about speed and possession. Grabbing Mutala would be a nod to that, even if his upside isn't elite.
Comparison: Darren Helm. He's a good, solid character winger with excellent speed and two-way ability.
82. Montreal: Alex Beaucage, RW
He has plenty of tools and a deft scoring touch. However, his skating ability is poor, which causes him to drop. At this area, the Habs take a chance on him, hoping he can become a power-scoring forward at the top level.
Comparison: Nino Niederreiter. Despite being a goal scorer with a really good shot, he skates like he has a piano on his back and it could affect his draft stock.
83. Carolina: Ben Brinkman, D
The Hurricanes have a history of taking defensemen with good size in the middle rounds. Even though their defense area is a lock, he gives them more depth and options going forward.
Comparison: David Savard. He's a strong defenseman with a sturdy base that can do a little of everything, including defend well.
84. Ottawa [from Pittsburgh]: Valentin Nussbaumer, C/LW
The Sens add another offensive forward, hoping for upside. They keep hedging their bets on talent, hoping someone can break through.
Comparison: Daniel Sprong. He's the owner of a good pair of hands and can fight through traffic to score.
85. Vegas [from Winnipeg]: Matvei Guskov, LW/C
While it hasn't been an ideal season for Guskov, he has the potential to be a decent mobile forward that can be a role player at the top level. He seems like the type of player that Vegas would like.
Comparison: Matt Cullen. He could become a speedy role player that can do a bit of everything, working well as a depth guy.
86. Edmonton [from New York Islanders]: Dustin Wolf, G
He's not a huge goalie, but he's got a lot of upside and potential. If I'm the Oilers, I draft him and hope for the best, feeling that he could develop into a guy that could push for a starting role.
Comparison: Jusse Saros. Not a big guy at all, he's got plenty of talent and puts up excellent numbers that could be transferrable to a pro style.
87. Toronto: Daniil Misyul, D
The Leafs have a history of targeting Russians in the middle rounds. This time, they grab the 6'3" defender with good mobility and upside.
Comparison: Connor Murphy. The 6'3" Russian is a mobile defenseman with good size and ability.
88. Boston: Jackson Lacombe, D
The Bruins notoriously draft a lot from the American developmental systems. Lacombe could be the next guy to follow that path, with Boston adding more fuel to their blueline.
Comparison: Devon Toews. He's a mobile blueliner with upside and skill that can be counted to play a two-way game.
89. Calgary: Simon Lundmark, D
The Flames grab more defensive depth, having gone to Sweden a few other times to do so. He profiles as a depth blueliner that has some decent skill.
Comparison: Colin Miller. He's a mobile defenseman that owns a hard shot, speed and two-way ability.
90. San Jose: Antti Saarela, LW/RW
He's the exact type of toolsy player the Sharks love drafting. He definitely has pro upside, even if it's as a 3rd/4th line character player.
Comparison: Bryan Rust. He's a multi-purpose forward that can do a little bit of everything, likely finding a home as a 3rd line winger and special teams guy.
91. Los Angeles [from Washington]: Adam Beckman, LW/C
He's a teammate of Jaret Anderson-Dolan, current Kings prospect, which means they've surely seen him a bunch. He could be a good pickup for that reason alone.
Comparison: Mathieu Joseph. He's a scoring forward that's putting up good goal totals, with a decent sized frame.
92. Vegas [from Nashville]: Harrison Blaisdell, Lw
The Golden Knights draft the speedy, energetic Blaisdell, who has good scoring skill and goes hard to the net to put up points. He's been playing in a lesser league, which drops him, but the Knights take a shot on him.
Comparison: Jason Zucker. He's an energetic winger that skates hard to the net and could look good on a scoring line.
93. Tampa Bay: Roman Bychkov, D
Tampa Bay loves drafting speedy players and Russians. Put them both together and they get Bychkov, who could be a puck-moving defenseman that helps in transition.
Comparison: Thomas Hickey. His game is all about speed, speed and more speed. It should help him play a two-way transition game.
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:: Round 3 ::
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94. Ottawa: Jordan Spence, D
The Sens return to the Q and take the puck-mover, Spence. He's a smaller puck-moving defenseman.
Comparison: Will Butcher. A mobile puck-mover who is shorter in stature.
95. Los Angeles: Hugo Alnefelt, G
The Kings add another potential starter to their mix. They'll hope to cash in on at least one of the guys they've drafted the past few years.
Comparison: David Rittich. He's a big, talented goalie that has upside as a starter.
96. Detroit: Karl Henriksson, LW/C
The Wings go to an area they're well-versed in: Sweden. They take Henriksson, who's had an underrated season, feeling his versatility and offensve could be translatable to the NHL.
Comparison: Jesper Bratt. An undersized forward that can play with energy and skill.
97. New Jersey: Matias Macelli, LW
They can add a slick, scoring winger with upside. Macelli's been putting up excellent numbers in the USHL and if he's still here, they'd be dumb to pass on him.
Comparison: Jussi Jokinen. He has good hands, vision and overall skill, which could possibly allow him to become a middle 6 winger.
98. Anaheim: Patrick Moynihan, C/LW
He could become a depth energy guy with two-way skill, the ability to score goals and some peskiness in his game. He seems like a Ducks-type of player.
Comparison: Blake Coleman. A depth forward that can hit and score, while having some two-way ability. Likely in a bottom 6 type role.
99. Vancouver: Nikola Pasic, LW
The Canucks have always had pretty good success with Swedes. He's one of the best left available.
Comparison: Andreas Johansson. This Swedish winger is smaller in size, but knows how to put up offense.
100. Chicago: Colten Ellis, G
Looking for more goaltender depth, they take Ellis, hoping he has staring upside.
Comparison: Ryan Miller. He's an athletic, quick goalie that can come up clutch at important times.
101. Minnesota [from New York Rangers]: Mike Koster, D
The Wild get this pick because I have Boston moving into the 2nd round. It can be similar to when they drafted Mike Reilly a few years back, the grab another local defenseman with good offensive talent. They'll give him developmental time and see how he pans out.
Comparison: Ty Barrie. An undersized, offensive defenseman who knows how to put points on the board.
102. Edmonton: Josh Nodler, RW
The Oilers build up their winger depth by taking the USHL player that has shown some scorin skill. He'll likely be a depth player in the NHL if he makes it.
Comparison: Alex Killorn. A role player type that can aide in offense and defense, able to contribute in multiple ways.
103. Pittsburgh [from Buffalo]: Trevor Janicke, RW
They like drafting out of American systems. They return there and take Janicke, whose got a good combination of speed and skill. He seems like their type of player.
Comparison: Ryan Dzingel. An energetic depth scorer that can score goals, drive to the net and could be a middle 6 forward.
104. Florida: Kim Nouisianen, D
We know they always keep their eye on Finnish talent. The grab him, giving them another blueliner to build for the future. His only drawback is his lack of size, standing only 5'9".
Comparison: Jared Spurgeon. He's an undersized offensive blueliner that can move the puck quite well, plays a positional game and can put up points.
105. Nashille [from Colorado]: Semyon Chistyakov, D
The Preds are a team that puts a lot of focus on their blueline. As such, they tend to draft a lot of defenders, taking the chance on Chistyakov, who's past few months of play has him jumping up the board.
Comparison: At top end, he's probably a Dmitry Orlov type that can combine offense, puck-movement and hard physicality. Otherwise, he's a Radko Gudas type of hard-hitting defenseman.
106. Arizona: Jake Lee, D
He's the best player available. The Coyotes would love to add the big blueliner at this point.
Comparison: Michael Stone. He's a big defenseman that can play with physicality and some edge.
107. Philadelphia: Daniil Gutik, LW
Again, it's another best player available pick. Gutik would give the Flyers some nice offensive depth on the wing.
Comparison: Pavel Buchnevich. Like Buchnevich, he has a lot of talent and playmaking skill, falling only due to skating and consistency concerns.
108. New York Rangers [Columbus]: Judd Caulfield, RW
They keep adding more strength and heavyweights to their winger depth. He could be a 3rd/4th line power winger that can contribute as a complementary type.
Comparison: Marcus Foligno. Big power winger that has enough skill in his game to make him a translatable offensive player.
109. Florida [from Minnesota]: Kalle Loponen, D
See: their pick of Kim Nouisianen. But this time, it's a right-shooting defender, boosting that area as well.
Comparison: At top end, he's an Alex Goligoski type of defender that can play in a 4-6 role, provides offense, puck movement and has a hard shot to produce on a powerplay.
110. Dallas: Michael Gildon, LW
He's a kid from Texas and that could interest Dallas. While his skill may not be the highest, he's the type that can grind it out and help your team win, especially in the playoffs.
Comparison: Trevor Lewis. He's got good speed and two-way ability, allowing him to go into the corners to pull pucks out with a hard-nosed style.
111. Toronto [from St. Louis]: Valeri Orekhov, D
The Leafs love to draft overagers. Orekhov's looked good playing in the KHL, playing against men, which bodes well for his future. All they'd need is to get him to transfer over.
Comparison: Markus Nutivaraa. He's a safe, mobile defenseman that keeps the puck in transition and has solid all-around play.
112. Vegas: Josh Williams, RW
It's been a disappointing season for Williams. The Golden Knights take a chance on him, hoping he can rebound next year after not finding his scoring touch and consistency this year.
Comparison: Josh Leivo. An inconsistent winger that likes to score goals.
113. Montreal: Alexander Campbell, LW
He's a local talent playing in the BCHL, who will also be developing in the NCAA, which they usually tend to love. For the 4th round, it could be an interest long-term pickup.
Comparison: Conor Garland. An undersized, skilled winger that can score goals and help with offense.
114. Carolina: Henri Nikkanen, C
The put a lot of faith in their Finnish scouts. They grab Nikkanen to further boost their center depth, thinking he has good two-way ability and size.
Comparison: Oskar Sundqvist. He's a big center with good speed and two-way ability that could play a depth role.
115. Florida [from Pittsburgh]: Ethan Phillips, RW
Vastly undersized, he's an incredibly energetic forward that's had a good season. His size will obviously work against him, but he could be a useful energy forward in the future.
Comparison: Paul Byron. He's small in stature, standing only 5'9", but he brings excellent speed and versatility, which could allow him to play multiple roles.
116. Winnipeg: Zac Jones, D
The Jets love drafting American hidden gems. He could be that guy. He's a smaller defenseman that moves the puck aplomb and could add good depth to a system.
Comparison: Trevor Daley. He's your typical undersized defenseman that moves the puck with ease and is able to do a little of everything.
117. New York Islanders: Cade Webber, D
The Isles take the huge defender that's playing with the US national team. They like their players that develop within American systems, so it makes sense. It'd give them more defensive depth at least.
Comparison: He has potential to become a big shutdown type, ala Braydon Coburn.
118. Toronto: Joe Carroll, LW
Dubas goes back to his Greyhounds connections, taking the developing power winger. He could become a guy that crashes and bangs, opening position for their more talented players.
Comparison: Jujhar Khaira. A depth power forward that can hit, make plays and can do a bit of everything.
119. Chicago [from Boston]: Vladislav Firstov, LW
The Hawks grab one of the more talented players available, following their usual drafting motto. He's put up good numbers in the USHL, so he'd be worth a shot right.
Comparison: Craig Smith. A decent sized winger that can put the puck in the net while playing a depth role.
120. Los Angeles [from Calgary]: Bryce Brodzinski, RW
They already have his younger brother on the team. They could reunite the two by taking the overager, Brodzinski, who probably should have been taken last year.
Comparison: Joel Ward. Possibly a strong role-playing winger at the pro level.
121. Buffalo [from San Jose]: Samuel Hlavaj, G
The Sabres grab a goalie to help shore up their depth in goal. He plays behind a weak team, so he may have more upside than given. He had a good WJC, which should keep him drafted high enough.
Comparison: Martin Jones. He's your standard "big" goalie with upside, but might face some growing pains.
122. Washington: Case McCarthy, D
He hasn't lived up to expectations this season, resulting in a drop. That said, taking him in this area could be a nice pick.
Comparison: Robert Hagg. A physical defender that can work in a depth role, aiding in two-way play.
123. Nashville: Mikhail Abramov, C
The Preds need center depth. They don't draft often out of the CHL, although they have gone to the QMJHL several times. They could do so again, taking the pure playmaking center.
Comparison: At top end, Abramov is similar to a Mikael Granlund. However, he's probably more likely to end up like an Alex Kerfoot type of undersized center that knows how to pass the puck and put up assists.
124. Tampa Bay: Yegor Serdyuk, RW
They've gone to the Q to select players before. The fact that Serdyuk is Russian makes him even more intriguing. He doesn't have great size or skating and it may hold him back from becoming more than a depth scorer.
Comparison: Oliver Bjorkstrand. He's likely a depth scorer that can put up respectable numbers at the pro level.
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Noted names just missing the cut and likely to go in the 5th round: Ryan Siedem; Cole Moberg; Luke Toporowski; Vojtech Strondala; Dillon Hamaliuk; Matej Blumel; Cole Mackay; Albert Johansson; Taylor Gauthier; Reece Newkirk; Arvid Costmar; Ilya Mironov; Ronnie Attard; etc.
SUMMARY:
Anaheim:
6. Kirby Dach, C
28. Ryan Johnson, D
36. Albin Grewe, RW
98. Patrick Moynihan, LW/C
Arizona:
13. Connor McMichael, C
44. Michal Teply, LW
69. Shane Pinto, C/RW
75. Isaiah Saville, G
106. Jake Lee, D
Boston:
26. Jakob Pelletier, LW
88. Jackson Lacombe, D
Buffalo:
10. Trevor Zegras, LW/C
18. Moritz Seider, D
72. Marshall Warren, D
121. Samuel Hlavaj, G
Calgary:
27. Matthew Robertson, D
89. Simon Lundmark, D
Carolina:
21. Arthur Kaliyev, LW
41. John Beecher, C/LW
52. Mads Sogaard, G
83. Ben Brinkman, D
114. Henri Nikkanen, C
Chicago:
7. Matthew Boldy, LW
38. Alex Vlasic, D
100. Colten Ellis, G
119. Vladislav Firstov, LW
Colorado:
4. Alex Turcotte, C
12. Vasili Podkolzin, RW
43. Nolan Foote, LW
63. Pyotr Kochetkov, G
74. Samuel Bolduc, D
Columbus:
77. Brayden Tracey, LW/RW
Dallas:
17. Ryan Suzuki, C
110. Michael Gildon, LW
Detroit:
1. Jack Hughes, C
34. Yegor Afanasyev, LW/RW
55. Artemiy Kniazev, D
59. Michael Vukojevich, D
65. Hunter Jones, G
96. Karl Henriksson, LW/C
Edmonton:
9. Peyton Krebs, C/LW
40. Nicholas Robertson, LW/RW
86. Dustin Wolf, G
102. Josh Nodler, RW
Florida:
11. Spencer Knight, G
53. Vladislav Kolyachonok, D
71. Marcus Kallionkieli, LW
104. Kim Nouisianen, D
109. Kalle Loponen, D
115. Ethan Phillips, RW
Los Angeles:
5. Dylan Cozens, C
25. Thomas Harley, D
33. Philip Tomasino, C/RW
64. Leevi Aaltonen, LW
91. Adam Beckman, LW
95. Hugo Alnefelt, G
120. Bryce Brodzinski, RW
Minnesota:
16. Bobby Brink, RW
47. Ryder Donovan, C/RW
78. Tuukka Tieksola, RW
101. Mike Koster, D
Montreal:
20. Ville Heinola, D
46. Tobias Bjornfot, D
51. Patrik Puistola, LW
82. Alex Beaucage, RW
113. Alexander Campbell, LW
Nashville:
30. Nils Hoglander, LW
73. Rhett Pitlick, RW
123. Mikhail Abramov, C
New Jersey:
3. Bowen Byram, D
35. Jamieson Rees, C/LW
57. Billy Constantinou, D
61. John Farinacci, C
67. Ilya Konovalov, G
79. Graeme Clarke, RW
97. Matias Macelli, LW
New York Islanders:
24. Raphael Lavoie, RW/C
58. Nikita Alexandrov, C/LW
117. Cade Webber, D
New York Rangers:
8. Pavel Dorofeyev, LW
23. Cole Caufield, RW
31. Yegor Spiridonov, C
39. Samuel Fagemo, LW/RW
48. Antti Tuomisto, D
70. Ethan Keppen, LW
108. Judd Caulfield, RW
Ottawa:
15. Alex Newhook, C/LW
32. Samuel Poulin, LW
42. Kaedan Korczak, D
84. Valentin Nussbaumer, C/LW
94. Jordan Spence, D
Philadelphia:
14. Victor Soderstrom, D
45. Mikko Kokkonen, D
66. Nathan Legare, RW
76. Austen Swankler, C
107. Daniil Gutik, LW
Pittsburgh:
22. Cam York, D
103. Trevor Janicke, RW
San Jose:
90. Antti Saarela, LW/RW
St. Louis:
9. Ilya Nikolayev, C
80. Drew Helleson, D
Tampa Bay:
62. Maxim Cajkovic, LW/RW
93. Roman Bychkov, D
124. Yegor Serdyuk, RW
Toronto:
56. Simon Holmstrom, RW
87. Daniil Misyul, D
111. Valeri Orekhov, D
118. Joe Carroll, LW
Vancouver:
2. Kaapo Kakko, RW
37. Lassi Thomson, D
68. Henry Thrun, D
99. Nikola Pasic, LW
Vegas:
19. Philip Broberg, D
50. Anttoni Honka, D
81. Sasha Mutala, RW
85. Matvei Guskov, LW/C
92. Harrison Blaisdell, LW
112. Josh Williams, RW
Washington:
29. Brett Leason, RW
60. Robert Mastrosimone, LW/RW
122. Case McCarthy, D
Winnipeg:
54. Martin Hugo Has, D
116. Zac Jones, D
Good to see Nashville taking forwards, definitely our biggest need is to improve our scoring depth.
