newdimension
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- May 18, 2013
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Well, another year begins... and what a year it is. It's a helluva draft year, so I'm starting off with just the first round. Beyond the WJC, I'll do a 2/3 round mock and so on until the actual draft comes around.
As always, any comparisons and predictions made are my own, for the most part, and they're always open to change as the year progresses (reminder: we're still early in the year, so a lot could change).
Standings are based on points percentage as of December 5th, which is the cutoff date I'm starting with. The draft order is based upon post-season/post-playoff standings as of the cut-off, including with my own predicted ECF/WCF/Cup finalists. For the East, I'm guessing it'll come down to Boston and Carolina; and for the West, I'm predicting a Vegas-Colorado showdown. In the Cup finals, I could see the Bruins walking out as winners, having one last hoorah with their current squad and beating the reigning champs.
Draft lottery winners, as done by tankathon:
1. Columbus; 2. San Jose.
ROUND 1:
1. Columbus: Connor Bedard, C/RW
In a stellar draft year, Connor Bedard is "the guy". Putting up insane numbers in the WHL, Bedard has Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson on his heels, but it's likely he retains the top spot. While not "generational", he's certainly elite and can be a gamechanger for the team that drafts him; which, in this case, would be Columbus. Just imagine Gaudreau and Bedard playing on a line together -- tiny, but absolutely deadly.
Comparison: Brett Hull/Patrick Kane type of hybid. It may be a little difficult to nail down an exact comparable for Bedard, which is a way to state how unique he is. I'll go with a legacy comparison for Bedard in Brett Hull, who, like Bedard, was undersized, yet was armed with an elite shooting ability, far above many of his fellow players. Much like Hull and Kane, he's undersized, yet capable of playing against physical competition and knows where to go to place himself for prime goal scoring offense.
2. San Jose: Adam Fantilli, C
If you're getting Adam Fantilli as a consolation prize at #2, you're doing great. The Sharks have been known to be on the hunt for a future top center in recent years, finally landing one in the elite future top line center who's been tearing up teams in Michigan this year.
Comparison: Jack Eichel. Fantilli's got the size and train-like motion down the middle, which will allow him to drive offense and engage himself physically.
3. Anaheim: Matvei Michkov, RW
It's been an absolute nightmare season for the Ducks, who hop on Michkov, thinking he should be ready to contribute by the time they're ready to compete in a few years. In the past, they may have skipped over an enigmatic Russian talent like this, but things have changed with Pat Verbeek now in charge of things. Michkov's ability to score would make them feel like he'd be the perfect winger to play alongside Trevor Zegras or Mason McTavish.
Comparison: Kirill Kaprizov. Despite being undersized, Michkov has excellent scoring skill and is able to work himself into the scoring areas, if need be. He's an absolute sniper that rivals some of the top competitors in this draft in terms of skill and can use his shooting ability to provide offense.
4. Chicago: Leo Carlsson, C/LW
Roaring up draft boards with elite all-around play and a fantastic output of numbers, Leo Carlsson would be a great start to the Blackhawks rebuild. With Toews a shell of his former self, Kane likely on the way out and their European scouting so solid, someone such as Carlsson seems like the logical choice for them.
Comparison: Aleksander Barkov. A 6'3" center that plays with the smarts and skill combination as Carlsson isn't easy to find. Maybe something like Barkov is a comparable, where Carlsson is a guy that plays in every scenario and uses his skill to produce and his size to protect pucks.
5. Arizona: Will Smith, C
After years of searching for more center depth, they're able to run with Logan Cooley and Will Smith down the middle, which should be a good way to kickstart their rebuild. Smith's been rocketing towards the top of the draft thanks to his stellar play all season long and could solidify himself as a top 5 pick if his pace continues.
Comparison: Trevor Zegras. His combination of hands, skill, shooting and all-around play down the middle makes Smith a rising, valuable asset, knowing how to light the lamp with his elusive skill.
6. Philadelphia: Brayden Yager, C/LW
The Flyers are intent on building with more speed and scoring, both of which are things Yager can certainly provide. An absolute sniping center, he's someone the Flyers can happily walk away with, as he fits exactly what they want.
Comparison: Tyler Seguin. While Yager still needs to fill out and add size, he's someone that plays with amazing speed, which should be great on the transition; with his main offensive weapon being his shooting skill.
7. Ottawa: Dalibor Dvorsky, C/LW
Despite a rough stretch, Dvorsky still finds himself within the top 10, having lots of redeeming qualities that I'm sure the Sens would love. His versatile ability to play center or wing makes him that much more intriguing for them, thus they take him here, giving them more firepower upfront.
Comparison: Logan Couture. Blessed with excellent shooting ability, one of Dvorsky's main drawbacks is his poor skating and lack of speed, which reminds me of how Logan Couture plays. He uses his excellent shooting skill, ala Couture, who also fell a little in his draft year, to put up points. His versatility to play any forward role will make him highly valuable.
8. St. Louis: Eduard Sale, LW
Sale is a guy that's often ranked highly on some lists, including within the top 5. If he's there for the Blues at 8, he seems like someone with size that they'd love to add. They bank on his upside as a top line winger, hoping he can get more play time as the season progresses.
Comparison: Matt Boldy. Sale's an all-around winger with excellent puck skill, vision and scoring talent. He's someone that can be a top line winger that adds good size and skill to a first line.
9. Vancouver: Zach Benson, LW/RW/C
Being the smartest player in the draft, Benson's definitely someone that can play down the middle, with the only thing in his way being his lack of overall size. That said, it'd be hard for the Canucks to pass on a high IQ, skilled player such as Benson here, so they've have to make a play for him.
Comparison: Claude Giroux. I'd say he's something similar to how Claude Giroux plays. He's got fantastic hockey IQ and senses, he's able to thread the puck and be both a setup guy and a scorer. Lacking in height and skating speed, he makes up for it in pure talent and hockey IQ.
10. Buffalo: David Reinbacher, D
It's hard to envision a draft without a defenseman going within the top 10, so I'll have the Sabres taking Reinbacher here, especially after going with 3 forwards in the first round last year. Playing against men overseas, albeit in a little lesser known league, he's looked like a solid top 4 defenseman that can do a little of everything. The Austrian could join Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin in helping to shore up their defensive core.
Comparison: Jakob Chychrun. Reinbacher's an all-around defenseman that can wire a puck as well as he can carry it. He's got excellent potential as a shutdown guy, with the team that drafts him getting a kid that's been playing against men in Europe.
11. Washington: Andrew Cristall, LW
Cristall's been surging rapidly up draft boards due to his dynamic offensive play in the WHL. Sitting behind only Connor Bedard in points, he's been an offensive stud this year, potentially putting him in contention to be a top 5-10 selection. With the Caps loving their western talent, he seems like a fantastic choice for them here.
Comparison: Johnny Gaudreau/Seth Jarvis type of winger. He may not be as fast as Gaudreau, but he's got the same type of skilled, playmaking vision and offensive creativity. He's someone that'll bring pure offense to a lineup.
12. New York Rangers: Oliver Moore, C
In need of more centers in their system, they aim their sights at Oliver Moore, who may have the highest pure engine in this draft. Playing the #2 center role for the USNTDP Jr. squad, he's shown that he has top line/top-six potential, giving the Rangers some breathing room in terms of depth down the middle.
Comparison: Dylan Larkin. Moore possesses elite skating and an elite motor, possibly the best in the draft. His ability to go from one end of the ice to the other makes him a deadly player on both the PP and PK, allowing him to be someone that plays in all situations.
13. Montreal: Ryan Leonard, RW
A Massachusetts native, Ryan Leonard will surely be scouted hard by Kent Hughes, who has a lot of ties and connections to teams in that area. If so, they may love his pure energy, speed and skill combination, finding it hard to pass on him if he's still available.
Comparison: Dustin Brown. Blessed with fantastic speed and energy, Leonard's got power forward potential and also loves to lay the body against opponents. He's someone that can be pesky to play again, giving whatever team that drafts him a versatile and valued piece.
14. Calgary: Ethan Gauthier, RW/C
Knowing the Flames' love of drafting out of the Q, Gauthier could be high on their list. They drafted his father back in the 90's; they could return the favor by also selecting his son, Ethan, loving the energy he could bring to their lineup.
Comparison: Mike Richards. Gauthier's a lot like Richards in that he's a deeply competitive forward that brings a bevy of energy and skill during each shift. Like his father, he hits hard and can be an absolute pest and menace to play against at both ends of the ice.
15. Los Angeles: Colby Barlow, LW
Barlow brings a goal-scoring, offensive presence with some physicality, which should go over well with the Kings tops-six. He's been exploding up draft lists due to his scoring pace in the OHL this year and could even be a top 10 candidate by the time everything rolls around.
Comparison: Timo Meier. Not only does Barlow use his speed to plow into competition with rough body checks, he can also use it to be a dangerous scorer coming off the rush, putting a torrential amount of pucks on net.
16. Montreal [from Florida]: Samuel Honzek, LW/C
They again turn to a big Slovakian for the 2nd year in a row. In this case, it's Samuel Honzek, who's been opening eyes in the WHL, showing that he may have more offensive upside than previously thought. If he continues on his current path, he could find himself battling for a top 15-20 spot, with the Habs taking him here, with the hopes of permantly moving him to center.
Comparison: Roope Hintz. Honzek's got the two-way smarts of a pivot with a long reach, ala Hintz, along with above average playmaking skill. He's capable of playing center, too; which is also a positive.
17. Edmonton: Michael Hrabal, G
A few years ago, they passed on Jesper Wallstedt and it looks like a mistake in hindsight. In taking Hrabal, they hope to remedy that, hoping Hrabal's advanced size and puck-stopping ability enables him to make a quick jump to a starter's role.
Comparison: Pekka Rinne. Standing 6'6", Hrabal's a giant in the net, which is great for the modern day started. His numbers look great and he's been stopping a lot of pucks, making him the bonafide top goalie in this draft.
18. Nashville: Riley Heidt, C
The Preds grab a smart, playmaking center to help shore up their forward core., who's looked impressive in the WHL this year. He could be someone that eventually battles it out for a top 6 role within the next 4-5 years, with Nashville aiming to secure their center depth.
Comparison: Paul Stastny. Heidt's an incredibly smart playmaking forward that does all of the little things to help situate himself to be productive.
19. Minnesota: Mikhail Gulyayev, D
With Kirill Kaprizov in the club, they may feel more "safe" to draft Russian talent. Either way, they have a strong scouting staff and a good analytics team. Taking a chance on a high-octane offensive defenseman with perhaps the best skating in the draft could be a wise choice, especially if he's able to come over.
Comparison: Kris Letang. Undersized, Gulyayev's got the potential to be a massive point producer in the NHL, sort of like a Russian version of Cale Makar. However, between his nationality, size and lack of defensive structure, there's still a lot of risk and it could see him drop.
20. Pittsburgh: Matthew Wood, RW
With guys like Brian Burke and Ron Hextall at the helm, they'll definitely be looking for someone with some size and skill. If so, someone like Matthew Wood could definitely be of interest. Playing against older competition in the NCAA and putting up excellent numbers, he's someone that could go earlier than expected.
Comparison: Patrik Laine. His shot is absolutely lethal and elite, able to beat you from anywhere. Unfortunately, his lack of foot speed will be an issue and it'll be something he'll have to work on. However, he's got great size and offense, which makes him an intriguing talent, even if he could be a liability defensively.
21. Detroit: Otto Stenberg, LW/C
As a member of Frolunda, I feel like you could almost already mark him down as a Red Wing. Steve Yzerman loves going for skill with his first round selections, with Stenberg being in that mold. So far, in seasonal play, he hasn't put up numbers or looked as good as he did at the Hlinka tournament, but the Wings will surely put faith in him.
Comparison: Ryan Strome. Stenberg's a versatile, offensive forward with great hands and skill, which could allow him to play in an attacking, top-six role at the pro links.
22. New York Islanders: Calum Ritchie, C/LW
Ever since November started, things have been rough for Ritchie. He's been held off scoreboards for streaks at a time and just hadn't produced as expected. It may result in a tumble down the board for him, with the Islanders happy to take him here, feeling like he can get his game back on track.
Comparison: Filip Chytil. Ritchie's got great speed, some good hands and playmaking ability and can make life difficult to play against. Since he's been finding it difficult to produce consistent offense, there may be concerns about upside, which may limit him to a middle-six type of role.
23. Chicagp [from Tampa Bay]: Nate Danielson, C/LW
Danielson's the type of center/forward that teams really covet, so there's a high percentage that he could find himself within the top 15. For now, I'll have the Blackhawks continuing to bolster their center depth by adding him. If they can walk out with both Leo Carlsson and Danielson in the first round, their depth down the middle could be set for years.
Comparison: Bo Horvat/Brayden Schenn type of heart and soul center that'll work hard at both ends of the ice. He's already stellar defensively and can work hard at banging home pucks in front of the net, as well. He'll do anything to help his team win.
24. New York Rangers [from Dallas]: Charlie Stramel, C/RW
Stramel's someone that's been all over the board. Struggling so far this season, if he's able to turn it around in the next portion of the year, which I think he will, he could rise back up draft lists. He's been invited to the USA WJC camp, so if he impresses, he could make the jump.
Comparison: Sort of a David Backes/Charlie Coyle type of center/winger. Versatile in that he can play multiple roles, he can use his size to play physical, also adds some depth offensive skill.
25. Seattle: Kasper Haltunnen, RW
They still need size on their wing. Taking a big power winger such as Haltunnen would be a wise choice. He's someone that could go within the mid-to-late first. Snagging him here seems like it'd be a good selection.
Comparison: Anders Lee. Haltunnen's a power forward/goal scorer combinaton. He's someone that can both use his size to shield pucks and use his shooting ability to score them.
26. Toronto: Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D
Sandin-Pellikka seems like the perfect selection here for the Leafs here in the late first. He could even go higher if a team wants to take a chance on a defenseman. He's used his skating ability to be a producer, which is exactly why Dubas and company leap on him here.
Comparison: Devon Toews. An offensive defenseman and speedster, Pellikka is someone that may end up in a top-4 someday, just as long as he keeps playing and developing at his current pace. He makes good decisions, is swift with the puck and has an underrated physical game, to boot.
27. Winnipeg: Lukas Dragicevic, D
He's been consistently putting up offense in the WHL, yet there's still concerns with him, namely with his skating and defensive ability. That said, the Jets would love to add an offensive defenseman at this point of the draft, filling a need I'm sure they're looking to patch.
Comparison: Jake Gardiner. Dragicevic won't wow you with his offensive skills, but he will produce. The bad news is his skating isn't great, neither is he a defensive stalwart. Could he be a powerplay quarterback? It's possible. There are still a lot of kinks to work out in his game... but there's upside there.
28. New Jersey: Quentin Musty, LW
The Devils are looking for big, sizeable wingers... and Quentin Musty luckily falls into their lap. After struggling at the start of the year, he drops a bit. However, a coaching change in Sudbury has resulted in much improved play and consistency, which could resurrect him on draft rankings. It's hard to say right now we're he'll land; but for now, I'll give him to the Devils, who would happily take him.
Comparison: Bobby Ryan. Musty has the size to be physical... but it's inconsistent. Musty has the skill to be a playmaking, scoring winger... but it's inconsistent. If he can find the consistency and show that he won't float, he could become a very dangerous top 6 playmaking power winger.
29. Carolina: Gabriel Perreault, LW/RW
The final member of the lethal Perreault/Will Smith/Ryan Leonard line to fall, Perreault would be a great pick for the Hurricanes. They always tend to focus on skill above all else and he'd be right in line with they're way of drafting.
Comparison: Jake Guentzel. Perreault isn't the biggest, nor the fastest, but he brings a fiery level of skill and hands that allow him to play the role of a distributor and goal scorer. He's got top-six upside, it just depends on if a team can develop him or not.
30. Vegas: Dmitri Simashev, D
Historically speaking, the Golden Knights have always love their big, mobile defensemen. The Russian factor could be in play, which might ship Simashev to the 2nd round. If not, then they would proudly take him here, feeling he fits in well with what they want.
Comparison: Mattias Ekholm. He's a big defenseman that moves pucks calmly, plays a defensively astute game, does all the things to help his team win and can even add some points.
31. Colorado: Koehn Ziemmer, RW
After their Cup win, they lost some players. In taking Ziemmer, it's their attempt at trying to recover some bodies that can help them. Ziemmer seems like someone that would fit in well on the Avs 2nd line, making him a valuable pickup.
Comparison: Arthur Kaliyev. Ziemmer's a goal scorer who will get pucks in the net by either using his shot or will power them past goalies. He works hard and can be a counted on to be a top-six player and a powerplay shooter.
32. Boston: Noah Dower-Nilsson, LW
Sweden has always been kind to the Bruins. In targeting Dower-Nilsson, they're looking to add more skill to their lineup. The fact that he's capable of playing center might be a bonus.
Comparison: David Perron. Dower-Nilsson's been tearing it up in Frolunda this year. While his skating isn't ideal, he's got tons of talent and excellent hands and vision, making him a scoring threat with the puck.
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Just missing the cut: Cameron Allen; Trey Augustine; William Whitelaw; Gavin Brindley; Daniil But; Oliver Bonk; Beau Akey; Alex Cierniek; Kalan Lind; Carson Bjarnasson; Noel Nordh; etc.
As always, any comparisons and predictions made are my own, for the most part, and they're always open to change as the year progresses (reminder: we're still early in the year, so a lot could change).
Standings are based on points percentage as of December 5th, which is the cutoff date I'm starting with. The draft order is based upon post-season/post-playoff standings as of the cut-off, including with my own predicted ECF/WCF/Cup finalists. For the East, I'm guessing it'll come down to Boston and Carolina; and for the West, I'm predicting a Vegas-Colorado showdown. In the Cup finals, I could see the Bruins walking out as winners, having one last hoorah with their current squad and beating the reigning champs.
Draft lottery winners, as done by tankathon:
1. Columbus; 2. San Jose.
ROUND 1:
1. Columbus: Connor Bedard, C/RW
In a stellar draft year, Connor Bedard is "the guy". Putting up insane numbers in the WHL, Bedard has Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson on his heels, but it's likely he retains the top spot. While not "generational", he's certainly elite and can be a gamechanger for the team that drafts him; which, in this case, would be Columbus. Just imagine Gaudreau and Bedard playing on a line together -- tiny, but absolutely deadly.
Comparison: Brett Hull/Patrick Kane type of hybid. It may be a little difficult to nail down an exact comparable for Bedard, which is a way to state how unique he is. I'll go with a legacy comparison for Bedard in Brett Hull, who, like Bedard, was undersized, yet was armed with an elite shooting ability, far above many of his fellow players. Much like Hull and Kane, he's undersized, yet capable of playing against physical competition and knows where to go to place himself for prime goal scoring offense.
2. San Jose: Adam Fantilli, C
If you're getting Adam Fantilli as a consolation prize at #2, you're doing great. The Sharks have been known to be on the hunt for a future top center in recent years, finally landing one in the elite future top line center who's been tearing up teams in Michigan this year.
Comparison: Jack Eichel. Fantilli's got the size and train-like motion down the middle, which will allow him to drive offense and engage himself physically.
3. Anaheim: Matvei Michkov, RW
It's been an absolute nightmare season for the Ducks, who hop on Michkov, thinking he should be ready to contribute by the time they're ready to compete in a few years. In the past, they may have skipped over an enigmatic Russian talent like this, but things have changed with Pat Verbeek now in charge of things. Michkov's ability to score would make them feel like he'd be the perfect winger to play alongside Trevor Zegras or Mason McTavish.
Comparison: Kirill Kaprizov. Despite being undersized, Michkov has excellent scoring skill and is able to work himself into the scoring areas, if need be. He's an absolute sniper that rivals some of the top competitors in this draft in terms of skill and can use his shooting ability to provide offense.
4. Chicago: Leo Carlsson, C/LW
Roaring up draft boards with elite all-around play and a fantastic output of numbers, Leo Carlsson would be a great start to the Blackhawks rebuild. With Toews a shell of his former self, Kane likely on the way out and their European scouting so solid, someone such as Carlsson seems like the logical choice for them.
Comparison: Aleksander Barkov. A 6'3" center that plays with the smarts and skill combination as Carlsson isn't easy to find. Maybe something like Barkov is a comparable, where Carlsson is a guy that plays in every scenario and uses his skill to produce and his size to protect pucks.
5. Arizona: Will Smith, C
After years of searching for more center depth, they're able to run with Logan Cooley and Will Smith down the middle, which should be a good way to kickstart their rebuild. Smith's been rocketing towards the top of the draft thanks to his stellar play all season long and could solidify himself as a top 5 pick if his pace continues.
Comparison: Trevor Zegras. His combination of hands, skill, shooting and all-around play down the middle makes Smith a rising, valuable asset, knowing how to light the lamp with his elusive skill.
6. Philadelphia: Brayden Yager, C/LW
The Flyers are intent on building with more speed and scoring, both of which are things Yager can certainly provide. An absolute sniping center, he's someone the Flyers can happily walk away with, as he fits exactly what they want.
Comparison: Tyler Seguin. While Yager still needs to fill out and add size, he's someone that plays with amazing speed, which should be great on the transition; with his main offensive weapon being his shooting skill.
7. Ottawa: Dalibor Dvorsky, C/LW
Despite a rough stretch, Dvorsky still finds himself within the top 10, having lots of redeeming qualities that I'm sure the Sens would love. His versatile ability to play center or wing makes him that much more intriguing for them, thus they take him here, giving them more firepower upfront.
Comparison: Logan Couture. Blessed with excellent shooting ability, one of Dvorsky's main drawbacks is his poor skating and lack of speed, which reminds me of how Logan Couture plays. He uses his excellent shooting skill, ala Couture, who also fell a little in his draft year, to put up points. His versatility to play any forward role will make him highly valuable.
8. St. Louis: Eduard Sale, LW
Sale is a guy that's often ranked highly on some lists, including within the top 5. If he's there for the Blues at 8, he seems like someone with size that they'd love to add. They bank on his upside as a top line winger, hoping he can get more play time as the season progresses.
Comparison: Matt Boldy. Sale's an all-around winger with excellent puck skill, vision and scoring talent. He's someone that can be a top line winger that adds good size and skill to a first line.
9. Vancouver: Zach Benson, LW/RW/C
Being the smartest player in the draft, Benson's definitely someone that can play down the middle, with the only thing in his way being his lack of overall size. That said, it'd be hard for the Canucks to pass on a high IQ, skilled player such as Benson here, so they've have to make a play for him.
Comparison: Claude Giroux. I'd say he's something similar to how Claude Giroux plays. He's got fantastic hockey IQ and senses, he's able to thread the puck and be both a setup guy and a scorer. Lacking in height and skating speed, he makes up for it in pure talent and hockey IQ.
10. Buffalo: David Reinbacher, D
It's hard to envision a draft without a defenseman going within the top 10, so I'll have the Sabres taking Reinbacher here, especially after going with 3 forwards in the first round last year. Playing against men overseas, albeit in a little lesser known league, he's looked like a solid top 4 defenseman that can do a little of everything. The Austrian could join Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin in helping to shore up their defensive core.
Comparison: Jakob Chychrun. Reinbacher's an all-around defenseman that can wire a puck as well as he can carry it. He's got excellent potential as a shutdown guy, with the team that drafts him getting a kid that's been playing against men in Europe.
11. Washington: Andrew Cristall, LW
Cristall's been surging rapidly up draft boards due to his dynamic offensive play in the WHL. Sitting behind only Connor Bedard in points, he's been an offensive stud this year, potentially putting him in contention to be a top 5-10 selection. With the Caps loving their western talent, he seems like a fantastic choice for them here.
Comparison: Johnny Gaudreau/Seth Jarvis type of winger. He may not be as fast as Gaudreau, but he's got the same type of skilled, playmaking vision and offensive creativity. He's someone that'll bring pure offense to a lineup.
12. New York Rangers: Oliver Moore, C
In need of more centers in their system, they aim their sights at Oliver Moore, who may have the highest pure engine in this draft. Playing the #2 center role for the USNTDP Jr. squad, he's shown that he has top line/top-six potential, giving the Rangers some breathing room in terms of depth down the middle.
Comparison: Dylan Larkin. Moore possesses elite skating and an elite motor, possibly the best in the draft. His ability to go from one end of the ice to the other makes him a deadly player on both the PP and PK, allowing him to be someone that plays in all situations.
13. Montreal: Ryan Leonard, RW
A Massachusetts native, Ryan Leonard will surely be scouted hard by Kent Hughes, who has a lot of ties and connections to teams in that area. If so, they may love his pure energy, speed and skill combination, finding it hard to pass on him if he's still available.
Comparison: Dustin Brown. Blessed with fantastic speed and energy, Leonard's got power forward potential and also loves to lay the body against opponents. He's someone that can be pesky to play again, giving whatever team that drafts him a versatile and valued piece.
14. Calgary: Ethan Gauthier, RW/C
Knowing the Flames' love of drafting out of the Q, Gauthier could be high on their list. They drafted his father back in the 90's; they could return the favor by also selecting his son, Ethan, loving the energy he could bring to their lineup.
Comparison: Mike Richards. Gauthier's a lot like Richards in that he's a deeply competitive forward that brings a bevy of energy and skill during each shift. Like his father, he hits hard and can be an absolute pest and menace to play against at both ends of the ice.
15. Los Angeles: Colby Barlow, LW
Barlow brings a goal-scoring, offensive presence with some physicality, which should go over well with the Kings tops-six. He's been exploding up draft lists due to his scoring pace in the OHL this year and could even be a top 10 candidate by the time everything rolls around.
Comparison: Timo Meier. Not only does Barlow use his speed to plow into competition with rough body checks, he can also use it to be a dangerous scorer coming off the rush, putting a torrential amount of pucks on net.
16. Montreal [from Florida]: Samuel Honzek, LW/C
They again turn to a big Slovakian for the 2nd year in a row. In this case, it's Samuel Honzek, who's been opening eyes in the WHL, showing that he may have more offensive upside than previously thought. If he continues on his current path, he could find himself battling for a top 15-20 spot, with the Habs taking him here, with the hopes of permantly moving him to center.
Comparison: Roope Hintz. Honzek's got the two-way smarts of a pivot with a long reach, ala Hintz, along with above average playmaking skill. He's capable of playing center, too; which is also a positive.
17. Edmonton: Michael Hrabal, G
A few years ago, they passed on Jesper Wallstedt and it looks like a mistake in hindsight. In taking Hrabal, they hope to remedy that, hoping Hrabal's advanced size and puck-stopping ability enables him to make a quick jump to a starter's role.
Comparison: Pekka Rinne. Standing 6'6", Hrabal's a giant in the net, which is great for the modern day started. His numbers look great and he's been stopping a lot of pucks, making him the bonafide top goalie in this draft.
18. Nashville: Riley Heidt, C
The Preds grab a smart, playmaking center to help shore up their forward core., who's looked impressive in the WHL this year. He could be someone that eventually battles it out for a top 6 role within the next 4-5 years, with Nashville aiming to secure their center depth.
Comparison: Paul Stastny. Heidt's an incredibly smart playmaking forward that does all of the little things to help situate himself to be productive.
19. Minnesota: Mikhail Gulyayev, D
With Kirill Kaprizov in the club, they may feel more "safe" to draft Russian talent. Either way, they have a strong scouting staff and a good analytics team. Taking a chance on a high-octane offensive defenseman with perhaps the best skating in the draft could be a wise choice, especially if he's able to come over.
Comparison: Kris Letang. Undersized, Gulyayev's got the potential to be a massive point producer in the NHL, sort of like a Russian version of Cale Makar. However, between his nationality, size and lack of defensive structure, there's still a lot of risk and it could see him drop.
20. Pittsburgh: Matthew Wood, RW
With guys like Brian Burke and Ron Hextall at the helm, they'll definitely be looking for someone with some size and skill. If so, someone like Matthew Wood could definitely be of interest. Playing against older competition in the NCAA and putting up excellent numbers, he's someone that could go earlier than expected.
Comparison: Patrik Laine. His shot is absolutely lethal and elite, able to beat you from anywhere. Unfortunately, his lack of foot speed will be an issue and it'll be something he'll have to work on. However, he's got great size and offense, which makes him an intriguing talent, even if he could be a liability defensively.
21. Detroit: Otto Stenberg, LW/C
As a member of Frolunda, I feel like you could almost already mark him down as a Red Wing. Steve Yzerman loves going for skill with his first round selections, with Stenberg being in that mold. So far, in seasonal play, he hasn't put up numbers or looked as good as he did at the Hlinka tournament, but the Wings will surely put faith in him.
Comparison: Ryan Strome. Stenberg's a versatile, offensive forward with great hands and skill, which could allow him to play in an attacking, top-six role at the pro links.
22. New York Islanders: Calum Ritchie, C/LW
Ever since November started, things have been rough for Ritchie. He's been held off scoreboards for streaks at a time and just hadn't produced as expected. It may result in a tumble down the board for him, with the Islanders happy to take him here, feeling like he can get his game back on track.
Comparison: Filip Chytil. Ritchie's got great speed, some good hands and playmaking ability and can make life difficult to play against. Since he's been finding it difficult to produce consistent offense, there may be concerns about upside, which may limit him to a middle-six type of role.
23. Chicagp [from Tampa Bay]: Nate Danielson, C/LW
Danielson's the type of center/forward that teams really covet, so there's a high percentage that he could find himself within the top 15. For now, I'll have the Blackhawks continuing to bolster their center depth by adding him. If they can walk out with both Leo Carlsson and Danielson in the first round, their depth down the middle could be set for years.
Comparison: Bo Horvat/Brayden Schenn type of heart and soul center that'll work hard at both ends of the ice. He's already stellar defensively and can work hard at banging home pucks in front of the net, as well. He'll do anything to help his team win.
24. New York Rangers [from Dallas]: Charlie Stramel, C/RW
Stramel's someone that's been all over the board. Struggling so far this season, if he's able to turn it around in the next portion of the year, which I think he will, he could rise back up draft lists. He's been invited to the USA WJC camp, so if he impresses, he could make the jump.
Comparison: Sort of a David Backes/Charlie Coyle type of center/winger. Versatile in that he can play multiple roles, he can use his size to play physical, also adds some depth offensive skill.
25. Seattle: Kasper Haltunnen, RW
They still need size on their wing. Taking a big power winger such as Haltunnen would be a wise choice. He's someone that could go within the mid-to-late first. Snagging him here seems like it'd be a good selection.
Comparison: Anders Lee. Haltunnen's a power forward/goal scorer combinaton. He's someone that can both use his size to shield pucks and use his shooting ability to score them.
26. Toronto: Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D
Sandin-Pellikka seems like the perfect selection here for the Leafs here in the late first. He could even go higher if a team wants to take a chance on a defenseman. He's used his skating ability to be a producer, which is exactly why Dubas and company leap on him here.
Comparison: Devon Toews. An offensive defenseman and speedster, Pellikka is someone that may end up in a top-4 someday, just as long as he keeps playing and developing at his current pace. He makes good decisions, is swift with the puck and has an underrated physical game, to boot.
27. Winnipeg: Lukas Dragicevic, D
He's been consistently putting up offense in the WHL, yet there's still concerns with him, namely with his skating and defensive ability. That said, the Jets would love to add an offensive defenseman at this point of the draft, filling a need I'm sure they're looking to patch.
Comparison: Jake Gardiner. Dragicevic won't wow you with his offensive skills, but he will produce. The bad news is his skating isn't great, neither is he a defensive stalwart. Could he be a powerplay quarterback? It's possible. There are still a lot of kinks to work out in his game... but there's upside there.
28. New Jersey: Quentin Musty, LW
The Devils are looking for big, sizeable wingers... and Quentin Musty luckily falls into their lap. After struggling at the start of the year, he drops a bit. However, a coaching change in Sudbury has resulted in much improved play and consistency, which could resurrect him on draft rankings. It's hard to say right now we're he'll land; but for now, I'll give him to the Devils, who would happily take him.
Comparison: Bobby Ryan. Musty has the size to be physical... but it's inconsistent. Musty has the skill to be a playmaking, scoring winger... but it's inconsistent. If he can find the consistency and show that he won't float, he could become a very dangerous top 6 playmaking power winger.
29. Carolina: Gabriel Perreault, LW/RW
The final member of the lethal Perreault/Will Smith/Ryan Leonard line to fall, Perreault would be a great pick for the Hurricanes. They always tend to focus on skill above all else and he'd be right in line with they're way of drafting.
Comparison: Jake Guentzel. Perreault isn't the biggest, nor the fastest, but he brings a fiery level of skill and hands that allow him to play the role of a distributor and goal scorer. He's got top-six upside, it just depends on if a team can develop him or not.
30. Vegas: Dmitri Simashev, D
Historically speaking, the Golden Knights have always love their big, mobile defensemen. The Russian factor could be in play, which might ship Simashev to the 2nd round. If not, then they would proudly take him here, feeling he fits in well with what they want.
Comparison: Mattias Ekholm. He's a big defenseman that moves pucks calmly, plays a defensively astute game, does all the things to help his team win and can even add some points.
31. Colorado: Koehn Ziemmer, RW
After their Cup win, they lost some players. In taking Ziemmer, it's their attempt at trying to recover some bodies that can help them. Ziemmer seems like someone that would fit in well on the Avs 2nd line, making him a valuable pickup.
Comparison: Arthur Kaliyev. Ziemmer's a goal scorer who will get pucks in the net by either using his shot or will power them past goalies. He works hard and can be a counted on to be a top-six player and a powerplay shooter.
32. Boston: Noah Dower-Nilsson, LW
Sweden has always been kind to the Bruins. In targeting Dower-Nilsson, they're looking to add more skill to their lineup. The fact that he's capable of playing center might be a bonus.
Comparison: David Perron. Dower-Nilsson's been tearing it up in Frolunda this year. While his skating isn't ideal, he's got tons of talent and excellent hands and vision, making him a scoring threat with the puck.
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Just missing the cut: Cameron Allen; Trey Augustine; William Whitelaw; Gavin Brindley; Daniil But; Oliver Bonk; Beau Akey; Alex Cierniek; Kalan Lind; Carson Bjarnasson; Noel Nordh; etc.
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