newdimension
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- May 18, 2013
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It's spring time and the end is here. The end of the season, that is; which means it's time for another mock draft! It's not going to be a full 7 rounds mock -- expect that sometime in June, but I will go 4 rounds just for fun. By the time my final mock draft rolls around, the finals will likely be set; the U18's will be over (they will start while I'm midway through this, which means some guys will move up/down); the combine will likely be done and the lottery will have happened.
As always, I'm not a scout. I'm just a fan that loves to track prospects. I don't get to see every player; it'd be preposterous to claim otherwise. I do like keeping up to date with players, though, and tracking what's happening, which brings me to this point: not all comparables will be 100% accurate. Any comparisons I use/borrow are always debatable. Not everyone's going to move on to become a carbon copy -- hell, most of these kids, especially in later rounds, won't even sniff the league, if you're gauging in terms of percentages.
Anyhow, I'm predicting a Boston-New York Rangers ECF. For the West, I'm going with Edmonton and Colorado. For the finals, I have the Bruins winning the Cup over Colorado, giving their core one final run.
As well, because this is being done before the lottery, here's my final lottery spin, via tankathon:
1. Columbus; 2. Chicago.
ROUND 1
1. Columbus: Connor Bedard, C/RW
There isn't much more that needs to be said about Connor Bedard. He's the gem of the draft and the team that wins the lottery is walking out with a near-generational talent. If it's the Blue Jackets, they'd be ecstatic, as they already have an outstanding crew in development and on their current roster. It'd allow them to compete sooner rather than later, giving them a huge shot in the arm.
Comparison: Patrick Kane-meets-Joe Sakic. Like both comparables, Bedard's not the biggest guy. Instead, he gets by through use of his offensive skill and sniping ability. He's got elite talent and a Sakic-like shooting ability that could have him in contention for 50+ goals sometime in the future.
2. Chicago: Adam Fantilli, C
While the team that picks 2nd will be disappointed in coming so close to nabbing Bedard, only to fall short, they shouldn't be too upset. Fantilli's a fantastic prospect in his own right and has top line center potential all the way. He'd be a huge boost for the Blackhawks rebuild now that the Toews era is over, giving them that #1 center of the future that they're going to crave.
Comparsion: Jack Eichel/Matthew Tkachuk type of hybrid. There's Mike Modano'like talent there; but if I were to use a modern day comparison, it'd be something like a cross between Jack Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk. He has Eichel's speed and offensive skill, along with Tkachuk's physical tools and ability to make plays, making him an interesting top line center.
3. Anaheim: Leo Carlsson, C/LW
The Ducks can make the easy selection of Carlsson, giving them anothe weapon upfront, to go along with an already impressive core that has Zegras, McTavish, Terry, Drysdale, etc.. Carlsson really stepped it up with his playoffs performance and it may even have him in contention for a 2nd overall selection.
Comparison: Aleksander Barkov. Carlsson's got the size, two-way skill and playmaking ability to be a difference-maker at the pro level. He can do a little of everything and has elite potential to be a top line, dependable forward.
4. San Jose: Matvei Michkov, RW
Everyone's well aware of the risks with Michkov and the other Russian talent, who will likely fall/plummet. That said, I've got a feeling that Mike Grier could be the GM that sticks his neck out there and takes the plunge with Michkov. They need elite talent in the worst possible way -- Michkov could give them that, even if they have to wait, while living in fear of the current global political situation.
Comparison: Brett Hull. Michkov's an all-out, dangerous offensive force. Not the biggest, but has some grit in his game, and can be a one-touch/one-shot offensive force that can light the lamp with ease, ala Hull back in the day.
5. Montreal: David Reinbacher, D
Depending on how the U-18 tournament goes, if the Habs are at this spot, I feel like it'll be either Reinbacher or Dvorsky. If they take Reinbacher, they get someone that fills a positional need, along with a defenseman to play alongside the undersized, electrically offensive wizard, Lane Hutson. It seems like a good deal for both sides, with the young Austrian being their pick.
Comparison: Alex Pietrangelo. Basically, a stabilizing, well-rounded defenseman that hits, eats up minutes, has a bomb of a shot and can bring an all-around game from the back. He plays a defensive game first, yet also transitions pucks well out of his own end and keeps things moving up the ice.
6. Arizona: Zach Benson, LW/RW
Playing with current Coyotes prospect, Connor Geekie, could give Benson the edge to be selected here. They may look towards build chemistry from within, hoping to keep those 2 together, giving them a solid core moving forward. Benson's size and play style could scare a few teams off, with the Coyotes loving his fall into their lap at #7.
Comparison: Claude Giroux. Benson's an all-out high-IQ talent. Lacking in size, he makes up for it with a neverending desire to win and a relentless motor, using his hockey smarts to put up points and produce at both ends of the ice.
7. Philadelphia: Will Smith, C/LW
With Chuck Fletcher out and Daniel Briere temporarily in as the GM, it's hard to say what the Flyers do. In the past, they've taken plenty of Americans. With Will Smith on the board, they could certainly find interest in selecting him. He's been an enigmatic offense creator for the USNTDP and has potential to be a top line center, who can move to the wing if it doesn't work out.
Comparison: Trevor Zegras. For better and for worse, there's a lot of Zegras in his game. Elite in terms of creativity and vision, able to make plays out of nothing, with some drawbacks in his defensive game and overall strength.
8. Washington: Colby Barlow, RW
With Ovechkin aging, the Capitals are going to need someone else to eventually put pucks into the net. Enter Barlow, who could be a sort-of next of kin to Ovechkin. While he won't match Ovechkin's all-time great totals, he's someone that can be a dependable scoring option and they can use his leadership skill in a rebuild.
Comparison: Gabriel Landeskog. Fast-shooting, with an all-around game, some grit and leadership ability, Barlow profiles as a complementary goal-scorer that could hit 30-40 goals per season. He loves putting pucks on net and can be a top-six goal scoring winger with a power game.
9. Detroit: Dalibor Dvorsky, C/LW
The U-18's will be big for Dvorsky. If he can show his worth, there's a good chance he competes for a top 5 spot. If not, he could still land within the top 10, especially if a team like the Red Wings have him in their sights. Historically, they've loved European players and they probably wouldn't mind adding more centers to go along with last year's pick, Marco Kasper.
Comparison: Wyatt Johnston/Logan Couture. At best, he's something in between those 2 names. Defensively and positionally responsible tactile center that can be a danger in front of the net and is a shoot-first talent that can wire pucks from inside.
10. St. Louis: Oliver Moore, C/LW
Moore sneaks into the top 10, with the Blues loving his dynamic speed and pace of play. They've gone with Americans in the past and return there again by taking Moore, who gives a boost to their center depth. He's been playing behind the "big" USNTDP line, with lesser teammates and has been producing quite well. There's a good chance he explodies offensively when given better linemates and more ice time.
Comparison: Something between a Matt Duchene and Dylan Larkin. In other words, he's got blazing speed -- perhaps the best speed and skating in the draft -- and he's got a non-stop motor that gives him a dependable, two-way skillset, which can help him produce.
11. Vancouver: Brayden Yager, C/RW
Capable of playing center, Brayden Yager is a wildcard. He had a rocky season, where his goal-scoring production didn't meet the expected totals. On the other hand, he managed to produce more as a distributor, which is a different role. He's also been able to produce more in the playoffs and it could help his stock. The Canucks grab him here, thinking he'd be a nice goal-scoring top line forward, whether at wing or at center.
Comparison: Phil Kessel. Yager's armed with a bomb of a shot, showing potential as both a goal-scorer and a playmaker, who is ready to step in and play center, if need be. He battles with inconsistency, though, and it may result in him falling out of the top 10.
12. Arizona [from Ottawa: Matthew Wood, RW
With his height and size, Wood feels like the perfect fit for the brand of hockey the Coyotes could like. He put up excellent numbers as one of the youngest talents in the NCAA this past season, with the Coyotes feeling he could be a nice triggerman to play alongside Logan Cooley.
Comparison: Patrik Laine-lite. He may not be quite like Laine, but the offensive skill is there. Unfortunately, so is the very poor foot speed and bad skating. As a result, teams could be wary of taking a risk on him, possibly pushing him down the board. However, from in close, he's a dangerous offensive weapon.
13. Buffalo: Ryan Leonard, RW
Leonard feels very on-brand with what the Sabres like in their players. He's got potential to be someone that plays with their skilled players, giving them a complementary power winger that loves shooting the puck and putting them into the net.
Comparison: Timo Meier. Leonard plays a power forward's style of game, constantly hitting and checkiing the competition. He's also armed with a lethal goal scoring element, which could allow him to score 30+ per season, making him a multi-threat weapon.
14. Pittsburgh: Nate Danielson, C/LW
With Ron Hextall, Bryan Burke and company out from running the Penguins, it's hard to say what way they go for their selection. It all depends on who is the new GM. However, for now, someone like Nate Danielson could be a nice pickup for the Penguins. With Crosby and Malkin getting up there in age, they'll need more versatile centers, with Danielson being a good option to at least play a middle-six role, at bare minimum.
Comparison: Ryan O'Reilly. Profiling as a do-it-all, versatile center, Danielson works in various roles. He can face tough competition, shutting them down; he can add offense; he's got excellent smarts. A very well-rounded player with no verifiable weaknesses.
15. Nashville: Andrew Cristall, LW
Cristall is someone I've seen ranked all over the board. Internet scouts seem to love him and consider him a 5-10 selection. On the other hand, I could see actual scouting staffs being a little on the fence, keeping him down the board a little. His lack of size, combined with less than ideal skating, is going to be a concern and some teams will stay away. For the Preds, a team who is starving for more offense, he feels like a stellar candidate to boost their winger pool.
Comparison: Johnny Gaudreau. I'm not saying he's going to be 100% like Gaudreau, because he isn't -- he certainly doesn't have Gaudreau's speed. However, in terms of being an offensive catalyst and puck distributor, Cristall could be on par with them. Alternatively, he could also falter due to lack of size and skating. Whoops! He's a boom or bust type, with the team that takes him surely shooting for the moon.
16. Calgary: Eduard Sale, LW/RW
At this spot, the Flames draft whomever they feel is the best player on the board. To them, it could be Sale, who is ranked pretty highly on Craig Button's board -- at ~5th overall. They may see similar upside for him, loving his playmaking and offensive skill, thinking he's got top line potential.
Comparison: Pavel Buchnevich. Sale's a versatile, playmaking forward with good size and skill. He needs to add strength and work on his consistency, with those 2 previous things resulting in him dropping down the board a little. Otherwise, he's someone that could bring talent to a forward core.
17. Montreal [from Florida]: Daniil But, LW
With 2 first round selections, they might be more open to take a wild swing on the big Russian. They certainly need size upfront and But nails that criteria. If he were North American, he'd probably be a top 10 selection. Unfortunately, he's got the Russian factor playing against him... so he could plummet, it's hard to say for sure. Ultimately, the Habs rely on their Russian resources to take a chance on the big kid, hoping they can find a way to get him overseas somehow.
Comparison: He's probably something between a Tage Thompson and Anthony Mantha. There's a variance there, especially with Thompson's past 2 seasons, but it's a probability. He'll need a lot of development time and refining, but he likes to put up a lot of shots on goal and goes hard to the net. He could be a nice complementary goal scoring winger.
18. Detroit [from New York Islanders]: Samuel Honzek, LW
If there's any truth to them scouting him heavily, they may be inclined to draft them in this spot. He has the size that they love in their first round selections and he'd make a nice Slovakian duo alongside Dalibor Dvorsky.
Comparison: Valeri Nichushkin. Honzek's a large, versatile winger with a well-rounded, solid two-way game. Using his long stick and reach, he can put up points in the offensive zone, while also helping to pick off passes in the defensive end.
19. Winnipeg: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D
The Jets could use a RHD like Pellikka in their core. Taking Swedes and Finns hasn't been foreign to them, with Pellikka being a perfect fit for them. If he has a good U18 tournament, he could go even higher -- perhaps to the Canucks at #11. Otherwise, he can land here, with Winnipeg adding an offensive defenseman to their pool.
Comparison: Devon Toews. His game is all about mobility and hockey smarts. He may not have the deadliest shot, he instead uses his puck-moving skills to provide offense from the back, while also playing a well-rounded game in terms of defense.
20. Chicago [from Tampa Bay]: Gabriel Perreault, RW
If they're able to land Adam Fantilli, they may look to reunite him with his linemate, Gavin Brindley. However, Perreault might be hard for them to pass on. With Fantilli and Perreault, they're given a hugh leap forward in their rebuild, giving them 2 potentially skilled top line forwards.
Comparison: Cole Perfetti. Perreault isn't the biggest, fastest or the strongest. Instead, he has tremendous hockey IQ and knows where to place himself in order to produce. He's a fantastic playmaker and can be absolutely lethal on a powerplay.
21. Seattle: Gracyn Sawchyn, RW/C
It might be an off-the-board pick, but Sawchyn's playing in their backyard. With him already accustomed to the area, it'd make things easy for him to slide in. He had an explosive 2nd half of the season and it's likely shot him up draft boards, where a team like Seattle could reel him in.
Comparison: Tomas Plekanec. Sawchyn's a well-rounded, versatile playmaking threat that also brings some pest-like qualities to the ice. His ability to force turnovers, stick work, forechecking skill and making plays at a tremendous pace should make him a potential dual-threat top-six weapon.
22. Minnesota: Otto Stenberg, LW/C
The Wild have been a collecting ground for Swedish talent in recent years. Stenberg might be someone that grabs their eyes, going a little earlier than expected. While his season wasn't as strong as expected, his performance at last year's Hlinka is still surely in the mind of scouts, with Minnesota taking a chance on him here.
Comparison: Dawson Mercer. Stenberg's a multi-purpose center/winger with solid leadership skills. He works well in corners, transports pucks with ease can also fire them at will. He offers a lot of projectability, making him a tantalizing, two-way prospect.
23. Columbus [from Los Angeles:] Riley Heidt, C/LW
First Bedard and now Heidt. If things work out like this, the Blue Jackets absolutely feast on talent. His combination of playmaking skill, tenacity and ability to play down the middle could excite them, thinking they've got their top six center situation pegged for the future.
Comparison: Ryan Strome. Heidt mixes speed, creativity, grit and playmaking into a stellar package. Defensively, there's still a lot of work to do, which he will need to focus on. As well, he isn't the tallest or strongest player on the ice, so a team will hope he can put on some mass.
24. St. Louis [from Dallas]: Quentin Musty, LW
Someone such as Musty would be great for the Blues, who are a team that tend to value size. He could be someone that works alongside their previous selected player, Oliver Moore, to be part of a future top line. A dreadful start pushed him down draft boards; but once a coaching change ensued, he was able to find his game and get things back on track.
Comparison: Drake Batherson. Musty's got great size, great hands and can be a playmaking, creative dispenser of the puck. He's also armed with a really good shot and a power forward-like mentality that can be off/on like a switch, depending on his consistency level, which at times can be a problem.
25. St. Louis [from Toronto]: Lukas Dragicevic, D
With Oliver Moore and Quentin Musty set for their lineup, the Blues need target their blueline. This time, they set their sights on Dragicevic, who plays a risky, all-out offensive game. If he's able to tone things down, he might end up as a huge steal for the Blues, who'd value the point production he could bring and are willing to take the shot due to having 3 first round picks.
Comparison: Jake Gardiner. An offense-only defenseman that's lacking in terms of defense and skating ability. The good news is that he's able to offensively process the game at a high level, so he could be a future powerplay quarterback.
26. San Jose [from New Jersey]: Oliver Bonk, D
After taking Matvei Michkov previously, they go a little "safe" for their 2nd first rounder in selecting Oliver Bonk from the London Knights. He'd provide their blueline with a little more depth, giving them some more options in moving forward. They may opt to lean towards "safety" for their blueline.
Comparison: Brett Pesce. Bonk's a dependable defenseman that adds a lot of value in multiple areas of the ice. While not the most physical, he's able to keep pucks in transit up the ice, while also playing a solid defensive game.
27. Carolina: Gavin Brindley, RW
The Hurricanes tend to focus on their guy, whether he has size or not. Brindley is definitely someone they could turn their attention towards after a stunning 2nd half. They can give him development time, hoping he can continue playing at his current pace at the pro level.
Comparison: Travis Konecny. Woefully undersized, Brindley's within the vicinity of being 5'8"/5'9", making up for it with intensity, feistiness, grit and an all-around attacking game. He's mostly a playmaker, but he can fight for and retrieve pucks like a demon.
28. Vegas: Carson Bjarnasson, G
If they fade out of the playoffs due to their goaltending, they may feel more inclined to take a chance on a high-end goaltender from the draft. With their connections to Brandon via Kelly McCrimmon, they may feel like taking a chance on Bjarnasson, especially if he has a good showing at the u-18 tournament.
Comparison: Ilya Sorokin. Bjarnasson's a large, athletic goaltender that's accustomed to playing against difficult competition and can track pucks quite well, using his positioning and raw tools to be a #1 guy.
29. New York Rangers: Charlie Stramel, C/RW
Stramel plays the style of game that the Rangers are currently focusing on, ie: size, physicality and versatility. He may be someone they think slips in pretty soon, loving what he could bring them. They need more players that could fill a center role, with Stramel being the apple of their eye.
Comparison: Charlie Coyle. I'd compare him to something like Coyle. Moreso a 2nd/3rd line player that can take the body, use his size to play at both ends of the ice, adds complementary offense and defense, which should allow him to work hard in whatever role's given to him.
30. Nashville [from Edmonton]: Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C/LW
It might be an off-the-board selection; but why not? After getting Cristall earlier, they could shoot their shot at Molgaard, from Denmark. He's got decent size and blistering wheels, which could allow him to transfer to center, an area the Preds need to address. It's worth a gamble.
Comparison: William Karlsson. Molgaard's game revolves around his dynamic skating speed, smarts and playmaking ability. Something like Karlsson, an all-around, elusive, speedy center could be an outcome.
31. Colorado: Callum Ritchie, C
The Avs currently have a hole at the #2 center position that needs to be filled. Whether that help comes via trade, free agency or directly through the draft, it needs to be addressed. As such, Ritchie is someone that attempts to fill that role. His season didn't go as planned and it could drop him down the board, yet there's still potential there, with Colorado hoping he can reach it.
Comparison: Filip Chytil. Ritchie may not have the upside originally pegged of him. He's probably moreso a middle-six center with good size and speed, able to hold his own at both ends of the ice.
32. Toronto [from Boston]: Kasper Halttunen, RW
If the Leafs flame out again, lack of grit will probably be blamed. As such, they try to remedy this by taking a chance on a big, physical kid, Halttunen, who hasn't exactly had the season that was expected of him. They seem to be focused on drafting for more grit these past few years, so maybe he'd make a fit in that regard. He came into the year thought of as a top player, but a concussion has resulted in some shoddy, inconsistent play. They can hope he rebounds next year.
Comparison: Lawson Crouse. Halttunen's a big power winger that loves to lay bone-crushing hits. His skating isn't elite, but he makes up for it with some good shooting ability. He's a project power forward.
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ROUND 2
33. Anaheim: Ethan Gauthier, RW
The Ducks have drafted out of the Q in the past. Someone such as Gauthier would make another nice addition to their forward core, giving them some depth and characters guys that can help them win. His playoff run could get him talked about as a first round candidate.
Comparison: Nick Foligno. Gauthier's the type of player that's not the most skilled, but plays with a ton of heart and desire. He's probably a complementary middle-six guy with physicality at the highest level.
34. Columbus: Michael Hrabal, G
The Blue Jackets have a gaping hole in their goaltending depth. If Hrabal's here at the top of the 2nd -- and not gone in the first, which could very well happenn -- then they could/should consider him here. His size alone would be a good way to protect the net, with the Blue Jackets praying he's their future number 1.
Comparison: Ben Bishop. He's a huge 6'6" goalie that can move and track pucks well. His size is beastly, allowing him to cover a large portion of the net. He's got number 1 potential.
35. Chicago: Dmitri Simashev, D
Simashev is, without a doubt, a first round caliber defenseman. The problem? He's Russian. With the noted global political situation, it might cause players of Russian descent to plummet down the boards. If the Hawks can grab him here, it might be worth it, if they can get him over.
Comparison: Mattias Ekholm. Simashev profiles as a big, mobile, fast shutdown defenseman, who can also add some offense. He's the type of player that makes a partner for a more offensively-oriented defender.
36. San Jose: Bradly Nadeau, LW/C
Nadeau's been absolutely tearing apart the BCHL this year. It may be a "lesser" league, but his production is still pretty impressive and so is his style of play. The Sharks could like his IQ and ability to fire pucks on net, setting their sights on him after playing it safe with their Oliver Bonk selection.
Comparison: Vincent Trochek. Nadeau's a fast, lethal sniper that loves to fire pucks on net. While not the biggest, he's got an underrated grit game and owns plenty versatility, allowing him to play any role given to him, including sliding in down the middle.
37. Montreal: Carson Rehkopf, LW/C
Playing alongside last year's pick, Filip Mesar, Rehkopf likely gets on the radar of Montreal due to this. He's someone with good size, which would be ideal for the Habs, as they'll want to add some bigger guys to play with some of their smaller forwards.
Comparison: Adrian Kempe. A goal-scoring power forward, Rehkopf loves shooting the puck, able to wire it on a dime. He can unleash from anywhere on the ice, while also having plenty of tools to make his useful in various roles.
38. Arizona: Maxim Strbak, D
Strbak's on-brand with the type of big, heavy game that Bill Armstrong is trying to implement with the Coyotes. The Slovakian defenseman's looked good in overseas play, but he's stumbled a bit in North American hockey, ultimately keeping him out of the first round.
Comparison: Adam Pelech. Strbak's a big defenseman that can impose himself physically, while also aiding a little in puck movement. He'll most likely find his bread and butter in his own zone.
39. Buffalo [from Philadelphia]: Tom Willander, D
The Sabres prospect pool needs more defensemen in it. Willander might be the best on the board, fitting like a glove for their blueline, alongside people such as Rasmus Dahlin, etc.. He's probably a guy that's in contention for going in the first round. If not, he might be someone Buffalo grabs in this spot.
Comparison: Rasmus Andersson. A two-way defender that plays a well-rounded, simple game from the point. He moves pucks along with aplomb, shows solid defensive skill and can add points from the backend.
40. Washington: Mikhail Gulyayev, D
The Russian factor, along with a lack of size, kicks Gulyayev into the 2nd round. The Capitals, who have always been open to Russian talent, would certainly take a chance on him at this spot, giving them an offensive defenseman that can be lethal on the powerplay for them. If anyone can find a way to get him over, it might be the Caps, via their Ovechkin ties to Putin.
Comparison: Brian Campbell. An undersized defenseman with excellent offensive and skating skill. He can be a fast, offense-first defenseman that moves pucks at a rapid face, while building up a powerplay.
41. Detroit: Nick Lardis, RW
After a trade from Peterborough to Hamilton near mid-season, Nick Lardis rocketed himself up draft boards by being a dominant goal-scoring machine. That play may seem him leapfrogging up boards, landing near the top of the 2nd round, where the Wings take a chance on him with one of their 2nd rounders.
Comparison: Andrei Kuzmenko. Lardis was second to only Connor Bedard in the amount of goals scored throughout the CHL in the second half of the season. He transitions well with the puck on his blade and can be counted on to be a goal-scoring offensive weapon from the wing.
42. Detroit [from St. Louis]: Hunter Brzustewicz, D
Adding a rock-solid defenseman such as Brzustiewicz could be an option at this point. They may see him as a best player available, thereby scooping him off the board, thinking he could become a guy that plays behind Moritz Seider in their lineup.
Comparison: Gustav Forsling. He kind of reminds me of Forsling in that he may not stand out in a major way, but can transport and distribute pucks and profiles as a puck-moving, two-way defenseman.
43. Detroit [from Vancouver]: Felix Nilsson, LW/C
Nilsson's been developing in Rogle, which is where the Wings have been turning towards more in recent years. Likely a winger, he's capable of playing center, which gives the Wings more depth in that area.
Comparison: Valterri Filppula. Something a little like Filpulla, in that he's versatile, can add skill, has two-way prowess and plays a well-rounded game with some playmaking thrown in.
44. Chicago [from Ottawa]: Kalan Lind, LW
Lind's a pesky type of forward that'd go over well in Chicago's rebuild. They take him here, feeling he's the best player available, which he could be... especially after raising his stock at the Top Prospects Game.
Comparison: Darcy Tucker. He's a skilled agitator that works extremely effective in any situation thrown at him. He battles hard, can hammer bodies with physicality and brings some depth scoring potential.
45. Buffalo: Beau Akey, D
Akey's another pickup for their depth on their right side of defense. He's another puck-mover, which is what they tend to like and the Sabres would absolutely love his ability to transition pucks up the ice. He's got top four potential, it just depends on if they can develop him or not.
Comparison: Brandon Montour. Akey's a puck-transitioning defenseman that plays an offensive game from the blueline, able to make stellar passes to setup plays from the point, while also holding his own in terms of defense.
46. Nashville [from Pittsburgh]: Gavin McCarthy, D
In the past, they've shown a liking towards American defenders. If Gavin McCarthy's there, he may be of service to them. A coveted right-handed shot, he could be someone that surprises and goes early if a team likes the tools in his game.
Comparison: Damon Severson. Coming from an athletic, military background, teams will surely love that fact and could be willing to take an early chance on him. He's got great physicality and physical tools, while also having some shooting skill.
47. Nashville: Jesse Kiiskinen, RW
They've been open to drafting Finns the past few years. They could take a chance on Kiiskinen, who's got good potential to be a middle-six offensive winger with some goal-scoring skill. If he has a good U18 tournament, there's a small chance he could find himself jumping into first round consideration.
Comparison: Kyle Palmieri. A relentlessly effective forechecker and goal-scoring offensive winger, Kiiskinen's got the potential to become a secondary scoring threat at the pro level.
48. Calgary: Etienne Morin, D
Needing more defensie in their system, they turn towards the Q, a league they've drafted from in previous history. Morin could be an offensive defenseman for them, shining their blueline up nicely, giving them an offensive defender with tools to work with.
Comparison: Kevin Shattenkirk. Morin's an offensive defenseman that has high upside. Whether he reaches it or not remains to be seen, but there's no denying his talent and level of skill.
49. Florida: Caden Price, D
The Panthers d-core has taken a hit in recent years. Things are so dire that it almost cost them the playoffs. In adding Price, they take someone whom they feel has first round level of talent and who could be close to making the jump and competing. He just needs to get some refinement.
Comparison: TJ Brodie. With a late birthday and plenty of skating talent, Price still has a lot of development to do. That said, if his development path went quickly, he could totally turn into a mobile, two-way puck mover.
50. New York Islanders: Koehn Ziemmer, RW
At this point, he's 100% the best player available. He'd give the Islanders someone that works in the danger areas and can be a goal scoring threat. He feels like someone that'd fit well within the confines of the game the Islanders want to play.
Comparison: Jake Debrusk. Ziemmer's a complementay style of goal scoring winger that can work along the boards and in front of the net, whacking home pucks and firing shots from in-close.
51. Seattle [from Winnipeg]: Tanner Molendyk, D
Coming off a hot playoff performance, Molendyk might be someone that jumps up draft boards. The Kraken snag him here, loving his puck movement skill and overall speed, feeling he's got potential to be a two-way puck mover.
Comparison: Andy Greene. Depending on how well he develops, Molendyk could potentially turn into a well-rounded, extremely mobile two-way defenseman. His skating is amongst the best in the draft and he could make it solely on that alone.
52. Chicago [from Tampa Bay]: Jayden Perron, RW/LW
Perron's lack of size is probably going to knock him into the 2nd/3rd round. However, with the Blackhawks on the hunt for talent, they'd be wise to scoop him up here, knowing full well that he's coming from the neary Chicago Steel organization.
Comparison: Mats Zuccarello. Perron's an impressive, yet undersized, talented playmaking winger with smart reads and overall two-way skill. His lack of size might hold him back, but there's a lot of talent in his small frame.
53. Seattle: Jacob Fowler, G
Despite grabbing Niklas Kokko in the 2nd round of last year's draft, they could swing on another goalie here in the 2nd, due to their plethora of draft picks. If Fowler's available, they may love his game, as his play has him shooting up draft boards. With goalies, it's always risky, though, so who knows.
Comparison: John Gibson. While Fowler's a project, he comes with a bevy of technical skill and upside. He's put up excellent numbers this year and the size that teams covet from their goalies.
54. Minnesota: Theo Lindstein, D
Once again, they're drafting out of Sweden. This time, they could take Lindstein, if he's still there. He's been rated as a first round eligible defender in the past, but has had troubles with consistency, thus dropping him down the board somewhat.
Comparison: Henri Jokiharju. He's likely more of a mobile, shutdown style of defenseman at the pro level. Nevertheless, he's still a good passer and can help in the transition of pucks back into the offensive zone.
55. Los Angeles: Trey Augustine, G
After trading away their longtime former #1, Jonathan Quick, they could do well by taking the Quick'iest goalie in the draft, who is, in my opinion, Trey Augustine. It'd allow them to groom him as their goalie of the future, letting their already strong current core develop in front of him.
Comparison: Jonathan Quick. He's a lot like Quick, both in terms of flexibility, athleticism and even size. Will he have the same type of career accolades? It remains to be seen, but he's a nice project they can build upon.
56. Dallas: Lenni Hameenaho, RW
In the past, they've done quite well with drafting Finns. They could certainly swoop in and grab Hameenaho, if he's still there. He'd probably fit in quite well with what Dallas has been trying to put together, making him a valuable middle-six winger.
Comparison: Jakob Silfverberg. To me, he probably turns out something akin to what Silfverberg has been to Anaheim though the years. Not a huge scoring threat, but he can get the job done through his shot. He's got good instincts and his two-way skills make him able to play multiple roles.
57. Seattle [from Toronto]: Nico Myatovic, RW/LW
Again, they head back to the Seattle Thunderbirds. This time, they grab the big power winger, Myatovic, who's boosted his stock to find himself within the top 64. He seems like the type of winger they'd like to add and with him playing locally, it just makes more sense.
Comparison: Nick Paul. Myatovic may never find himself to be a big-time scorer. He's more likely to be a guy that works bottom-nine, getting shuffled around, allowing his above average stick work and defensive skill to help play the game.
58. New Jersey: Anton Wahlberg, C/RW
Wahlberg at this point would fill a need for players that can play on the interior; along with a need for more center depth. If he's someone a team went off-the-board for from picks #25-40, it wouldn't shock me, either.
Comparison: Carl Soderberg. Wahlberg's a projectable talent that plays with a bulldog-like mentality. He can play a physical game, while simultaneously showing good two-way ability and some skill.
59. Carolina: Arttu Karki, D
They've held Finns in high regards in past drafts. They could take a chance on the high-offense Finnish defenseman, Arttu Karki. He could be someone counted on to provide points and offene from their blueline, enabling him to develop overseas before bringing him over.
Comparison: Juuso Valimaki. Maybe something like Valimaki can be his upside. He's got decent size, can be an offensive catalyst and moves pucks well. He could use some seasoning, but there's potential there.
60. Minnesota [from Vegas]: William Whitelaw, RW/LW
They're a very analytics-driven team. If someone like Judd Brackett things Whitelaw could make a good addition, they could certainly target him in this area. Plus he's a Minnesota kid, so that's a good, wholesome story, as well.
Comparison: Cam Atkinson. Lack of height and size will be a detriment to his draft positioning; however, his offensive ability more than makes up for it. Once he learns to use his teammates and play within a system, he could become a lethal scoring winger with upside and a fierce winning attitude.
61. New York Rangers: Martin Misiak, RW/C
This tenacious Slovakian forward's been mixing it up in the USHL for te Youngstown Phantoms this year. He seems like the type of player they'd scout heavily and probably even love, fitting well within the system they've been trying to play.
Comparison: Josh Anderson. In terms of style, there's a bit of Anderson's relentless, fearless style of power game. He goes fast and hard to the net, scores goals a bunch of ways, even if it's via deflection and comes to play every single time he steps onto the ice.
62. Edmonton: Coulson Pitre, RW
They traded Reid Schaefer away from their prospect pool. I'd suspect they replace him with a similar type of power winger. One such case is Coulson Pitre, who's someone that can do a little bit of everything, which would be perfect for Oilers's playoff runs.
Comparison: Alex Killorn. At his best, he's probably something like an Alex Killorn. Probably not the most skilled, but a guy that can get the job done, fight for pucks and be a workhorse.
63. Anaheim [from Colorado]: Jakub Dvorak, D
He's a 6'5" defenseman, so he COULD go higher. On the other hand, injuries did a number on his season and it could have limited viewings of him, resulting in him falling to the bottom of the 2nd. I'm sure the Ducks would be glad to take him if he's still there.
Comparison: Scott Mayfield. He's your prototypical big bodied shutdown defenseman. He moves well for his size, can step up and lay the body, uses his long reach to disrupt play, etc.. He'll be someone counted on heavily to kill penalties.
64. Anaheim [from Boston]: Mathieu Cataford, RW/LW
As per usual, they pilfer talent from the QMJHL. This time, it's Mathieu Cataford, who still finds himself on the board. He'd probably be a nice depth forward for them, especially if they want to build a "winning team".
Comparison: Robby Fabbri. Cataford could be something like a Rabby Fabbri for the team that selects him. Despite lacking in size, he's got talent to be a netfront presence, works hard to produce and can be counted on to be a depth, bottom-nine producer.
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ROUND 3
65. Anaheim: Jakub Stancl, LW
For their next selection, they could go off the board a little and grab a Czech forward with some size and physicality. If he does well at the U18's, Stancl could legitimize himself as a potential top 100 draft pick, which the Ducks are quick to jump on.
Comparison: Oskar Sundkvist. Stancl's got a bulldog-like mentality while in a very strong, physical frame. He can play a two-way game that allows him to bulldoze his way to the net, working hard on the ice to cause turnovers with his strength.
66. Columbus: Brady Cleveland, D
His combination of size, physicality and skating probably has Cleveland in contention for a top 2 round selection. If he falls into the third, perhaps a team such as Columbus, who could still use a few good defensemen, would be willing to add him.
Comparison: Brayden McNabb. He's big, mobile and physical. He may not have much in terms of offense; it's what he does defensively, with his physicality, that'll make him stand out.
67. Chicago: Cameron Allen, D
Coming into the season, he was hailed as a verified first round prospect. The bad news, unfortunately, is that he was quite unsteady this year, resulting in him plummeting down draft lists. If the Hawks are smart, they'd take him here and hope he can turn things around next season.
Comparison: Mackenzie Weegar. Allen isn't the biggest, nor is he a defensive stalwart. He's a puck-mover with some physicality in his game, along with a big shot that he can get on net, which is what made him so dangerous in the first place. A rebound season may be in his future.
68. Nashville [from San Jose]: David Edstrom, C
Edstrom's a 6'3" center with some smart two-way skills. It seems too difficult for the Preds to pass on at this point, hoping it'll give them more depth down the middle. Whether he develops or not remains to be seen, but he's coming from a good program.
Comparison: Eetu Luostarinen. Blessed with fantastic hockey senses and all-around skill, Edstrom can set teammates up with good passing skills and awareness. He's someone that may potentially play in a middle-six some day.
69. Montreal: Adam Gajan, G
Their quest to find goaltending depth starts by taking whomever is best on the board at this selection. If Gajan is there, he'd be perfect, as he already comes equipped with the Slovakia tie-in. The overage goalie impressed mightily at the World Juniors in December/January, so he could even be someone that goes in the 2nd round.
Comparison: Frederik Andersen. Gajan's got the great size, stamina and calm demeanor of the modern day starter. He's shown great athleticism, moves well with his legs and has the size needed to block out pucks.
70. Arizona: Tristan Bertucci, D
Voted as the 2nd most improved player in the OHL this past season, Bertucci's late-season play likely has him leaping up draft lists. The Flint defenseman would be a huge boost to Arizona's defensive depth, with the Coyotes hoping he can continue his developmental path.
Comparison: Cody Ceci. Right now, something like Ceci would be an optimal upside for him. A two-way kid, with a bomb from the point, who's able to play a well-rounded, solid game.
71. Philadelphia: Andrew Strathmann, D
Strathmann may be a little chaotic, but he brings good upside if they hit on him. The offense he can bring to the Flyers' blueline is immense, it just depends on if he can reel in the rest of his game. He's been playing for the Youngstown Phantoms, which they've been known to draft from in previous years. It could be an easy pick for them to make.
Comparison: Shayne Gostisbehere. An all-out offensive defenseman, Strathmann can be a powerplay quarterback, even with his lack of size. Defensively, he needs work, with his game mostly being in the offense he produces.
72. Arizona [from Washington]: Andrew Gibson, D
Probably the highest rating defenseman left on the board. They grab him here in order to bolster their blueline. For 72nd overall, it's a valued pickup, with Arizona liking his combination of size and skating.
Comparison: Connor Murphy. Gibson's big, he's mobile, he can move pucks and he can bring an ounce of physicality. He's raw, but he's got a lot of tools, which bodes well for him.
73. Detroit: Noah Dower Nilsson, LW
They drafted his brother, Liam. They may as well reunite the two and select Noah, who's been all over the board this year. Often, at times, he was thought of as a first round prospect; but he dipped a little. If they snare him here, they'd be happy.
Comparison: Tyler Toffoli. He's a cerebral player, who doesn't "wow" with flash. Instead, he's an offensive winger that can step in, strip opponents of pucks, use his stickhandling to take goalies off-balance and puts pucks in the net.
74. St. Louis: Quinton Burns, D
Burns feels like a player that'd go quite well within the Blues system. He plays fast and hard, while also works well in transition. He could be someone that helps fill out their blueline depth.
Comparison: Alexander Romanov. Burns is a well-rounded, athletic defender with good athleticism and physical tools. He hits hard, puts up points in a depth role and can work in multiple roles.
75. Vancouver: Aram Minnetian, D
Going back to American ranks, Minnetian feels like someone the Canucks could find interesting. He plays on the right-handed side, filling a role they'd like filled. At minimum, it helps build their blueline a little more.
Comparison: Nate Schmidt. He comes across as a puck-transitional defenseman, who likely fills a depth role, while working a 2nd wave powerplay.
76. St. Louis [from Ottawa]: Noel Nordh, LW/RW
Nordh would fit the style of "big, heavy" wingers that helped win them the Cup a few years ago. They may opt to take him here, hoping he can fulfill a similar role moving forward, even if he's only working in a depth role.
Comparison: Patrick Maroon. Nordh's a power winger that does the little things to help win games. He may not be the most talented, he does work hard, go to the net and plays a complementary style of game that works well with talented players.
77. Vegas [from Buffalo]: Danny Nelson, LW
Nelson fits well with Vegas like in their players, especially in terms of size. He might make a good fit here. Thanks to his combination of size and shooting, he's got some projectability in his game.
Comparison: Taylor Raddysh. Probably not a speed burner, his game will be about using his size to shield pucks, along with using his good shooting skill to wire shots on net.
78. Los Angeles [from Pittsburgh]: Easton Cowan, RW
Cowan plays a hard and fast style of game that the Kings usually tend to love. He might be a good fit for them here, giving them more depth on their wings. He's coming from a really solid London Knights program and has really turned it on the in latter half of the year.
Comparison: Dillon Dube. Undersized, Cowan is a speed demon that fights like hell for pucks. He comes at you hard and fast, making life difficult for opposing defenses, while also playing a solid two-way game.
79. Nashville: Luca Cagnoni, D
Hoping to add more skill to their blueline, the Preds aim their targets at Cagnoni. Undersized, yet skilled, his lack of height will likely restrict him from going too high. Fortunately, he has plenty of skill to make up for it.
Comparison: Calen Addison. He's a defenseman that tends to gamble offensively, leaning hard into playing a consistent offensive brand of hockey from the point, both for better and for worse.
80. Columbus [from Calgary]: Zach Nehring, RW
With a bunch of skilled guys coming in, namely Connor Bedard, they could grab a few big wingers to help insulate him. He's coming from prep school hockey, so he's under the radar, with a smart drafting team selecting him, liking his physical tools.
Comparison: Mason Marchment. If placed in the correct development path, Nehring could turn into a complementary power winger that can throw his body around, go to the high danger areas and can do the heavy lifting on a skill line.
81. Philadelphia [from Florida]: Alex Ciernik, LW/RW
If they're looking to add speed to their lineup, Ciernik would be a great addition. The Slovakian winger would add some depth scoring and skill to their core, possibly even finding himself selected in the first 2 rounds, if a team really likes him.
Comparison: Matias Macelli. Ciernik's got blazing speed and the swift hands of a playmaker. He can potentially develop into a depth playmaking winger that uses his skating to produce.
82. Arizona [from New York Islanders]: Damian Clara, G
Another giant of a goalie, Clara comes from Italian heritage and would give the Coyotes someone in their pipeline they can develop over time. His numbers overseas have been stellar, so there might be something there for them to wait out.
Comparison: Linus Ullmark. He's a giant in the net, who also moves quite well for his size. If developed properly, there could be a big, lanky upside goaltender in waiting.
83. Winnipeg: Carey Terrance, C
His versatility and willingness to battle in the danger areas could be enticing for the Jets, who'd be hard-pressed to pass on him at this slot. He's someone who could go as early as the 2nd round, if a team really likes his pro potential.
Comparison: Andrew Copp. Terrance's game is all about being versatile and working extremely hard on the ice. His ability to play center or wing makes him even more valuable, allowing a team to plug him into many roles.
84. Nashville [from Tampa Bay]: Aydar Suniev, LW
No strangers from drafting players from the BCHL, the Preds jump on Suniev, who's been putting up excellent numbers in that league. Granted the competition may be weaker, but he's still doing great work. The only thing keeping him from being drafted higher would be his poor skating skill, which, admittedly, needs a lot of work.
Comparison: Yegor Sharangovich. With a good shot, versatility and two-way game, he profiles as a potential middle-six winger. Of course, his lack of foot speed and poor skating could hurt him; but if you get him in the mid-rounds, it's a pretty good selection.
85. Seattle: Ethan Miedema, LW/RW
In order to address size on their wings, the Kraken grab Miedema, who battled inconsistency throughout the year. If he could have found a way to bring a more consistent brand of hockey, he'd be a surefire top 64 talent. Alas, he's still a project.
Comparsion: Zach Sanford. He's got the size teams love, along with the projectability. He'll have to figure out how to get his game together if he wants to make the jump.
86. Anaheim [from Minnesota]: Dylan MacKinnon, D
They grab another big, physical defenseman in order to lock down their defensive depth in the coming years. With Anaheim having a number of offense-first defenseman on the way, adding someone like MacKinnon in a depth role would be a nice suggestion.
Comparison: Arber Xhekaj. MacKinnon's a good skater for his size and he loves to hit and play an old school style of game. He's got a bomb from the point; yet he will likely be a mainstay in his own end, using his speed and strength to shutdown opponents.
87. Buffalo [from Los Angeles]: Matthew Mania, D
It's another blueliner to shore up depth. Mania's been underrated throughout the year, finally breaking out once a coaching change occured. For the 3rd round, he's a good value selection.
Comparison: JJ Moser. Mania's a two-way defenseman that leans into the offensive, puck-movement style of game. He has potential to work a powerplay, while also adding points from the back.
88. Chicago [from Dallas]: Jesse Nurmi, LW
Grabbing a Finn with some hustle and pace in his game, the Blackhawks keeping building up their prospect pool. Nurmi's got potential to be a depth, middle-six winger, which would be fine for the Hawks, who could use anything to help build their pipeline.
Comparison: Brandon Hagel. He put up good numbers over in the Finnish U20 leagues. He works hard and uses his speed to cut to the net in order to produce. He could be the perfect type of Swiss Army Knife forward.
89. Vancouver [from Toronto]: Carter Sotheran, D
His 2nd half was impressive. A team like Vancouver, who could use more defensemen, might be a good landing spot for him. He plays on the right side, which is an area that needs to be filled in. Give him some continued seasoning in the WHL and Vancouver may have something.
Comparison: Andrew Peeke. The Manitoban kid definitely plays a "western" style of hockey. He's got size, physicality, a howitzer of a shot and can be a guy that tries to limit scoring attempts from opposing forwards.
90. Pittsburgh [from New Jersey]: Scott Ratzlaff, G
They need to find a goalie... somewhere. By selecting Ratzlaff, they take someone whom they hope they can mold into their guy of the future. He put up fantastic numbers in both tournament and seasonal play. His main drawback will be his lack of height, which is always a problem for goalies.
Comparison: Jimmy Howard. Not "huge" by any means, Ratzlaff's a guy that's got fast reflexes, responds well to adversity and can come up big when it matters.
91. San Jose [from Carolina]: Alexander Hellnemo, G
They've been avoiding drafting goalies for a while and it's depleted their pool. With things barren in net, it's best they take the best goaltender available -- and it might be Hellnemo, who was passed over last year.
Comparison: Vitek Vanecek. The overage goalie moves well while playing a hybrid style in net. His athleticism and speed could turn him into something like Vanaecek, who has worked himself into a starter's role.
92. Vegas: Cam Squires, RW
A hot playoff and end of season run may have Cam Squires leapfrogging up some lists. It certainly helps that he feels like the type of player that Vegas tends to love.
Comparison: Mathieu Joseph. Squires is your typical hard-working forward that'll work in a complementary role. Probably not the most skilled, flashiest or talented. He's someone that'll do all kinds of hard work in order to produce.
93. Carolina [from New York Rangers: Albert Wikman, D
A dependable defenseman, Wikman could get noticed by the Hurricanes, who quickly snap him off the board, liking his stabilizing play. With the way they develop talent, he may be even able to reach a higher upside than realized.
Comparison: John Marino. Right now, he seems like a simplistic, steady defenseman that makes a good first pass, plays a seamless, positionally sound game and can do all the little things to help win games.
94. Arizona [from Edmonton]: Jaden Lipinski, C/RW
He's an Arizona-born kid. I could definitely see the Coyotes being interested in bringing in local talent. It certainly helps that he's got the size that they've been coveting and is coming off a decent season in the WHL.
Comparison: Nicolas Roy. A responsible, gritty, on-ice leader with two-way skills. He can win faceoffs, block shots, work hard and excels as a bottom-six type of talent.
95. New York Rangers [from Colorado]: Drew Fortescue, D
He's a New York native. As such, the Rangers may hone in on him, thinking he'd make a good pickup for their blueline depth. He's got the size that teams love and could be counted on to become a dependable depth guy.
Comparison: Jacob Middleton. Fortescue's gritty and has solid two-way/shutdown skills. He may not be anything more than a depth guy with high-floor, yet he can get things done in his own end.
96. Boston: Tanner Ludtke, LW/C
It wouldn't be surprising to see them target American-born players. They tend to love taking them. Ludtke's done a splendid job of pushing himself up draft boards after a splendid end of the year, having gone on a scoring tear. With Boston looking for more dept, he seems like a good pickup.
Comparison: Tommy Novak. He's got skill and can be an offensive catalyst from either the wing or center. Let him develop over a period of years and he could turn into a top-nine offensive threat.
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ROUND 4
97. Anaheim: Brad Gardiner, C/LW
It's a depth move for their center position. There's no guarantee he makes it; but if he does, he could fill in a depth role. Worthy of a pick in this range, with Gardiner showing solid improvements in his production this year.
Comparison: Danton Heinen. Gardiner fits the mould as a roleplaying type of forward. He scores goals, he hustles hard, defends well and brings plenty of versatility to plug and play him in any position.
98. Columbus: Alex Pharand, LW
If they go with skill for their first rounders, maybe adding a power forward or two would be a wise decision. In this case, it's Alex Pharand, who had an up and down season in the OHL. In the 4th round, it's a nice selection for depth, even if he's only a bottom line guy.
Comparison: Tanner Jeannot. Pharand's a physical, versatile power winger. He can chip in with some offense and work hard on the ice, using his physicality to try and turn things in his team's favor.
99. Chicago: Luca Pinelli, LW/RW
Eyeing for more talent, the Hawks could target Pinelli here. While he's not the largest player, he brings a ton of energy and scoring ability with each shift. It's players like this that the Hawks could zone in on for their rebuild, hoping someone with enough talent shines through and is part of their new core.
Comparison: Viktor Arvidsson. Like Arvidsson, Pinelli's an undersized ball of energy, who brings good shooting ability and loves to pepper a lot of shots on net. Despite his size, he can buzz around in dangerous areas, making life difficult for goalies.
100. San Jose: Brandon Svoboda, C
There's a Boston University connection here, which could prompt Mike Grier and the scouting team to swoop on in. They seem to want their depth playes to at least have size, so he fits the bill for what they're looking for in multiple ways.
Comparison: Barclay Goodrow. With his play style, propensity for physicality and overall versatility, he could make it in a depth role, in which he could excel.
101. Montreal: Felix Unger Sorum, RW
One of the youngest players in the draft, Sorum could go in the early-to-mid rounds with the Habs liking the extra developmental time you're going to get from him. His birthay is just before the cut-off date, so he's almost an entire year older than some of his fellow draftees, thus it gives them plenty of runway to carve out a path for his career.
Comparison: Gustav Nyquist. A creative and dangerous playmaking winger, Sorum's got good skills and can be a threat when in close to make high-danger cross-crease passes. He's got a skillset that allows him to toy with opponents and can be a weapon on a powerplay.
102. Arizona: Luke Mittelstadt, D
A few years ago, they took double-overager Janis Moser with a pick. This time, they go for another double-overager in Luke Mittelstadt, Casey's younger brother. He's fresh off an impressive performance at the NCAA Frozen Four tournament, where he does what he does best -- moving pucks.
Comparison: Alexandre Carrier. I'd probably pin him as a smart, mobile, puck-moving defenseman. He does well at moving pucks, but can also keep things safe in his own zone, keeping things swift and in momentum back up the ice.
103. Philadelphia: Isac Hedqvist, LW
A skilled, talented puck-carrying Swede, Hedvist is someone that could go anywhere from the 4th round and beyond. In the past, they've taken some Swedish talent they've had their eyes on. I'm not sure if they have the same scouting staff, but Hedqvist is still a talented pickup for them at this locale.
Comparison: Phillipp Kurashev. He'd a brilliant playmaking winger that likes to have the puck on his stick; someone who is able to help drive offense from the wing, albeit in a secondary scoring role.
104. Washington: Carsen Musser, G
The Capitals need some goalie depth in their system. Musser might be the best goalie available on the board. They should take him and run, hoping they can turn him into something useful. He's been playing for the USNTDP this past season and developing in Colorado in the near future. They may want to hedge their bets on him for the future.
Comparison: Stuart Skinner. Musser's got starting goalie potential and upside. It just depends on if he can develop or not. If not, there's always a chance he settles as a dependable backup.
105. Vancouver [from Detroit]: Arvid Bergstrom, D
Taking another defender, the Canucks head back to Sweden, an area they've always had luck drafting from. Bergstrom's looked good this year. He's a puck-mover that can do a lot of good things at both ends of the ice. At minimum, it's more depth for their defense, which is what's really needed.
Comparison: Jordan Harris. His game revolves around his skating and puck-movement ability. He's got potential to push through and develop into something useful, he'll just need time.
106. St. Louis: Larry Keenan, D
His grandfather has history of playing for the Blues, thus they select him here, which would make a nice story. Coming from prep school, he'll be going to the University of Massachusetts next season, which should allow him to continue on his developmental path.
Comparison: Jake Walman. Keenan's got a blistering hard shot, skates well, has nice size and can be an asset that works in multiple roles moving forward, all thanks to his tools.
107. Vancouver: Hannes Hellberg, RW/LW
Again, they go back to Sweden. This time, targeting the overage Hellberg, who's been putting up excellent numbers overseas in the J20 leagues. His size and skill combination would make him a thrilling winger to deal with.
Comparison: Oskar Lindblom. He's got excellent shooting and scoring ability; good size and can be a complementary skilled winger.
108. Ottawa: Connor Levis, RW
Liking his size and physicality, a common theme amongst Senators prospects, Levis feels like someone they could turn to in the mid-rounds. His play as a skilled power forward makes him a noteworthy prospect, with Ottawa willing to give him a chance to fortify their wings.
Comparison: Yakov Trenin. He's got decent size, is built like a tank and can work his way to the front of the net to produce points. He can be physical and har to move off pucks, making him a versatile depth winger.
109. Buffalo: Jayson Shaugabay, RW
Shaugabay's a highly skilled winger and the 2023 Mr. Hockey Award winner for Minnesota high school hockey. Even though he's another smaller forward, his tantalizing skill level might be too much to pass on for the Sabres. They roll the dice on him, hoping he can keep developing into a pro-level prospect within the next 3-5 years.
Comparison: Thomas Bordeleau. Due to his lack of size, his fate is up in the air. Maybe he's something like Bordeleau, who is also a fantastic playmaking forward. Maybe he's a career AHL'er. Maybe he becomes a mid-level player. Either way, there's skill there.
110. Montreal [from Pittsburgh]: Juraj Pekarcik, RW
Another young Slovakian might be of intrigue, as they keep buildng "little Slovakia" in Montreal. He was born just before the draft cut-off date, much like their previous selection, Unger Sorum, which intrigues them. He's got good size and he's still growing and developing, so maybe there's something a little more there.
Comparison: Warren Foegele. Pekarcik plays with a high motor, is reliable defensively and can top out as a depth power winger that's relentless on the forecheck.
111. Nashville: Tuomas Uronen, RW
They take another Finn. This time it's the speedster, Tuomas Uronen, in a further attempt to build up their wings. His skating should be effective and could help him turn into an effective third-liner with some scoring ability, who can do a little of everything.
Comparison: Joonas Donskoi. The basis of his game is about using his skating ability to out-hustle and beat opponents to pucks. As such, he can be used in both a scoring role and in a defensive/penalty kill role.
112. Calgary: Matteo Mann, D
Mann's size is going to be his number one drawing point... and maybe he goes higher as a resut. For the Flames, they take him here, drafting once more out of the Q, hoping Mann can become a shutdown force for them at the highest level.
Comparison: Jani Hakanpaa. Mann's a big, physical defenseman that moves well for his size. He works best in a depth role, clearing the crease, doing the hard work to defend, etc..
113. Florida: Oskar Asplund, D
Their desire to add defense burns so strongly that they may want to take a shot at the Swedish overager, Oskar Asplund, who's development has further increase this year. As a result, he's likely to get drafted -- it just depends on the round and if a team really likes him.
Comparison: Sean Durzi. A true offensive defenseman from the point, Asplund moves pucks with great ease, has great vision and has potential to be a middle-pairing puck mover. Like Durzi, he's also an overager that likely goes in their D+1 year.
114. New York Islanders: Rasmus Kumpulainen, RW/C
His size and versatility would be a major boost for the Islanders's core. He feels like someone the Isles could be fond of, often playing as a coach's dream as someone you can throw out there in any situation. They'd like his size, as well.
Comparison: Juuso Parssinen. Thanks to his size, versatility and scoring accument, he's got potential to be a do-it-all type of forward that can slide into any position, including center, working powerplays, etc. to try and find victory for his teams.
115. Columbus [from Winnipeg]: Lucas Lagerberg, D
Due to being buried on the depth chart, Lagerberg was passed over last draft. This year, the hard-shooting defenseman probably gets drafted. He seems like a player the Jackets could gamble on in the mid-to-late rounds, so he could fall here.
Comparison: Jake Walman. He's a hard-shooting defenseman with passable size. He was one of the leaders of scoring on his team and can fire off plenty of shots from the backend.
116. Tampa Bay: Sawyer Mynio, D
If they want to bolster their blueline, they probably can't go wrong with Mynio, who's been working hard throughout the year -- especially in the latter half-- to boost his stock. Tampa's taken some western kids in the past, so someone such as Mynio wouldn't be out of the ordinary.
Comparison: Nick Jensen. Keeps things calm and simple. He moves pucks pretty well and he's defensively solid. Profiles as a solid depth defenseman that could slot in from a #4-6 role.
117. Seattle: Yegor Sidorov, RW
Unnecessarily passed over last year, Sidorov continued to explode offensively this season. His strong, compact body allows him to fire pucks at will, regularly lighting the lamp. The Belarussian winger is already playing in North America, so it should be a fast and easy transition for him to get into the Kraken's organization.
Comparison: Oliver Bjorkstrand. Sidorov's a pure shooter that's as strong as an ox. Despite being average sized and non-flashy, he fights his way to the front of the net to fire off quick shots and can work hard along the boards to be a menace for opposing teams.
118. Detroit [from Minnesota]: Kristian Kostadinski, D
Needing some physicality for their blueline, they could venture back to Sweden, where they've taken a few kids in previous years. Kostadinski's all about dropping bodies and has good size, which might make him fit like a glove for the Red Wings.
Comparison: Derek Forbort. At a height of 6'5", Kostadinski's a big, physical blueliner that likes to line opponents up for thunderous big hits. He's someone that'll make his bread and butter in his own defensive end.
119. Los Angeles: Hugo Hell, D
He's another kid whose birthday is late, coming just before the cutoff date, meaning he's got more time for development. They'd be willing to grab him here, keep him overseas for a few years and watch how he progresses, hoping he can blossom into a workable piece.
Comparison: Nils Lundkvist. His ability to move and pass pucks will be a welcome presence for any team. He's got good skating and likely aspires to be a puck-transitioning defenseman.
120. Dallas: Joey Willis, LW
The Stars tend to draft a lot from the OHL. If someone like Willis is there, they may look to select hin, thinking he'd make a good investment for further down the line. He put respectable numbers in both seasonal and playoff play for Sagina, which gives them hope for the future.
Comparison: Alex Kerfoot. He's an intelligent, two-way, playmaking forward with skill at both sides of the ice.
121. Nashville [from Toronto]: Austin Burnevik, RW
Burnevik's size and physicality would be a welcome add here in the 4th round for Nashville, who tend to gravitate towards American talent. His strength and toughness would be a good depth acquisition, allowing him to open space for their skilled guys.
Comparison: Nathan Bastian. Burnevik's big, physical and can lean on smaller forwards to make them pay when they're on the ice. More of a depth guy, he could find a home in a bottom-six/bottom line, working hard and bringing leadership.
122. New Jersey: Zeb Fjorsfjall, RW/LW
The Devils love making these sneaky good mid-round picks from Sweden. Fjorsfall seems like "their type" of guy, even if he is an undersized guy. His lack of height likely has him dropping further than he should; but I feel like a savvy team like the Devils could select him.
Comparison: Tomas Tatar. Bringing plenty of energy to any lineup, he's someone that can add offense to a lineup by buzzing around and trying to create space. It's no guarantee he makes it, but there's a base to work on with him.
123. Carolina: Denver Barkey, C/LW
Again, the Hurricanes straight up select a player they love, who probably scores well in terms of analytics. Barkey's coming from a London Knights team that develops talent quite well. Even though he's undersized, he could develop into a very useful forward.
Comparison: Yanni Gourde. Even though he's vastly undersized, Barkey's got a high talent level, even if he has to transfer to the wing to display it. He's feisty and constantly battles, working hard at both sides of the rink to come out on top.
124. Montreal [from Vegas]: Jordan Tourigny, D
You could definitely make a case for him as the "best player available" at this point. You could also make a case for the Habs wanting to "go local". You could even make a case for him reuniting him with his brother, Miguel. Either way, he could become a point producing defenseman for the Habs.
Comparison: Erik Gustafsson. Tourigny's a smaller defenseman that brings skill from the backend. His game revolves around puck movement, making quick plays and smooth-skating with/without the puck.
125. Vancouver [from New York Rangers]: Emil Jarventie, LW
Coming into the year, he was thought of as a first rounder. Unfortunately, he hasn't lived up to expectations and now finds himself in the latter portion of the 4th round, where the Canucks could take a chance on him.
Comparison: Andrew Mangiapane. He's got good speed, loves shooting a lot and has the potential to be a secondary scoring threat at the very top level (just as long as he can get his consistency under wrap).
126. Philadelphia [from Edmonton]: Charlie Cerrato, LW
Using his speed to wreak havoc, Cerrato would be an excellent pickup for the Flyers. He's headed to an impressive program next year and they can leave him there to grow in the coming years. He's someone that, even if he's just a 4th liner, they can use to cause danger with his skating alone.
Comparison: Carl Hagelin. Cerrato is like a speeding bullet when on the ice. He takes off at a second's notice, able to rocket himself up and down the rink at record pace.
127. San Jose [from Colorado]: Beckett Hendrickson, LW
Considering the type of players the Sharks have been interested in under Mike Grier's reign, Hendrickson's the type of player the Sharks might take a chance on. As someone that can work hard, battle for pucks and can be a defensively sound presence, he's someone that can play a depth role to complement their highly offensive forwards.
Comparison: Colton Sissons. Hendrickson's a hard-working winger that can work on creating turnovers and battles hard to help his team win games. He goes to the rough areas and can kill penalties, play physical and could excel in a bottom-six role.
128. Boston: Jonathan Castagna, LW/C
Coming from Canadian prep school hockey and headed to either the BCHL or Cornell University next year, the Bruins likely have gotten plenty of reports about him. He's the kind of kid that would probably go over well in their system and someone their scouting staffs tend to love.
Comparison: Dominik Kubalik. To me, he reads a lot like Kubalik. He's a shooter that likes to battle for net-front presence and uses his size to fight for positioning.
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Notable names missing the cut: Roman Kantserov, Timur Mukhanov, Jake Fisher, Hoyt Staney, Cooper Foster, Mazden Leslie, Alexande Rykov, Angus MacDonnell, Ty Halaburda, Adam Dybal, Michael Hagens, etc.
(no tl, dr summary this time. will include it in my final mock, though. sorry!)
As always, I'm not a scout. I'm just a fan that loves to track prospects. I don't get to see every player; it'd be preposterous to claim otherwise. I do like keeping up to date with players, though, and tracking what's happening, which brings me to this point: not all comparables will be 100% accurate. Any comparisons I use/borrow are always debatable. Not everyone's going to move on to become a carbon copy -- hell, most of these kids, especially in later rounds, won't even sniff the league, if you're gauging in terms of percentages.
Anyhow, I'm predicting a Boston-New York Rangers ECF. For the West, I'm going with Edmonton and Colorado. For the finals, I have the Bruins winning the Cup over Colorado, giving their core one final run.
As well, because this is being done before the lottery, here's my final lottery spin, via tankathon:
1. Columbus; 2. Chicago.
ROUND 1
1. Columbus: Connor Bedard, C/RW
There isn't much more that needs to be said about Connor Bedard. He's the gem of the draft and the team that wins the lottery is walking out with a near-generational talent. If it's the Blue Jackets, they'd be ecstatic, as they already have an outstanding crew in development and on their current roster. It'd allow them to compete sooner rather than later, giving them a huge shot in the arm.
Comparison: Patrick Kane-meets-Joe Sakic. Like both comparables, Bedard's not the biggest guy. Instead, he gets by through use of his offensive skill and sniping ability. He's got elite talent and a Sakic-like shooting ability that could have him in contention for 50+ goals sometime in the future.
2. Chicago: Adam Fantilli, C
While the team that picks 2nd will be disappointed in coming so close to nabbing Bedard, only to fall short, they shouldn't be too upset. Fantilli's a fantastic prospect in his own right and has top line center potential all the way. He'd be a huge boost for the Blackhawks rebuild now that the Toews era is over, giving them that #1 center of the future that they're going to crave.
Comparsion: Jack Eichel/Matthew Tkachuk type of hybrid. There's Mike Modano'like talent there; but if I were to use a modern day comparison, it'd be something like a cross between Jack Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk. He has Eichel's speed and offensive skill, along with Tkachuk's physical tools and ability to make plays, making him an interesting top line center.
3. Anaheim: Leo Carlsson, C/LW
The Ducks can make the easy selection of Carlsson, giving them anothe weapon upfront, to go along with an already impressive core that has Zegras, McTavish, Terry, Drysdale, etc.. Carlsson really stepped it up with his playoffs performance and it may even have him in contention for a 2nd overall selection.
Comparison: Aleksander Barkov. Carlsson's got the size, two-way skill and playmaking ability to be a difference-maker at the pro level. He can do a little of everything and has elite potential to be a top line, dependable forward.
4. San Jose: Matvei Michkov, RW
Everyone's well aware of the risks with Michkov and the other Russian talent, who will likely fall/plummet. That said, I've got a feeling that Mike Grier could be the GM that sticks his neck out there and takes the plunge with Michkov. They need elite talent in the worst possible way -- Michkov could give them that, even if they have to wait, while living in fear of the current global political situation.
Comparison: Brett Hull. Michkov's an all-out, dangerous offensive force. Not the biggest, but has some grit in his game, and can be a one-touch/one-shot offensive force that can light the lamp with ease, ala Hull back in the day.
5. Montreal: David Reinbacher, D
Depending on how the U-18 tournament goes, if the Habs are at this spot, I feel like it'll be either Reinbacher or Dvorsky. If they take Reinbacher, they get someone that fills a positional need, along with a defenseman to play alongside the undersized, electrically offensive wizard, Lane Hutson. It seems like a good deal for both sides, with the young Austrian being their pick.
Comparison: Alex Pietrangelo. Basically, a stabilizing, well-rounded defenseman that hits, eats up minutes, has a bomb of a shot and can bring an all-around game from the back. He plays a defensive game first, yet also transitions pucks well out of his own end and keeps things moving up the ice.
6. Arizona: Zach Benson, LW/RW
Playing with current Coyotes prospect, Connor Geekie, could give Benson the edge to be selected here. They may look towards build chemistry from within, hoping to keep those 2 together, giving them a solid core moving forward. Benson's size and play style could scare a few teams off, with the Coyotes loving his fall into their lap at #7.
Comparison: Claude Giroux. Benson's an all-out high-IQ talent. Lacking in size, he makes up for it with a neverending desire to win and a relentless motor, using his hockey smarts to put up points and produce at both ends of the ice.
7. Philadelphia: Will Smith, C/LW
With Chuck Fletcher out and Daniel Briere temporarily in as the GM, it's hard to say what the Flyers do. In the past, they've taken plenty of Americans. With Will Smith on the board, they could certainly find interest in selecting him. He's been an enigmatic offense creator for the USNTDP and has potential to be a top line center, who can move to the wing if it doesn't work out.
Comparison: Trevor Zegras. For better and for worse, there's a lot of Zegras in his game. Elite in terms of creativity and vision, able to make plays out of nothing, with some drawbacks in his defensive game and overall strength.
8. Washington: Colby Barlow, RW
With Ovechkin aging, the Capitals are going to need someone else to eventually put pucks into the net. Enter Barlow, who could be a sort-of next of kin to Ovechkin. While he won't match Ovechkin's all-time great totals, he's someone that can be a dependable scoring option and they can use his leadership skill in a rebuild.
Comparison: Gabriel Landeskog. Fast-shooting, with an all-around game, some grit and leadership ability, Barlow profiles as a complementary goal-scorer that could hit 30-40 goals per season. He loves putting pucks on net and can be a top-six goal scoring winger with a power game.
9. Detroit: Dalibor Dvorsky, C/LW
The U-18's will be big for Dvorsky. If he can show his worth, there's a good chance he competes for a top 5 spot. If not, he could still land within the top 10, especially if a team like the Red Wings have him in their sights. Historically, they've loved European players and they probably wouldn't mind adding more centers to go along with last year's pick, Marco Kasper.
Comparison: Wyatt Johnston/Logan Couture. At best, he's something in between those 2 names. Defensively and positionally responsible tactile center that can be a danger in front of the net and is a shoot-first talent that can wire pucks from inside.
10. St. Louis: Oliver Moore, C/LW
Moore sneaks into the top 10, with the Blues loving his dynamic speed and pace of play. They've gone with Americans in the past and return there again by taking Moore, who gives a boost to their center depth. He's been playing behind the "big" USNTDP line, with lesser teammates and has been producing quite well. There's a good chance he explodies offensively when given better linemates and more ice time.
Comparison: Something between a Matt Duchene and Dylan Larkin. In other words, he's got blazing speed -- perhaps the best speed and skating in the draft -- and he's got a non-stop motor that gives him a dependable, two-way skillset, which can help him produce.
11. Vancouver: Brayden Yager, C/RW
Capable of playing center, Brayden Yager is a wildcard. He had a rocky season, where his goal-scoring production didn't meet the expected totals. On the other hand, he managed to produce more as a distributor, which is a different role. He's also been able to produce more in the playoffs and it could help his stock. The Canucks grab him here, thinking he'd be a nice goal-scoring top line forward, whether at wing or at center.
Comparison: Phil Kessel. Yager's armed with a bomb of a shot, showing potential as both a goal-scorer and a playmaker, who is ready to step in and play center, if need be. He battles with inconsistency, though, and it may result in him falling out of the top 10.
12. Arizona [from Ottawa: Matthew Wood, RW
With his height and size, Wood feels like the perfect fit for the brand of hockey the Coyotes could like. He put up excellent numbers as one of the youngest talents in the NCAA this past season, with the Coyotes feeling he could be a nice triggerman to play alongside Logan Cooley.
Comparison: Patrik Laine-lite. He may not be quite like Laine, but the offensive skill is there. Unfortunately, so is the very poor foot speed and bad skating. As a result, teams could be wary of taking a risk on him, possibly pushing him down the board. However, from in close, he's a dangerous offensive weapon.
13. Buffalo: Ryan Leonard, RW
Leonard feels very on-brand with what the Sabres like in their players. He's got potential to be someone that plays with their skilled players, giving them a complementary power winger that loves shooting the puck and putting them into the net.
Comparison: Timo Meier. Leonard plays a power forward's style of game, constantly hitting and checkiing the competition. He's also armed with a lethal goal scoring element, which could allow him to score 30+ per season, making him a multi-threat weapon.
14. Pittsburgh: Nate Danielson, C/LW
With Ron Hextall, Bryan Burke and company out from running the Penguins, it's hard to say what way they go for their selection. It all depends on who is the new GM. However, for now, someone like Nate Danielson could be a nice pickup for the Penguins. With Crosby and Malkin getting up there in age, they'll need more versatile centers, with Danielson being a good option to at least play a middle-six role, at bare minimum.
Comparison: Ryan O'Reilly. Profiling as a do-it-all, versatile center, Danielson works in various roles. He can face tough competition, shutting them down; he can add offense; he's got excellent smarts. A very well-rounded player with no verifiable weaknesses.
15. Nashville: Andrew Cristall, LW
Cristall is someone I've seen ranked all over the board. Internet scouts seem to love him and consider him a 5-10 selection. On the other hand, I could see actual scouting staffs being a little on the fence, keeping him down the board a little. His lack of size, combined with less than ideal skating, is going to be a concern and some teams will stay away. For the Preds, a team who is starving for more offense, he feels like a stellar candidate to boost their winger pool.
Comparison: Johnny Gaudreau. I'm not saying he's going to be 100% like Gaudreau, because he isn't -- he certainly doesn't have Gaudreau's speed. However, in terms of being an offensive catalyst and puck distributor, Cristall could be on par with them. Alternatively, he could also falter due to lack of size and skating. Whoops! He's a boom or bust type, with the team that takes him surely shooting for the moon.
16. Calgary: Eduard Sale, LW/RW
At this spot, the Flames draft whomever they feel is the best player on the board. To them, it could be Sale, who is ranked pretty highly on Craig Button's board -- at ~5th overall. They may see similar upside for him, loving his playmaking and offensive skill, thinking he's got top line potential.
Comparison: Pavel Buchnevich. Sale's a versatile, playmaking forward with good size and skill. He needs to add strength and work on his consistency, with those 2 previous things resulting in him dropping down the board a little. Otherwise, he's someone that could bring talent to a forward core.
17. Montreal [from Florida]: Daniil But, LW
With 2 first round selections, they might be more open to take a wild swing on the big Russian. They certainly need size upfront and But nails that criteria. If he were North American, he'd probably be a top 10 selection. Unfortunately, he's got the Russian factor playing against him... so he could plummet, it's hard to say for sure. Ultimately, the Habs rely on their Russian resources to take a chance on the big kid, hoping they can find a way to get him overseas somehow.
Comparison: He's probably something between a Tage Thompson and Anthony Mantha. There's a variance there, especially with Thompson's past 2 seasons, but it's a probability. He'll need a lot of development time and refining, but he likes to put up a lot of shots on goal and goes hard to the net. He could be a nice complementary goal scoring winger.
18. Detroit [from New York Islanders]: Samuel Honzek, LW
If there's any truth to them scouting him heavily, they may be inclined to draft them in this spot. He has the size that they love in their first round selections and he'd make a nice Slovakian duo alongside Dalibor Dvorsky.
Comparison: Valeri Nichushkin. Honzek's a large, versatile winger with a well-rounded, solid two-way game. Using his long stick and reach, he can put up points in the offensive zone, while also helping to pick off passes in the defensive end.
19. Winnipeg: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D
The Jets could use a RHD like Pellikka in their core. Taking Swedes and Finns hasn't been foreign to them, with Pellikka being a perfect fit for them. If he has a good U18 tournament, he could go even higher -- perhaps to the Canucks at #11. Otherwise, he can land here, with Winnipeg adding an offensive defenseman to their pool.
Comparison: Devon Toews. His game is all about mobility and hockey smarts. He may not have the deadliest shot, he instead uses his puck-moving skills to provide offense from the back, while also playing a well-rounded game in terms of defense.
20. Chicago [from Tampa Bay]: Gabriel Perreault, RW
If they're able to land Adam Fantilli, they may look to reunite him with his linemate, Gavin Brindley. However, Perreault might be hard for them to pass on. With Fantilli and Perreault, they're given a hugh leap forward in their rebuild, giving them 2 potentially skilled top line forwards.
Comparison: Cole Perfetti. Perreault isn't the biggest, fastest or the strongest. Instead, he has tremendous hockey IQ and knows where to place himself in order to produce. He's a fantastic playmaker and can be absolutely lethal on a powerplay.
21. Seattle: Gracyn Sawchyn, RW/C
It might be an off-the-board pick, but Sawchyn's playing in their backyard. With him already accustomed to the area, it'd make things easy for him to slide in. He had an explosive 2nd half of the season and it's likely shot him up draft boards, where a team like Seattle could reel him in.
Comparison: Tomas Plekanec. Sawchyn's a well-rounded, versatile playmaking threat that also brings some pest-like qualities to the ice. His ability to force turnovers, stick work, forechecking skill and making plays at a tremendous pace should make him a potential dual-threat top-six weapon.
22. Minnesota: Otto Stenberg, LW/C
The Wild have been a collecting ground for Swedish talent in recent years. Stenberg might be someone that grabs their eyes, going a little earlier than expected. While his season wasn't as strong as expected, his performance at last year's Hlinka is still surely in the mind of scouts, with Minnesota taking a chance on him here.
Comparison: Dawson Mercer. Stenberg's a multi-purpose center/winger with solid leadership skills. He works well in corners, transports pucks with ease can also fire them at will. He offers a lot of projectability, making him a tantalizing, two-way prospect.
23. Columbus [from Los Angeles:] Riley Heidt, C/LW
First Bedard and now Heidt. If things work out like this, the Blue Jackets absolutely feast on talent. His combination of playmaking skill, tenacity and ability to play down the middle could excite them, thinking they've got their top six center situation pegged for the future.
Comparison: Ryan Strome. Heidt mixes speed, creativity, grit and playmaking into a stellar package. Defensively, there's still a lot of work to do, which he will need to focus on. As well, he isn't the tallest or strongest player on the ice, so a team will hope he can put on some mass.
24. St. Louis [from Dallas]: Quentin Musty, LW
Someone such as Musty would be great for the Blues, who are a team that tend to value size. He could be someone that works alongside their previous selected player, Oliver Moore, to be part of a future top line. A dreadful start pushed him down draft boards; but once a coaching change ensued, he was able to find his game and get things back on track.
Comparison: Drake Batherson. Musty's got great size, great hands and can be a playmaking, creative dispenser of the puck. He's also armed with a really good shot and a power forward-like mentality that can be off/on like a switch, depending on his consistency level, which at times can be a problem.
25. St. Louis [from Toronto]: Lukas Dragicevic, D
With Oliver Moore and Quentin Musty set for their lineup, the Blues need target their blueline. This time, they set their sights on Dragicevic, who plays a risky, all-out offensive game. If he's able to tone things down, he might end up as a huge steal for the Blues, who'd value the point production he could bring and are willing to take the shot due to having 3 first round picks.
Comparison: Jake Gardiner. An offense-only defenseman that's lacking in terms of defense and skating ability. The good news is that he's able to offensively process the game at a high level, so he could be a future powerplay quarterback.
26. San Jose [from New Jersey]: Oliver Bonk, D
After taking Matvei Michkov previously, they go a little "safe" for their 2nd first rounder in selecting Oliver Bonk from the London Knights. He'd provide their blueline with a little more depth, giving them some more options in moving forward. They may opt to lean towards "safety" for their blueline.
Comparison: Brett Pesce. Bonk's a dependable defenseman that adds a lot of value in multiple areas of the ice. While not the most physical, he's able to keep pucks in transit up the ice, while also playing a solid defensive game.
27. Carolina: Gavin Brindley, RW
The Hurricanes tend to focus on their guy, whether he has size or not. Brindley is definitely someone they could turn their attention towards after a stunning 2nd half. They can give him development time, hoping he can continue playing at his current pace at the pro level.
Comparison: Travis Konecny. Woefully undersized, Brindley's within the vicinity of being 5'8"/5'9", making up for it with intensity, feistiness, grit and an all-around attacking game. He's mostly a playmaker, but he can fight for and retrieve pucks like a demon.
28. Vegas: Carson Bjarnasson, G
If they fade out of the playoffs due to their goaltending, they may feel more inclined to take a chance on a high-end goaltender from the draft. With their connections to Brandon via Kelly McCrimmon, they may feel like taking a chance on Bjarnasson, especially if he has a good showing at the u-18 tournament.
Comparison: Ilya Sorokin. Bjarnasson's a large, athletic goaltender that's accustomed to playing against difficult competition and can track pucks quite well, using his positioning and raw tools to be a #1 guy.
29. New York Rangers: Charlie Stramel, C/RW
Stramel plays the style of game that the Rangers are currently focusing on, ie: size, physicality and versatility. He may be someone they think slips in pretty soon, loving what he could bring them. They need more players that could fill a center role, with Stramel being the apple of their eye.
Comparison: Charlie Coyle. I'd compare him to something like Coyle. Moreso a 2nd/3rd line player that can take the body, use his size to play at both ends of the ice, adds complementary offense and defense, which should allow him to work hard in whatever role's given to him.
30. Nashville [from Edmonton]: Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C/LW
It might be an off-the-board selection; but why not? After getting Cristall earlier, they could shoot their shot at Molgaard, from Denmark. He's got decent size and blistering wheels, which could allow him to transfer to center, an area the Preds need to address. It's worth a gamble.
Comparison: William Karlsson. Molgaard's game revolves around his dynamic skating speed, smarts and playmaking ability. Something like Karlsson, an all-around, elusive, speedy center could be an outcome.
31. Colorado: Callum Ritchie, C
The Avs currently have a hole at the #2 center position that needs to be filled. Whether that help comes via trade, free agency or directly through the draft, it needs to be addressed. As such, Ritchie is someone that attempts to fill that role. His season didn't go as planned and it could drop him down the board, yet there's still potential there, with Colorado hoping he can reach it.
Comparison: Filip Chytil. Ritchie may not have the upside originally pegged of him. He's probably moreso a middle-six center with good size and speed, able to hold his own at both ends of the ice.
32. Toronto [from Boston]: Kasper Halttunen, RW
If the Leafs flame out again, lack of grit will probably be blamed. As such, they try to remedy this by taking a chance on a big, physical kid, Halttunen, who hasn't exactly had the season that was expected of him. They seem to be focused on drafting for more grit these past few years, so maybe he'd make a fit in that regard. He came into the year thought of as a top player, but a concussion has resulted in some shoddy, inconsistent play. They can hope he rebounds next year.
Comparison: Lawson Crouse. Halttunen's a big power winger that loves to lay bone-crushing hits. His skating isn't elite, but he makes up for it with some good shooting ability. He's a project power forward.
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ROUND 2
33. Anaheim: Ethan Gauthier, RW
The Ducks have drafted out of the Q in the past. Someone such as Gauthier would make another nice addition to their forward core, giving them some depth and characters guys that can help them win. His playoff run could get him talked about as a first round candidate.
Comparison: Nick Foligno. Gauthier's the type of player that's not the most skilled, but plays with a ton of heart and desire. He's probably a complementary middle-six guy with physicality at the highest level.
34. Columbus: Michael Hrabal, G
The Blue Jackets have a gaping hole in their goaltending depth. If Hrabal's here at the top of the 2nd -- and not gone in the first, which could very well happenn -- then they could/should consider him here. His size alone would be a good way to protect the net, with the Blue Jackets praying he's their future number 1.
Comparison: Ben Bishop. He's a huge 6'6" goalie that can move and track pucks well. His size is beastly, allowing him to cover a large portion of the net. He's got number 1 potential.
35. Chicago: Dmitri Simashev, D
Simashev is, without a doubt, a first round caliber defenseman. The problem? He's Russian. With the noted global political situation, it might cause players of Russian descent to plummet down the boards. If the Hawks can grab him here, it might be worth it, if they can get him over.
Comparison: Mattias Ekholm. Simashev profiles as a big, mobile, fast shutdown defenseman, who can also add some offense. He's the type of player that makes a partner for a more offensively-oriented defender.
36. San Jose: Bradly Nadeau, LW/C
Nadeau's been absolutely tearing apart the BCHL this year. It may be a "lesser" league, but his production is still pretty impressive and so is his style of play. The Sharks could like his IQ and ability to fire pucks on net, setting their sights on him after playing it safe with their Oliver Bonk selection.
Comparison: Vincent Trochek. Nadeau's a fast, lethal sniper that loves to fire pucks on net. While not the biggest, he's got an underrated grit game and owns plenty versatility, allowing him to play any role given to him, including sliding in down the middle.
37. Montreal: Carson Rehkopf, LW/C
Playing alongside last year's pick, Filip Mesar, Rehkopf likely gets on the radar of Montreal due to this. He's someone with good size, which would be ideal for the Habs, as they'll want to add some bigger guys to play with some of their smaller forwards.
Comparison: Adrian Kempe. A goal-scoring power forward, Rehkopf loves shooting the puck, able to wire it on a dime. He can unleash from anywhere on the ice, while also having plenty of tools to make his useful in various roles.
38. Arizona: Maxim Strbak, D
Strbak's on-brand with the type of big, heavy game that Bill Armstrong is trying to implement with the Coyotes. The Slovakian defenseman's looked good in overseas play, but he's stumbled a bit in North American hockey, ultimately keeping him out of the first round.
Comparison: Adam Pelech. Strbak's a big defenseman that can impose himself physically, while also aiding a little in puck movement. He'll most likely find his bread and butter in his own zone.
39. Buffalo [from Philadelphia]: Tom Willander, D
The Sabres prospect pool needs more defensemen in it. Willander might be the best on the board, fitting like a glove for their blueline, alongside people such as Rasmus Dahlin, etc.. He's probably a guy that's in contention for going in the first round. If not, he might be someone Buffalo grabs in this spot.
Comparison: Rasmus Andersson. A two-way defender that plays a well-rounded, simple game from the point. He moves pucks along with aplomb, shows solid defensive skill and can add points from the backend.
40. Washington: Mikhail Gulyayev, D
The Russian factor, along with a lack of size, kicks Gulyayev into the 2nd round. The Capitals, who have always been open to Russian talent, would certainly take a chance on him at this spot, giving them an offensive defenseman that can be lethal on the powerplay for them. If anyone can find a way to get him over, it might be the Caps, via their Ovechkin ties to Putin.
Comparison: Brian Campbell. An undersized defenseman with excellent offensive and skating skill. He can be a fast, offense-first defenseman that moves pucks at a rapid face, while building up a powerplay.
41. Detroit: Nick Lardis, RW
After a trade from Peterborough to Hamilton near mid-season, Nick Lardis rocketed himself up draft boards by being a dominant goal-scoring machine. That play may seem him leapfrogging up boards, landing near the top of the 2nd round, where the Wings take a chance on him with one of their 2nd rounders.
Comparison: Andrei Kuzmenko. Lardis was second to only Connor Bedard in the amount of goals scored throughout the CHL in the second half of the season. He transitions well with the puck on his blade and can be counted on to be a goal-scoring offensive weapon from the wing.
42. Detroit [from St. Louis]: Hunter Brzustewicz, D
Adding a rock-solid defenseman such as Brzustiewicz could be an option at this point. They may see him as a best player available, thereby scooping him off the board, thinking he could become a guy that plays behind Moritz Seider in their lineup.
Comparison: Gustav Forsling. He kind of reminds me of Forsling in that he may not stand out in a major way, but can transport and distribute pucks and profiles as a puck-moving, two-way defenseman.
43. Detroit [from Vancouver]: Felix Nilsson, LW/C
Nilsson's been developing in Rogle, which is where the Wings have been turning towards more in recent years. Likely a winger, he's capable of playing center, which gives the Wings more depth in that area.
Comparison: Valterri Filppula. Something a little like Filpulla, in that he's versatile, can add skill, has two-way prowess and plays a well-rounded game with some playmaking thrown in.
44. Chicago [from Ottawa]: Kalan Lind, LW
Lind's a pesky type of forward that'd go over well in Chicago's rebuild. They take him here, feeling he's the best player available, which he could be... especially after raising his stock at the Top Prospects Game.
Comparison: Darcy Tucker. He's a skilled agitator that works extremely effective in any situation thrown at him. He battles hard, can hammer bodies with physicality and brings some depth scoring potential.
45. Buffalo: Beau Akey, D
Akey's another pickup for their depth on their right side of defense. He's another puck-mover, which is what they tend to like and the Sabres would absolutely love his ability to transition pucks up the ice. He's got top four potential, it just depends on if they can develop him or not.
Comparison: Brandon Montour. Akey's a puck-transitioning defenseman that plays an offensive game from the blueline, able to make stellar passes to setup plays from the point, while also holding his own in terms of defense.
46. Nashville [from Pittsburgh]: Gavin McCarthy, D
In the past, they've shown a liking towards American defenders. If Gavin McCarthy's there, he may be of service to them. A coveted right-handed shot, he could be someone that surprises and goes early if a team likes the tools in his game.
Comparison: Damon Severson. Coming from an athletic, military background, teams will surely love that fact and could be willing to take an early chance on him. He's got great physicality and physical tools, while also having some shooting skill.
47. Nashville: Jesse Kiiskinen, RW
They've been open to drafting Finns the past few years. They could take a chance on Kiiskinen, who's got good potential to be a middle-six offensive winger with some goal-scoring skill. If he has a good U18 tournament, there's a small chance he could find himself jumping into first round consideration.
Comparison: Kyle Palmieri. A relentlessly effective forechecker and goal-scoring offensive winger, Kiiskinen's got the potential to become a secondary scoring threat at the pro level.
48. Calgary: Etienne Morin, D
Needing more defensie in their system, they turn towards the Q, a league they've drafted from in previous history. Morin could be an offensive defenseman for them, shining their blueline up nicely, giving them an offensive defender with tools to work with.
Comparison: Kevin Shattenkirk. Morin's an offensive defenseman that has high upside. Whether he reaches it or not remains to be seen, but there's no denying his talent and level of skill.
49. Florida: Caden Price, D
The Panthers d-core has taken a hit in recent years. Things are so dire that it almost cost them the playoffs. In adding Price, they take someone whom they feel has first round level of talent and who could be close to making the jump and competing. He just needs to get some refinement.
Comparison: TJ Brodie. With a late birthday and plenty of skating talent, Price still has a lot of development to do. That said, if his development path went quickly, he could totally turn into a mobile, two-way puck mover.
50. New York Islanders: Koehn Ziemmer, RW
At this point, he's 100% the best player available. He'd give the Islanders someone that works in the danger areas and can be a goal scoring threat. He feels like someone that'd fit well within the confines of the game the Islanders want to play.
Comparison: Jake Debrusk. Ziemmer's a complementay style of goal scoring winger that can work along the boards and in front of the net, whacking home pucks and firing shots from in-close.
51. Seattle [from Winnipeg]: Tanner Molendyk, D
Coming off a hot playoff performance, Molendyk might be someone that jumps up draft boards. The Kraken snag him here, loving his puck movement skill and overall speed, feeling he's got potential to be a two-way puck mover.
Comparison: Andy Greene. Depending on how well he develops, Molendyk could potentially turn into a well-rounded, extremely mobile two-way defenseman. His skating is amongst the best in the draft and he could make it solely on that alone.
52. Chicago [from Tampa Bay]: Jayden Perron, RW/LW
Perron's lack of size is probably going to knock him into the 2nd/3rd round. However, with the Blackhawks on the hunt for talent, they'd be wise to scoop him up here, knowing full well that he's coming from the neary Chicago Steel organization.
Comparison: Mats Zuccarello. Perron's an impressive, yet undersized, talented playmaking winger with smart reads and overall two-way skill. His lack of size might hold him back, but there's a lot of talent in his small frame.
53. Seattle: Jacob Fowler, G
Despite grabbing Niklas Kokko in the 2nd round of last year's draft, they could swing on another goalie here in the 2nd, due to their plethora of draft picks. If Fowler's available, they may love his game, as his play has him shooting up draft boards. With goalies, it's always risky, though, so who knows.
Comparison: John Gibson. While Fowler's a project, he comes with a bevy of technical skill and upside. He's put up excellent numbers this year and the size that teams covet from their goalies.
54. Minnesota: Theo Lindstein, D
Once again, they're drafting out of Sweden. This time, they could take Lindstein, if he's still there. He's been rated as a first round eligible defender in the past, but has had troubles with consistency, thus dropping him down the board somewhat.
Comparison: Henri Jokiharju. He's likely more of a mobile, shutdown style of defenseman at the pro level. Nevertheless, he's still a good passer and can help in the transition of pucks back into the offensive zone.
55. Los Angeles: Trey Augustine, G
After trading away their longtime former #1, Jonathan Quick, they could do well by taking the Quick'iest goalie in the draft, who is, in my opinion, Trey Augustine. It'd allow them to groom him as their goalie of the future, letting their already strong current core develop in front of him.
Comparison: Jonathan Quick. He's a lot like Quick, both in terms of flexibility, athleticism and even size. Will he have the same type of career accolades? It remains to be seen, but he's a nice project they can build upon.
56. Dallas: Lenni Hameenaho, RW
In the past, they've done quite well with drafting Finns. They could certainly swoop in and grab Hameenaho, if he's still there. He'd probably fit in quite well with what Dallas has been trying to put together, making him a valuable middle-six winger.
Comparison: Jakob Silfverberg. To me, he probably turns out something akin to what Silfverberg has been to Anaheim though the years. Not a huge scoring threat, but he can get the job done through his shot. He's got good instincts and his two-way skills make him able to play multiple roles.
57. Seattle [from Toronto]: Nico Myatovic, RW/LW
Again, they head back to the Seattle Thunderbirds. This time, they grab the big power winger, Myatovic, who's boosted his stock to find himself within the top 64. He seems like the type of winger they'd like to add and with him playing locally, it just makes more sense.
Comparison: Nick Paul. Myatovic may never find himself to be a big-time scorer. He's more likely to be a guy that works bottom-nine, getting shuffled around, allowing his above average stick work and defensive skill to help play the game.
58. New Jersey: Anton Wahlberg, C/RW
Wahlberg at this point would fill a need for players that can play on the interior; along with a need for more center depth. If he's someone a team went off-the-board for from picks #25-40, it wouldn't shock me, either.
Comparison: Carl Soderberg. Wahlberg's a projectable talent that plays with a bulldog-like mentality. He can play a physical game, while simultaneously showing good two-way ability and some skill.
59. Carolina: Arttu Karki, D
They've held Finns in high regards in past drafts. They could take a chance on the high-offense Finnish defenseman, Arttu Karki. He could be someone counted on to provide points and offene from their blueline, enabling him to develop overseas before bringing him over.
Comparison: Juuso Valimaki. Maybe something like Valimaki can be his upside. He's got decent size, can be an offensive catalyst and moves pucks well. He could use some seasoning, but there's potential there.
60. Minnesota [from Vegas]: William Whitelaw, RW/LW
They're a very analytics-driven team. If someone like Judd Brackett things Whitelaw could make a good addition, they could certainly target him in this area. Plus he's a Minnesota kid, so that's a good, wholesome story, as well.
Comparison: Cam Atkinson. Lack of height and size will be a detriment to his draft positioning; however, his offensive ability more than makes up for it. Once he learns to use his teammates and play within a system, he could become a lethal scoring winger with upside and a fierce winning attitude.
61. New York Rangers: Martin Misiak, RW/C
This tenacious Slovakian forward's been mixing it up in the USHL for te Youngstown Phantoms this year. He seems like the type of player they'd scout heavily and probably even love, fitting well within the system they've been trying to play.
Comparison: Josh Anderson. In terms of style, there's a bit of Anderson's relentless, fearless style of power game. He goes fast and hard to the net, scores goals a bunch of ways, even if it's via deflection and comes to play every single time he steps onto the ice.
62. Edmonton: Coulson Pitre, RW
They traded Reid Schaefer away from their prospect pool. I'd suspect they replace him with a similar type of power winger. One such case is Coulson Pitre, who's someone that can do a little bit of everything, which would be perfect for Oilers's playoff runs.
Comparison: Alex Killorn. At his best, he's probably something like an Alex Killorn. Probably not the most skilled, but a guy that can get the job done, fight for pucks and be a workhorse.
63. Anaheim [from Colorado]: Jakub Dvorak, D
He's a 6'5" defenseman, so he COULD go higher. On the other hand, injuries did a number on his season and it could have limited viewings of him, resulting in him falling to the bottom of the 2nd. I'm sure the Ducks would be glad to take him if he's still there.
Comparison: Scott Mayfield. He's your prototypical big bodied shutdown defenseman. He moves well for his size, can step up and lay the body, uses his long reach to disrupt play, etc.. He'll be someone counted on heavily to kill penalties.
64. Anaheim [from Boston]: Mathieu Cataford, RW/LW
As per usual, they pilfer talent from the QMJHL. This time, it's Mathieu Cataford, who still finds himself on the board. He'd probably be a nice depth forward for them, especially if they want to build a "winning team".
Comparison: Robby Fabbri. Cataford could be something like a Rabby Fabbri for the team that selects him. Despite lacking in size, he's got talent to be a netfront presence, works hard to produce and can be counted on to be a depth, bottom-nine producer.
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ROUND 3
65. Anaheim: Jakub Stancl, LW
For their next selection, they could go off the board a little and grab a Czech forward with some size and physicality. If he does well at the U18's, Stancl could legitimize himself as a potential top 100 draft pick, which the Ducks are quick to jump on.
Comparison: Oskar Sundkvist. Stancl's got a bulldog-like mentality while in a very strong, physical frame. He can play a two-way game that allows him to bulldoze his way to the net, working hard on the ice to cause turnovers with his strength.
66. Columbus: Brady Cleveland, D
His combination of size, physicality and skating probably has Cleveland in contention for a top 2 round selection. If he falls into the third, perhaps a team such as Columbus, who could still use a few good defensemen, would be willing to add him.
Comparison: Brayden McNabb. He's big, mobile and physical. He may not have much in terms of offense; it's what he does defensively, with his physicality, that'll make him stand out.
67. Chicago: Cameron Allen, D
Coming into the season, he was hailed as a verified first round prospect. The bad news, unfortunately, is that he was quite unsteady this year, resulting in him plummeting down draft lists. If the Hawks are smart, they'd take him here and hope he can turn things around next season.
Comparison: Mackenzie Weegar. Allen isn't the biggest, nor is he a defensive stalwart. He's a puck-mover with some physicality in his game, along with a big shot that he can get on net, which is what made him so dangerous in the first place. A rebound season may be in his future.
68. Nashville [from San Jose]: David Edstrom, C
Edstrom's a 6'3" center with some smart two-way skills. It seems too difficult for the Preds to pass on at this point, hoping it'll give them more depth down the middle. Whether he develops or not remains to be seen, but he's coming from a good program.
Comparison: Eetu Luostarinen. Blessed with fantastic hockey senses and all-around skill, Edstrom can set teammates up with good passing skills and awareness. He's someone that may potentially play in a middle-six some day.
69. Montreal: Adam Gajan, G
Their quest to find goaltending depth starts by taking whomever is best on the board at this selection. If Gajan is there, he'd be perfect, as he already comes equipped with the Slovakia tie-in. The overage goalie impressed mightily at the World Juniors in December/January, so he could even be someone that goes in the 2nd round.
Comparison: Frederik Andersen. Gajan's got the great size, stamina and calm demeanor of the modern day starter. He's shown great athleticism, moves well with his legs and has the size needed to block out pucks.
70. Arizona: Tristan Bertucci, D
Voted as the 2nd most improved player in the OHL this past season, Bertucci's late-season play likely has him leaping up draft lists. The Flint defenseman would be a huge boost to Arizona's defensive depth, with the Coyotes hoping he can continue his developmental path.
Comparison: Cody Ceci. Right now, something like Ceci would be an optimal upside for him. A two-way kid, with a bomb from the point, who's able to play a well-rounded, solid game.
71. Philadelphia: Andrew Strathmann, D
Strathmann may be a little chaotic, but he brings good upside if they hit on him. The offense he can bring to the Flyers' blueline is immense, it just depends on if he can reel in the rest of his game. He's been playing for the Youngstown Phantoms, which they've been known to draft from in previous years. It could be an easy pick for them to make.
Comparison: Shayne Gostisbehere. An all-out offensive defenseman, Strathmann can be a powerplay quarterback, even with his lack of size. Defensively, he needs work, with his game mostly being in the offense he produces.
72. Arizona [from Washington]: Andrew Gibson, D
Probably the highest rating defenseman left on the board. They grab him here in order to bolster their blueline. For 72nd overall, it's a valued pickup, with Arizona liking his combination of size and skating.
Comparison: Connor Murphy. Gibson's big, he's mobile, he can move pucks and he can bring an ounce of physicality. He's raw, but he's got a lot of tools, which bodes well for him.
73. Detroit: Noah Dower Nilsson, LW
They drafted his brother, Liam. They may as well reunite the two and select Noah, who's been all over the board this year. Often, at times, he was thought of as a first round prospect; but he dipped a little. If they snare him here, they'd be happy.
Comparison: Tyler Toffoli. He's a cerebral player, who doesn't "wow" with flash. Instead, he's an offensive winger that can step in, strip opponents of pucks, use his stickhandling to take goalies off-balance and puts pucks in the net.
74. St. Louis: Quinton Burns, D
Burns feels like a player that'd go quite well within the Blues system. He plays fast and hard, while also works well in transition. He could be someone that helps fill out their blueline depth.
Comparison: Alexander Romanov. Burns is a well-rounded, athletic defender with good athleticism and physical tools. He hits hard, puts up points in a depth role and can work in multiple roles.
75. Vancouver: Aram Minnetian, D
Going back to American ranks, Minnetian feels like someone the Canucks could find interesting. He plays on the right-handed side, filling a role they'd like filled. At minimum, it helps build their blueline a little more.
Comparison: Nate Schmidt. He comes across as a puck-transitional defenseman, who likely fills a depth role, while working a 2nd wave powerplay.
76. St. Louis [from Ottawa]: Noel Nordh, LW/RW
Nordh would fit the style of "big, heavy" wingers that helped win them the Cup a few years ago. They may opt to take him here, hoping he can fulfill a similar role moving forward, even if he's only working in a depth role.
Comparison: Patrick Maroon. Nordh's a power winger that does the little things to help win games. He may not be the most talented, he does work hard, go to the net and plays a complementary style of game that works well with talented players.
77. Vegas [from Buffalo]: Danny Nelson, LW
Nelson fits well with Vegas like in their players, especially in terms of size. He might make a good fit here. Thanks to his combination of size and shooting, he's got some projectability in his game.
Comparison: Taylor Raddysh. Probably not a speed burner, his game will be about using his size to shield pucks, along with using his good shooting skill to wire shots on net.
78. Los Angeles [from Pittsburgh]: Easton Cowan, RW
Cowan plays a hard and fast style of game that the Kings usually tend to love. He might be a good fit for them here, giving them more depth on their wings. He's coming from a really solid London Knights program and has really turned it on the in latter half of the year.
Comparison: Dillon Dube. Undersized, Cowan is a speed demon that fights like hell for pucks. He comes at you hard and fast, making life difficult for opposing defenses, while also playing a solid two-way game.
79. Nashville: Luca Cagnoni, D
Hoping to add more skill to their blueline, the Preds aim their targets at Cagnoni. Undersized, yet skilled, his lack of height will likely restrict him from going too high. Fortunately, he has plenty of skill to make up for it.
Comparison: Calen Addison. He's a defenseman that tends to gamble offensively, leaning hard into playing a consistent offensive brand of hockey from the point, both for better and for worse.
80. Columbus [from Calgary]: Zach Nehring, RW
With a bunch of skilled guys coming in, namely Connor Bedard, they could grab a few big wingers to help insulate him. He's coming from prep school hockey, so he's under the radar, with a smart drafting team selecting him, liking his physical tools.
Comparison: Mason Marchment. If placed in the correct development path, Nehring could turn into a complementary power winger that can throw his body around, go to the high danger areas and can do the heavy lifting on a skill line.
81. Philadelphia [from Florida]: Alex Ciernik, LW/RW
If they're looking to add speed to their lineup, Ciernik would be a great addition. The Slovakian winger would add some depth scoring and skill to their core, possibly even finding himself selected in the first 2 rounds, if a team really likes him.
Comparison: Matias Macelli. Ciernik's got blazing speed and the swift hands of a playmaker. He can potentially develop into a depth playmaking winger that uses his skating to produce.
82. Arizona [from New York Islanders]: Damian Clara, G
Another giant of a goalie, Clara comes from Italian heritage and would give the Coyotes someone in their pipeline they can develop over time. His numbers overseas have been stellar, so there might be something there for them to wait out.
Comparison: Linus Ullmark. He's a giant in the net, who also moves quite well for his size. If developed properly, there could be a big, lanky upside goaltender in waiting.
83. Winnipeg: Carey Terrance, C
His versatility and willingness to battle in the danger areas could be enticing for the Jets, who'd be hard-pressed to pass on him at this slot. He's someone who could go as early as the 2nd round, if a team really likes his pro potential.
Comparison: Andrew Copp. Terrance's game is all about being versatile and working extremely hard on the ice. His ability to play center or wing makes him even more valuable, allowing a team to plug him into many roles.
84. Nashville [from Tampa Bay]: Aydar Suniev, LW
No strangers from drafting players from the BCHL, the Preds jump on Suniev, who's been putting up excellent numbers in that league. Granted the competition may be weaker, but he's still doing great work. The only thing keeping him from being drafted higher would be his poor skating skill, which, admittedly, needs a lot of work.
Comparison: Yegor Sharangovich. With a good shot, versatility and two-way game, he profiles as a potential middle-six winger. Of course, his lack of foot speed and poor skating could hurt him; but if you get him in the mid-rounds, it's a pretty good selection.
85. Seattle: Ethan Miedema, LW/RW
In order to address size on their wings, the Kraken grab Miedema, who battled inconsistency throughout the year. If he could have found a way to bring a more consistent brand of hockey, he'd be a surefire top 64 talent. Alas, he's still a project.
Comparsion: Zach Sanford. He's got the size teams love, along with the projectability. He'll have to figure out how to get his game together if he wants to make the jump.
86. Anaheim [from Minnesota]: Dylan MacKinnon, D
They grab another big, physical defenseman in order to lock down their defensive depth in the coming years. With Anaheim having a number of offense-first defenseman on the way, adding someone like MacKinnon in a depth role would be a nice suggestion.
Comparison: Arber Xhekaj. MacKinnon's a good skater for his size and he loves to hit and play an old school style of game. He's got a bomb from the point; yet he will likely be a mainstay in his own end, using his speed and strength to shutdown opponents.
87. Buffalo [from Los Angeles]: Matthew Mania, D
It's another blueliner to shore up depth. Mania's been underrated throughout the year, finally breaking out once a coaching change occured. For the 3rd round, he's a good value selection.
Comparison: JJ Moser. Mania's a two-way defenseman that leans into the offensive, puck-movement style of game. He has potential to work a powerplay, while also adding points from the back.
88. Chicago [from Dallas]: Jesse Nurmi, LW
Grabbing a Finn with some hustle and pace in his game, the Blackhawks keeping building up their prospect pool. Nurmi's got potential to be a depth, middle-six winger, which would be fine for the Hawks, who could use anything to help build their pipeline.
Comparison: Brandon Hagel. He put up good numbers over in the Finnish U20 leagues. He works hard and uses his speed to cut to the net in order to produce. He could be the perfect type of Swiss Army Knife forward.
89. Vancouver [from Toronto]: Carter Sotheran, D
His 2nd half was impressive. A team like Vancouver, who could use more defensemen, might be a good landing spot for him. He plays on the right side, which is an area that needs to be filled in. Give him some continued seasoning in the WHL and Vancouver may have something.
Comparison: Andrew Peeke. The Manitoban kid definitely plays a "western" style of hockey. He's got size, physicality, a howitzer of a shot and can be a guy that tries to limit scoring attempts from opposing forwards.
90. Pittsburgh [from New Jersey]: Scott Ratzlaff, G
They need to find a goalie... somewhere. By selecting Ratzlaff, they take someone whom they hope they can mold into their guy of the future. He put up fantastic numbers in both tournament and seasonal play. His main drawback will be his lack of height, which is always a problem for goalies.
Comparison: Jimmy Howard. Not "huge" by any means, Ratzlaff's a guy that's got fast reflexes, responds well to adversity and can come up big when it matters.
91. San Jose [from Carolina]: Alexander Hellnemo, G
They've been avoiding drafting goalies for a while and it's depleted their pool. With things barren in net, it's best they take the best goaltender available -- and it might be Hellnemo, who was passed over last year.
Comparison: Vitek Vanecek. The overage goalie moves well while playing a hybrid style in net. His athleticism and speed could turn him into something like Vanaecek, who has worked himself into a starter's role.
92. Vegas: Cam Squires, RW
A hot playoff and end of season run may have Cam Squires leapfrogging up some lists. It certainly helps that he feels like the type of player that Vegas tends to love.
Comparison: Mathieu Joseph. Squires is your typical hard-working forward that'll work in a complementary role. Probably not the most skilled, flashiest or talented. He's someone that'll do all kinds of hard work in order to produce.
93. Carolina [from New York Rangers: Albert Wikman, D
A dependable defenseman, Wikman could get noticed by the Hurricanes, who quickly snap him off the board, liking his stabilizing play. With the way they develop talent, he may be even able to reach a higher upside than realized.
Comparison: John Marino. Right now, he seems like a simplistic, steady defenseman that makes a good first pass, plays a seamless, positionally sound game and can do all the little things to help win games.
94. Arizona [from Edmonton]: Jaden Lipinski, C/RW
He's an Arizona-born kid. I could definitely see the Coyotes being interested in bringing in local talent. It certainly helps that he's got the size that they've been coveting and is coming off a decent season in the WHL.
Comparison: Nicolas Roy. A responsible, gritty, on-ice leader with two-way skills. He can win faceoffs, block shots, work hard and excels as a bottom-six type of talent.
95. New York Rangers [from Colorado]: Drew Fortescue, D
He's a New York native. As such, the Rangers may hone in on him, thinking he'd make a good pickup for their blueline depth. He's got the size that teams love and could be counted on to become a dependable depth guy.
Comparison: Jacob Middleton. Fortescue's gritty and has solid two-way/shutdown skills. He may not be anything more than a depth guy with high-floor, yet he can get things done in his own end.
96. Boston: Tanner Ludtke, LW/C
It wouldn't be surprising to see them target American-born players. They tend to love taking them. Ludtke's done a splendid job of pushing himself up draft boards after a splendid end of the year, having gone on a scoring tear. With Boston looking for more dept, he seems like a good pickup.
Comparison: Tommy Novak. He's got skill and can be an offensive catalyst from either the wing or center. Let him develop over a period of years and he could turn into a top-nine offensive threat.
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ROUND 4
97. Anaheim: Brad Gardiner, C/LW
It's a depth move for their center position. There's no guarantee he makes it; but if he does, he could fill in a depth role. Worthy of a pick in this range, with Gardiner showing solid improvements in his production this year.
Comparison: Danton Heinen. Gardiner fits the mould as a roleplaying type of forward. He scores goals, he hustles hard, defends well and brings plenty of versatility to plug and play him in any position.
98. Columbus: Alex Pharand, LW
If they go with skill for their first rounders, maybe adding a power forward or two would be a wise decision. In this case, it's Alex Pharand, who had an up and down season in the OHL. In the 4th round, it's a nice selection for depth, even if he's only a bottom line guy.
Comparison: Tanner Jeannot. Pharand's a physical, versatile power winger. He can chip in with some offense and work hard on the ice, using his physicality to try and turn things in his team's favor.
99. Chicago: Luca Pinelli, LW/RW
Eyeing for more talent, the Hawks could target Pinelli here. While he's not the largest player, he brings a ton of energy and scoring ability with each shift. It's players like this that the Hawks could zone in on for their rebuild, hoping someone with enough talent shines through and is part of their new core.
Comparison: Viktor Arvidsson. Like Arvidsson, Pinelli's an undersized ball of energy, who brings good shooting ability and loves to pepper a lot of shots on net. Despite his size, he can buzz around in dangerous areas, making life difficult for goalies.
100. San Jose: Brandon Svoboda, C
There's a Boston University connection here, which could prompt Mike Grier and the scouting team to swoop on in. They seem to want their depth playes to at least have size, so he fits the bill for what they're looking for in multiple ways.
Comparison: Barclay Goodrow. With his play style, propensity for physicality and overall versatility, he could make it in a depth role, in which he could excel.
101. Montreal: Felix Unger Sorum, RW
One of the youngest players in the draft, Sorum could go in the early-to-mid rounds with the Habs liking the extra developmental time you're going to get from him. His birthay is just before the cut-off date, so he's almost an entire year older than some of his fellow draftees, thus it gives them plenty of runway to carve out a path for his career.
Comparison: Gustav Nyquist. A creative and dangerous playmaking winger, Sorum's got good skills and can be a threat when in close to make high-danger cross-crease passes. He's got a skillset that allows him to toy with opponents and can be a weapon on a powerplay.
102. Arizona: Luke Mittelstadt, D
A few years ago, they took double-overager Janis Moser with a pick. This time, they go for another double-overager in Luke Mittelstadt, Casey's younger brother. He's fresh off an impressive performance at the NCAA Frozen Four tournament, where he does what he does best -- moving pucks.
Comparison: Alexandre Carrier. I'd probably pin him as a smart, mobile, puck-moving defenseman. He does well at moving pucks, but can also keep things safe in his own zone, keeping things swift and in momentum back up the ice.
103. Philadelphia: Isac Hedqvist, LW
A skilled, talented puck-carrying Swede, Hedvist is someone that could go anywhere from the 4th round and beyond. In the past, they've taken some Swedish talent they've had their eyes on. I'm not sure if they have the same scouting staff, but Hedqvist is still a talented pickup for them at this locale.
Comparison: Phillipp Kurashev. He'd a brilliant playmaking winger that likes to have the puck on his stick; someone who is able to help drive offense from the wing, albeit in a secondary scoring role.
104. Washington: Carsen Musser, G
The Capitals need some goalie depth in their system. Musser might be the best goalie available on the board. They should take him and run, hoping they can turn him into something useful. He's been playing for the USNTDP this past season and developing in Colorado in the near future. They may want to hedge their bets on him for the future.
Comparison: Stuart Skinner. Musser's got starting goalie potential and upside. It just depends on if he can develop or not. If not, there's always a chance he settles as a dependable backup.
105. Vancouver [from Detroit]: Arvid Bergstrom, D
Taking another defender, the Canucks head back to Sweden, an area they've always had luck drafting from. Bergstrom's looked good this year. He's a puck-mover that can do a lot of good things at both ends of the ice. At minimum, it's more depth for their defense, which is what's really needed.
Comparison: Jordan Harris. His game revolves around his skating and puck-movement ability. He's got potential to push through and develop into something useful, he'll just need time.
106. St. Louis: Larry Keenan, D
His grandfather has history of playing for the Blues, thus they select him here, which would make a nice story. Coming from prep school, he'll be going to the University of Massachusetts next season, which should allow him to continue on his developmental path.
Comparison: Jake Walman. Keenan's got a blistering hard shot, skates well, has nice size and can be an asset that works in multiple roles moving forward, all thanks to his tools.
107. Vancouver: Hannes Hellberg, RW/LW
Again, they go back to Sweden. This time, targeting the overage Hellberg, who's been putting up excellent numbers overseas in the J20 leagues. His size and skill combination would make him a thrilling winger to deal with.
Comparison: Oskar Lindblom. He's got excellent shooting and scoring ability; good size and can be a complementary skilled winger.
108. Ottawa: Connor Levis, RW
Liking his size and physicality, a common theme amongst Senators prospects, Levis feels like someone they could turn to in the mid-rounds. His play as a skilled power forward makes him a noteworthy prospect, with Ottawa willing to give him a chance to fortify their wings.
Comparison: Yakov Trenin. He's got decent size, is built like a tank and can work his way to the front of the net to produce points. He can be physical and har to move off pucks, making him a versatile depth winger.
109. Buffalo: Jayson Shaugabay, RW
Shaugabay's a highly skilled winger and the 2023 Mr. Hockey Award winner for Minnesota high school hockey. Even though he's another smaller forward, his tantalizing skill level might be too much to pass on for the Sabres. They roll the dice on him, hoping he can keep developing into a pro-level prospect within the next 3-5 years.
Comparison: Thomas Bordeleau. Due to his lack of size, his fate is up in the air. Maybe he's something like Bordeleau, who is also a fantastic playmaking forward. Maybe he's a career AHL'er. Maybe he becomes a mid-level player. Either way, there's skill there.
110. Montreal [from Pittsburgh]: Juraj Pekarcik, RW
Another young Slovakian might be of intrigue, as they keep buildng "little Slovakia" in Montreal. He was born just before the draft cut-off date, much like their previous selection, Unger Sorum, which intrigues them. He's got good size and he's still growing and developing, so maybe there's something a little more there.
Comparison: Warren Foegele. Pekarcik plays with a high motor, is reliable defensively and can top out as a depth power winger that's relentless on the forecheck.
111. Nashville: Tuomas Uronen, RW
They take another Finn. This time it's the speedster, Tuomas Uronen, in a further attempt to build up their wings. His skating should be effective and could help him turn into an effective third-liner with some scoring ability, who can do a little of everything.
Comparison: Joonas Donskoi. The basis of his game is about using his skating ability to out-hustle and beat opponents to pucks. As such, he can be used in both a scoring role and in a defensive/penalty kill role.
112. Calgary: Matteo Mann, D
Mann's size is going to be his number one drawing point... and maybe he goes higher as a resut. For the Flames, they take him here, drafting once more out of the Q, hoping Mann can become a shutdown force for them at the highest level.
Comparison: Jani Hakanpaa. Mann's a big, physical defenseman that moves well for his size. He works best in a depth role, clearing the crease, doing the hard work to defend, etc..
113. Florida: Oskar Asplund, D
Their desire to add defense burns so strongly that they may want to take a shot at the Swedish overager, Oskar Asplund, who's development has further increase this year. As a result, he's likely to get drafted -- it just depends on the round and if a team really likes him.
Comparison: Sean Durzi. A true offensive defenseman from the point, Asplund moves pucks with great ease, has great vision and has potential to be a middle-pairing puck mover. Like Durzi, he's also an overager that likely goes in their D+1 year.
114. New York Islanders: Rasmus Kumpulainen, RW/C
His size and versatility would be a major boost for the Islanders's core. He feels like someone the Isles could be fond of, often playing as a coach's dream as someone you can throw out there in any situation. They'd like his size, as well.
Comparison: Juuso Parssinen. Thanks to his size, versatility and scoring accument, he's got potential to be a do-it-all type of forward that can slide into any position, including center, working powerplays, etc. to try and find victory for his teams.
115. Columbus [from Winnipeg]: Lucas Lagerberg, D
Due to being buried on the depth chart, Lagerberg was passed over last draft. This year, the hard-shooting defenseman probably gets drafted. He seems like a player the Jackets could gamble on in the mid-to-late rounds, so he could fall here.
Comparison: Jake Walman. He's a hard-shooting defenseman with passable size. He was one of the leaders of scoring on his team and can fire off plenty of shots from the backend.
116. Tampa Bay: Sawyer Mynio, D
If they want to bolster their blueline, they probably can't go wrong with Mynio, who's been working hard throughout the year -- especially in the latter half-- to boost his stock. Tampa's taken some western kids in the past, so someone such as Mynio wouldn't be out of the ordinary.
Comparison: Nick Jensen. Keeps things calm and simple. He moves pucks pretty well and he's defensively solid. Profiles as a solid depth defenseman that could slot in from a #4-6 role.
117. Seattle: Yegor Sidorov, RW
Unnecessarily passed over last year, Sidorov continued to explode offensively this season. His strong, compact body allows him to fire pucks at will, regularly lighting the lamp. The Belarussian winger is already playing in North America, so it should be a fast and easy transition for him to get into the Kraken's organization.
Comparison: Oliver Bjorkstrand. Sidorov's a pure shooter that's as strong as an ox. Despite being average sized and non-flashy, he fights his way to the front of the net to fire off quick shots and can work hard along the boards to be a menace for opposing teams.
118. Detroit [from Minnesota]: Kristian Kostadinski, D
Needing some physicality for their blueline, they could venture back to Sweden, where they've taken a few kids in previous years. Kostadinski's all about dropping bodies and has good size, which might make him fit like a glove for the Red Wings.
Comparison: Derek Forbort. At a height of 6'5", Kostadinski's a big, physical blueliner that likes to line opponents up for thunderous big hits. He's someone that'll make his bread and butter in his own defensive end.
119. Los Angeles: Hugo Hell, D
He's another kid whose birthday is late, coming just before the cutoff date, meaning he's got more time for development. They'd be willing to grab him here, keep him overseas for a few years and watch how he progresses, hoping he can blossom into a workable piece.
Comparison: Nils Lundkvist. His ability to move and pass pucks will be a welcome presence for any team. He's got good skating and likely aspires to be a puck-transitioning defenseman.
120. Dallas: Joey Willis, LW
The Stars tend to draft a lot from the OHL. If someone like Willis is there, they may look to select hin, thinking he'd make a good investment for further down the line. He put respectable numbers in both seasonal and playoff play for Sagina, which gives them hope for the future.
Comparison: Alex Kerfoot. He's an intelligent, two-way, playmaking forward with skill at both sides of the ice.
121. Nashville [from Toronto]: Austin Burnevik, RW
Burnevik's size and physicality would be a welcome add here in the 4th round for Nashville, who tend to gravitate towards American talent. His strength and toughness would be a good depth acquisition, allowing him to open space for their skilled guys.
Comparison: Nathan Bastian. Burnevik's big, physical and can lean on smaller forwards to make them pay when they're on the ice. More of a depth guy, he could find a home in a bottom-six/bottom line, working hard and bringing leadership.
122. New Jersey: Zeb Fjorsfjall, RW/LW
The Devils love making these sneaky good mid-round picks from Sweden. Fjorsfall seems like "their type" of guy, even if he is an undersized guy. His lack of height likely has him dropping further than he should; but I feel like a savvy team like the Devils could select him.
Comparison: Tomas Tatar. Bringing plenty of energy to any lineup, he's someone that can add offense to a lineup by buzzing around and trying to create space. It's no guarantee he makes it, but there's a base to work on with him.
123. Carolina: Denver Barkey, C/LW
Again, the Hurricanes straight up select a player they love, who probably scores well in terms of analytics. Barkey's coming from a London Knights team that develops talent quite well. Even though he's undersized, he could develop into a very useful forward.
Comparison: Yanni Gourde. Even though he's vastly undersized, Barkey's got a high talent level, even if he has to transfer to the wing to display it. He's feisty and constantly battles, working hard at both sides of the rink to come out on top.
124. Montreal [from Vegas]: Jordan Tourigny, D
You could definitely make a case for him as the "best player available" at this point. You could also make a case for the Habs wanting to "go local". You could even make a case for him reuniting him with his brother, Miguel. Either way, he could become a point producing defenseman for the Habs.
Comparison: Erik Gustafsson. Tourigny's a smaller defenseman that brings skill from the backend. His game revolves around puck movement, making quick plays and smooth-skating with/without the puck.
125. Vancouver [from New York Rangers]: Emil Jarventie, LW
Coming into the year, he was thought of as a first rounder. Unfortunately, he hasn't lived up to expectations and now finds himself in the latter portion of the 4th round, where the Canucks could take a chance on him.
Comparison: Andrew Mangiapane. He's got good speed, loves shooting a lot and has the potential to be a secondary scoring threat at the very top level (just as long as he can get his consistency under wrap).
126. Philadelphia [from Edmonton]: Charlie Cerrato, LW
Using his speed to wreak havoc, Cerrato would be an excellent pickup for the Flyers. He's headed to an impressive program next year and they can leave him there to grow in the coming years. He's someone that, even if he's just a 4th liner, they can use to cause danger with his skating alone.
Comparison: Carl Hagelin. Cerrato is like a speeding bullet when on the ice. He takes off at a second's notice, able to rocket himself up and down the rink at record pace.
127. San Jose [from Colorado]: Beckett Hendrickson, LW
Considering the type of players the Sharks have been interested in under Mike Grier's reign, Hendrickson's the type of player the Sharks might take a chance on. As someone that can work hard, battle for pucks and can be a defensively sound presence, he's someone that can play a depth role to complement their highly offensive forwards.
Comparison: Colton Sissons. Hendrickson's a hard-working winger that can work on creating turnovers and battles hard to help his team win games. He goes to the rough areas and can kill penalties, play physical and could excel in a bottom-six role.
128. Boston: Jonathan Castagna, LW/C
Coming from Canadian prep school hockey and headed to either the BCHL or Cornell University next year, the Bruins likely have gotten plenty of reports about him. He's the kind of kid that would probably go over well in their system and someone their scouting staffs tend to love.
Comparison: Dominik Kubalik. To me, he reads a lot like Kubalik. He's a shooter that likes to battle for net-front presence and uses his size to fight for positioning.
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Notable names missing the cut: Roman Kantserov, Timur Mukhanov, Jake Fisher, Hoyt Staney, Cooper Foster, Mazden Leslie, Alexande Rykov, Angus MacDonnell, Ty Halaburda, Adam Dybal, Michael Hagens, etc.
(no tl, dr summary this time. will include it in my final mock, though. sorry!)
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