spfan
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- May 4, 2009
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These are not predictions. This is how I would pick if I were each team.
1. Montreal Canadiens - C Shane Wright 6'0" 199lbs
OHL 63GP 32G 62A 94pts
He's been the #1 ranked player all year. Nothing changes. After high expectations, people were a little critical on his season, especially in the first half. But had a stronger 2nd half. Also had a very good U-18's. He's got pretty high upside, but also is a very safe pick. So this is a no brainer pick. Wright is a good skater, has a good shot and a good playmaker as well. He's also a very adept two-way player. With Kotkaniemi long gone, there's a big hole in the middle position and Wright could easily fill that. He's got #1 center upside and could be a big franchise difference maker. He's not McDavid, but he could be a #1 center in the same vein as a Bergeron or Toews. He's NHL ready, so he'll step into the Habs lineup right away.
Comparisons: Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews
2. New Jersey Devils - LW Juraj Slafkovsky 6'4" 218lbs
Liiga 31GP 5G 5A 10pts
He's been high ranked all year, but he really showed he could score at a high level in the Olympics and World Championships and that gets him taken 2nd overall. With Hughes, Hischer and others to play Center already, NJ needs some players to play along side them. Slafkovsky is huge already, so that makes him more NHL ready already. But combined with his size, he's got pretty good skating and a high offensive ceiling. He's being compared to Rantanen, who is 1 of the best wingers in the league, so you know the upside is there. Due to his size, he's very hard to knock off the puck. He's not necessarily a power forward in that he's going to be bulldozing players, but he does play a power winger game. But also as skilled as smaller players too. He's a solid playmaker, but definitely more of a goal scorer. NJ should be set up for a while with all the young talent they have and now adding another very talented young player.
Comparisons: Mikko Rantanen, Patrik Laine
Alternate picks: Simon Nemec, Logan Cooley
3. Arizona Coyotes - C Logan Cooley 5'10" 180lbs
USHL 24GP 13G 23A 36pts
Arizona fell in the draft lottery, but they get exactly who they need anyways. Now Arizona does need just about everything, but you typically build down the middle and Cooley has #1 Center upside. The only thing he lacks is a bit of size, but he's not too terribly small and the NHL is not what it used to be. He could stand to put on some more muscle for the future, but he's very skilled to make up for that and is a good skater. Definitely arguably the most skilled player in the draft, but also owns a pretty good defensive game as well. He's not too dissimilar to Wright. He's got a decent shot and has very good hands and a creative playmaker. He'll be spending at least 1 year in the NCAA before making the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: Patrick Kane, Sebastion Aho
Alternate picks: Simon Nemec, Matthew Savoie
4. Seattle Kraken - D Simon Nemec 6'1" 192lbs
Slovakia 39GP 1G 25A 26pts
Seattle fell in the draft lottery as well, but this works out very well for them. Easy pick. BPA and fills their biggest need. RHD are quite coveted and Seattle definitely needs one. They got their #1 Center in Beniers last year. So very good drafting so far for the new Franchise. Nemec's draft stock went up some as the season went on. He's mostly regarded as the consensus top d-man. He's got solid size. Skates quite well. And has pretty high upside. Defensively, he's not as good, but he's not one dimensional. Has #1 upside. Plays against men already, so should help with his transition to the NHL eventually. Probably 1-2 years away.
Comparisons: John Carlson, John Klingberg
Alternate picks: David Jiricek, Matthew Savoie
5. Philadelphia Flyers - D David Jiricek 6'3" 190lbs
Czech 29GP 5G 6A 11pts
Here's where the draft opens up more. Philly could go quite a few ways. But they've struggled defensively for a while and they need to give better support for their young goalie in Hart. Ristolainen hasn't worked out well so far. Ellis missed most of the season. So they definitely could use the coveted RHD. Jiricek especially is the type of d-man they need. While he does have pretty good offensive potential, he is more of a physical, shut down d-man. He's got good size, just needs to continue filling out that frame. As he gets even stronger, he'll be very hard to play against. He also skates well. He's got a powerful shot from the point. He's got top pairing upside. He's already playing against men, so he's not too far from NHL ready. He should be able to make the jump in 2 years. Only somewhat question mark was his knee injury that he suffered in the U-20 WJC.
Comparisons: Jacob Trouba, Charlie McAvoy
Alternate picks: Matthew Savoie, Joakim Kemell
6. Columbus Blue Jackets - C Matthew Savoie 5'9" 179lbs
WHL 65GP 35G 55A 90pts
Thanks to Chicago, CBJ get a high pick. There's definitely options here, but they just go BPA here. After getting Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger last year, they really added some good young forward prospects. Both could be Centers in the long term, but adding another ensures they will definitely have at least 1 really good Center for the future. And can shift 1 or 2 to wing if need be. Savoie's stock dropped a little, but maybe more due to others having their stock rise, as Savoie still put up a pretty impressive season. 1 knock is his size, but more so his height. He's got a decent build already for his height. And as previously stated, the NHL is faster now, with not as much emphasis on size. Defensively, Savoie could improve. But upside and skill wise, he's 1 of the best of the whole Draft. Very dynamic, good skating, skilled playmaker and owns a pretty good shot too. Don't need to rush him to the NHL, but could be ready in 1-2 years.
Comparisons: Brayden Point, Mathew Barzal
Alternate picks: Joakim Kemell, Brad Lambert
7. Chicago Blackhawks - RW Joakim Kemell 5'9" 185lbs
Liiga 39GP 15G 8A 23pts
His draft stock went up really high in the first half of the season when he was putting up great numbers, but then he slowed down and his stock came back down to essentially where it was originally. Another high end, very skilled forward. A little more boom or bust type. But his upside is very high. A bit of a smaller forward, but not a huge concern. Despite the lack of size, he doesn't shy away from physical play. And is quite solidly built for his height already. He's arguably the best goal scorer in the draft. Playing against men already, so that could help him transition to the NHL better. He'll be a couple of years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Alex Debrincat, Jeff Skinner
Alternate picks: Brad Lambert, Cutter Gauthier
8. Detroit Red Wings - C/RW Brad Lambert 6'0" 183lbs
Liiga 49GP 4G 6A 10pts
Here's 1 of the x-factors of the draft. Once thought of as a top 3 pick. He's saw his stock drop quite a bit after not producing as expected in Liiga. Even switching teams didn't help. He did however shine at the U-20 WJC. Unfortunately the tournament was cut short. So maybe just some bad luck this year. But if we're talking skill and upside, he's as good as anyone. There is some question if he could be a Center in the NHL, but if he pans out as a big point producing winger, that's not bad either. He's maybe the best skater in the whole draft as well. His playmaking is very high end too. His shot could use some work though. Defensively, he's not great, but due to his speed, he can cause turnovers and is good at stripping pucks. Next year will probably be very telling if his stock drop was for good reason or if he should've always been a very high pick. He'll need 2-3 years before making the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Mathew Barzal
Alternate picks: Cutter Gauthier, Danila Yurov
9. Buffalo Sabres - C/LW Cutter Gauthier 6'2" 200lbs
USHL 22GP 19G 9A 28pts
Gauthier is someone that saw his draft stock rise quite a lot as the year went on, especially late in the season. Eichel is gone and having picked 2 d-man 1st overall recently, they look to continue adding pieces to their forward core. There's a few ways they could go, but Gauthier makes sense. He's versatile and can play C or LW. Though he'll be playing Center in the NCAA next year. But it gives Buffalo options at least. Gauthier has good upside, but also is a safe pick. He does it all. He's got size, good skater, solid defensively and 1 of the best goal scorers of this Draft. With his size and a well rounded player, he won't be too far off from being NHL ready. Could be ready in 1-2 years.
Comparisons: JT Miller, Sam Bennett
Alternate picks: Danila Yurov, Jonathan Lekkerimaki
10. Anaheim Ducks - RW Danila Yurov 6'1" 179lbs
MHL 23GP 13G 23A 36pts
Anaheim could go many ways, but they go with Yurov, who has pretty high upside, but also seems like a safe pick talent wise. Only negative really is the Russian factor, but in particular this year due to what's going on outside of hockey. Anaheim has seemingly filled out their top 2 centers already in Zegras and McTavish, so they add a talented winger for 1 of them. He's got a decent frame, so he'll be able to gain more mass. He's got good puck control and is hard to knock off the puck. Like a lot of Russians, he's a skilled player. Good shot and good playmaking abilities. But he's a better well rounded player than typical highly touted Russians. As already mentioned, there is the outside of hockey stuff, so may be a bit of wait for him, but no need to rush him anyways. He'll continue to develop more in the KHL. He didn't get any points in his semi-short KHL stint. But it's very hard for young players there to get much ice time. He produced well in the MHL and other leagues. The KHL should serve him well over the next few years before he makes the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: David Perron, Pavel Buchnevich
Alternate picks: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Pavel Mintyukov
11. San Jose Sharks - RW Jonathan Lekkerimaki 5'11" 172lbs
SHL 26GP 7G 2A 9pts
Lekkerimaki has saw his draft stock rise quite a bit in this late stretch. This pick makes a lot of sense. SJ took Eklund last year and Lekkerimaki plays with him. 2 young Swedish stars developing together. Lekkerimaki is also a different player, so they could be quite a dynamic duo for years to come. He is 1 of best goal scorers in the draft. His stats might not look great on paper, but for a 17 year old in the SHL, it's harder to get prime minutes. He does lack in size, so he will need to get stronger. He also needs to continue to work on the defensive side of things. His upside is pretty high though due to his shot. He's got top 6 upside. He'll be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: David Pastrnak, Victor Olofsson
Alternate picks: Pavel Mintyukov, Denton Mateychuk
12. Columbus Blue Jackets - D Pavel Mintyukov 6'1" 194lbs
OHL 67GP 17G 45A 62pts
CBJ are on the board again and this time they grab a d-man. Jones may be gone, but this could really solidify a young d-core. After Nemec and Jiricek, there's somewhat of a gap between the next d-man. But Mintyukov has pretty high upside. And not a big risk either. He's got pretty good size, good offensively and solid defensively and will play physical. He's got really good skating as well. Now Mintyukov is Russian, but he's been playing in the OHL, so there's not much risk there. He's a likely top 4 d-man. And could even be a #2 or #3 d-man. He'll be 2-3 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Josh Morrissey, Devon Toews
Alternate picks: Denton Mateychuk, Ivan Miroshnichenko
13. New York Islanders - D Denton Mateychuk 5'10" 194lbs
WHL 65GP 13G 51A 64pts
NYI look to solidify their top 4 d-core with this pick. Mateychuk-Dobson Pelech-Pulock would be a very balanced top 4.
Very similar to Mintyukov. More of an offensive d-man, but not weak defensively. A little smaller than Mintyukov, so he finds himself getting picked below him. Another player that can QB a PP. very good skater. Despite his height, he's well built already. Could struggle to defend bigger forwards, but his size isn't a huge concern. Probably not going to be a #1 d-man. But likely ends up a good 2nd pairing d-man. Will be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Torrey Krug, Tyson Barrie
Alternate picks: Ivan Miroshnichenko, Frank Nazar
14. Winnipeg Jets - C Conor Geekie 6'4" 205lbs
WHL 63GP 24G 46A 70pts
With speculation of Scheifele and maybe even Dubois leaving the Jets, they look for his replacement. Once seen as a top 5 or so pick, Geekie's stock has dropped. Production wasn't amazing. Season and playoffs. Savoie, on the same team, outproduced him by quite a bit. Now points aren't everything of course. But there is a concern in Geekie's skating. Even for a big player, he's on the slow side. But big Centers will always be coveted. He's kind of an X-factor in this draft. His stock dropped, but big Centers are highly coveted. So we could see him go in a wide range of spots. He's a good playmaker though and still has pretty high offensive upside. Skating will definitely need to be improved, especially in todays game. He does have a pretty good two-way game though, so that might make him not so risky of a pick. He could probably carve out a role in the top 9 at the very least. And if everything pans out, he has high upside. He'll need 2-3 years before he's NHL ready.
Comparisons: Ryan Getzlaf, Joe Thornton
Alternate picks: Ivan Miroshnichenko, Frank Nazar
15. Vancouver Canucks - LW Ivan Miroshnichenko 6'1" 185lbs
VHL 31GP 10G 6A 16pts
Now the biggest X-factor of them all. Was looked at as the 2nd best player in the draft at a point. But several factors could make him go anywhere from inside the top 10 to out of the 1st round altogether. Another player with very high expectations who didn't quite deliver. But the biggest thing is he has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. So that can hurt his development, but also just a big health risk altogether. There's also the Russian factor and with everything going on outside of hockey. This makes for a very risky pick, but if you look at his skill and upside, it's very high. He could turn into a top line winger still. And with the Canucks picking at 15, they can afford the risk. There's been trade talks of Miller and even Boeser, so this could be a winger replacement for them long term. Their biggest need is a RHD, but there's none worth selecting here. They also took Podkolzin, another Russian, who was an X-factor in his own right in his draft year too. And the Canucks look like they made the right call there. Miroshnichenko has size, he's a very good skater, overall offensive threat and he even hits too.
Comparisons: Andrei Svechnikov, Max Pacioretty
Alternate picks: Frank Nazar, Kevin Korchinksi
16. Buffalo Sabres - C/RW Frank Nazar 5'10" 180lbs
USHL 24GP 15G 20A 35pts
Thanks to Vegas missing the playoffs, Buffalo has a 2nd relatively high pick. They could use a RHD, but still not 1 in their range. So they continue just picking BPA. Nazar is another versatile American forward. So with who they already have and these 2 picks, they'll surely find a couple of good centers for their future. Unlike Gauthier, Nazar is a smaller player, but he doesn't shy away from getting involved physically. Very good skating, dynamic player. Defensively, he's pretty good as well. Relentless motor type player. Type of player you could put just about anywhere in your top 9. But has the upside of a top 6 forward. Only downside to him is his size, but he's not terribly small. He will need to put on some more muscle though to succeed more at the next level. He'll be 2-3 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Yanni Gourde, Robby Fabbri
Alternate picks: Marco Kasper, Isaac Howard
17. Nashville Predators - D Kevin Korchinski 6'2" 185lbs
WHL 67GP 4G 61A 65pts
Nashville has been known to develop d-men. And they haven't taken 1 in the 1st round since 2016, so it's about time they do. Their d-core is becoming weaker and Josi and Ekholm aren't young anymore. Korchinkski is very much in the group of Mintyukov and Mateychuk, but I just like him slightly less. He's got a solid frame, just needs to fill out more. He's a puck moving d-man. Good skater, nice passing. Defensively, there's definitely room for improvement. But with Nashville's track record, this should be a good fit. He's not the safest pick, but he has pretty high upside. Top 4 potential. Could maybe even be a top pairing d-man if all goes right. He'll be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Cam Fowler, John Klingberg
Alternate picks: Marco Kasper, Jiri Kulich
18. Dallas Stars - LW Isaac Howard 5'9" 180lbs
USHL 27GP 11G 26A 37pts
The Stars don't have any glaring needs, but with Benn having a down year and he's only getting older, Radulov is leaving and Seguin struggling this year too, they could use more scoring. Howard brings exactly that. He's an all offense type player. The other parts of his game are what are questioned. So he is kind of a boom or bust pick, but he has quite high upside. He could be their next Jason Robertson. Size is a bit of a knock on him too, but at 180lbs already, it's not a major concern. Despite players like Cooley, Gauthier, Nazar on his team, Howard actually lead the team in points. And his U-18's were very big for his draft stock. He'll be going to the NCAA next year and we'll see where he's at in 2-3 years. Could maybe use 1 year in the AHL as well, but the wait could be worth it.
Comparisons: Kevin Fiala, David Perron
Alternate picks: Marco Kasper, Liam Ohgren
19. Minnesota Wild - C Marco Kasper 6'1" 187lbs
SHL 46GP 7G 4A 11pts
After the big Fiala trade, the Wild have a big hole to fill. While Kasper is not a Fiala type player, this does cover a top 6 forward spot for the future. The Wild did get Rossi in 2020, but they've always been a team lacking high end centers and forwards in general. While I don't think Kasper has 1C potential and I'm not as high on him as others, I still see a middle six
Center. He's a safe pick, but I'm just not sold on super high upside to take him somewhere in the 10 range, but at this point, he's certainly the arguable BPA. He could be their new Koivu. Kasper has decent size, plays a very well rounded game, including some physicality to his game. He won't wow you with his skill though. His shot is pretty good. He could be NHL ready in 2
or 3 years.
Comparisons: Bo Horvat, Sam Bennett
Alternate picks: Jiri Kulich, Rutger McGroarty
20. Washington Capitals - C/LW Jiri Kulich 5'11" 178lbs
Czech 49GP 9G 5A 14pts
Backstrom is getting older and his future is in doubt, so why not go for a Center for the future. Similar to Howard, Kulich also shined at the U-18's. Size is a slight knock, but not a big deal. He's projected as a safe pick, who can be a 3rd liner at worst, but with his U-18's. he's shown to have more offensive upside. Some see him as a winger, maybe due to being more of a shooter, but with his defensive game, I think he's capable of playing down the middle. Could be a 2C or a 3C down the line, but he'll be a few years away.
Comparisons: Josh Norris, Troy Terry
Alternate picks: Rutger McGroarty, Liam Ohgren
21. Pittsburgh Penguins - C/RW Rutger McGroarty 6'1" 204lbs
USHL 25GP 15G 18A 33pts
An aging team with a weak prospect pool adds a player with a solid floor and pretty good upside. He's already got good size and plays with an edge. He has everything you want. His only knock is his skating, which is important for the NHL, but there has been players that have found success despite their lack of skating/speed. He's a player that could kind of play anywhere in the top 9. If he can improve his skating, he definitely has top 6 upside. Captained the U-18 U.S. team and lead the team in goals. Again, a team that included Cooley, Gauthier, Nazar etc.
Comparisons: Ryan Hartman, Bo Horvat
Alternate picks: Liam Ohgren, Jimmy Snuggerud
22. Anaheim Ducks - LW Liam Ohgren 6'0" 201lbs
SHL 25GP 1G 1A 2pts
Ducks are on the board again and they add another top 6 winger. Zegras and McTavish will be be surrounded with complimentary pieces. Similarly to Yurov, Ohgren is a player that can do everything, but also has skill and top 6 upside. Ohgren is ranked around this range by most, though some really like him, but I think him being at 22 just speaks to the depth of this class more than anything. Another player that shined more in the U-18's, especially since he didn't get prime minutes in the SHL. Safe pick that has good size already and has pretty good upside as well. He'll be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Adrian Kempe, Ondrej Palat
Alternate picks: Owen Pickering, Tristan Luneau
23. St. Louis Blues - D Owen Pickering 6'4" 180lbs
WHL 62GP 9G 24A 33pts
The Blues have a pretty impressive set of forwards, but the defense has become thin, especially with Pietrangelo and Dunn leaving. Pickering is thin now, so he definitely needs to fill out that huge frame, but when he's ready down the line, imagine a pair of Pickering-Parayko. I don't think Pickering is too far off from the 3 d-men above him, so I see top 4 upside in him. He has a bit more questions to him though. Size however is certainly not a concern and despite the size, he's very mobile. He's considered a more raw player, so he could use extra development time. His size and skating helps in the defensive zone, but as already mentioned, he'll need to fill out and get stronger to really be effective at the next level. Offensively, he's pretty good as well. His stats didn't look too impressive, but he was on a very bad WHL team.
Comparisons: Mattias Ekholm, Travis Sanheim
Alternate picks: Lian Bichsel, Tristan Luneau
24. Minnesota Wild - RW Jimmy Snuggerud 6'1" 188lbs
USHL 26GP 6G 20A 26pts
The Wild are on the board again and they add another potential top 6 forward. This is a type of player the Wild like as well. Snuggerud is mostly around this range on most rankings. Some like him a little more, some a little less. Again, with Fiala's absence, the Wild need to help fill that void. Snuggerud has decent size and brings an all around game. He has solid
offensive upside as well. Perhaps in a bigger role, his production will improve even more. He's a safe pick with enough upside to warrant this pick.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs - D Tristan Luneau 6'1" 189lbs
QMJHL 63GP 12G 31A 43pts
Aside from Liljegren, Leafs are kind of bare for RHD. Luneau is a sold pick at this point. He's got decent size and he's a fairly safe pick with decent upside. Only really knock is he doesn't have one stand out attribute. Rather, he's a jack of all trades type of d-man. He projects as a 2nd pairing d-man. Decent shot, solid passing, skates well, but not elite and defends well. He'll be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Brett Pesce, Justin Braun
Alternate picks: Seamus Casey, Lian Bichsel
26. Montreal Canadiens - D Seamus Casey 5'9" 173lbs
USHL 17GP 3G 10A 13pts
Habs are back on the board after grabbing a #1 Center, they look to improve the back end. Similar to Leafs, they also could use a RHD. Unlike Luneau though, this is much more of a boom or bust pick. But I think with 2 picks, Habs can try to swing big this time. The obvious big knock on Casey is his size, especially for a d-man. But with the success of Makar, it's helping the cases of smaller d-man. Not saying he's Makar, but he could have pretty good NHL success, despite his size. Size will limit him some in being able to handle bigger forwards physically at the NHL level, but he skates quite well and uses his stick to defend effectively. He'll need time to gain some more strength and further develop at both ends and the Habs can afford to wait.
Comparisons: Jared Spurgeon, Ryan Ellis
Alternate picks: Lian Bichsel, Ryan Chesley
27. Arizona Coyotes - D Lian Bichsel 6'5" 225lbs
SHL 29GP 1G 2A 3pts
Arizona are back on the board and they look to grab a d-man this time too. Chychrun's future in Arizona is in doubt, so they're going to need some players to help fill that void too. Bichsel is an interesting prospect because he's already massive. He's a more raw prospect in terms of skills though. How much upside does he really have. Due to his size, he could probably carve out an NHL career at least on the 3rd pair. He could be a top 4 d-man though still. His production in the SHL is nothing special, but he still had a steady role against men. Despite his size, he can skate well too. With so many picks, the Coyotes are most likely getting an NHL player here, but also worth gambling on the potentially pretty high upside too.
Comparisons: Brandon Carlo, Brendan Dillon
Alternate picks: Ryan Chesley, Jagger Firkus
28. Buffalo Sabres - D Ryan Chesley 6'0" 201lbs
USHL 26GP 5G 10A 15pts
The Sabres are on the board for the 3rd time now and after grabbing 2 forwards, they grab a d-man this time. Also would be the 3rd member of the USNTDP team that they draft. They've got Dahlin and Power on the left side, so here they grab a potential partner for them. A bit similar to Bichsel, Chesley projects more as a safer, defensive d-man, but has some offensive upside too. He won't be running your PP, but he will be a dependable Penalty killer. Blocking shots and playing physical. He does skate well too. Good size already.
Comparisons: Chris Tanev, Adam Larsson
Alternate picks: Calle Odelius, Lane Hutson
29. Edmonton Oilers - C/RW Filip Mesar 5'9" 174lbs
Slovakia 37GP 8G 8A 16pts
Some debate if he could play Center at the NHL level, but with Edmonton, you wouldn't need him to be. Rumors of Puljujarvi being out, so they add a winger to compliment their superstars. Mesar is on the smaller side, so he would need to get stronger to better handle the NHL in the future. Mesar is 1 of the more skilled players in the draft. Defensively, he has things to work on. Really good skater with a pretty good shot and solid playmaking too. Top 6 upside, but more of a boom or bust pick.
Comparisons: Anthony Duclair, Jonathan Marchessault
Alternate picks: Gleb Trikozov, Jagger Firkus
30. Winnipeg Jets - C David Goyette 5'10" 175lbs
OHL 66GP 33G 40A 73pts
The Jets are back on the board and again, with Scheifele potentially wanting out and Dubois future in doubt too, Centers will be a big need. Goyette is ranked between late 1st and early 2nd, but I'm a bit higher on him than most. I think he definitely has the top 6 upside. He's interesting because he played for 1 of the worst teams, but he put up pretty impressive numbers compared to the rest of his team. He's somewhat of a risky pick, but it's worth the gamble at this point. His skating is among the best in this class. He's on the smaller side, so he'll need to get stronger for the next level.
Comparisons: Vincent Trocheck, Andreas Athanasiou
Alternate picks: Noah Ostlund, Owen Beck
31. Tampa Bay Lightning - LW/RW Gleb Trikozov 6'1" 185lbs
MHL 35GP 23G 22A 45pts
Another player that is somewhat polarizing among scouts. Ranked between late 1st and early 2nd, it's worth the gamble for the TBL. They already have multiple Russians on the team and that could help bring him over when he's ready and help him fit in. Trikozov is also more of a boom or bust pick. He has top 6 upside and quite a skilled player. Shoots quite well and a solid playmaker too. Defensive game needs improving.
Comparisons: David Perron, Oliver Bjorkstrand
Alternate picks: Jagger Firkus, Calle Odelius
32. Arizona Coyotes - RW Jagger Firkus 5'10" 151lbs
WHL 66GP 36G 44A 80pts
Arizona is on the board again and for their 3rd 1st rounder, they take a top 6 winger. They've added a 1C, a top 4 d-man and now a top six winger. The rebuild is looking solid. The big knock on Firkus is his size. While 5'10" isn't terribly short, 151lbs is definitely a bit of an issue. He will struggle against much bigger players in the NHL. But the upside is, he is 1 of the better shooters in the draft and his offensive upside is quite good. Despite his size, his speed could be improved upon. He'll also need to continue to work on the defensive
side of things as well.
Comparisons: Conor Garland, Jeff Skinner
Alternate picks: Calle Odelius, Lane Hutson
1. Montreal Canadiens - C Shane Wright 6'0" 199lbs
OHL 63GP 32G 62A 94pts
He's been the #1 ranked player all year. Nothing changes. After high expectations, people were a little critical on his season, especially in the first half. But had a stronger 2nd half. Also had a very good U-18's. He's got pretty high upside, but also is a very safe pick. So this is a no brainer pick. Wright is a good skater, has a good shot and a good playmaker as well. He's also a very adept two-way player. With Kotkaniemi long gone, there's a big hole in the middle position and Wright could easily fill that. He's got #1 center upside and could be a big franchise difference maker. He's not McDavid, but he could be a #1 center in the same vein as a Bergeron or Toews. He's NHL ready, so he'll step into the Habs lineup right away.
Comparisons: Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews
2. New Jersey Devils - LW Juraj Slafkovsky 6'4" 218lbs
Liiga 31GP 5G 5A 10pts
He's been high ranked all year, but he really showed he could score at a high level in the Olympics and World Championships and that gets him taken 2nd overall. With Hughes, Hischer and others to play Center already, NJ needs some players to play along side them. Slafkovsky is huge already, so that makes him more NHL ready already. But combined with his size, he's got pretty good skating and a high offensive ceiling. He's being compared to Rantanen, who is 1 of the best wingers in the league, so you know the upside is there. Due to his size, he's very hard to knock off the puck. He's not necessarily a power forward in that he's going to be bulldozing players, but he does play a power winger game. But also as skilled as smaller players too. He's a solid playmaker, but definitely more of a goal scorer. NJ should be set up for a while with all the young talent they have and now adding another very talented young player.
Comparisons: Mikko Rantanen, Patrik Laine
Alternate picks: Simon Nemec, Logan Cooley
3. Arizona Coyotes - C Logan Cooley 5'10" 180lbs
USHL 24GP 13G 23A 36pts
Arizona fell in the draft lottery, but they get exactly who they need anyways. Now Arizona does need just about everything, but you typically build down the middle and Cooley has #1 Center upside. The only thing he lacks is a bit of size, but he's not too terribly small and the NHL is not what it used to be. He could stand to put on some more muscle for the future, but he's very skilled to make up for that and is a good skater. Definitely arguably the most skilled player in the draft, but also owns a pretty good defensive game as well. He's not too dissimilar to Wright. He's got a decent shot and has very good hands and a creative playmaker. He'll be spending at least 1 year in the NCAA before making the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: Patrick Kane, Sebastion Aho
Alternate picks: Simon Nemec, Matthew Savoie
4. Seattle Kraken - D Simon Nemec 6'1" 192lbs
Slovakia 39GP 1G 25A 26pts
Seattle fell in the draft lottery as well, but this works out very well for them. Easy pick. BPA and fills their biggest need. RHD are quite coveted and Seattle definitely needs one. They got their #1 Center in Beniers last year. So very good drafting so far for the new Franchise. Nemec's draft stock went up some as the season went on. He's mostly regarded as the consensus top d-man. He's got solid size. Skates quite well. And has pretty high upside. Defensively, he's not as good, but he's not one dimensional. Has #1 upside. Plays against men already, so should help with his transition to the NHL eventually. Probably 1-2 years away.
Comparisons: John Carlson, John Klingberg
Alternate picks: David Jiricek, Matthew Savoie
5. Philadelphia Flyers - D David Jiricek 6'3" 190lbs
Czech 29GP 5G 6A 11pts
Here's where the draft opens up more. Philly could go quite a few ways. But they've struggled defensively for a while and they need to give better support for their young goalie in Hart. Ristolainen hasn't worked out well so far. Ellis missed most of the season. So they definitely could use the coveted RHD. Jiricek especially is the type of d-man they need. While he does have pretty good offensive potential, he is more of a physical, shut down d-man. He's got good size, just needs to continue filling out that frame. As he gets even stronger, he'll be very hard to play against. He also skates well. He's got a powerful shot from the point. He's got top pairing upside. He's already playing against men, so he's not too far from NHL ready. He should be able to make the jump in 2 years. Only somewhat question mark was his knee injury that he suffered in the U-20 WJC.
Comparisons: Jacob Trouba, Charlie McAvoy
Alternate picks: Matthew Savoie, Joakim Kemell
6. Columbus Blue Jackets - C Matthew Savoie 5'9" 179lbs
WHL 65GP 35G 55A 90pts
Thanks to Chicago, CBJ get a high pick. There's definitely options here, but they just go BPA here. After getting Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger last year, they really added some good young forward prospects. Both could be Centers in the long term, but adding another ensures they will definitely have at least 1 really good Center for the future. And can shift 1 or 2 to wing if need be. Savoie's stock dropped a little, but maybe more due to others having their stock rise, as Savoie still put up a pretty impressive season. 1 knock is his size, but more so his height. He's got a decent build already for his height. And as previously stated, the NHL is faster now, with not as much emphasis on size. Defensively, Savoie could improve. But upside and skill wise, he's 1 of the best of the whole Draft. Very dynamic, good skating, skilled playmaker and owns a pretty good shot too. Don't need to rush him to the NHL, but could be ready in 1-2 years.
Comparisons: Brayden Point, Mathew Barzal
Alternate picks: Joakim Kemell, Brad Lambert
7. Chicago Blackhawks - RW Joakim Kemell 5'9" 185lbs
Liiga 39GP 15G 8A 23pts
His draft stock went up really high in the first half of the season when he was putting up great numbers, but then he slowed down and his stock came back down to essentially where it was originally. Another high end, very skilled forward. A little more boom or bust type. But his upside is very high. A bit of a smaller forward, but not a huge concern. Despite the lack of size, he doesn't shy away from physical play. And is quite solidly built for his height already. He's arguably the best goal scorer in the draft. Playing against men already, so that could help him transition to the NHL better. He'll be a couple of years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Alex Debrincat, Jeff Skinner
Alternate picks: Brad Lambert, Cutter Gauthier
8. Detroit Red Wings - C/RW Brad Lambert 6'0" 183lbs
Liiga 49GP 4G 6A 10pts
Here's 1 of the x-factors of the draft. Once thought of as a top 3 pick. He's saw his stock drop quite a bit after not producing as expected in Liiga. Even switching teams didn't help. He did however shine at the U-20 WJC. Unfortunately the tournament was cut short. So maybe just some bad luck this year. But if we're talking skill and upside, he's as good as anyone. There is some question if he could be a Center in the NHL, but if he pans out as a big point producing winger, that's not bad either. He's maybe the best skater in the whole draft as well. His playmaking is very high end too. His shot could use some work though. Defensively, he's not great, but due to his speed, he can cause turnovers and is good at stripping pucks. Next year will probably be very telling if his stock drop was for good reason or if he should've always been a very high pick. He'll need 2-3 years before making the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Mathew Barzal
Alternate picks: Cutter Gauthier, Danila Yurov
9. Buffalo Sabres - C/LW Cutter Gauthier 6'2" 200lbs
USHL 22GP 19G 9A 28pts
Gauthier is someone that saw his draft stock rise quite a lot as the year went on, especially late in the season. Eichel is gone and having picked 2 d-man 1st overall recently, they look to continue adding pieces to their forward core. There's a few ways they could go, but Gauthier makes sense. He's versatile and can play C or LW. Though he'll be playing Center in the NCAA next year. But it gives Buffalo options at least. Gauthier has good upside, but also is a safe pick. He does it all. He's got size, good skater, solid defensively and 1 of the best goal scorers of this Draft. With his size and a well rounded player, he won't be too far off from being NHL ready. Could be ready in 1-2 years.
Comparisons: JT Miller, Sam Bennett
Alternate picks: Danila Yurov, Jonathan Lekkerimaki
10. Anaheim Ducks - RW Danila Yurov 6'1" 179lbs
MHL 23GP 13G 23A 36pts
Anaheim could go many ways, but they go with Yurov, who has pretty high upside, but also seems like a safe pick talent wise. Only negative really is the Russian factor, but in particular this year due to what's going on outside of hockey. Anaheim has seemingly filled out their top 2 centers already in Zegras and McTavish, so they add a talented winger for 1 of them. He's got a decent frame, so he'll be able to gain more mass. He's got good puck control and is hard to knock off the puck. Like a lot of Russians, he's a skilled player. Good shot and good playmaking abilities. But he's a better well rounded player than typical highly touted Russians. As already mentioned, there is the outside of hockey stuff, so may be a bit of wait for him, but no need to rush him anyways. He'll continue to develop more in the KHL. He didn't get any points in his semi-short KHL stint. But it's very hard for young players there to get much ice time. He produced well in the MHL and other leagues. The KHL should serve him well over the next few years before he makes the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: David Perron, Pavel Buchnevich
Alternate picks: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Pavel Mintyukov
11. San Jose Sharks - RW Jonathan Lekkerimaki 5'11" 172lbs
SHL 26GP 7G 2A 9pts
Lekkerimaki has saw his draft stock rise quite a bit in this late stretch. This pick makes a lot of sense. SJ took Eklund last year and Lekkerimaki plays with him. 2 young Swedish stars developing together. Lekkerimaki is also a different player, so they could be quite a dynamic duo for years to come. He is 1 of best goal scorers in the draft. His stats might not look great on paper, but for a 17 year old in the SHL, it's harder to get prime minutes. He does lack in size, so he will need to get stronger. He also needs to continue to work on the defensive side of things. His upside is pretty high though due to his shot. He's got top 6 upside. He'll be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: David Pastrnak, Victor Olofsson
Alternate picks: Pavel Mintyukov, Denton Mateychuk
12. Columbus Blue Jackets - D Pavel Mintyukov 6'1" 194lbs
OHL 67GP 17G 45A 62pts
CBJ are on the board again and this time they grab a d-man. Jones may be gone, but this could really solidify a young d-core. After Nemec and Jiricek, there's somewhat of a gap between the next d-man. But Mintyukov has pretty high upside. And not a big risk either. He's got pretty good size, good offensively and solid defensively and will play physical. He's got really good skating as well. Now Mintyukov is Russian, but he's been playing in the OHL, so there's not much risk there. He's a likely top 4 d-man. And could even be a #2 or #3 d-man. He'll be 2-3 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Josh Morrissey, Devon Toews
Alternate picks: Denton Mateychuk, Ivan Miroshnichenko
13. New York Islanders - D Denton Mateychuk 5'10" 194lbs
WHL 65GP 13G 51A 64pts
NYI look to solidify their top 4 d-core with this pick. Mateychuk-Dobson Pelech-Pulock would be a very balanced top 4.
Very similar to Mintyukov. More of an offensive d-man, but not weak defensively. A little smaller than Mintyukov, so he finds himself getting picked below him. Another player that can QB a PP. very good skater. Despite his height, he's well built already. Could struggle to defend bigger forwards, but his size isn't a huge concern. Probably not going to be a #1 d-man. But likely ends up a good 2nd pairing d-man. Will be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Torrey Krug, Tyson Barrie
Alternate picks: Ivan Miroshnichenko, Frank Nazar
14. Winnipeg Jets - C Conor Geekie 6'4" 205lbs
WHL 63GP 24G 46A 70pts
With speculation of Scheifele and maybe even Dubois leaving the Jets, they look for his replacement. Once seen as a top 5 or so pick, Geekie's stock has dropped. Production wasn't amazing. Season and playoffs. Savoie, on the same team, outproduced him by quite a bit. Now points aren't everything of course. But there is a concern in Geekie's skating. Even for a big player, he's on the slow side. But big Centers will always be coveted. He's kind of an X-factor in this draft. His stock dropped, but big Centers are highly coveted. So we could see him go in a wide range of spots. He's a good playmaker though and still has pretty high offensive upside. Skating will definitely need to be improved, especially in todays game. He does have a pretty good two-way game though, so that might make him not so risky of a pick. He could probably carve out a role in the top 9 at the very least. And if everything pans out, he has high upside. He'll need 2-3 years before he's NHL ready.
Comparisons: Ryan Getzlaf, Joe Thornton
Alternate picks: Ivan Miroshnichenko, Frank Nazar
15. Vancouver Canucks - LW Ivan Miroshnichenko 6'1" 185lbs
VHL 31GP 10G 6A 16pts
Now the biggest X-factor of them all. Was looked at as the 2nd best player in the draft at a point. But several factors could make him go anywhere from inside the top 10 to out of the 1st round altogether. Another player with very high expectations who didn't quite deliver. But the biggest thing is he has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. So that can hurt his development, but also just a big health risk altogether. There's also the Russian factor and with everything going on outside of hockey. This makes for a very risky pick, but if you look at his skill and upside, it's very high. He could turn into a top line winger still. And with the Canucks picking at 15, they can afford the risk. There's been trade talks of Miller and even Boeser, so this could be a winger replacement for them long term. Their biggest need is a RHD, but there's none worth selecting here. They also took Podkolzin, another Russian, who was an X-factor in his own right in his draft year too. And the Canucks look like they made the right call there. Miroshnichenko has size, he's a very good skater, overall offensive threat and he even hits too.
Comparisons: Andrei Svechnikov, Max Pacioretty
Alternate picks: Frank Nazar, Kevin Korchinksi
16. Buffalo Sabres - C/RW Frank Nazar 5'10" 180lbs
USHL 24GP 15G 20A 35pts
Thanks to Vegas missing the playoffs, Buffalo has a 2nd relatively high pick. They could use a RHD, but still not 1 in their range. So they continue just picking BPA. Nazar is another versatile American forward. So with who they already have and these 2 picks, they'll surely find a couple of good centers for their future. Unlike Gauthier, Nazar is a smaller player, but he doesn't shy away from getting involved physically. Very good skating, dynamic player. Defensively, he's pretty good as well. Relentless motor type player. Type of player you could put just about anywhere in your top 9. But has the upside of a top 6 forward. Only downside to him is his size, but he's not terribly small. He will need to put on some more muscle though to succeed more at the next level. He'll be 2-3 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Yanni Gourde, Robby Fabbri
Alternate picks: Marco Kasper, Isaac Howard
17. Nashville Predators - D Kevin Korchinski 6'2" 185lbs
WHL 67GP 4G 61A 65pts
Nashville has been known to develop d-men. And they haven't taken 1 in the 1st round since 2016, so it's about time they do. Their d-core is becoming weaker and Josi and Ekholm aren't young anymore. Korchinkski is very much in the group of Mintyukov and Mateychuk, but I just like him slightly less. He's got a solid frame, just needs to fill out more. He's a puck moving d-man. Good skater, nice passing. Defensively, there's definitely room for improvement. But with Nashville's track record, this should be a good fit. He's not the safest pick, but he has pretty high upside. Top 4 potential. Could maybe even be a top pairing d-man if all goes right. He'll be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Cam Fowler, John Klingberg
Alternate picks: Marco Kasper, Jiri Kulich
18. Dallas Stars - LW Isaac Howard 5'9" 180lbs
USHL 27GP 11G 26A 37pts
The Stars don't have any glaring needs, but with Benn having a down year and he's only getting older, Radulov is leaving and Seguin struggling this year too, they could use more scoring. Howard brings exactly that. He's an all offense type player. The other parts of his game are what are questioned. So he is kind of a boom or bust pick, but he has quite high upside. He could be their next Jason Robertson. Size is a bit of a knock on him too, but at 180lbs already, it's not a major concern. Despite players like Cooley, Gauthier, Nazar on his team, Howard actually lead the team in points. And his U-18's were very big for his draft stock. He'll be going to the NCAA next year and we'll see where he's at in 2-3 years. Could maybe use 1 year in the AHL as well, but the wait could be worth it.
Comparisons: Kevin Fiala, David Perron
Alternate picks: Marco Kasper, Liam Ohgren
19. Minnesota Wild - C Marco Kasper 6'1" 187lbs
SHL 46GP 7G 4A 11pts
After the big Fiala trade, the Wild have a big hole to fill. While Kasper is not a Fiala type player, this does cover a top 6 forward spot for the future. The Wild did get Rossi in 2020, but they've always been a team lacking high end centers and forwards in general. While I don't think Kasper has 1C potential and I'm not as high on him as others, I still see a middle six
Center. He's a safe pick, but I'm just not sold on super high upside to take him somewhere in the 10 range, but at this point, he's certainly the arguable BPA. He could be their new Koivu. Kasper has decent size, plays a very well rounded game, including some physicality to his game. He won't wow you with his skill though. His shot is pretty good. He could be NHL ready in 2
or 3 years.
Comparisons: Bo Horvat, Sam Bennett
Alternate picks: Jiri Kulich, Rutger McGroarty
20. Washington Capitals - C/LW Jiri Kulich 5'11" 178lbs
Czech 49GP 9G 5A 14pts
Backstrom is getting older and his future is in doubt, so why not go for a Center for the future. Similar to Howard, Kulich also shined at the U-18's. Size is a slight knock, but not a big deal. He's projected as a safe pick, who can be a 3rd liner at worst, but with his U-18's. he's shown to have more offensive upside. Some see him as a winger, maybe due to being more of a shooter, but with his defensive game, I think he's capable of playing down the middle. Could be a 2C or a 3C down the line, but he'll be a few years away.
Comparisons: Josh Norris, Troy Terry
Alternate picks: Rutger McGroarty, Liam Ohgren
21. Pittsburgh Penguins - C/RW Rutger McGroarty 6'1" 204lbs
USHL 25GP 15G 18A 33pts
An aging team with a weak prospect pool adds a player with a solid floor and pretty good upside. He's already got good size and plays with an edge. He has everything you want. His only knock is his skating, which is important for the NHL, but there has been players that have found success despite their lack of skating/speed. He's a player that could kind of play anywhere in the top 9. If he can improve his skating, he definitely has top 6 upside. Captained the U-18 U.S. team and lead the team in goals. Again, a team that included Cooley, Gauthier, Nazar etc.
Comparisons: Ryan Hartman, Bo Horvat
Alternate picks: Liam Ohgren, Jimmy Snuggerud
22. Anaheim Ducks - LW Liam Ohgren 6'0" 201lbs
SHL 25GP 1G 1A 2pts
Ducks are on the board again and they add another top 6 winger. Zegras and McTavish will be be surrounded with complimentary pieces. Similarly to Yurov, Ohgren is a player that can do everything, but also has skill and top 6 upside. Ohgren is ranked around this range by most, though some really like him, but I think him being at 22 just speaks to the depth of this class more than anything. Another player that shined more in the U-18's, especially since he didn't get prime minutes in the SHL. Safe pick that has good size already and has pretty good upside as well. He'll be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Adrian Kempe, Ondrej Palat
Alternate picks: Owen Pickering, Tristan Luneau
23. St. Louis Blues - D Owen Pickering 6'4" 180lbs
WHL 62GP 9G 24A 33pts
The Blues have a pretty impressive set of forwards, but the defense has become thin, especially with Pietrangelo and Dunn leaving. Pickering is thin now, so he definitely needs to fill out that huge frame, but when he's ready down the line, imagine a pair of Pickering-Parayko. I don't think Pickering is too far off from the 3 d-men above him, so I see top 4 upside in him. He has a bit more questions to him though. Size however is certainly not a concern and despite the size, he's very mobile. He's considered a more raw player, so he could use extra development time. His size and skating helps in the defensive zone, but as already mentioned, he'll need to fill out and get stronger to really be effective at the next level. Offensively, he's pretty good as well. His stats didn't look too impressive, but he was on a very bad WHL team.
Comparisons: Mattias Ekholm, Travis Sanheim
Alternate picks: Lian Bichsel, Tristan Luneau
24. Minnesota Wild - RW Jimmy Snuggerud 6'1" 188lbs
USHL 26GP 6G 20A 26pts
The Wild are on the board again and they add another potential top 6 forward. This is a type of player the Wild like as well. Snuggerud is mostly around this range on most rankings. Some like him a little more, some a little less. Again, with Fiala's absence, the Wild need to help fill that void. Snuggerud has decent size and brings an all around game. He has solid
offensive upside as well. Perhaps in a bigger role, his production will improve even more. He's a safe pick with enough upside to warrant this pick.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs - D Tristan Luneau 6'1" 189lbs
QMJHL 63GP 12G 31A 43pts
Aside from Liljegren, Leafs are kind of bare for RHD. Luneau is a sold pick at this point. He's got decent size and he's a fairly safe pick with decent upside. Only really knock is he doesn't have one stand out attribute. Rather, he's a jack of all trades type of d-man. He projects as a 2nd pairing d-man. Decent shot, solid passing, skates well, but not elite and defends well. He'll be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Brett Pesce, Justin Braun
Alternate picks: Seamus Casey, Lian Bichsel
26. Montreal Canadiens - D Seamus Casey 5'9" 173lbs
USHL 17GP 3G 10A 13pts
Habs are back on the board after grabbing a #1 Center, they look to improve the back end. Similar to Leafs, they also could use a RHD. Unlike Luneau though, this is much more of a boom or bust pick. But I think with 2 picks, Habs can try to swing big this time. The obvious big knock on Casey is his size, especially for a d-man. But with the success of Makar, it's helping the cases of smaller d-man. Not saying he's Makar, but he could have pretty good NHL success, despite his size. Size will limit him some in being able to handle bigger forwards physically at the NHL level, but he skates quite well and uses his stick to defend effectively. He'll need time to gain some more strength and further develop at both ends and the Habs can afford to wait.
Comparisons: Jared Spurgeon, Ryan Ellis
Alternate picks: Lian Bichsel, Ryan Chesley
27. Arizona Coyotes - D Lian Bichsel 6'5" 225lbs
SHL 29GP 1G 2A 3pts
Arizona are back on the board and they look to grab a d-man this time too. Chychrun's future in Arizona is in doubt, so they're going to need some players to help fill that void too. Bichsel is an interesting prospect because he's already massive. He's a more raw prospect in terms of skills though. How much upside does he really have. Due to his size, he could probably carve out an NHL career at least on the 3rd pair. He could be a top 4 d-man though still. His production in the SHL is nothing special, but he still had a steady role against men. Despite his size, he can skate well too. With so many picks, the Coyotes are most likely getting an NHL player here, but also worth gambling on the potentially pretty high upside too.
Comparisons: Brandon Carlo, Brendan Dillon
Alternate picks: Ryan Chesley, Jagger Firkus
28. Buffalo Sabres - D Ryan Chesley 6'0" 201lbs
USHL 26GP 5G 10A 15pts
The Sabres are on the board for the 3rd time now and after grabbing 2 forwards, they grab a d-man this time. Also would be the 3rd member of the USNTDP team that they draft. They've got Dahlin and Power on the left side, so here they grab a potential partner for them. A bit similar to Bichsel, Chesley projects more as a safer, defensive d-man, but has some offensive upside too. He won't be running your PP, but he will be a dependable Penalty killer. Blocking shots and playing physical. He does skate well too. Good size already.
Comparisons: Chris Tanev, Adam Larsson
Alternate picks: Calle Odelius, Lane Hutson
29. Edmonton Oilers - C/RW Filip Mesar 5'9" 174lbs
Slovakia 37GP 8G 8A 16pts
Some debate if he could play Center at the NHL level, but with Edmonton, you wouldn't need him to be. Rumors of Puljujarvi being out, so they add a winger to compliment their superstars. Mesar is on the smaller side, so he would need to get stronger to better handle the NHL in the future. Mesar is 1 of the more skilled players in the draft. Defensively, he has things to work on. Really good skater with a pretty good shot and solid playmaking too. Top 6 upside, but more of a boom or bust pick.
Comparisons: Anthony Duclair, Jonathan Marchessault
Alternate picks: Gleb Trikozov, Jagger Firkus
30. Winnipeg Jets - C David Goyette 5'10" 175lbs
OHL 66GP 33G 40A 73pts
The Jets are back on the board and again, with Scheifele potentially wanting out and Dubois future in doubt too, Centers will be a big need. Goyette is ranked between late 1st and early 2nd, but I'm a bit higher on him than most. I think he definitely has the top 6 upside. He's interesting because he played for 1 of the worst teams, but he put up pretty impressive numbers compared to the rest of his team. He's somewhat of a risky pick, but it's worth the gamble at this point. His skating is among the best in this class. He's on the smaller side, so he'll need to get stronger for the next level.
Comparisons: Vincent Trocheck, Andreas Athanasiou
Alternate picks: Noah Ostlund, Owen Beck
31. Tampa Bay Lightning - LW/RW Gleb Trikozov 6'1" 185lbs
MHL 35GP 23G 22A 45pts
Another player that is somewhat polarizing among scouts. Ranked between late 1st and early 2nd, it's worth the gamble for the TBL. They already have multiple Russians on the team and that could help bring him over when he's ready and help him fit in. Trikozov is also more of a boom or bust pick. He has top 6 upside and quite a skilled player. Shoots quite well and a solid playmaker too. Defensive game needs improving.
Comparisons: David Perron, Oliver Bjorkstrand
Alternate picks: Jagger Firkus, Calle Odelius
32. Arizona Coyotes - RW Jagger Firkus 5'10" 151lbs
WHL 66GP 36G 44A 80pts
Arizona is on the board again and for their 3rd 1st rounder, they take a top 6 winger. They've added a 1C, a top 4 d-man and now a top six winger. The rebuild is looking solid. The big knock on Firkus is his size. While 5'10" isn't terribly short, 151lbs is definitely a bit of an issue. He will struggle against much bigger players in the NHL. But the upside is, he is 1 of the better shooters in the draft and his offensive upside is quite good. Despite his size, his speed could be improved upon. He'll also need to continue to work on the defensive
side of things as well.
Comparisons: Conor Garland, Jeff Skinner
Alternate picks: Calle Odelius, Lane Hutson
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