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. Chicago Blackhawks - C Connor Bedard 5'9" 185lbs
WHL 57GP 71G 72A 143pts
Bedard has been the #1 guy of this draft class for years now and nothing changes. Chicago have a long way to go to be a good team again, but this is as good of a start as you can get. Bedard's shot is already elite. He might score 30+ goals as a rookie. His skating and speed are good, but not 10/10 level like McDavid. Partly due to how scary his shot is, it allows him to draw in defenders and can find open teammates for easy scoring chances as well. His IQ is very elite as well. Offensively, he's as good as it gets pretty much. Now there are some downsides to him. Of course he's not the biggest player. He's not quite 5'10", although at 185lbs, he's sturdy. But he'll never be able to physically dominate due to his smaller size. Defensively, there's definitely some work he'll need to do to be a more complete player. But even if he's below-average defensively, he's so good offensively, that he'll always have a positive impact on your team. Due to size and lack of defensive ability at this point, there is question whether he would have to be a winger in the NHL, but I think he's very likely than he play the Center position at the NHL level and Chicago doesn't have other players to really push him to the wing anyways. There's no question on whether Bedard is NHL ready. The question is how many goals and points will he score at 18 years old.
Comparisons: Nathan MacKinnon, Steven Stamkos
2. Anaheim Ducks - RW Matvei Michkov 5'10" 172lbs
KHL 30GP 9G 11A 20pts
I'll reiterate, I'm picking for every team, not predicting the draft. Fantilli is a great player, he's big and he's a Center, but Michkov's upside is higher. Anaheim are not desperate for Centers either with Zegras and McTavish being very young and having played Center for the team already. The player closest to skill and upside to Bedard is Michkov. Long term, I believe Michkov ends up the 2nd best player of this draft class, so how can you pass that up? Yes, there's everything going on in Russia. There's also always been a "russian factor" when it comes to drafting. And then there's Michkov's KHL contract, which means he's not going to be in the NHL for 3 more years. But you draft for the next 15 years, not for the next 2. Michkov will also be much more likely to make a major impact at 21 than a player being rushed to the NHL at 18/19. And Michkov would also still be making ELC money in prime years too. Now in terms of Michkov on the ice, he's pretty comparable to Bedard. All offense, not so much defense. Excellent shooting abilities, good passing. His IQ might even be higher than Bedard's. His start to the year had scouts question him somewhat, but then he made the switch to Sochi in the KHL and he put up the best points per game by a draft eligible ever. Not Ovechkin, not Malkin etc. And because of what's going on in Russia, he wasn't able to participate in any of the U-18 or U-20 WJC, so he simply didn't benefit like others in the class from showcasing his skills at these events. So while he's not going to be in the NHL for 3 years, you can bet on he's going to come eventually and he's going to very good. He could be a 40-50 goal scorer some day and could put up 90-100 points.
Comparisons: Karill Kaprizov, Nikita Kucherov
Alternate picks: Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
3. Columbus Blue Jackets - C Adam Fantilli 6'2" 195lbs
NCAA 36GP 30G 35A 65pts
CBJ have made some early trades to start competing now. They have Gaudreu and Laine, so they're not looking to continue to rebuild, they're ready to take the next step. Fantilli can help make some impact earlier than most in this class. It's possible he does play another year in the NCAA, but he'll be in the NHL in the 24/25 season at the latest. He had one of the most dominant NCAA seasons of all time as a draft eligible. He's got size, he's definitely going to be an NHL Center. He's the total package, he's everything you want. Not only is he big, he's a powerful skater as well. Very skilled. Unlike Bedard and Michkov, Fantilli will be more impactful in the defensive zone. He projects as a #1 Center. There was a narrative about could he a better NHL player than Bedard because of his size and being a much more certain Center, but the WJC showed that Bedard was a whole other level. But let's stop comparing him to Bedard. He's 1st overall quality in other classes. He would've been the #1 pick last year for example. He's borderline NHL ready now, but another year of development doesn't hurt. He's going to be a top 6 Center for years to come.
Comparisons: Jack Eichel, Jonathan Toews
Alternate picks: Leo Carlsson, Will Smith
4. San Jose Sharks - C/LW Leo Carlsson 6'3" 194lbs
SHL 44GP 10G 15A 25pts
Sharks need everything and they go BPA here. They've got 1 star Swede in Eklund, now they add another. Similarly how Bedard and Michkov compare, Carlsson compares well to Fantilli. Big, skilled Center. There's some difference between them though of course. Carlsson is more physically imposing, going to the net and less speedy, skilled player in a big body. Now of course he doesn't lack in skill, but just a little less than Fantilli. While he didn't actually play Center in the SHL, it's also harder for young players to get prime roles like that in general. His skillset very much projects as a Center though. There's little he has to work on. His skating and shot could be improved, but they're still solid assets at this point. His IQ, playmaking, defensive play and his ability to use his size are his best assets though. He's already big, but if he can get up to 210 or so, he'll be quite physically dominant in his prime. He may be even closer to NHL ready than Fantilli. Although, another year in the SHL would not hurt and SJ would have no reason to rush. He's a very safe pick. He's very likely to be a top 6 player in the NHL and he could be a #1 Center long term as well.
Comparisons: Anze Kopitar, Elias Lindholm
Alternate picks: Will Smith, Zach Benson
5. Montreal Canadiens - C Will Smith 5'11" 180lbs
NTDP 60GP 51G 76A 127pts
There's a lot of talk about what the Habs could do, but with my board going like this, here's the arguable BPA for them. They passed over Centers last year to take a winger, so this time they get their Center. With a Center core of Smith, Suzuki and wingers to go with them like Caufield and Slafkovsky, that's a good foundation. While Smith wasn't putting up crazy numbers in the CHL or pro leagues, he did put up record numbers with the NTDP. His stock steadily went up through this year and his U-18's solidified that he was 1 of the best in the class. There is maybe a slight concern if he's good enough defensively to be an NHL Center, but his offensive certainly makes up for it. And he is a dual threat, but his playmaking definitely makes him project as a Center. He didn't quite measure at 6'0", so he's not the biggest player, but his size is not really a concern. His skating could be better, but it's solid. His creativity and vision are top assets though. He's got high upside and could be a big point producer. He's going to the NCAA next year and he'll have the same linemates again, so he's likely going to continue being a huge point producer. The downside is once he gets to the NHL, he'll have to learn how to play with new players, as he'll have the same linemates for presumably 3 straight years. He should spend 2 years in the NCAA before making the NHL jump, but after that, he could be a top 6 Center and long term, he could be as good as a #1 Center.
Comparisons: Trevor Zegras, Elias Pettersson
Alternate picks: Zach Benson, Ryan Leonard
6. Arizona Coyotes - LW Zach Benson 5'9" 170lbs
WHL 60GP 36G 62A 98pts
Arizona has 2 high picks, so they'd really like to swing big and start turning things around with what seems like a never ending rebuild. They've liked picking out of the WHL lately too. Another star winger in Guenther and Benson's teammate Conor Geekie. So this could be a smart pick for familiarity and chemistry too. And speaking of the WHL, this is a very strong draft class for it. Benson is the best WHLer, outside of Bedard, so that's a strong compliment. Some other things he has in common with Bedard is his skill and the fact that they're both on the smaller side. The biggest and pretty much only knock on Benson in fact is his size. Bedard does have 15lbs on him, so there is a bit more concern with Benson on if he can handle things physically. But unlike Bedard, Benson doesn't need to step into the NHL right away. He's going to be a couple of years away. Despite his size though and what helps his case for jumping to the NHL eventually, is the fact that he's 1 of the hardest working players on the ice. Maybe THE most hardest working in this class. His two-way commitment is at the top of the class. So not only is he very skilled, he's got the defensively abilities too. And like I said, other than the size concerns, his game is very projectable to be an NHL player. So he is not really a boom or bust type of player. His shot is pretty good, but his passing is at a very high level. He may even be top of the class when it comes to passing. A lot of people in the draft community are talking about a big 4 or 5 in this class, but I say it's a big 6 with Benson and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he becomes a top 3 player from this draft class when we look back in 10-15 years. Now with his excellent two-way player, there is some wonder if he can project as a Center in the NHL, but with his size, it may be best to be a winger and he's had no real experience playing Center in the WHL even. Not to mention Arizona don't have a major need for Centers.
Comparisons: Mitch Marner, Brayden Point
Alternate picks: Ryan Leonard, Dalibor Dvorsky
7. Philadelphia Flyers - RW Ryan Leonard 5'11" 190lbs
NTDP 57GP 51G 43A 94pts
Philly are tearing their team down and starting from scratch pretty much, but if there's a player in this class that felt most like a Philly player, it's Leonard. While Leonard is not huge, he certainly plays like it. Not quite 6'0", but already 190lbs, he's got size for the pros already. And if he can make on some more muscle, it'll only help him more. And after Matthew Tkachuk's playoff performance, it definitely helps Leonard's case of teams interest. He's a very hard working player, that loves to hit and play a more gritty style. He is a fairly skilled player as well though. He's got a good shot and can make plays too. He saw his stock steadily go up throughout the year and that's typically a good sign for how players turn out. This is the 2nd player of that NTDP line that dominated all year. Now there might be slight more concern with Leonard over Smith on who was the the real driver of the line, but Leonard also doesn't have to be the driver, he's the perfect complimentary player. His point projection isn't nearly as high as most of the players above, but he could be a 60ish point player that's also very good at everything else too though. With his style of play, he could maybe stand a chance at being an NHL center, but for now, he's been a winger and that's what he's more likely to be. He's going to the NCAA with his NTDP linemates, so he's at least 1 year from being NHL ready, but he's 1 of the more close to ready players of this class.
Comparisons: Zach Hyman, Filip Forsberg
Alternate picks: Dalibor Dvorsky, Oliver Moore
8. Washington Capitals - C Dalibor Dvorsky 6'1" 200lbs
Allsvenskan 38GP 6G 8A 14pts
Washington haven't picked this high in a long time. They're in a bit of a weird situation where they want to compete still with Ovi, Backstrom etc., but also need to start transitioning to the next era too. Luckily for them, Dvorsky helps both. He's more NHL ready than others, although he shouldn't step in right away, but possibly just 1 year away. But his upside is pretty high as well. He's very likely to be an NHL center because of his defensive abilities. Which also makes him a very likely NHL player. So he's a 3rd line player at worst, but also could turn into a good top 6 player as well. His draft stock was up and down this year. Pre-season, he was seen as a top 4 player, then after not producing at the expected level, he was dropped a decent amount on a lot of boards. He's one of the more divisive players among scouts still. But after an excellent U-18's, he saw his stock go up quite a bit again. His defensive game is a bit Backstrom like and while he'll never score like Ovi, his shot is pretty impressive too. He's 1 of the bigger players as well, so that's going to help his transition to the NHL whenever he comes. He doesn't have any major weakness. His skating could be improved some, but nothing major. Consistency in his production could maybe be the only thing he'll have to try to improve.
Comparisons: Bo Horvat, Roope Hintz
Alternate picks: Oliver Moore, Axel Sandin-Pellikka
9. Detroit Red Wings - D Axel Sandin-Pellikka 5'11" 180lbs
SHL 22GP 2G 3A 5pts
Detroit has Seider and Edvinsson, but they could use another d-man still, especially after trading away Hronek. This draft class is very forward heavy. Many believe Reinbacher is the best in the class and even some say Simashev, but for me, Sandin-Pellikka is the most likely to be a star of this D class. While his production doesn't look impressive in the SHL, it's very difficult for young players to even get much ice time in the league. His production in the pros was good for his age. His production in the junior Swedish league was very impressive too. There was quite a few in the class who upped their stock from the U-18's, but despite Sandin-Pellikka having an excellent tournament too, it seemed his stock didn't rise with many. While his size will scare some away, he's not tiny. His defensive play isn't elite, but he's more than adequate. Offensively, he's got a lot of excellent tools. His skating is very good, his passing, IQ also good. While he's probably not going to be the next Erik Karlsson, if he can be close to him at all, that's a win. He's got high upside and with his tools and IQ, he's pretty projectable to the NHL, especially with the direction of the league nowadays. I see a player that could be a 50-60 point d-man that's playing well over 20 mins a night. He can run your PP, but he can also be dependable in the defensive zone and you won't be scared to play him in any situation either. He's going to need 2 to 3 years before he's NHL ready, but having some pro experience in the SHL does help things and he'll continue to grow in that league.
Comparisons: Adam Fox, Erik Karlsson
Alternate picks: Oliver Moore, David Reinbacher
10. St. Louis Blues - C Oliver Moore 5'11" 195lbs
NTDP 61GP 31G 44A 75pts
The Blues have had some re-tooling as of late and their Center depth is lacking now. And it never hurts to add a potential top 6 Center. In terms of production, Moore's wasn't as special as his teammates, but they all got to play together, while Moore carried his own line. Not only is he good offensively, he's a solid two-way player as well. While he's not a huge Center, he's already filled out his under 6'0" frame. What sets Moore apart from anyone in this draft though, is he's the best and fastest skater in the draft and with the direction the NHL is going, that's always beneficial. Unlike his NTDP teammates, he's going to a different NCAA team and there you might see a jump in production where he can be the more go to guy and have higher quality linemates. Moore projects as a pretty safe bet to be an NHL player, but also has pretty high upside. He could be a high end 2C or maybe even become a 1C one day. He's going to be 2-3 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Dylan Larkin, Nick Suzuki
Alternate picks: David Reinbacher, Colby Barlow
11. Vancouver Canucks - D David Reinbacher 6'2" 194lbs
Swiss-A 46GP 3G 19A 22pts
This is a perfect match. While most have Reinbacher higher, I still like the player, I just don't view his upside as high as the players above. Reinbacher would be a perfect compliment to Hughes, but he could also carry a 2nd pairing for the Canucks as well. Again, while I don't think he's got elite upside, especially offensively, I do think he's a very safe pick to be a top 4 NHL d-man. He could be a 30-40pt player, but rock solid defensively. He's a coveted RHD and he's got size, so he's a very attractive option for any team. He won't need to run a PP or put up huge offensive numbers though with Hughes already on the team. He's going to be a big minute muncher that you can play in any situation and very reliable defensively. He skates well and he has some physicality to him as well. He's 1 of the more NHL ready players in the whole draft class as well. He'll be in the NHL in 1-2 years.
Comparisons: Noah Dobson, Adam Larsson
Alternate picks: Colby Barlow, Brayden Yager
12. Arizona Coyotes - LW/RW Colby Barlow 6'0" 195lbs
OHL 59GP 46G 33A 79pts
Arizona adds another highly productive CHL winger. There's some talks of Keller being traded, so these 2 picks will help with that loss. Barlow is a bit different to Benson, but he does produce offensive and he's a good two-way player as well. Barlow's also a safe bet to be an NHLer. At worst, he's a 3rd liner, but also likely to be a top 6 forward. Unlike Benson though, he does have size and does use his size to his advantage as well. He's also much more of a shooter and would be a great asset to their PP. He'd be a great complimentary player to Cooley and or Benson.
Comparisons: Filip Forsberg, Max Pacioretty
Alternate picks: Dmitri Simashev, Matthew Wood
13. Buffalo Sabres - LW/RW Andrew Cristall 5'9" 175lbs
WHL 54GP 39G 56A 95pts
Buffalo are in an interesting position. They're not rebuilding anymore and their prospect pool along with the youth on their current roster is as impressive as it gets. They don't big needs for forward talent. Their LHD depth is also very impressive. Their RHD is a bit of a weakness, but to me it's not worth the reach at this pick. So with nothing to lose really, they swing for the fences. Cristall is a very divisive prospect. His skating and lack of size are the biggest concerns. It's usually a bad combo for becoming a quality NHLer. But if Cristall pans out, he could be a top 10 player in this draft. Talent and skill wise, he's top 10, maybe even top 5. His passing, hands and vision are near the top of the class. Defensively, there's also issues. His point per game production was 2nd in the WHL, only behind Bedard. So while this is a very boom or bust pick, Buffalo can afford to take a risk and they hope this pick is a hit and then they can address RHD in trades. Cristall will need a few years to get stronger and work on his skating before he's NHL ready.
Comparisons: Claude Giroux, Jiri Hudler
Alternate picks: Gabe Perreault, Matthew Wood
14. Pittsburgh Penguins - C/W Brayden Yager 5'11" 170lbs
WHL 67GP 28G 50A 78pts
Another in this very strong WHL class. The Penguins haven't picked this high in a long time, so this is a very important pick. While Yager certainly isn't Crosby or Malkin, he could eventually be one of the better players in the next era of the team. He did see his stock drop somewhat over the course of the year. But the upside is still quite high. He does play Center, though there is some questions in his game if he could do that at the NHL level. But regardless, he's got top 6 upside. His shot is quite impressive. And while his goal scoring did go down this year, he did improve his playmaking. So is he a shoot first winger or can he take his playmaking and his all around game to another level and be able to play in the middle in the NHL? At times, his two-way play is good and at times, he seems not so interested. So consistency is something he needs to work on. He's more of a boom or bust pick as well. But if he hits, he will be 1 of the better picks in the draft. He's going to be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene
Alternate picks: Matthew Wood, Nate Danielson
15. Nashville Predators - LW/RW Gabe Perreault 5'10" 163lbs
NTDP 63GP 53G 79A 132pts
The 3rd linemate of that NTDP line that dominated this year. Now with Perreault, there is probably the most question on if he was more of the beneficiary of his linemates or was he closer to equal in importance to their success. In terms of pure point totals, he lead the team in points, as well as assists. He's considered the perfect complimentary player, so maybe even if he's not driving a line in the NHL, he might be able to find a home in a complimentary role. Nashville has rarely had pure offensively, skilled talent, but things are changing now with a new GM and Perreault could begin a new era there. There's also the bloodline connection too. His father was a good NHLer, albeit a different type of player. But his dad played for the team as well, so this could make sense on another level too. Similar to his teammates, his draft stock skyrocketed throughout the year and his excellent U-18's really solidified that he belongs in the conversation of better players in this class. Perreault will especially be an asset to your PP. He can finish plays, but he's definitely 1 of the better passers in this class. He's going to be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Teuvo Teravainen, David Perron
Alternate picks: Matthew Wood, Dmitri Simashev
16. Calgary Flames - RW/LW Matthew Wood 6'4" 197lbs
NCAA 35GP 11G 23A 34pts
Calgary are going through a lot of changes lately, but they add a player with high upside. Another very divisive player. Some think he's a big risk and some love his skillset and upsdie. I'm a bit in the middle. There's risk, but at this point, he's worth it. He's a bit like Cristall in that he's a skill player with skating issues. A big...difference is that Wood has size that helps overcome that. He's still more of a boom or bust pick, but he could be a 30+ goal player if all goes well. His shot is definitely his best skill. His size, stregnth and ability to protect pucks is also an asset. Consistency and defensive game will need work. But as already stated, skating will be his biggest hurdle. In terms of pure production it was very impressive for a true freshman in college. He's probably 2 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Patrik Laine, Jason Robertson
Alternate picks: Dmitri Simashev, Nate Danielson
17. Detroit Red Wings - LW/RW Eduard Sale - 6'1" 175lbs
Czech 43GP 7G 7A 14pts
Detroit adds another player with pretty high upside. Sale did see his stock drop throughout the year, but the skill and upside is still there. He's on the thinner side right now, but he's got a decent frame to add more muscle and strength. He was playing in the top Czech league, but he wasn't playing a lot of mins, so his production is not the best looking on paper. He's another boom or bust pick. All skill, but lacking on the defensive side of things. He's a dual threat in that he's pretty equally adept goal scorer and playmaker. His play in tournaments were a little better and that's kind of why it's a little harder to read this player for many scouts. So consistency is his biggest downfall. If he can start looking like a more offensive threat consistently, he could look like a top 10 player again. He's playing against men already, so that will help his transition to the NHL, but he's likely 2-3 years away from the NHL still.
Comparisons: Pavel Buchnevich, William Nylander
Alternate picks: Dmitri Simashev, Nate Danielson
18. Winnipeg Jets - D Dmitri Simashev 6'4" 201lbs
MHL 33GP 1G 11A 12pts
Similar to Calgary, Winnipeg is looking at a re-tool. They added 2 forwards in the 1st round last year, so they add a d-man with this years 1st rounder. Something that stood out was that WPG are lacking in depth in their d-core. When Morrissey went out in the playoffs, it left a huge hole in their line up. Another player that's divisive among scouts. For some, he's the best d-man in the class. For some, he's viewed as a 2nd rounder. I'm more in the middle. There's some questions there, but also some certainty and upside to him as well. The pros about Simashev is that he's huge already. He didn't attend the combine, but he's potentially even 6'5 and already 200+ lbs. There's a lot of talk about Reinbacher's defensive game and how well he projects to the NHL. But Simashev is even bigger, skates even better. His offensive potential might even be higher too, but there's more certainty all around for Reinbacher. There is of course the "Russian factor". On the upside, he played a decent amount of games in the KHL, which is not easy for a young player to do. On the downside, he didn't get any points. As well as his production in the MHL wasn't noteworthy either. So while the size and tools are there, you have to wonder about the production. His size, skating and defensive game makes him a likely NHLer though. But the rawness also makes him have top 4 upside and maybe even if everything comes together, he's possibly the best d-man in the class. Size, tools some pro experience could make him not too far away from the NHL, but he's probably going to develop for a few more years in Russia before he makes the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse
Alternate picks: Nate Danielson, Tom Willander
19. Chicago Blackhawks - C Nate Danielson 6'1" 186lbs
WHL 68GP 33G 45A 78pts
With their second 1st rounder, Chicago takes another WHL Center. Of course a very different player to Bedard. Danielson is a much more sure bet to play Center. He's also one of the safest picks in the draft. His upside isn't super high, but he could be a solid 2C or at worst, a very good 3C. Bedard is seen as the Kane replacement, Danielson could be seen as the Toews replacement. Chicago lacks really everything, but it doesn't hurt building through the middle. He's got decent size, plays a very strong two-way and mature game. His offensive skills are pretty good, but he probably won't be putting up massive point totals. If Bedard isn't their eventual Captain, Danielson would be a likely candidate too. He's likely 2 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Phillip Danault, Mikael Backlund
Alternate picks: Riley Heidt, Tom Willander
20. Seattle Kraken - D Tom Willander 6'1" 180lbs
J20 Nationell 39GP 4G 21A 25pts
Seattle used two high picks on Centers Beniers and Wright in the last 2 years. They've got a lot of forward depth, it's time they start stocking up on d-men. Willander had an excellent U-18's, which really skyrocketed his draft stock. He's got decent size, but needs to fill out still. He's a good skater and he's smart defensively. Offensively, his upside isn't high, but he could still produce some offense, while bringing a very steady defensive game, that you can rely on in tough minutes. He's got top 4 upside and he's a safe bet. He could be NHL ready in couple of years.
Comparisons: Brett Pesce, John Marino
Alternate picks: Mikhail Gulyayev, Lukas Dragicevic
21. Minnesota Wild - C/LW Riley Heidt 5'10" 180lbs
WHL 68GP 25G 72A 97pts
Minnesota has always lacked Centers, especially with skill. I think Heidt gets a bit forgotten in this really strong draft class and another among this especially strong WHL class. Now it's possible Heidt would have to move to the wing at the NHL level, but he has been playing Center in the WHL, so he's comfortable in the role. His production was very impressive and was only behind Bedard and Benson among draft eligible WHLers. His top asset is his playmaking, evident by tying for 1st among all WHLers in assists. There is some risk to the pick, but his upside is pretty high and he could likely carve out a career in the top 6 and at least get points on the PP. His defensive game is not bad, but he'll need to continue to grow in that aspect, especialy to play Center in the NHL. He's not a very big player either, so he'll have struggles there. He does have a little bit of an edge to his game though, despite his size. His skating is an asset as well. He's going to be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Robert Thomas
Alternate picks: Calum Ritchie, Mikhail Gulyayev
22. Philadelphia Flyers - D Mikhail Gulyayev - 5'10" 170lbs
MHL 22GP 2G 23A 25pts
With their second pick, Philly grabs a d-man this time. They lost Provorov, so they replace the Russian LHD, with a Russian LHD. In terms of upside, Gulyayev is near the top for this D class. His size will be somewhat of an issue and his defensive game needs quite a bit of improvement, but his skating is very good and his offensive skillset is good. He will be able to run a top PP unit if all goes well and play in your top 4. He'll need to get stronger and improve his defensive issues. Boom or bust pick. He's going to be 3 or more years away.
Comparisons: Michael Matheson, Shayne Gostisbehere
Alternate picks: Lukas Dragicevic, Samuel Honzek
23. New York Rangers - RW Gavin Brindley 5'8" 168lbs
NCAA 41GP 12G 26A 38pts
Fantilli's teammate was quite productive as well as a NCAA freshman. Of course the big and only knock on Brindley is his size, but with size being less and less truly needed in the new NHL, Brindley has a solid chance to become a pretty good NHLer. He's a bit similar to Benson in that he's small, but he's a two-way player that really works hard and overcomes his lack of size. He'll have some struggles because of the size, but he's pretty likely to become an NHL player in some type of role. He could be a good energy 3rd liner, but he's also got the upside to be a top 6 player as well. His playmaking is an asset as well. He will need to work on his shot to become more of a dual threat, but no major concerns. He'll need a few years before he's NHL ready.
Comparisons: Jesper Bratt, Kevin Fiala
Alternate picks: Calum Ritchie, Samuel Honzek
24. Nashville Predators - C Calum Ritchie 6'2" 187lbs
OHL 59GP 24G 35A 59pts
With their first pick, they took a bigger swing and less of a typical Nashville pick, but this time, they go back to what they've taken in the past. Ritchie is someone who saw his stock drop throughout the year. It has come out that he was playing with an injury, so maybe that had a big affect. His production was lower than expected, so the offensive upside is being questioned now. Does he have the skill and talent to be a top 6 Center or just a very good 3C. There's a chance he explodes next season and looks like a higher end player again, but I'm a little cautious on him, so I think this range is where he belongs for now. Nashville traded away Johansen, so they do have a hole at Center. Of course Ritchie isn't coming in right away to replace him, but it does show the need they'll have at Center more now. Ritchie has a very projectable game. He's going to be an NHLer. We'll just have to wait and see if the offensive game is good enough for more than a 3rd line role. He might be a little quicker to the NHL than others in this range.
Comparisons: Alex Wennberg, Filip Chytil
Alternate picks: Lukas Dragicevic, Samuel Honzek
25. St. Louis Blues - D Lukas Dragicevic - 6'1" 194lbs
WHL 68GP 15G 60A 75pts
With their 2nd pick, they go for a d-man this time. Their D-core is kind of in need of more depth, so this would make sense with multiple picks to go for need, but also arguable for BPA and a player that has pretty high upside. Offensively, Dragicevic has as high of potential as any d-man in this draft. The downfall is that he needs a lot of work in his own end. He is newer to the position, so maybe it's just partly lack of experience. Unlike other pure offensive d-men, he does have pretty good size though. His skating is in need of refinement as well, so that could limit him too if he doesn't improve it. This is a very boom or bust pick. He'll probably need time in the AHL after another couple of years in the WHL.
Comparisons: Tony DeAngelo, Kevin Shattenkirk
Alternate picks: Oliver Bonk, Samuel Honzek
26. San Jose Sharks - LW Samuel Honzek 6'3" 195lbs
WHL 43GP 23G 33A 56pts
With their 2nd pick, they grab a winger they could put with Leo Carlsson. Some really like Honzek, but I'm a little skeptical, but he's worth it at this point. He definitely brings size and in a few years, he could be huge. His size will help make the NHL in some type of role. He could become a top 6 forward if all goes well though. He does use his size to protect pucks, although he's not going to be bulldozing players. At least that's not his game yet. Once he becomes more comfortable in his size, maybe he could become a monster power forward, but for now, he's quite a raw talent. His size will help the transition, but he's going to need a few years and probably AHL time before he's NHL ready.
Comparisons: James Van Riemsdyk, Charlie Coyle
Alternate picks: Quentin Musty, Daniil But
27. Colorado Avalanche - LW Quentin Musty - 6'1" 200lbs
OHL 53GP 26G 52A 78pts
After you win a cup, you then have to deal with paying your players and Colorado lost some of that forward depth. With Landeskog's health concern, they look to grab a LW. Musty is a bit of a divisive prospect. I'm cautious with him, but the upside is quite high. He's got NHL size already and can play that power winger game. But he's quite skilled as well. He's among the better playmakers in the draft. His shot is pretty good as well. His consistency is 1 of his flaws that raises the question if he can be a regular contributor at the NHL level. He's going to need to work on the defensive side of his game too. He's a real boom or bust pick. Might need time in the AHL, so he's a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Kyle Okposo, Blake Wheeler
Alternate picks: Daniil But, Otto Stenberg
28. Toronto Maple Leafs - LW Daniil But 6'5" 203lbs
MHL 32GP 18G 14A 32pts
Similar to Simashev, but at forward. Massive raw, Russian talent. Some are really high on him, but I'm a bit on the cautious side here, but at the end of the 1st, it's worth it. He's obviously got NHL size already, so that brings some safeness to the pick. He could find a top 9 role at the very least. He does have top 6 upside though. He does play a somewhat physical game, but as he matures, he could become a real power forward. He's still a pretty skilled player though. He's more of a goal scorer. Skates pretty well for someone his size. He played some KHL games, so he does have some experience against men. He's likely a few years away from the NHL though.
Comparisons: Anthony Mantha, Mason Marchment
Alternate picks: Otto Stenberg, Oliver Bonk
29. St. Louis Blues - C/LW Otto Stenberg 5'11" 185lbs
SHL 23GP 1G 2A 3pts
With their 3rd pick, they take another player with pretty good upside. He also plays a type of game that is pretty projectable, so he's pretty likely to be a middle 6 player at worst. There's some debate on if he could play Center or wing. The Blues will be able to experiment down the road with that. Stenberg didn't have the greatest of draft years, up until he made a late splash to his draft stock with a great U-18's. He's a speedy player with a solid two-way game. He split time in different leagues this season. But he did get some pro experience against men. He will be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Anthony Beauvillier, Andrew Mangiapane
Alternate picks: Jayden Perron, Oliver Bonk
30. Carolina Hurricanes - RW Koehn Ziemmer 6'0" 210lbs
WHL 68GP 41G 48A 89pts
The WHL class continues to show how deep it was this year. Carolina had several injuries to forwards this year, so they look to deepen their forward depth. Ziemmer isn't going to be a superstar, but he can score and he plays physical as well. His skating is his biggest knock, but with his physicality, he could carve out a 3rd line role at least. His production was really good this year. He was the goal scorer to linemate Heidt's playmaking. He brings size and a physically mature game. It could help the transition to the NHL happen a little quicker, but likely 2-3 years away.
Comparisons: Nino Niederreiter, Frank Vatrano
Alternate picks: Oliver Bonk, Jayden Perron
31. Colorado Avalanche - RW Jayden Perron 5'9" 166lbs
USHL 61GP 24G 48A 72pts
With their second pick, they grab some more forward depth. A very similar player to Brindley. Lacks in size, but not in skill or hard work. He's probably not going to be a 1st rounder in the real draft, but years down the line, he might make some teams look foolish. Size of course will limit him to some extent, but his hard work and talent certainly makes up for it. Will need to add strength of course to handle the NHL and work on his shot to become a bit more of a dual threat. His playmaking is 1 of his better skills. He's 3-4 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Mats Zuccarello, Kailer Yamamoto
Alternate picks: Bradley Nadeau, Michael Hrabal
32. Vegas Golden Knights - D Oliver Bonk 6'1" 180lbs
OHL 67GP 10G 30A 40pts
VGK could use some more d-men, especially natural RHD. Bonk doesn't have star potential, but he's one of the safest picks in the draft. He's a very likely #4 d-man. He's not going to run your top PP and he won't need to. But he could be a very steady d-man that you can rely on for the PK and in defensive situations. His game is mature already, but he'll need 2-3 years before he's ready to make the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: Chris Tanev, Colin Miller
Alternate picks: Etienne Morin, Bradley Nadeau
1. Chicago Blackhawks - C Connor Bedard 5'9" 185lbs
WHL 57GP 71G 72A 143pts
Bedard has been the #1 guy of this draft class for years now and nothing changes. Chicago have a long way to go to be a good team again, but this is as good of a start as you can get. Bedard's shot is already elite. He might score 30+ goals as a rookie. His skating and speed are good, but not 10/10 level like McDavid. Partly due to how scary his shot is, it allows him to draw in defenders and can find open teammates for easy scoring chances as well. His IQ is very elite as well. Offensively, he's as good as it gets pretty much. Now there are some downsides to him. Of course he's not the biggest player. He's not quite 5'10", although at 185lbs, he's sturdy. But he'll never be able to physically dominate due to his smaller size. Defensively, there's definitely some work he'll need to do to be a more complete player. But even if he's below-average defensively, he's so good offensively, that he'll always have a positive impact on your team. Due to size and lack of defensive ability at this point, there is question whether he would have to be a winger in the NHL, but I think he's very likely than he play the Center position at the NHL level and Chicago doesn't have other players to really push him to the wing anyways. There's no question on whether Bedard is NHL ready. The question is how many goals and points will he score at 18 years old.
Comparisons: Nathan MacKinnon, Steven Stamkos
2. Anaheim Ducks - RW Matvei Michkov 5'10" 172lbs
KHL 30GP 9G 11A 20pts
I'll reiterate, I'm picking for every team, not predicting the draft. Fantilli is a great player, he's big and he's a Center, but Michkov's upside is higher. Anaheim are not desperate for Centers either with Zegras and McTavish being very young and having played Center for the team already. The player closest to skill and upside to Bedard is Michkov. Long term, I believe Michkov ends up the 2nd best player of this draft class, so how can you pass that up? Yes, there's everything going on in Russia. There's also always been a "russian factor" when it comes to drafting. And then there's Michkov's KHL contract, which means he's not going to be in the NHL for 3 more years. But you draft for the next 15 years, not for the next 2. Michkov will also be much more likely to make a major impact at 21 than a player being rushed to the NHL at 18/19. And Michkov would also still be making ELC money in prime years too. Now in terms of Michkov on the ice, he's pretty comparable to Bedard. All offense, not so much defense. Excellent shooting abilities, good passing. His IQ might even be higher than Bedard's. His start to the year had scouts question him somewhat, but then he made the switch to Sochi in the KHL and he put up the best points per game by a draft eligible ever. Not Ovechkin, not Malkin etc. And because of what's going on in Russia, he wasn't able to participate in any of the U-18 or U-20 WJC, so he simply didn't benefit like others in the class from showcasing his skills at these events. So while he's not going to be in the NHL for 3 years, you can bet on he's going to come eventually and he's going to very good. He could be a 40-50 goal scorer some day and could put up 90-100 points.
Comparisons: Karill Kaprizov, Nikita Kucherov
Alternate picks: Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
3. Columbus Blue Jackets - C Adam Fantilli 6'2" 195lbs
NCAA 36GP 30G 35A 65pts
CBJ have made some early trades to start competing now. They have Gaudreu and Laine, so they're not looking to continue to rebuild, they're ready to take the next step. Fantilli can help make some impact earlier than most in this class. It's possible he does play another year in the NCAA, but he'll be in the NHL in the 24/25 season at the latest. He had one of the most dominant NCAA seasons of all time as a draft eligible. He's got size, he's definitely going to be an NHL Center. He's the total package, he's everything you want. Not only is he big, he's a powerful skater as well. Very skilled. Unlike Bedard and Michkov, Fantilli will be more impactful in the defensive zone. He projects as a #1 Center. There was a narrative about could he a better NHL player than Bedard because of his size and being a much more certain Center, but the WJC showed that Bedard was a whole other level. But let's stop comparing him to Bedard. He's 1st overall quality in other classes. He would've been the #1 pick last year for example. He's borderline NHL ready now, but another year of development doesn't hurt. He's going to be a top 6 Center for years to come.
Comparisons: Jack Eichel, Jonathan Toews
Alternate picks: Leo Carlsson, Will Smith
4. San Jose Sharks - C/LW Leo Carlsson 6'3" 194lbs
SHL 44GP 10G 15A 25pts
Sharks need everything and they go BPA here. They've got 1 star Swede in Eklund, now they add another. Similarly how Bedard and Michkov compare, Carlsson compares well to Fantilli. Big, skilled Center. There's some difference between them though of course. Carlsson is more physically imposing, going to the net and less speedy, skilled player in a big body. Now of course he doesn't lack in skill, but just a little less than Fantilli. While he didn't actually play Center in the SHL, it's also harder for young players to get prime roles like that in general. His skillset very much projects as a Center though. There's little he has to work on. His skating and shot could be improved, but they're still solid assets at this point. His IQ, playmaking, defensive play and his ability to use his size are his best assets though. He's already big, but if he can get up to 210 or so, he'll be quite physically dominant in his prime. He may be even closer to NHL ready than Fantilli. Although, another year in the SHL would not hurt and SJ would have no reason to rush. He's a very safe pick. He's very likely to be a top 6 player in the NHL and he could be a #1 Center long term as well.
Comparisons: Anze Kopitar, Elias Lindholm
Alternate picks: Will Smith, Zach Benson
5. Montreal Canadiens - C Will Smith 5'11" 180lbs
NTDP 60GP 51G 76A 127pts
There's a lot of talk about what the Habs could do, but with my board going like this, here's the arguable BPA for them. They passed over Centers last year to take a winger, so this time they get their Center. With a Center core of Smith, Suzuki and wingers to go with them like Caufield and Slafkovsky, that's a good foundation. While Smith wasn't putting up crazy numbers in the CHL or pro leagues, he did put up record numbers with the NTDP. His stock steadily went up through this year and his U-18's solidified that he was 1 of the best in the class. There is maybe a slight concern if he's good enough defensively to be an NHL Center, but his offensive certainly makes up for it. And he is a dual threat, but his playmaking definitely makes him project as a Center. He didn't quite measure at 6'0", so he's not the biggest player, but his size is not really a concern. His skating could be better, but it's solid. His creativity and vision are top assets though. He's got high upside and could be a big point producer. He's going to the NCAA next year and he'll have the same linemates again, so he's likely going to continue being a huge point producer. The downside is once he gets to the NHL, he'll have to learn how to play with new players, as he'll have the same linemates for presumably 3 straight years. He should spend 2 years in the NCAA before making the NHL jump, but after that, he could be a top 6 Center and long term, he could be as good as a #1 Center.
Comparisons: Trevor Zegras, Elias Pettersson
Alternate picks: Zach Benson, Ryan Leonard
6. Arizona Coyotes - LW Zach Benson 5'9" 170lbs
WHL 60GP 36G 62A 98pts
Arizona has 2 high picks, so they'd really like to swing big and start turning things around with what seems like a never ending rebuild. They've liked picking out of the WHL lately too. Another star winger in Guenther and Benson's teammate Conor Geekie. So this could be a smart pick for familiarity and chemistry too. And speaking of the WHL, this is a very strong draft class for it. Benson is the best WHLer, outside of Bedard, so that's a strong compliment. Some other things he has in common with Bedard is his skill and the fact that they're both on the smaller side. The biggest and pretty much only knock on Benson in fact is his size. Bedard does have 15lbs on him, so there is a bit more concern with Benson on if he can handle things physically. But unlike Bedard, Benson doesn't need to step into the NHL right away. He's going to be a couple of years away. Despite his size though and what helps his case for jumping to the NHL eventually, is the fact that he's 1 of the hardest working players on the ice. Maybe THE most hardest working in this class. His two-way commitment is at the top of the class. So not only is he very skilled, he's got the defensively abilities too. And like I said, other than the size concerns, his game is very projectable to be an NHL player. So he is not really a boom or bust type of player. His shot is pretty good, but his passing is at a very high level. He may even be top of the class when it comes to passing. A lot of people in the draft community are talking about a big 4 or 5 in this class, but I say it's a big 6 with Benson and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he becomes a top 3 player from this draft class when we look back in 10-15 years. Now with his excellent two-way player, there is some wonder if he can project as a Center in the NHL, but with his size, it may be best to be a winger and he's had no real experience playing Center in the WHL even. Not to mention Arizona don't have a major need for Centers.
Comparisons: Mitch Marner, Brayden Point
Alternate picks: Ryan Leonard, Dalibor Dvorsky
7. Philadelphia Flyers - RW Ryan Leonard 5'11" 190lbs
NTDP 57GP 51G 43A 94pts
Philly are tearing their team down and starting from scratch pretty much, but if there's a player in this class that felt most like a Philly player, it's Leonard. While Leonard is not huge, he certainly plays like it. Not quite 6'0", but already 190lbs, he's got size for the pros already. And if he can make on some more muscle, it'll only help him more. And after Matthew Tkachuk's playoff performance, it definitely helps Leonard's case of teams interest. He's a very hard working player, that loves to hit and play a more gritty style. He is a fairly skilled player as well though. He's got a good shot and can make plays too. He saw his stock steadily go up throughout the year and that's typically a good sign for how players turn out. This is the 2nd player of that NTDP line that dominated all year. Now there might be slight more concern with Leonard over Smith on who was the the real driver of the line, but Leonard also doesn't have to be the driver, he's the perfect complimentary player. His point projection isn't nearly as high as most of the players above, but he could be a 60ish point player that's also very good at everything else too though. With his style of play, he could maybe stand a chance at being an NHL center, but for now, he's been a winger and that's what he's more likely to be. He's going to the NCAA with his NTDP linemates, so he's at least 1 year from being NHL ready, but he's 1 of the more close to ready players of this class.
Comparisons: Zach Hyman, Filip Forsberg
Alternate picks: Dalibor Dvorsky, Oliver Moore
8. Washington Capitals - C Dalibor Dvorsky 6'1" 200lbs
Allsvenskan 38GP 6G 8A 14pts
Washington haven't picked this high in a long time. They're in a bit of a weird situation where they want to compete still with Ovi, Backstrom etc., but also need to start transitioning to the next era too. Luckily for them, Dvorsky helps both. He's more NHL ready than others, although he shouldn't step in right away, but possibly just 1 year away. But his upside is pretty high as well. He's very likely to be an NHL center because of his defensive abilities. Which also makes him a very likely NHL player. So he's a 3rd line player at worst, but also could turn into a good top 6 player as well. His draft stock was up and down this year. Pre-season, he was seen as a top 4 player, then after not producing at the expected level, he was dropped a decent amount on a lot of boards. He's one of the more divisive players among scouts still. But after an excellent U-18's, he saw his stock go up quite a bit again. His defensive game is a bit Backstrom like and while he'll never score like Ovi, his shot is pretty impressive too. He's 1 of the bigger players as well, so that's going to help his transition to the NHL whenever he comes. He doesn't have any major weakness. His skating could be improved some, but nothing major. Consistency in his production could maybe be the only thing he'll have to try to improve.
Comparisons: Bo Horvat, Roope Hintz
Alternate picks: Oliver Moore, Axel Sandin-Pellikka
9. Detroit Red Wings - D Axel Sandin-Pellikka 5'11" 180lbs
SHL 22GP 2G 3A 5pts
Detroit has Seider and Edvinsson, but they could use another d-man still, especially after trading away Hronek. This draft class is very forward heavy. Many believe Reinbacher is the best in the class and even some say Simashev, but for me, Sandin-Pellikka is the most likely to be a star of this D class. While his production doesn't look impressive in the SHL, it's very difficult for young players to even get much ice time in the league. His production in the pros was good for his age. His production in the junior Swedish league was very impressive too. There was quite a few in the class who upped their stock from the U-18's, but despite Sandin-Pellikka having an excellent tournament too, it seemed his stock didn't rise with many. While his size will scare some away, he's not tiny. His defensive play isn't elite, but he's more than adequate. Offensively, he's got a lot of excellent tools. His skating is very good, his passing, IQ also good. While he's probably not going to be the next Erik Karlsson, if he can be close to him at all, that's a win. He's got high upside and with his tools and IQ, he's pretty projectable to the NHL, especially with the direction of the league nowadays. I see a player that could be a 50-60 point d-man that's playing well over 20 mins a night. He can run your PP, but he can also be dependable in the defensive zone and you won't be scared to play him in any situation either. He's going to need 2 to 3 years before he's NHL ready, but having some pro experience in the SHL does help things and he'll continue to grow in that league.
Comparisons: Adam Fox, Erik Karlsson
Alternate picks: Oliver Moore, David Reinbacher
10. St. Louis Blues - C Oliver Moore 5'11" 195lbs
NTDP 61GP 31G 44A 75pts
The Blues have had some re-tooling as of late and their Center depth is lacking now. And it never hurts to add a potential top 6 Center. In terms of production, Moore's wasn't as special as his teammates, but they all got to play together, while Moore carried his own line. Not only is he good offensively, he's a solid two-way player as well. While he's not a huge Center, he's already filled out his under 6'0" frame. What sets Moore apart from anyone in this draft though, is he's the best and fastest skater in the draft and with the direction the NHL is going, that's always beneficial. Unlike his NTDP teammates, he's going to a different NCAA team and there you might see a jump in production where he can be the more go to guy and have higher quality linemates. Moore projects as a pretty safe bet to be an NHL player, but also has pretty high upside. He could be a high end 2C or maybe even become a 1C one day. He's going to be 2-3 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Dylan Larkin, Nick Suzuki
Alternate picks: David Reinbacher, Colby Barlow
11. Vancouver Canucks - D David Reinbacher 6'2" 194lbs
Swiss-A 46GP 3G 19A 22pts
This is a perfect match. While most have Reinbacher higher, I still like the player, I just don't view his upside as high as the players above. Reinbacher would be a perfect compliment to Hughes, but he could also carry a 2nd pairing for the Canucks as well. Again, while I don't think he's got elite upside, especially offensively, I do think he's a very safe pick to be a top 4 NHL d-man. He could be a 30-40pt player, but rock solid defensively. He's a coveted RHD and he's got size, so he's a very attractive option for any team. He won't need to run a PP or put up huge offensive numbers though with Hughes already on the team. He's going to be a big minute muncher that you can play in any situation and very reliable defensively. He skates well and he has some physicality to him as well. He's 1 of the more NHL ready players in the whole draft class as well. He'll be in the NHL in 1-2 years.
Comparisons: Noah Dobson, Adam Larsson
Alternate picks: Colby Barlow, Brayden Yager
12. Arizona Coyotes - LW/RW Colby Barlow 6'0" 195lbs
OHL 59GP 46G 33A 79pts
Arizona adds another highly productive CHL winger. There's some talks of Keller being traded, so these 2 picks will help with that loss. Barlow is a bit different to Benson, but he does produce offensive and he's a good two-way player as well. Barlow's also a safe bet to be an NHLer. At worst, he's a 3rd liner, but also likely to be a top 6 forward. Unlike Benson though, he does have size and does use his size to his advantage as well. He's also much more of a shooter and would be a great asset to their PP. He'd be a great complimentary player to Cooley and or Benson.
Comparisons: Filip Forsberg, Max Pacioretty
Alternate picks: Dmitri Simashev, Matthew Wood
13. Buffalo Sabres - LW/RW Andrew Cristall 5'9" 175lbs
WHL 54GP 39G 56A 95pts
Buffalo are in an interesting position. They're not rebuilding anymore and their prospect pool along with the youth on their current roster is as impressive as it gets. They don't big needs for forward talent. Their LHD depth is also very impressive. Their RHD is a bit of a weakness, but to me it's not worth the reach at this pick. So with nothing to lose really, they swing for the fences. Cristall is a very divisive prospect. His skating and lack of size are the biggest concerns. It's usually a bad combo for becoming a quality NHLer. But if Cristall pans out, he could be a top 10 player in this draft. Talent and skill wise, he's top 10, maybe even top 5. His passing, hands and vision are near the top of the class. Defensively, there's also issues. His point per game production was 2nd in the WHL, only behind Bedard. So while this is a very boom or bust pick, Buffalo can afford to take a risk and they hope this pick is a hit and then they can address RHD in trades. Cristall will need a few years to get stronger and work on his skating before he's NHL ready.
Comparisons: Claude Giroux, Jiri Hudler
Alternate picks: Gabe Perreault, Matthew Wood
14. Pittsburgh Penguins - C/W Brayden Yager 5'11" 170lbs
WHL 67GP 28G 50A 78pts
Another in this very strong WHL class. The Penguins haven't picked this high in a long time, so this is a very important pick. While Yager certainly isn't Crosby or Malkin, he could eventually be one of the better players in the next era of the team. He did see his stock drop somewhat over the course of the year. But the upside is still quite high. He does play Center, though there is some questions in his game if he could do that at the NHL level. But regardless, he's got top 6 upside. His shot is quite impressive. And while his goal scoring did go down this year, he did improve his playmaking. So is he a shoot first winger or can he take his playmaking and his all around game to another level and be able to play in the middle in the NHL? At times, his two-way play is good and at times, he seems not so interested. So consistency is something he needs to work on. He's more of a boom or bust pick as well. But if he hits, he will be 1 of the better picks in the draft. He's going to be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene
Alternate picks: Matthew Wood, Nate Danielson
15. Nashville Predators - LW/RW Gabe Perreault 5'10" 163lbs
NTDP 63GP 53G 79A 132pts
The 3rd linemate of that NTDP line that dominated this year. Now with Perreault, there is probably the most question on if he was more of the beneficiary of his linemates or was he closer to equal in importance to their success. In terms of pure point totals, he lead the team in points, as well as assists. He's considered the perfect complimentary player, so maybe even if he's not driving a line in the NHL, he might be able to find a home in a complimentary role. Nashville has rarely had pure offensively, skilled talent, but things are changing now with a new GM and Perreault could begin a new era there. There's also the bloodline connection too. His father was a good NHLer, albeit a different type of player. But his dad played for the team as well, so this could make sense on another level too. Similar to his teammates, his draft stock skyrocketed throughout the year and his excellent U-18's really solidified that he belongs in the conversation of better players in this class. Perreault will especially be an asset to your PP. He can finish plays, but he's definitely 1 of the better passers in this class. He's going to be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Teuvo Teravainen, David Perron
Alternate picks: Matthew Wood, Dmitri Simashev
16. Calgary Flames - RW/LW Matthew Wood 6'4" 197lbs
NCAA 35GP 11G 23A 34pts
Calgary are going through a lot of changes lately, but they add a player with high upside. Another very divisive player. Some think he's a big risk and some love his skillset and upsdie. I'm a bit in the middle. There's risk, but at this point, he's worth it. He's a bit like Cristall in that he's a skill player with skating issues. A big...difference is that Wood has size that helps overcome that. He's still more of a boom or bust pick, but he could be a 30+ goal player if all goes well. His shot is definitely his best skill. His size, stregnth and ability to protect pucks is also an asset. Consistency and defensive game will need work. But as already stated, skating will be his biggest hurdle. In terms of pure production it was very impressive for a true freshman in college. He's probably 2 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Patrik Laine, Jason Robertson
Alternate picks: Dmitri Simashev, Nate Danielson
17. Detroit Red Wings - LW/RW Eduard Sale - 6'1" 175lbs
Czech 43GP 7G 7A 14pts
Detroit adds another player with pretty high upside. Sale did see his stock drop throughout the year, but the skill and upside is still there. He's on the thinner side right now, but he's got a decent frame to add more muscle and strength. He was playing in the top Czech league, but he wasn't playing a lot of mins, so his production is not the best looking on paper. He's another boom or bust pick. All skill, but lacking on the defensive side of things. He's a dual threat in that he's pretty equally adept goal scorer and playmaker. His play in tournaments were a little better and that's kind of why it's a little harder to read this player for many scouts. So consistency is his biggest downfall. If he can start looking like a more offensive threat consistently, he could look like a top 10 player again. He's playing against men already, so that will help his transition to the NHL, but he's likely 2-3 years away from the NHL still.
Comparisons: Pavel Buchnevich, William Nylander
Alternate picks: Dmitri Simashev, Nate Danielson
18. Winnipeg Jets - D Dmitri Simashev 6'4" 201lbs
MHL 33GP 1G 11A 12pts
Similar to Calgary, Winnipeg is looking at a re-tool. They added 2 forwards in the 1st round last year, so they add a d-man with this years 1st rounder. Something that stood out was that WPG are lacking in depth in their d-core. When Morrissey went out in the playoffs, it left a huge hole in their line up. Another player that's divisive among scouts. For some, he's the best d-man in the class. For some, he's viewed as a 2nd rounder. I'm more in the middle. There's some questions there, but also some certainty and upside to him as well. The pros about Simashev is that he's huge already. He didn't attend the combine, but he's potentially even 6'5 and already 200+ lbs. There's a lot of talk about Reinbacher's defensive game and how well he projects to the NHL. But Simashev is even bigger, skates even better. His offensive potential might even be higher too, but there's more certainty all around for Reinbacher. There is of course the "Russian factor". On the upside, he played a decent amount of games in the KHL, which is not easy for a young player to do. On the downside, he didn't get any points. As well as his production in the MHL wasn't noteworthy either. So while the size and tools are there, you have to wonder about the production. His size, skating and defensive game makes him a likely NHLer though. But the rawness also makes him have top 4 upside and maybe even if everything comes together, he's possibly the best d-man in the class. Size, tools some pro experience could make him not too far away from the NHL, but he's probably going to develop for a few more years in Russia before he makes the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse
Alternate picks: Nate Danielson, Tom Willander
19. Chicago Blackhawks - C Nate Danielson 6'1" 186lbs
WHL 68GP 33G 45A 78pts
With their second 1st rounder, Chicago takes another WHL Center. Of course a very different player to Bedard. Danielson is a much more sure bet to play Center. He's also one of the safest picks in the draft. His upside isn't super high, but he could be a solid 2C or at worst, a very good 3C. Bedard is seen as the Kane replacement, Danielson could be seen as the Toews replacement. Chicago lacks really everything, but it doesn't hurt building through the middle. He's got decent size, plays a very strong two-way and mature game. His offensive skills are pretty good, but he probably won't be putting up massive point totals. If Bedard isn't their eventual Captain, Danielson would be a likely candidate too. He's likely 2 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Phillip Danault, Mikael Backlund
Alternate picks: Riley Heidt, Tom Willander
20. Seattle Kraken - D Tom Willander 6'1" 180lbs
J20 Nationell 39GP 4G 21A 25pts
Seattle used two high picks on Centers Beniers and Wright in the last 2 years. They've got a lot of forward depth, it's time they start stocking up on d-men. Willander had an excellent U-18's, which really skyrocketed his draft stock. He's got decent size, but needs to fill out still. He's a good skater and he's smart defensively. Offensively, his upside isn't high, but he could still produce some offense, while bringing a very steady defensive game, that you can rely on in tough minutes. He's got top 4 upside and he's a safe bet. He could be NHL ready in couple of years.
Comparisons: Brett Pesce, John Marino
Alternate picks: Mikhail Gulyayev, Lukas Dragicevic
21. Minnesota Wild - C/LW Riley Heidt 5'10" 180lbs
WHL 68GP 25G 72A 97pts
Minnesota has always lacked Centers, especially with skill. I think Heidt gets a bit forgotten in this really strong draft class and another among this especially strong WHL class. Now it's possible Heidt would have to move to the wing at the NHL level, but he has been playing Center in the WHL, so he's comfortable in the role. His production was very impressive and was only behind Bedard and Benson among draft eligible WHLers. His top asset is his playmaking, evident by tying for 1st among all WHLers in assists. There is some risk to the pick, but his upside is pretty high and he could likely carve out a career in the top 6 and at least get points on the PP. His defensive game is not bad, but he'll need to continue to grow in that aspect, especialy to play Center in the NHL. He's not a very big player either, so he'll have struggles there. He does have a little bit of an edge to his game though, despite his size. His skating is an asset as well. He's going to be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Robert Thomas
Alternate picks: Calum Ritchie, Mikhail Gulyayev
22. Philadelphia Flyers - D Mikhail Gulyayev - 5'10" 170lbs
MHL 22GP 2G 23A 25pts
With their second pick, Philly grabs a d-man this time. They lost Provorov, so they replace the Russian LHD, with a Russian LHD. In terms of upside, Gulyayev is near the top for this D class. His size will be somewhat of an issue and his defensive game needs quite a bit of improvement, but his skating is very good and his offensive skillset is good. He will be able to run a top PP unit if all goes well and play in your top 4. He'll need to get stronger and improve his defensive issues. Boom or bust pick. He's going to be 3 or more years away.
Comparisons: Michael Matheson, Shayne Gostisbehere
Alternate picks: Lukas Dragicevic, Samuel Honzek
23. New York Rangers - RW Gavin Brindley 5'8" 168lbs
NCAA 41GP 12G 26A 38pts
Fantilli's teammate was quite productive as well as a NCAA freshman. Of course the big and only knock on Brindley is his size, but with size being less and less truly needed in the new NHL, Brindley has a solid chance to become a pretty good NHLer. He's a bit similar to Benson in that he's small, but he's a two-way player that really works hard and overcomes his lack of size. He'll have some struggles because of the size, but he's pretty likely to become an NHL player in some type of role. He could be a good energy 3rd liner, but he's also got the upside to be a top 6 player as well. His playmaking is an asset as well. He will need to work on his shot to become more of a dual threat, but no major concerns. He'll need a few years before he's NHL ready.
Comparisons: Jesper Bratt, Kevin Fiala
Alternate picks: Calum Ritchie, Samuel Honzek
24. Nashville Predators - C Calum Ritchie 6'2" 187lbs
OHL 59GP 24G 35A 59pts
With their first pick, they took a bigger swing and less of a typical Nashville pick, but this time, they go back to what they've taken in the past. Ritchie is someone who saw his stock drop throughout the year. It has come out that he was playing with an injury, so maybe that had a big affect. His production was lower than expected, so the offensive upside is being questioned now. Does he have the skill and talent to be a top 6 Center or just a very good 3C. There's a chance he explodes next season and looks like a higher end player again, but I'm a little cautious on him, so I think this range is where he belongs for now. Nashville traded away Johansen, so they do have a hole at Center. Of course Ritchie isn't coming in right away to replace him, but it does show the need they'll have at Center more now. Ritchie has a very projectable game. He's going to be an NHLer. We'll just have to wait and see if the offensive game is good enough for more than a 3rd line role. He might be a little quicker to the NHL than others in this range.
Comparisons: Alex Wennberg, Filip Chytil
Alternate picks: Lukas Dragicevic, Samuel Honzek
25. St. Louis Blues - D Lukas Dragicevic - 6'1" 194lbs
WHL 68GP 15G 60A 75pts
With their 2nd pick, they go for a d-man this time. Their D-core is kind of in need of more depth, so this would make sense with multiple picks to go for need, but also arguable for BPA and a player that has pretty high upside. Offensively, Dragicevic has as high of potential as any d-man in this draft. The downfall is that he needs a lot of work in his own end. He is newer to the position, so maybe it's just partly lack of experience. Unlike other pure offensive d-men, he does have pretty good size though. His skating is in need of refinement as well, so that could limit him too if he doesn't improve it. This is a very boom or bust pick. He'll probably need time in the AHL after another couple of years in the WHL.
Comparisons: Tony DeAngelo, Kevin Shattenkirk
Alternate picks: Oliver Bonk, Samuel Honzek
26. San Jose Sharks - LW Samuel Honzek 6'3" 195lbs
WHL 43GP 23G 33A 56pts
With their 2nd pick, they grab a winger they could put with Leo Carlsson. Some really like Honzek, but I'm a little skeptical, but he's worth it at this point. He definitely brings size and in a few years, he could be huge. His size will help make the NHL in some type of role. He could become a top 6 forward if all goes well though. He does use his size to protect pucks, although he's not going to be bulldozing players. At least that's not his game yet. Once he becomes more comfortable in his size, maybe he could become a monster power forward, but for now, he's quite a raw talent. His size will help the transition, but he's going to need a few years and probably AHL time before he's NHL ready.
Comparisons: James Van Riemsdyk, Charlie Coyle
Alternate picks: Quentin Musty, Daniil But
27. Colorado Avalanche - LW Quentin Musty - 6'1" 200lbs
OHL 53GP 26G 52A 78pts
After you win a cup, you then have to deal with paying your players and Colorado lost some of that forward depth. With Landeskog's health concern, they look to grab a LW. Musty is a bit of a divisive prospect. I'm cautious with him, but the upside is quite high. He's got NHL size already and can play that power winger game. But he's quite skilled as well. He's among the better playmakers in the draft. His shot is pretty good as well. His consistency is 1 of his flaws that raises the question if he can be a regular contributor at the NHL level. He's going to need to work on the defensive side of his game too. He's a real boom or bust pick. Might need time in the AHL, so he's a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Kyle Okposo, Blake Wheeler
Alternate picks: Daniil But, Otto Stenberg
28. Toronto Maple Leafs - LW Daniil But 6'5" 203lbs
MHL 32GP 18G 14A 32pts
Similar to Simashev, but at forward. Massive raw, Russian talent. Some are really high on him, but I'm a bit on the cautious side here, but at the end of the 1st, it's worth it. He's obviously got NHL size already, so that brings some safeness to the pick. He could find a top 9 role at the very least. He does have top 6 upside though. He does play a somewhat physical game, but as he matures, he could become a real power forward. He's still a pretty skilled player though. He's more of a goal scorer. Skates pretty well for someone his size. He played some KHL games, so he does have some experience against men. He's likely a few years away from the NHL though.
Comparisons: Anthony Mantha, Mason Marchment
Alternate picks: Otto Stenberg, Oliver Bonk
29. St. Louis Blues - C/LW Otto Stenberg 5'11" 185lbs
SHL 23GP 1G 2A 3pts
With their 3rd pick, they take another player with pretty good upside. He also plays a type of game that is pretty projectable, so he's pretty likely to be a middle 6 player at worst. There's some debate on if he could play Center or wing. The Blues will be able to experiment down the road with that. Stenberg didn't have the greatest of draft years, up until he made a late splash to his draft stock with a great U-18's. He's a speedy player with a solid two-way game. He split time in different leagues this season. But he did get some pro experience against men. He will be a few years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Anthony Beauvillier, Andrew Mangiapane
Alternate picks: Jayden Perron, Oliver Bonk
30. Carolina Hurricanes - RW Koehn Ziemmer 6'0" 210lbs
WHL 68GP 41G 48A 89pts
The WHL class continues to show how deep it was this year. Carolina had several injuries to forwards this year, so they look to deepen their forward depth. Ziemmer isn't going to be a superstar, but he can score and he plays physical as well. His skating is his biggest knock, but with his physicality, he could carve out a 3rd line role at least. His production was really good this year. He was the goal scorer to linemate Heidt's playmaking. He brings size and a physically mature game. It could help the transition to the NHL happen a little quicker, but likely 2-3 years away.
Comparisons: Nino Niederreiter, Frank Vatrano
Alternate picks: Oliver Bonk, Jayden Perron
31. Colorado Avalanche - RW Jayden Perron 5'9" 166lbs
USHL 61GP 24G 48A 72pts
With their second pick, they grab some more forward depth. A very similar player to Brindley. Lacks in size, but not in skill or hard work. He's probably not going to be a 1st rounder in the real draft, but years down the line, he might make some teams look foolish. Size of course will limit him to some extent, but his hard work and talent certainly makes up for it. Will need to add strength of course to handle the NHL and work on his shot to become a bit more of a dual threat. His playmaking is 1 of his better skills. He's 3-4 years away from the NHL.
Comparisons: Mats Zuccarello, Kailer Yamamoto
Alternate picks: Bradley Nadeau, Michael Hrabal
32. Vegas Golden Knights - D Oliver Bonk 6'1" 180lbs
OHL 67GP 10G 30A 40pts
VGK could use some more d-men, especially natural RHD. Bonk doesn't have star potential, but he's one of the safest picks in the draft. He's a very likely #4 d-man. He's not going to run your top PP and he won't need to. But he could be a very steady d-man that you can rely on for the PK and in defensive situations. His game is mature already, but he'll need 2-3 years before he's ready to make the jump to the NHL.
Comparisons: Chris Tanev, Colin Miller
Alternate picks: Etienne Morin, Bradley Nadeau
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