There's a few guys that I'm interested in that should be in the 20-30 range for us.
Fyodor Svechkov - C - Very good all around center. Solid defensively, great anticipation and tenacity. Very likely the best defensive forward of the draft. I could see him being a good middle 6 contributor. Maybe the kind of guy that gets Selke votes if everything goes right in his development.
Carson Lambos - LD - He might be a gamble after a mystery injury this year but he's a big, mobile 2-way D that plays a strong physical game and doesn't mind taking it from end to end. He could become a Brad Stuart type 2nd pair guy.
Oskar Olausson - LW - I'd compare this kid to AA with a defensive conscience. His game is all about speed. Hard on the forecheck, very good work ethic, hands and a tricky shot but not a high end IQ. Again, someone I see as a solid middle 6 contributor. With his skating I have no doubt that he makes it to the NHL.
Sasha Pastujov - W - Reminds me of Tyler Bertuzzi with much better stickhandling. Plays with some chipiness to his game. Great passer and shows a lot of hockey IQ. The top scorer for America at the u18's. The only thing that I think is keeping him from a top 15 spot is his skating is only average.
Matt Coronato - RW - Could sneak in the 11 to 19 range. Great hands, great shot, great work ethic. Reports say that he's a play driver and not the passenger on his line. Could be a top 6 steal if he somehow falls to us.
Mackie Samoskevich - RW - Could also be a steal from Chicago for the same reasons Matt Coronato is. Great hands, better passer than shooter, great work ethic and IQ. Despite lower numbers his advanced stats look almost identical to Coronato.
Francesco Pinelli - C - Cerebral playmaking forward. I'm hoping our scouts got a good look at him in Kitchener last year when they were eyeballing Sebrango. 11 points at the u18's. Good size. I haven't seen him play outside of highlights but he's ranked around that range and fits a positional need.
The Hockey Writers believe he may be the best playmaker in the whole draft.
Daniil Chayka - LD - He looks like a project defenseman with a big frame, decent wheels and a booming shot. Might be better as a 2nd rounder for us but definitely looks like a boom or bust type.
Zachary L'Hereaux - C - This kid reminds me of that asshole Dave Bolland. I hated Bolland. A lot. But I would have loved to have him on Detroit in the 2010's because he was hard to play against. Plays with a lot of fire and has a decent amount of skill to back it up. Probably a 3rd liner but the kind of 3rd liner that you win playoff games with.
Simon Robertsson - RW - His game reminds me of Noel Gunler from 2020. Shoot first winger, not a liability in his own zone. Probably another middle 6 guy but I could see him evolving into a Mikael Samuelsson type of player that can move up or down a lineup, kill penalties and play 2nd PP.