Getting back on track.
Not having the U18 tournament means that some players won't be risers. Some players available in the 2nd round would have had strong tournaments and ended up late first rounders. This is going to be especially true for European players.
Of course others are realizing that there is an opportunity for drafting arbitrage (Pension Plan Puppets, Alex Taxman, and McKeen's have all had articles on this in the past few weeks).
My favorites among under-valued Europeans are:
Roni Hirvonen—I am really skeptical of all the 5'9" and smaller players in this draft. However, Hirvonen is one of two (Berard is the other) who I think will succeed, mostly because he is already faring well against men and excels in international play against the best of his age group. For most of the year Hirvonen was ranked/mocked in the first round but recently has been showing up around 35-40. In that range he has great value.
Theodor Niederbach—showed up in one or two first round projections early on but now mostly in the 40-55 range. HockeyProspect liked him for his "high hockey IQ and no obvious weaknesses to his game." McKeen's gave him the same grade for Smarts as Perfetti and Raymond. He has the additional advantage of being a right-shot center. If he is available, he is my top choice for the Canes first second-rounder.
Daniel Torgersson—is the one player who most needed an international showcase to rise. He significantly improved his point production in SuperElit this season and was a top goal scorer on Sweden's U18 team. Had he continued that at the WJC18, he could have vaulted into the 30-40 range because he is one of the biggest forwards available (6'3", 205) and is a good skater. If he is available when the Canes are up for their second 2nd-rounder, Torgersson would be an ideal add to a prospect group that was on the smallish side last draft.
Oskar Magnusson—is a player who seems to do everything well, but doesn't have any elite skills. He would be a great pick if the Canes still have a fourth round pick—which is looking unlikely.
Mans Forsfjall—this smallish defender is on the young side and won't turn 18 until after the draft. He showed some flashes of offense in both league play and international play. HockeyProspect called him "a leader on his team" who "plays a smart defensive game." He could be available in the 7th round and would be a great pick.
Several European players getting some attention who I am not as high on are:
Emil Heineman—is a player I would normally be high on due to having good size and being an excellent skater. However, his 30%+ shooting makes me think he might be one of the few Swedish players picked too high.
Roby Jarventie—produced much like Puistola in the Mestis this season. My concern is that I have read several analysts and casual fans question his defensive IQ.
Veeti Miettinen—set goal-scoring records in the top Finnish U-20 league. However, I am reminded of two other highly-skilled smallish forwards who have struggled in the pro ranks (Heponiemi and Aaltonen). Like Heineman, I think Miettinen could be a good pick but a round after he is likely to go.
Marat Khusnutdinov—is a player who really causes me cognitive dissonance. He is praised by everyone who watches him for his two-way game and skating. So he should succeed where Jarventie and Heineman might not. But production matters to some extent and Khusnutdinov's production is under-whelming, at least for a player being projected in the top 50.