1 | | - | | The #1 selection regardless of who picks first |
2 | | | | Future #1 center who plays a lot like Evgeni Malkin. One of the younger players in the draft as well albeit a monster already physically. |
3 | | - | | Stutzle for me is the unanimous #3 pick. Extremely creative with the puck and has all the tools to be a lethal scorer in a few years. |
4 | | - | | Truthfully I could see the Kings reach a bit and select Drysdale with prospects like Kupari, Turcotte, and Kaliev up front in the system and Drysdale an absolute gem but Raymond would be hard to pass up as he is a player who makes whoever he plays with better. |
5 | | - | | Best defenseman in the draft it's not even close. Franchise defenseman for sure. The Ducks like the Kings have a glut of young forwards like Sam Steel, Max Jones, Lundestrom.. The Ducks definitely take Drysdale if the Kings don't. |
6 | | - | | Purest goal scorer in the draft. With playmakers like Hischier and Hughes I find it hard to believe the Devils don't snatch him up with the 6th pick |
7 | | - | | Perfetti for me is the last sure-fire top 10 pick, and is a terrific playmaker and I watched him in the Hlinka tournament where he was Team Canada's best player and was clutch in the shootout. |
8 | | - | | Lundell is an amazing 2-way center who is strong on draws and is already competing against men and putting up pretty decent stats. Wish he was able to play at this past year's WCJ. But to me reminds me a bit of a guy like Johansson. |
9 | | - | | Chicago for me takes Askarov as he is the real deal between the pipes. The Hawks have a good mix of prospects and young core players I think they grab Askarov with the 9th pick. |
10 | | | | Gunler is a bit of an unknown, but have seen highlights and the fact that they need scoring wingers, and the drop from Gunler to Rossi I don't believe is high or at all, I believe they take Gunler. Great moves and a wicked quick release. |
11 | | - | | Hard to pass up on Rossi even despite his small stature. at 11th he's by far the most offensively gifted player still on the board. Not to mention he is 5'9 but is fairly physical for a player his size, but will he be able to handle the pros at 5'9? Still an amazing pick and would be higher if this draft wasn't so deep. |
12 | | - | | Another top end center who has great wheels, and great hands. His stats don't look fantastic but remember he's playing against players 2-4 years older. Hard to see Minny pass on him especially seeing as they like their college picks. |
13 | | - | | Lapierre for me is the first risk taken in the draft. Tallon always seems to draft well and Lapierre is a dynamite center who thinks the game both ways. I love the kid, but injury is the only reason he doesn't go sooner. He also might fall further down because of the concussion issues. But this guy is a major talent. |
14 | | - | | One of if not the fastest straight away skater in the draft Zary has good hands, and can use them at full speed which is what separates him from every other speed demon. Hopefully he doesn't turn out to be another Michael McLeon-type prospect. |
15 | | - | | The Flames in my opinion will grab Poirier with their pick. They don't really have a PP type of defenseman though Gio is pretty decent but aging. I think Poirier makes sense for the Flames. |
16 | | - | | Wish we would've got to see more of Mercer earlier on in the WJC, but as people noticed later in the tournament when he got a legit chance he was quite good. I think he should develop into a very nice top line winger 2nd line winger at worst. |
17 | | - | | Sanderson might actually move up this draft. He has NHL blood lines as his father Geoff was a great winger for many years in the league. Had a great Top Prospects game as well, and I like his nasty side. |
18 | | | | |
19 | | - | | Don't know much about Rodion, more just what I have read on him. Seems like a very competitive guy, his stats are okay as a junior-leaguer. Columbus always finds these types and makes them work. |
20 | | | | Carolina has lately been spending first rounders on forwards, (Svechnikov, Aho, Necas… So I believe they will go with a defenseman with this pick, and Schenider has a lot of upside, not sure his offense will be great. His shot needs work, but all his other tools are great. |
21 | | | | Not sure what to make of Bourque? Has good speed and hands in close, but more a playmaker than a scorer in my opinion. Just I never find he is the best player on the ice when I've seen him play and I watch more junior hockey than NHL hockey. Strikes me as a possible Kasperi Kappanen-type of player if he develops. |
22 | | - | | Probably has the most powerful 1-times in this draft or very close to Holtz' one timer. Good on faceoffs, and is strong in the corners. I really like him as a player and should develop into a very solid 2nd line center at the NHL level someday. |
23 | | - | | Is one of the players who has likely dropped the most in the rankings from the start of the year. But Guhle is a big mobile defenseman who makes a good first pass and at this stage of the draft for me would be the best defenseman still available. |
24 | | - | | Vegas I believe goes with a defenseman here. Barron kind of goes against the grain in terms of the type of player Vegas usually looks for, but Barron is a solid RHD which there isn't a whole lot of these. His offense is up in the air, but defends very well. |
25 | | | | To me Justin Sourdif is this year's version of Curtis Lazar... I think Minny will be the team that overvalues him and spends a first rounder on him. |
26 | | - | | Philly always likes their big mobile defenseman and Wallinder fits the bill there. He's not the PPQB teams are always looking for but he's a guy who in the future looks like a guy who will play in their top 4 and be a serviceable defenseman. |
27 | | - | | Nybeck is a super creative player who would be further up the list if not for his height disadvantage. But he's sneaky and has a great wrist shot. |
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30 | | - | | Cormier is a fast riser this year and for me will be picked right at the end of the 1st round. He's flashier than some of the other top end defenseman like Wallinder, Barron, etc. He's a little undersized and definitely struggles with bigger forwards as he really needs to work on his physical training. But with maturity he should round out into a very good top 4 defenseman. |
31 | | | | Stranges is an intriguing player for this draft. On talent he belongs up near the top of the draft. But he doesn't play consistently hard enough to move up. Scores some highlight reel goals, and has very slick hands. Think Joshua Ho-Sang with this pick. Definitely a hit or miss pick. |