1 | | - | | Seattle Kraken (+2): I expect that the Kraken take the best player available, regardless of position. Right now Power is the front runner for first overall, although it is wide open. |
2 | | - | | Choix au repêchage retiréLos Angeles Kings (+6): The Kings have several forwards that have shown a lot of promise, so they should take a defenseman. Most mock drafts have Edvinsson going in the top three, plus he is a good all-around defenseman. |
3 | | - | | New Jersey Devils (+10): Clarke has the higher ceiling, but why not have Jack and Luke play on the same team? Both Clarke and Hughes play an offensive style, but Hughes is bigger in size. |
4 | | - | | Ottawa Senators: With Ottawa having such a deep pool of prospects, they take the best player available, regardless of position. In this case, it is Clarke. |
5 | | - | | Detroit Red Wings: With the Red Wings doing well defensively, they lean on a forward here. They could take Wallstedt, but it would be a reach. Instead they take Beniers, who has been on the rise in terms of draft rankings. Part of that is his play at the World Juniors, where he played in the top-six for USA. In 2-3 seasons, Beniers can be the second line center behind Larkin. |
6 | | - | | Vancouver Canucks: An off-the-board pick, but the Canucks don’t have any right-handed defenseman. |
7 | | - | | Nashville Predators: The Predators are losing games because they are unable to score goals. Guenther is the best goal-scorer in the draft, so they take him. I would compare Guenther to Laine. |
8 | | - | | San Jose Sharks: I think the Sharks take either Wallstedt or a winger. It would still be a reach to get Wallstedt at 8, so they take a winger instead. Eklund mostly plays on the wing, but he can play center. His size isn’t appealing but he skates smoothly in the dirty areas of the ice. He is one of the more fast skaters I’ve seen out of everyone in this draft. |
9 | | - | | New York Rangers: I think the Rangers fix their center depth. Johnson has the higher ceiling, but he plays a similar style to Lafreniere. Both are playmakers. So they instead take Lucius, who has very good shooting abilities. Put him and Lafreniere on the same line, Lafreniere’s point production could increase. |
10 | | - | | Buffalo Sabres: This is the lowest I see Lysell going. He currently has top-six potential or he can be a very good bottom-six forward. With the Sabres center depth set and their great defensive play, they lean on a winger. |
11 | | - | | Anaheim Ducks: Anaheim should draft a goal-scorer because their main problem is scoring goals. Pastujov has one of the best shots in class, and him and Zegras would be dangerous against the opposition. |
12 | | - | Forfeited | Arizona Coyotes |
13 | | - | | Winnipeg Jets (via Calgary Flames): The Jets trade up and draft a player that fits their team perfectly. Lambos plays for Winnipeg of the Western Hockey League and he is also born in Winnipeg. He also fills a team need, which is a top-4 defenseman. Lambos has that type of potential. He mostly excels in the defensive aspects of the game, similar to Jake Sanderson. A great defensive game, but doesn’t produce offensively. |
14 | | - | | Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks have gone forward heavy the past two drafts, so they take a defenseman. Their left side is weak so they draft the best lefty available. In this case, it is Chayka. |
15 | | - | | Columbus Blue Jackets: This is the steal of the draft. Johnson is projected to go in the top 5, so getting him ten spots later is amazing. Johnson is the best playmaker in the draft and can be the replacement for Dubois. In 2-3 seasons, Johnson and Laine would be dangerous against the opposition. |
16 | | - | | Minnesota Wild (via Pittsburgh Penguins): Goaltending for the Wild hasn’t been great. Kahkonen is young, but he doesn’t have as much potential as Wallstedt does. Once Talbot is close to retirement, Wallstedt can be the starter for Minnesota. |
17 | | - | | Minnesota Wild: I don’t see Raty falling any further. I would consider this a steal as the lowest I see him being taken is 15. Rossi, Eriksson Ek, and Raty would make a great center core in the future. |
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