RONDE 1 | ÉQUIPE | ORIGINAL | JOUEUR | DéTAILS |
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1 | - | Nashville Predators: Between Eklund and Lysell, either one of them will be taken first in this case scenario. Both players are tied as the best forward in the draft. Both are goal-scorers, but Eklund has better vision than Lysell. Eklund is also able to skate in the dirty areas of the ice, so I think the Predators will pass on Lysell. | ||
2 | - | Choix au repêchage retiréDallas Stars: In this case, the Stars will take whoever Nashville passes on between Eklund and Lysell. Lysell is a goal-scorer but he isn’t as well-rounded as Eklund. He also doesn’t skate in the dirty areas but unlike Eklund, Lysell can get creative with the puck. He will be worth the wait once he develops and be a top-six sniper for the Stars, who are lacking star power behind Seguin and Gurianov. | ||
3 | - | No Pick | Arizona Coyotes | |
4 | - | Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres need a goal-scorer in their middle-six, and Sillinger is just that. Sillinger is a true goal-scorer with high hockey IQ. His playmaking skills aren’t bad either, but he is mostly a shoot-first player. Guenther isn’t a bad option, but Sillinger is more flexible in terms of position. Sillinger can play either center or wing whereas Guenther can only play on the wing. | ||
5 | - | Ottawa Senators: Hughes is the better player over Clarke, but Ottawa’s left side of defense is set with Chabot and Sanderson. Clarke is a right-shot defenseman and can fill their hole on the right side. They only have Brannstrom on the right side. Bernard-Docker is solid, but he doesn’t have as much potential as Clarke. Offense is the type of game that Clarke has. | ||
6 | - | Seattle Kraken: I expect the Kraken to take the player with the highest ceiling. Right now that is Hughes. Right now I would consider Hughes the best defenseman in the draft because of his recent point production compared to others. Like Clarke, Hughes is an offensive defenseman but has better skating ability than Clarke. Hughes is also bigger than Clarke (6’2’’ compared to 6’1’’). | ||
7 | - | Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks need a goal-scorer and Guenther is that type of player. He has one of the hardest shots in the draft and has potential to become a top-six forward in the NHL. Guenther and Zegras on the same line would be dangerous against the opposition. | ||
8 | - | Detroit Red Wings: Some scouts compare Beniers to Dylan Larkin, so why not learn under the leadership of Dylan Larkin? Beniers plays an excellent two-way game and excelled during the World Juniors. As one of the younger players on the USA team, Beniers played in a top-six role alongside Matthew Boldy and Cole Caufield. Beniers has potential to become the future No. 2 center behind Larkin. | ||
9 | - | New Jersey Devils: Last month Power was the front runner for first overall, but with his recent point production, that isn’t the case anymore. The Devils currently are in need of left-shot defenseman and Power can fill in that void. He is considered the best two-way defenseman in the draft and has the potential to become a top-two defenseman. Scouts compare Power to Victor Hedman. | ||
10 | - | San Jose Sharks: Ideally the Sharks need a goaltender. Jones hasn’t been great the past three seasons, and Wallstedt has potential to become better than Jones. Within 1-2 seasons, Wallstedt can come in and be the new starter. | ||
11 | - | Columbus Blue Jackets: This is the lowest I see Johnson going. I would mark this as the first steal of the draft as Johnson is a projected top 10 pick. Johnson is probably the best playmaker in the draft and gets crafty with the puck while trying to score goals. Laine’s goal production can increase if Johnson plays on his line. | ||
12 | - | New York Rangers: The Rangers drafted a franchise forward in Lafreniere last year. They still need a No. 2 center but also need a left-shot defenseman. If Edvinsson is available at this point, there is no reason the Rangers should pass on him. Edvinsson was projected to go in the top 5, but with his recent point production, that isn’t the case. He only has one assist in the SHL, which isn’t great production. But Edvinsson still has potential to become a solid top-four defenseman. The right side of defense for the Rangers is set with Fox, Trouba, and Schneider. | ||
13 | - | Vancouver Canucks: Svozil and Lambos are better, but the Canucks left side is set with Quinn Hughes. Ideally the Canucks should take a right-shot defenseman and Coulemans is the best available. At this point, it is off-the-board, but Coulemans fills a team need. Just like Luke Hughes and Clarke, Coulemans is an offensive defenseman, but he has less upside than both. Coulemans skating ability is also his best trait. | ||
14 | - | Winnipeg Jets (via Calgary Flames): Between Lambos and Svozil, Lambos has the higher upside, but not by much. Depth at defense is a problem for the Jets, so they should grab the best defenseman available. Their pick was at 20, but I don’t see Lambos falling there. Instead they trade up and quickly grab Lambos, who is the best defensive defenseman in the draft. Comparable to Ryan Suter, Lambos is able to break up offensive rushes. He also has a very hard shot but is known for his defensive plays. | ||
15 | - | Los Angeles Kings: Svozil’s draft stock has risen since the month of March. He has established himself as a top-15 pick in this draft. The Kings have gone forward heavy the past four drafts in the first round, so it is time they draft defenseman. Svozil is the best available and fills one of the holes on the left side. The right side is set with Drew Doughty. Svozil is a great two-way defenseman, he can make solid defensive plays and create scoring opportunities. | ||
16 | - | Philadelphia Flyers: Ideally the Flyers need a right-shot defenseman, but it would be off-the-board if they took one, as the best one available is Sobolev. Instead they address their secondary need, which is a middle-six winger. Bolduc plays with a lot of skill, he can score goals off the rush and play center or wing. Mostly known for playmaking. | ||
17 | - | Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks need a top-end defenseman, but there are none available. Their secondary need is a right-winger, and Pastujov is the best available. Pastujov is a goal-scorer and can make their forward core completely set. | ||
18 | - | Minnesota Wild (via St. Louis Blues): Right now the defensive game for the Wild is better than their offensive game. The Wild are in need of star power and Lucius provides that. Injuries lowered Lucius’s draft stock, but he has one of the hardest shots in the draft. His ceiling is higher than Pastujov’s but with the Blackhawks set with centers, they will pass on Lucius. Instead Lucius will fall onto the Wild’s lap and be taken. He projects to be a reliable middle-six center. Before barring injuries, Lucius was projected to be a top-five selection. | ||
19 | - | Montreal Canadiens: After Kotkaniemi and Suzuki, the Canadiens aren’t deep with centers. If Raty gets his ceiling back, he could be a reliable middle-six center for the Canadiens. Raty plays a great two-way style, he mostly makes offensive plays. | ||
20 | - | Calgary Flames (via Winnipeg Jets): The Flames are a deep team, so I expect them to take a project with this pick. Because Chibrikov is Russian, it will take 4-5 seasons for him to make the NHL. But he will be worth the wait, he projects to be a middle-six playmaker. | ||
21 | - | Edmonton Oilers: At the moment the Oilers are lacking a physical presence up front. L’Heureux is the best power forward in the draft, he can provide that physical presence the Oilers need. In terms of position, he is very versatile. He can play either center or wing, but with the Oilers deep with centers, he will likely play on the wing. | ||
22 | - | Minnesota Wild (via Pittsburgh Penguins): The Wild’s secondary need is a quarterback on their special teams. Pinelli excels in these categories. He projects to be a reliable top-nine center in the NHL. | ||
23 | - | Daniil Sobolev | St. Louis Blues (via Minnesota Wild): The Blues round out their defensive depth with this pick. They lost a lot of depth with the departure of Pietrangelo, so Sobolev will fill in some of the depth. Sobolev won’t be a top-two defenseman, but he fits perfectly in the Blues top-four. | |
24 | Boston Bruins: After the losses of Krug and Chara, the Bruins should draft a defenseman. With McAvoy and Carlo on the right side, the Bruins should draft a left-shot defenseman. The best one available is Chayka. He has great two-way ability and poise, meaning that he can play in high-pressure situations. | |||
25 | - | New York Islanders: Olausson is a high-end playmaker that can fix the Islanders scoring woes. His leadership ability is very impressive, excellent power play and penalty killer. Projects to be a bottom-six winger. | ||
26 | - | Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche have been decent with their defensive plays but worse offensively. McTavish has a great wrist shot and projects to be a reliable bottom-six center in the NHL. | ||
27 | - | Sebastian Cossa | Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes fill a team need with this pick: a goaltender. His draft stock recently upgraded to the point where he could get selected in the later stages of the first round. He is putting on a dominant performance in the WHL, going undefeated in five games. | |
28 | - | Matthew Coronato | Florida Panthers: This would be a steal for Florida as Coronato is projected to be a top 20 pick. With this pick, the Panthers get their Hoffman replacement when it comes to the offensive skills that Coronato has. Coronato can score goals and create scoring opportunities. | |
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