1 | | - | | Philly lucks out and gets to replace Giroux right away, easy decision next |
2 | | - | | They took a C last year with their top pick, most picks have Cooley or Slaf here but i think they pull a Detroit and "reach" on their franchise D |
3 | | - | | Another easy pick for me, Cooley gives them another forward to add to that prospect pool in Cooley, who in my opinion is almost Toews-lite in his 200 foot game, Minnesota will do wonders for his development |
4 | | - | | What do Suzuki and Caufield lack? Sheer size, so Montreal goes and grabs the 6'4 man-child in Slafkovsky |
5 | | - | | Plenty of forwards to choose from, they could also go Jiricek here but i think they grab skating whiz kid Savoie |
6 | | - | | Last years blunder didnt help at all, reaching for a "power-forward" they could have gotten in the second, they could add more size but skill wins out here and they grab Kemell |
7 | | | | Columbus gets lucky here, picking at 7 then 12, they can go fwd-fwd, d-d, fwd-d, d-fwd, this first pick i think they grab the othr European giant RHD before he disappears |
8 | | - | | Buffalo misses out on Jiricek and Nemec, go BPA (which when you pick top 15 should happen anyway) and grab Lekkerimaki, kid can shoot and doesnt look out of place in the SHL |
9 | | - | | Detroit isnt afraid to "reach" for their guy, and im on the side that i think he had a down year but will be similar to another Fin last year that is making people regret not taking him |
10 | | - | | My BPA at this point is still Yurov, but given current situations and the fact that he isnt leaps and bounds my BPA, i think San Jose goes and grabs a big C out of the WHL who is gold from the hashmarks down |
11 | | - | | Anaheim can grab whoever their BPA is, slowly getting back into contention but gonna take a few more years to compete in a Pacific division featuring Calgary, Edmonton, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles (expect a better year from Vanocuver in 2023 depending on their offseason) |
12 | | - | | Columbus' second pick again can be the BPA on their board, because its their second pick and i think this kid has real top 6 maybe even 1st line potential they take Yurov |
13 | | - | | Islanders have been having one of the more disappointing seasons in the NHL this year, but it gives them a chance to add a nice prospect to develop and add to what they hope is a few stanley cup contending years |
14 | | - | | C and RHD, thats the only positions the Canucks should even have on their board, but theres also a kid sitting here who has top 3 talent and only had a down year due to lymphoma, i dont see Miro falling out of the first and the Canucks would love to add another steal of a pick here |
15 | | - | | Disappointing season #2 here with the Jets, good reinforcements coming forward wise with Perfetti and Lucius, so i think they grab a parter for top defence prospect in Heinola |
16 | | | | Another team with a second first round pick, they took a sniper with their first pick os watch for them to add on of the many RHD slated to go in the late teens here |
17 | | - | | Dallas gets to grab a defenceman that many are saying should be a top 15 pick, i dont know if i see it but i also dont see him falling out of the top 20 |
18 | | - | | Nashville can go a number of ways, led by Josi and Saros, they grab a nice middle 6 forward here built like a mack truck |
19 | | - | | Oilers fans, i know you guys would love a goalie, but there isnt any id risk your first pick for, im gonna guess based on the team you guys would love either a top 4 D or a solid middle 6 forward, this is another guy gaining a lot of motoriety as a top 15 pick but youll be glad to get him here |
20 | | - | | The later e get into this first round the more you might see picks being traded or teams reaching more for fit rather than BPA, given that the player i really like here is a swedish kid doing very well for himself this year and expect a nice SHL season for him next year |
21 | | - | | The surprise of the 2021/2022 season right here, this pick at this poitn is basically seen as house money, swing for the fences here |
22 | | - | | Again, we are at the point where its pick who fits your team/needs/timeline, St Louis grabs a guy built like a Blue |
23 | | | | Montreal went big forward with their first pick, this pick can either be a skilled forward or a project defenceman with potential, i think however they go reliable middle 6 forward |
24 | | - | | This pick is gonna be seen as a steal based on play as of late, i was debating on him being a top 20 pick and i suspect in May he just might be |
25 | | | | Here we go, another second first round pick for a team, they went Nazar with their first pick and now they grab one of the best if not the best PMD in the draft |
26 | | - | | And with the 26th overall pick the Penguins take Jack Hughes! Ok, so its not 1st overall NJD Jack Hughes but this Hughes is no slouch and Pittsburgh is gonna need to start building for the inevitable |
27 | | - | | This is another guy on my top 20 watchlist for my May mock, big body, and can produce, some concerns that keep him out of my top 15 but still a great pick here |
28 | | - | | This pick is gonna show why people hate Tampa, they dont need to do anything and yet a very talented defender is gonna fall into their laps |
29 | | - | | Toronto watches as a lot of their list literally walked away in different jerseys in the last few picks, they went small and skilled all last draft and now they gotta get big and mean fast to help out |
30 | | | | Arizona bought 3 first round picks, they took top 6 C in Cooley at 3, now they take a RHD i see as a top 25 pick but becasue of a bad season slides here |
31 | | | | Buffalo goes up again for their 3rd walk, (they may trade back to scoop some extra 2nds and a 3rd) so far they went Forward and D, so take your pick with this one |
32 | | | | Arizona again might trade this back, but for sake of this draft they scoop a very slept on forward in Mesar (who might alos go to Tampa or Toronto honestly) |