1 | | - | | As a Habs fan I am super excited for our future with Wright & Suzuki down the middle and with Caufield on the wings. Wright is the easy pick here, will be a great 80-90pt #1 two way center, which is something the Habs have lacked for a long time. |
2 | | - | | This is where it gets interesting. It could be 3 different players and I think NJ goes with the blueliner Simon Nemec. Everybody has been focusing on how good Cooley was at the U18's but it seems not a lot of people are talking about Nemec's postseason in Slovakia. Nemec has 17 points in 19 games in the playoffs which is insane for a U18 blueliner in the highest level of Slovakian hockey. Nemec also fills a positional need MUCH more than Cooley or Slafkovsky. |
3 | | - | | Arizona may be unhappy with the lottery result but they are guaranteed to get a franchise altering player with 3oa. Logan Cooley is BPA here and he has had an amazing U18 tournament with 3G 7A 10PTS in 6GP and being the best forward in the tournament. He'll be a top 6 center at the minimum with the potential to be so much more. |
4 | | - | | You could argue Seattle should go with a Dman and take Jiricek but they are an expansion team and could use everything and should go BPA. I think Matthew Savoie is a great fit on their team as he'll be a great winger to play with Beniers. Seattle has a bright future with these two and Krakheads should be excited. |
5 | | - | | If there's one player in this draft class who has Philadelphia Flyers written all over them it's Juraj Slafkovsky. He's a big guy who projects to be an all-star power forawrd with a pretty good shot. His ceiling is probably around a physical 35-40 goal scoring winger. |
6 | | | | I'm having a tough time deciding where Columbus goes here. My thought process is that they will see the defensemen available with 12oa and Jarmo won't want to pass up the chance to create a deadly finish goalscoring duo. If you put Sillinger between those guys that is an amazing 1st line for CBJ. |
7 | | - | | There's been lot's of rumors that OTT would go for Geekie due to the size but with Jiricek available I think they go in that direction. Jiricek also has some size at 6'3 190lbs and the Sens would love to add him to their forward group. If Jiricek has a good WC tournament he could be the guy who goes #4. |
8 | | - | | It's been speculated that Detroit would take the hometown kid in Frank Nazar if he's available. Nazar would fit into Detroit pretty well and I think Detroit's development program would turn him into a steal just like Seider & Raymond. |
9 | | - | | Buffalo doesn't really strike me as a team that has a need so I think they go BPA. IMO BPA is between Mateychuk, Yurov, and Lekkerimaki. The Sabres already have Power & Quinn which would be where Mateychuk & Yurov would fit which leaves Lekkerimaki as the pick. |
10 | | - | | Same as Buffalo, Anaheim doesn't really have a need and based on the russian factor I think Mateychuk goes before Yurov with Yurov probably sliding. |
11 | | - | | This is where I think Yurov goes. It is possible that he falls to the 20's and ends up being a steal but I don't think that happens. Yurov was a dominant force in the MHL and when he was in the KHL he didn't get enough playing time to show what he was and how good he was. |
12 | | - | | With Columbus going with a forward @6oa I think they go with a D man. It's between Korchinski and Mintyukov here and I could see the argument for both of them, but Mintyukov is ranked higher on average so that's who goes here. |
13 | | - | | With the Isles taking Räty last year and reaping the benefits thus far I think they will think hard about Lambert and ultimately take him. Lambert is also ranked around here so it makes sense. |
14 | | - | | Winnipeg has a strong need on defense and I think the BPA is a defenseman. That guy is Kevin Korchinski who has been on a tear lately. Korchinski would be a great fit for the Jets and would be the smart pick here. |
15 | | - | | Even if Vancouver wanted to with a defenseman, it wouldn't be smart to as any D man would be a reach right now so because of that I think they take the best forward available which is Geekie. It's likely Geekie goes earlier due to his size but this is where he SHOULD go... |
16 | | | | Just like the pick before it's too early for a defenseman so I think Buffalo goes with Isaac Howard who just had an amazing U18 and showed that he's going to be pretty good. He finished the tourney with 6GP 6G 5A 11PTS for those who don't know. |
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