ROUND 1 | TEAM | ORIGINAL | PLAYER | DETAILS |
---|
1 | - | Lane Hutson (+61 ) | Defender, Montreal Canadiens, 26.24. Model's biggest steal. Hutson slipping to #62 on draft day was shocking, but now, it's a crime. His physicality and snarl make up for his smaller stature, and his offensive upside is shining brighter than any defensive prospect we've seen in years. He's also taken large strides this year to improve his defensive game. Hutson has the potential to be truly elite. | |
2 | - | Logan Cooley (+1 ) | Forward, Arizona Coyotes, 25.37. A strong first season has Cooley exceeding expectations in the NCAA, scoring at a rate 1.4 times higher than Matty Beniers' 2021-22 NCAA rate of 18.49. With Cooley's defensive play, work ethic, and unrivaled puckhandling, I think it's safe to say that at the moment, he's showing the most potential out of anyone in this draft class. | |
3 | - | Jimmy Snuggerud (+20 ) | Forward, St. Louis Blues, 24.95. Model's third biggest steal. I was not high on Snuggerud, but this season, he's leaped beyond all expectations and has shown flashes of greatness. It's worth mentioning that, like Cooley, Snuggerud is producing in the NCAA at a higher rate than Matty Beniers. He's a power forward like we haven't seen in years. | |
4 | - | David Jiricek (+2 ) | Defender, Columbus Blue Jackets, 24.21. Jiricek has been tearing up the AHL, and he's gotten into two NHL games. While the statistical model doesn't categorize him as a steal, I definitely think he is. In my first model, Jiricek topped the list by a ridiculous margin, and I wouldn't be shocked if he's playing on Columbus' blue line full time before the end of the season. Jiricek's explosive mobility is unrivaled by defenders, and his complete two way game gives him quite a high ceiling. | |
5 | - | Nikita Grebenkin (+130 ) | Forward, Toronto Maple Leafs, 23.59. Model's second biggest steal, an out-of-nowhere phenom drafted at #135..... Why does that sound so familiar? ...oh. The #135 pick in 2015 was Kirill Kaprizov, which is either a funny coincidence (cough, cough, the hockey gods screwing with us) or Kaprizov stepped into a cloning chamber. Grebenkin and Kaprizov aren't super similar, though, as Grebenkin's physicality, playmaking, and passing are his true defining characteristics. He's a player of a breed we haven't seen before, so if his success continues to the NHL level, he has the potential to revolutionize the game. Okay, fine, that's gutsy to say about a fifth round pick, and yes, I am a Leafs fan. But still, you can't deny how good Grebenkin has been this season, and how unique and effective his play style is. Prepare for the entire league to be Greb-yonked. | |
6 | Marco Kasper (+2 ) | Forward, Detroit Red Wings, 22.67. A defensively sound forward, Kasper is looking like more and more of a steal every day. We should just stop questioning Steve Yzerman. That's all I have to say. | ||
7 | Shane Wright (-3 ) | Forward, Seattle Kraken, 22.64. Wright has been thriving since returning to the OHL, playing the best hockey we've seen from him in a while. While Wright's NHLe has been screwed by a rocky start to the season with injuries and barely any playing time, his play in the OHL and WJC should make GMs question if he ever should have slipped past #1. | ||
8 | - | Jiri Kulich (+20 ) | Forward, Buffalo Sabres, 22.42. Jiri Kulich has smashed all of my expectations. He's dominated in the AHL in his first season on North American ice, and he may even secure a promotion to the NHL by the end of the season. He's fast, he's aggressive, and his scoring abilities are elite. | |
9 | - | Filip Bystedt (+18 ) | Forward, San Jose Sharks, 22.40. I remember being baffled when the Sharks traded the #11 pick for the #27 pick and two first rounders. Now? Mike Grier is a genius. Bystedt's speed and defensive upside coupled with his passing make him the most complete player in the draft. It also helps that he's 6'4". If everything goes right his Bystedt could be a Selke winner many times over. His game is so reminiscent of Bergeron and Kopitar that I can practically smell it (and I physically can't smell). | |
10 | - | Dmitri Buchelnikov (+42 ) | Forward, Detroit Red Wings, 21.26. Another European steal by Yzerman. Seriously, nobody let the Red Wings scouts go to Europe, for all of our sakes. Buchelnikov is a true sniper with a demonically fast shot, but he's also quite crafty and a great passer. Buchelnikov has primarily played in the VHL this season, but he's also dabbled in the KHL and looked quite good. And while it's very early to make this bold of a comparison; he looks very, very much like a young Nikita Kucherov. | |
11 | Juraj Slafkovsky (-10 ) | Forward, Montreal Canadiens, 21.03. The average for the first forward selected in each draft in the last 25 years is 47.18, 2.2 times more than Slafkovsky's, but over the past five years it's just 35.37, which is still 1.7 times more than Slafkovsky's. If his pace continues, he will have the third worst NHLe in the past 25 years, ahead of only Sam Reinhart (17.48) and Joe Thornton (9.41). This draft class (and the majority of draft classes in the past few years) has not had players thrive at an elite level like draft classes of the past. Crosby had 103.26, and McDavid had 87.47. There hasn't been a half a point per game NHLe since Nico Hischier in 2017-18, but over the span of 2001-02 to 2017-18, every #1 forward scored at more than half a point per game NHLe with the exceptions of Reinhart and Eric Staal (31.38). So while Slafkovsky's NHLe is disheartening, the trend for #1 forwards in recent years has been steadily declining so it is not entirely unexpected. Also, Joe Thornton has an abysmal rookie NHLe but is one of the greatest players of all time, while Nail Yakupov's rookie NHLe was an above-average 50.10. And, remember, this is Slafkovsky's first season adjusting to North American ice. So while he hasn't found success yet, it is far, far too early to judge him. | ||
12 | - | Cutter Gauthier (-7 ) | Forward, Philadelphia Flyers, 20.97. Gauthier is actually having a pretty decent season, definitely exceeding my expectations for him. His maturity is one reason he was selected so high, and his size, speed, shot, and skating are all elite and make for a lethal combination. | |
13 | Kevin Korchinski (-6 ) | Defender, Chicago Hawks, 20.44. Like Gauthier, Korchinski falling in the model is not worrying whatsoever. While he was a reach at #7, he has definitely proven that he was more than worth his pick. Korchinski's speed, offense, and powerplay are his best facets. | ||
14 | - | Adam Engström (+78 ) | Defender, Montreal Canadiens, 20.01. Model's fourth biggest steal. Adam Engstrom has had a breakout season in the SHL highlighted by his fantastic two-way game. His mobility is great, and while positioning used to be a weakness of his, this season, it's been a strength. | |
15 | - | Noah Östlund (+1 ) | Forward, Buffalo Sabres, 19.97. While Ostlund still hasn't cracked the SHL, his play in Allsvenskan has been good. His mobility and silky-smooth hands make me wonder if I'm watching Mat Barzal every time I see him. | |
16 | Pavel Mintyukov (-6 ) | Defender, Anaheim Ducks, 19.55. Mintyukov hasn't found the same success on the Ottawa 67's that he did in Saginaw earlier this year. Also, his defensive liabilities and positioning are concerning to say the least. However, his offensive upside is truly elite. | ||
17 | - | Jordan Dumais (+79 ) | Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets, 19.32. Questions have been raised about whether Dumais' success will transfer to the professional level, particularly due to his size and skating, but to be honest, I'm not worried at all. Once he irons out the kinks in his game, of which there aren't many, Dumais could be an unstoppable force. | |
18 | - | Simon Nemec (-16 ) | Defender, New Jersey Devils, 19.15. Don't let the model worry you. Nemec's defensive play has been exceptional, and quite frankly, I still think he's the best defender in this draft. New Jersey has a deep prospect pool and one of the best teams in the league, so they have plenty of time to develop him in the AHL. | |
19 | Ty Nelson (+49 ) | Defender, Seattle Kraken, 19.01. Like Hutson, Ty Nelson dropped tremendously in the draft due to his size. And, like Hutson, Nelson has been proving everyone wrong. While Nelson still has some work to do to improve his defense, he's certainly taken quite a few steps forward. Also, the snarl Nelson brings to his game makes up for his smaller stature. Does anyone remember that Brad Marchand is 5'9"? No. And soon, nobody will remember Nelson is either. | ||
20 | - | Christian Kyrou (+30 ) | Defender, Dallas Stars, 18.31. Christian Kyrou has struggled after his trade to Sarnia to maintain the same success he found earlier this season. His defensive holes also should make scouts wonder if Kyrou has what it takes to succeed at the NHL level. | |
21 | - | Jani Nyman (+28 ) | Forward, Seattle Kraken, 17.52. A promotion to Liiga after a stellar start has sent Nyman's stock flying upwards, but he sometimes struggles with consistency. Nyman's signed to a Liiga deal that goes through 2024 so it will be a while before we see him on North American ice. | |
22 | Denton Mateychuk (-10 ) | Defender, Columbus Blue Jackets, 17.20. Mateychuk was snubbed from the World Juniors, but he's had a productive season taking several steps forward defensively. While Mateychuk has certainly has good all-around play, he sometimes makes head-scratching decisions regarding positioning. | ||
23 | - | David Goyette (+38 ) | Forward, Seattle Kraken, 17.06. Goyette has dominated in the OHL, and his skating and passing are otherworldly. That said, with physicality not being a big part of his game, he may struggle to make the transition to the pro level. | |
24 | - | Elias Salomonsson (+31 ) | Forward, Winnipeg Jets, 16.49. Oh, wait, what? He's a defender??? Are you sure??? But he doesn't play defense?! Okay, I'll stop being mean. Salomonsson reminds me of John Carlson in that his offensive skills are way above average, but the gaping holes in his defense help bring him down to earth. He certainly fits Winnipeg's mould, though. | |
25 | Alexander Suzdalev (+45 ) | Forward, Washington Capitals, 15.90. Take this with a grain of salt, as Suzdalev is currently playing on a line with some schmuck named, uh, what is it again? Boulevard? Oh, right. Connor freaking Bedard. While Suzdalev certainly is good in his own right, I'd wait to get excited until next year when his linemate isn't the second best Connor to ever lace up a pair of skates. | ||
26 | Matthew Poitras (+28 ) | Forward, Boston Bruins, 15.83. The first of many Matthews in a row, Poitras has had quite the success this year in Guelph. His passing and playmaking abilities are among the best in the draft, but his shot needs work. | ||
27 | Seamus Casey (+19 ) | Defender, New Jersey Devils, 15.69. Casey is a defensive juggernaut, which we knew before this year, but the steps he's taken offensively this year are very promising. It's shocking that Casey fell out of the first round, as his stock now is going through the stratosphere. He is certainly the biggest victim in this model of zero consideration of defense. | ||
28 | Matthew Savoie (-19 ) | Forward, Buffalo Sabres, 15.67. Savoie was a surprising snub from the world juniors, especially when you remember that this time last year, he was being considered a top two prospect in the draft. While positioning and shooting are areas in his game that need improvement, I still think Savoie has the potential to be an elite player. | ||
29 | Matthew Maggio (+113 ) | Forward, New York Islanders, 15.28. Matthew Maggio is certainly an intriguing prospect. He's dominating the OHL, but he was also drafted as an overager, and his passing needs work. However, his scoring abilities have really started to shine in the last two years, and it's certainly possible that Maggio could be an effective player at the pro level. | ||
30 | Matthew Seminoff (+149 ) | Forward, Dallas Stars, 15.24. Model's fifth biggest steal and #2 riser. I'm gonna be honest, I really wanted the Caps to draft Seminoff last year. Not only was he born in Leesburg, a DC suburb, but he literally has 'Semin' in his name. And, he's a hard working two-way forward with very good playmaking skills. But alas, the Caps passed on him four different times, and the Stars nabbed him in the sixth round, way later than he was projected to go. And since then? He's been on fire. Not only is he a steal in the model, but his work ethic and defensive upside make him a ginormous steal in real life. I'm still pissed that GMBM didn't draft him, though. | ||
31 | - | Michael Buchinger (+57 ) | Defender, St. Louis Blues, 15.23. Buchinger has taken a very big step forward this year in cementing the offensive aspects of his game. I'm quite confident that he'll be successful at the NHL level, as his skating and defense are already well developed. | |
32 | Otto Salin (+116 ) | Defender, Los Angeles Kings, 15.00. Take this with a grain of salt. Salin has only played 27 games this season in Liiga, and while he's played well, the small sample size definitely contributes to how much he's risen. That said, Salin does look like he could have some promise, but he may flounder for a bit when he comes to North America as his defensive liabilities could hinder his development. |
ROUND 2 | TEAM | ORIGINAL | PLAYER | DETAILS |
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33 | - | Artem Duda (+3 ) | Defender, Arizona Coyotes, 14.91 | |
34 | Cruz Lucius (+90 ) | Forward, Carolina Hurricanes, 14.88. Younger brother of Jets prospect Chaz Lucius. | ||
35 | - | Rutger McGroarty (-21 ) | Forward, Winnipeg Jets, 14.87. McGroarty slips from the first round in this model, but I wouldn't be concerned. His two way game, defensive reliability, and leadership experience are why he was selected so high. | |
36 | Nicholas Moldenhauer (+59 ) | Forward, Toronto Maple Leafs, 14.83. Moldenhauer slipped in his draft year due to missing quite a bit with injury, but this season, he's returned with a vengeance. His playmaking is among the best in the Leafs' system, but his skating could be a hinderance if it doesn't improve before he leaves the USHL. | ||
37 | Liam Öhgren (-18 ) | Forward, Minnesota Wild, 14.42. Ohgren hasn't found the same success in Djurgardens as his teammate, Noah Ostlund, but it's definitely far too early to be concerned. Ostlund's skating and shot are exceptional, but his speed and passing may prevent him from being a difference-maker. | ||
38 | Ludvig Jansson (+87 ) | Defender, Florida Panthers, 14.39 | ||
39 | Parker Bell (+116 ) | Forward, Calgary Flames, 14.38 | ||
40 | - | Jagger Firkus (-5 ) | Forward, Seattle Kraken, 14.28. Firkus has a laser beam of a shot, silky smooth hands and passing, a great two-way game, and a superb work ethic. By all accounts, he should've been a first rounder, but teams passed on him due to his size. This model has him way lower than the skill he's shown this season, especially due to his great all-around play. | |
41 | - | Luca Del Bel Belluz (+3 ) | Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets, 14.22 | |
42 | - | Quinn Finley (+36 ) | Forward, New York Islanders, 14.14 | |
43 | Bryce McConnell-Barker (+54 ) | Forward, New York Rangers, 14.08 | ||
44 | - | Ryan Greene (+13 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 14.07. While his point total may not be high, the hype surrounding Greene is huge. His speed and playmaking abilities are elite, and while I don't love the term 'Hockey IQ', with Greene, there's no other way to describe it. The creativity he utilizes is astonishing. | |
45 | Frédéric Brunet (+87 ) | Defender, Boston Bruins, 13.98 | ||
46 | Frank Nazar (-33 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 13.87. Due to missing all but four games of this season due to injury, I had to evaluate Nazar based on his play last season. That's the main reason he fell so much, not due to any fault of his own, but due to small sample sizes. | ||
47 | Jorian Donovan (+89 ) | Defender, Ottawa Senators, 13.71 | ||
48 | - | Cedrick Guindon (+79 ) | Forward, Montreal Canadiens, 13.70 | |
49 | Daniil Orlov (+61 ) | Defender, New Jersey Devils, 13.69. When I initially made this model last fall, I remember Daniil Orlov cracking the top three. Honestly, I'm not sure how, as the stellar aspects of Orlov's game lie in his defense (I have a little bit of cognitive dissonance between 'Orlov' and 'defense' because of Dmitry Orlov). He's played at all levels of Russian hockey this season, and he's definitely a prospect to keep an eye on. It's too early to get excited, though. | ||
50 | - | Jake Richard (+120 ) | Forward, Buffalo Sabres, 13.68 | |
51 | - | Fraser Minten (-13 ) | Forward, Toronto Maple Leafs, 13.59. Fraser Minten was the Leafs' reward for dumping Petr Mrazek's contract when they unloaded Mrazek and the pick that became Sam Rinzel to trade down for Fraser Minten. That said, Minten already may be a better player than Rinzel. Minten's defensively sound game is his primary strength, so while he's fallen in this model, his stock has only risen in real life. Offensive production is a concern, but his Kampf-esque playing style makes him a promising future #3 center. | |
52 | Tristan Luneau (+1 ) | Defender, Anaheim Ducks, 13.53. Luneau was once heralded as a top fifteen prospect, particularly due to his stickhandling, but he fell out of the first round due to skating and other defensive liabilities. Those have improved this year, but neither his offensive nor defense is good enough to make Luneau a standout player. He still definitely has a very good chance of cracking the NHL, but the top 4D ceiling he once had may be unreachable. | ||
53 | Adam Sýkora (+10 ) | Forward, New York Rangers, 13.38 | ||
54 | - | Miguël Tourigny (+162 ) | Defender, Montreal Canadiens, 13.36. #1 riser. Tourigny skyrocketed up the charts in this model, but it's worth mentioning that he's a double overager. He's had some success this year playing in Slovakia, but his defensive game needs work if he wants to play in the NHL. | |
55 | Filip Mesar (-29 ) | Forward, Montreal Canadiens, 13.31. I really want Mesar and Slafkovsky to each have long careers with the Habs, just because their story is so heartwarming. Getting the opportunity to play alongside your childhood friend? It's the stuff of fairytales. While physicality is a weakness of Mesar's, his speed, stickhandling, and skating transform him into a dynamo. His two-way game isn't too shabby, either. Mesar's exceptional world junior performance and reliable play in the OHL this year have shown that he's taken great strides forward. I wouldn't be shocked if he played a handful of games for the Habs as soon as next season. | ||
56 | - | Miko Matikka (+11 ) | Forward, Arizona Coyotes, 13.31. Miko Matikka has one of the most fun-to-say names of the draft. He's also a classic power forward standing at 6'3" with a great slapshot and stickhandling bolstered by a good physical game. While he's struggled after being traded to Waterloo, this season has definitely been a net positive for Matikka. | |
57 | Joakim Kemell (-40 ) | Forward, Nashville Predators, 13.29. There's only one word I can say to convey my thoughts on Kemell's season: oof. After he fell ridiculously in the draft last year, Kemell's season has been nothing short of disastrous. His already-present defensive liabilities only became more apparent, and he took a big step back with his offense, all capped off by a disappointing World Juniors performance. While we musn't forget that Kemell was once considered a top five player in this draft, this season has to improve drastically or it might be time to question if he's worthy of his first round selection. | ||
58 | Ivan Miroshnichenko (-38 ) | Forward, Washington Capitals, 13.18. Miroshnichenko was once considered a generational talent. After being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and taking a step back from hockey, Miroshnichenko slipped all the way to #20 where the Capitals took a massive gamble. So far it's worked out perfectly, as Miroshnichenko has returned to hockey and debuted in the KHL this season. While his performance may be less than expected, it's important to remember that he's a rookie in the KHL that less than a year ago was fighting cancer. Miroshnichenko's ceiling is still as high as it's always been, but given everything he's been through, there's no guarantee he ever reaches that level. | ||
59 | - | Connor Hvidston (+80 ) | Forward, Anaheim Ducks, 13.18 | |
60 | - | Viktor Neuchev (+14 ) | Forward, Buffalo Sabres, 13.11 | |
61 | Josh Filmon (+105 ) | Forward, New Jersey Devils, 13.01 | ||
62 | Owen Beck (-29 ) | Forward, Montreal Canadiens, 12.98. Owen Beck should be much, much higher on this model. He's a defensively sound forward, and the success he reached when he was playing for Mississauga earlier this season was phenomenal. He hasn't reached the same success yet in Peterborough, but Beck is an all-around player that is certainly worth the hype surrounding his name. | ||
63 | - | Jared Davidson (+67 ) | Forward, Montreal Canadiens, 12.73 | |
64 | Danila Yurov (-40 ) | Forward, Minnesota Wild, 12.70. It's weird thinking back and remembering when Yurov was considered a top ten prospect. While he doesn't have any glaring weaknesses, he doesn't have any extraordinary strengths, either, other than his skating. | ||
65 | Kirill Kudryavtsev (+143 ) | Defender, Vancouver Canucks, 12.63. #4 riser. A 7th round pick in this past draft, Kudryavtsev has skyrocketed up the charts. He plays a two way game with smooth skating and a rocket shot from the point, he quarterbacks the powerplay quite well, and is a great penalty killer. The main reason Kudryavtsev isn't even higher on this model is that the Greyhounds stink this year which has dampened his point totals. Kudryavtsev should give Canucks fans something to look be excited about. |
ROUND 3 | TEAM | ORIGINAL | PLAYER | DETAILS |
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66 | Tucker Robertson (+57 ) | Forward, Seattle Kraken, 12.53 | ||
67 | - | Ben Hemmerling (+110 ) | Forward, Vegas Golden Knights, 12.53 | |
68 | - | Nolan Burke | Forward, Nashville Predators, 12.31. An undrafted free agent that has exploded in Sarnia this year. His goalscoring has been phenomenal, but only time will tell if it's sustainable. | |
69 | - | Conor Geekie (-58 ) | Forward, Arizona Coyotes, 12.30. Model's third biggest bust. Oh, Conor Geekie. How the mighty have fallen. The first major bust of the model, Geekie has struggled to take a step forward due to his issues with mobility and his skating that is, to be frank, quite bad. He's still obviously a very skilled player, and his goalscoring certainly has improved this year, but his skating may prevent him from ever reaching the level expected from him this time last year. | |
70 | Amadeus Lombardi (+43 ) | Forward, Detroit Red Wings, 12.30 | ||
71 | Gavin Hayes (-5 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 12.25 | ||
72 | - | Vinzenz Rohrer (+3 ) | Forward, Montreal Canadiens, 12.25. Fun name. That's the main thing I wanted to say. | |
73 | Nikita Yevseyev (+117 ) | Defender, Edmonton Oilers, 12.21. Yevseyev's KHL debut has made him a player to keep an eye on. He's competent defensively, but his offense isn't quite good enough for him to muster any excitement yet. | ||
74 | - | Gleb Trikozov (-14 ) | Forward, Carolina Hurricanes, 12.20. When Trikozov fell out of the first round, everyone said "Russian Factor". However, this season has been nothing but disappointing. While he's a very smart hockey player, his offensive spark just hasn't been there this year, leading to disappointing performances in both the VHL and MHL. | |
75 | Petteri Nurmi (+119 ) | Defender, Montreal Canadiens, 12.20. Nurmi honestly is too high in this model. He's a double overager in Liiga, and neither his defense or offense is developed enough for him to have a shot at cracking the Habs roster. He still has plenty of time, though. | ||
76 | - | Jack Devine (+145 ) | Forward, Florida Panthers, 12.20. #3 riser. While Jack Devine has risen tremendously in the model compared to the draft, it's worth remembering that this was about the place where Devine was expected to go. If I recall correctly, my mock had him somewhere in the 80s. While his finishing needs work, Devine is very good away from the puck. | |
77 | Stephen Halliday (+27 ) | Forward, Ottawa Senators, 11.93 | ||
78 | - | Brandon Lisowsky (+140 ) | Forward, Toronto Maple Leafs, 11.79. #5 riser. Lisowsky is a really interesting prospect. He was taken in the 7th round, mainly due to being average in many aspects. He's a good goalscorer, but this season, he's improved many aspects of his game, catching many people's attention. Lisowsky may not have a high ceiling, but his chances of making the NHL are very high for a seventh round pick. | |
79 | Mattias Hävelid (-34 ) | Defender, San Jose Sharks, 11.75. Havelid falls primarily due to the small sample size of games played this season due to injury. Not anything to be concerned about. | ||
80 | - | Ben King (+27 ) | Forward, Anaheim Ducks, 11.73 | |
81 | Matyas Sapovaliv (-33 ) | Forward, Vegas Golden Knights, 11.60 | ||
82 | - | Aidan Thompson (+8 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 11.39 | |
83 | - | Kyle Jackson (+113 ) | Forward, Seattle Kraken, 11.36 | |
84 | Danil Zhilkin (-7 ) | Forward, Winnipeg Jets, 11.27 | ||
85 | - | Alexis Gendron (+135 ) | Forward, Philadelphia Flyers, 11.20 | |
86 | David Spacek (+67 ) | Defender, Minnesota Wild, 11.05 | ||
87 | Servác Petrovský (+98 ) | Forward, Minnesota Wild, 11.01 | ||
88 | - | Owen Pickering (-67 ) | Defender, Pittsburgh Penguins, 11.00. Pickering, a cousin of Denton Mateychuk, skyrocketed up people's rankings late in the season due to a fantastic showing at the NHL draft combine. His skating is one of the best in his class, and he's a decent two way defender, but he doesn't have a high upside offensively. Defensively, though, he's taken great strides this season, and the only reason he fell is because of the model's flaws. | |
89 | - | Sam Rinzel (-64 ) | Defender, Chicago Hawks, 10.99. Sam Rinzel has not adapted well to the USHL. He was drafted out of high school, as the raw flashes of untapped potential he displayed were tantalizing enough for the Hawks to take on the contract of Petr Mrazek. Rinzel's skating, playmaking, and creativity are all fantastic, but his unrefined game and defensive mistakes have led to his struggles. Rinzel is a very boom-or-bust player, and unfortunately, this season has not gone his way so far. It's still too early to panic. | |
90 | Devin Kaplan (-21 ) | Forward, Philadelphia Flyers, 10.79 | ||
91 | Jordan Gustafson (-12 ) | Forward, Vegas Golden Knights, 10.65 | ||
92 | Noah Laba (+19 ) | Forward, New York Rangers, 10.61 | ||
93 | - | Ludwig Persson (-8 ) | Forward, Washington Capitals, 10.60. Persson has continued to produce offensively, but his defensive game has only decayed this season. As a Caps fan, I'm a little worried. | |
94 | Samuel Savoie (-13 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 10.53. The other Savoie. | ||
95 | Cameron Lund (-61 ) | Forward, San Jose Sharks, 10.42. Taken with a very early second, Lund came from a bit of an untraditional market in the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. In his first season in the NCAA, he hasn't shown the same finishing abilities he's displayed in the past. Regardless, Lund's size and shot allow him to be a formidable player in front of the net, and his speed makes him a decent two-way forward. | ||
96 | Gavin White (+19 ) | Defender, Dallas Stars, 10.42 | ||
97 | Nathan Gaucher (-75 ) | Forward, Anaheim Ducks, 10.40. Gaucher has never been a flashy or particularly skilled player, but his physicality and net-front presence secured him a first round selection. His ceiling has never been high, but his size and snarl make him a safe bet to eventually make the NHL. |
ROUND 4 | TEAM | ORIGINAL | PLAYER | DETAILS |
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98 | Hunter Haight (-51 ) | Forward, Minnesota Wild, 10.30. Haight had a miserable start to the year in Barrie, but after a move to Saginaw, he's playing the best hockey we've seen from him yet. He's quite skilled and mobile, but consistency has been an issue. | ||
99 | Daimon Gardner (+13 ) | Forward, Vancouver Canucks, 10.20 | ||
100 | - | Dyllan Gill (+123 ) | Defender, Tampa Bay Lightning, 10.19 | |
101 | Jérémy Langlois (-7 ) | Defender, Arizona Coyotes, 10.06 | ||
102 | - | Jonathan Lekkerimäki (-87 ) | Forward, Vancouver Canucks, 10.03. Model's biggest bust. In July, I thought the Canucks hit the jackpot when they nabbed Lekkerimaki, but in a very Canucksesque fashion, he's promptly sucked this season with no warning. Where is the Jonathan Lekkerimaki of last season, when he was producing at a higher rate in the SHL than he's producing this season in Allsvenskan? His goalscoring has disappeared, his skating has looked worse, and he's struggled on a team where young players like Noah Ostlund and Liam Ohgren have done well. I can only hope that Lekk can find his game before he loses his shot at the NHL. | |
103 | Brad Lambert (-73 ) | Forward, Winnipeg Jets, 9.99. Remember when Brad Lambert, Matt Savoie, Shane Wright, and Ivan Miroshnichenko were considered the best top four we'd seen in years? It's crazy that they slid so much that none of them were even top three. While Miroshnichenko dealt with injuries and Savoie slipped for his size, Lambert's fall was all of his own making. His inconsistent play and minimal work ethic have led to his offensive skills withering away. Sure, he played well in the preseason and the WHL, but his abysmal AHL and World Juniors performances were hard to watch. Lambert looked uninspired and apathetic. He plays well when he needs to make a good impression, but when it matters, he's nowhere to be found. As I said the day he was drafted, I don't think Aatu Raty is a good comparison for Lambert; this pick reeks of Kristian Vesalainen. No, I don't hate the Jets. Winnipeg fans, I'm sorryyy, please don't obliterate me. | ||
104 | - | Tyson Jugnauth (-4 ) | Defender, Seattle Kraken, 9.91 | |
105 | - | Owen Mehlenbacher (+96 ) | Forward, Detroit Red Wings, 9.82. Quite a fun name. | |
106 | - | Daylan Kuefler (+68 ) | Forward, New York Islanders, 9.78. Another fun name. | |
107 | - | Reid Schaefer (-75 ) | Forward, Edmonton Oilers, 9.74. Schaefer's scoring touch has dissipated, and without it, his snarl is not enough to make him an impact player. Also, his puckhandling weaknesses have become more apparent. | |
108 | - | Kenny Connors (-5 ) | Forward, Los Angeles Kings, 9.68 | |
109 | - | Dans Locmelis (+10 ) | Forward, Boston Bruins, 9.68. | |
110 | Kirill Dolzhenkov (-1 ) | Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets, 9.51 | ||
111 | Alex Bump (+22 ) | Forward, Philadelphia Flyers, 9.31 | ||
112 | - | Abram Wiebe (+97 ) | Defender, Vegas Golden Knights, 9.28 | |
113 | Petr Hauser (+28 ) | Forward, New Jersey Devils, 9.27 | ||
114 | - | Ryan Hofer (+67 ) | Forward, Washington Capitals, 9.21. A big overager who uses his body to create chances, and a pretty good shot, too. Mobility is an issue, though. I got to see Hofer play in person, and he looked much better than I expected. He's not a skilled player, and mobility issues could prevent him from reaching the NHL, but he could be a valuable fourth-liner. If everything goes right, we might even have another Garnet Hathaway on our hands. | |
115 | - | Patrick Guay (+30 ) | Forward, Vegas Golden Knights, 9.16 | |
116 | - | Paul Ludwinski (-77 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 9.12 | |
117 | Lian Bichsel (-99 ) | Defender, Dallas Stars, 9.10. Model's second biggest bust. Oh, Lian. I was never high on you, but I certainly wasn't expecting this. He's a physical defender with very little offensive upside, but this season, he doesn't even look great defensively. In today's game, physicality with no skill only goes so far. | ||
118 | - | Julian Lutz (-75 ) | Forward, Arizona Coyotes, 9.05. His play at the World Juniors was concerning. | |
119 | - | Maxim Barbashev (+42 ) | Forward, New York Rangers, 8.90 | |
120 | - | Graham Sward (+26 ) | Defender, Nashville Predators, 8.87 | |
121 | - | Brennan Ali (+91 ) | Forward, Detroit Red Wings, 8.87 | |
122 | - | Jake Furlong (+18 ) | Defender, San Jose Sharks, 8.76 | |
123 | Kasper Kulonummi (-39 ) | Defender, Nashville Predators, 8.74 | ||
124 | - | George Fegaras (-41 ) | Defender, Dallas Stars, 8.52 | |
125 | - | Dominic James (+48 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 8.52 | |
126 | Maveric Lamoureux (-97 ) | Defender, Arizona Coyotes, 8.34. If you were expecting Maveric Lamoureux any higher, you haven't been paying attention. Lamoureux is a 6'7" terrifying eater of souls who really doesn't contribute offensively, but he's very, very mobile and defensively sound. I'm so thankful he's in the west. If your favorite team plays in the Central Division, and you're not already having nightmares of Maveric Lamoureux, don't worry. You will be soon. | ||
127 | Sandis Vilmanis (+30 ) | Forward, Florida Panthers, 8.34. Fun name! | ||
128 | Barrett Hall (+36 ) | Forward, Seattle Kraken, 8.14 | ||
129 | Marc-Andre Gaudet (+23 ) | Defender, St. Louis Blues, 8.12 |
ROUND 5 | TEAM | ORIGINAL | PLAYER | DETAILS |
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130 | - | Cade Littler (+89 ) | Forward, Calgary Flames, 7.97 | |
131 | - | Arseni Koromyslov (-11 ) | Defender, St. Louis Blues, 7.96 | |
132 | Adam Ingram (-50 ) | Forward, Nashville Predators, 7.95 | ||
133 | - | Vsevolod Komarov (+1 ) | Defender, Buffalo Sabres, 7.82 | |
134 | Zam Plante (+16 ) | Forward, Pittsburgh Penguins, 7.82 | ||
135 | Topi Rönni (-76 ) | Forward, Calgary Flames, 7.81 | ||
136 | - | Cole O'Hara (-22 ) | Forward, Nashville Predators, 7.80 | |
137 | - | Vladimir Grudinin (+19 ) | Defender, Carolina Hurricanes, 7.70. While Grudinin is fast and skilled, his size and decision making made him slip far, far down in the draft this past summer. This season has done nothing to ease those concerns, as they've been even more apparent. | |
138 | Calle Odelius (-73 ) | Defender, New York Islanders, 7.44. Odelius wasn't drafted for his offense, and his defense is still quite good so slipping in the model is nothing to be concerned about. | ||
139 | - | Jake Karabela (+10 ) | Forward, Washington Capitals, 7.43. My favorite name of the draft. Nooo, it's not just because he's a Cap. Okay, fine, it is. I can't help but hear the tune of "ba rum pum pum pum" every time I read his name. | |
140 | - | Jack Hughes (-89 ) | Forward, Los Angeles Kings, 7.34. Often called "The Other Jack Hughes", Jack D Hughes was a very hyped prospect. But, after two straight overwhelming seasons in the NCAA, the hype surrounding him has all but dissipated. | |
141 | Jackson Edward (+59 ) | Defender, Boston Bruins, 7.33 | ||
142 | - | Kaleb Lawrence (+73 ) | Forward, Los Angeles Kings, 7.21 | |
143 | Liam Arnsby (+71 ) | Forward, Florida Panthers, 7.20 | ||
144 | - | Oskar Pettersson (-72 ) | Forward, Ottawa Senators, 7.16 | |
145 | - | Maksymilian Szuber (+18 ) | Defender, Arizona Coyotes, 7.13 | |
146 | - | Lucas Edmonds (-60 ) | Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning, 7.09. I jumped on the Lucas Edmonds band-wagon last year, and whoo, was I wrong. Edmonds' playmaking and puck control haven't transferred over to the pro level, and at this stage in his development, it's quite possible that they won't ever transfer over. | |
147 | - | Joshua Davies (+39 ) | Forward, Florida Panthers, 7.04 | |
148 | - | Isaiah George (-50 ) | Defender, New York Islanders, 7.00. He's a defensive defender, so nothing to be concerned about. | |
149 | - | Nolan Collins (+18 ) | Defender, Pittsburgh Penguins, 6.93 | |
150 | - | Cameron O'Neill (-7 ) | Forward, Ottawa Senators, 6.90 | |
151 | Dylan James (-111 ) | Forward, Detroit Red Wings, 6.73 | ||
152 | - | Alexander Pelevin (+53 ) | Defender, Carolina Hurricanes, 6.67. I never understood the Alex Pelevin hype, to be honest. He was ranked quite high before the draft, but his skating and mobility issues made me wonder why anyone would call him a 'shutdown defender'. This year, his skating has improved ever so slightly, and I doubt Pelevin will ever hit North American ice. | |
153 | - | Alexander Perevalov (-82 ) | Forward, Carolina Hurricanes, 6.62. Alex Perevalov's scoring ability that we got used to seeing last year is nowhere to be found. He's still playing okay defensively, but his stock is dropping, fast. | |
154 | Ryan Healey (-33 ) | Defender, Minnesota Wild, 6.61 | ||
155 | - | Michael Callow (-1 ) | Forward, Anaheim Ducks, 6.58 | |
156 | - | Joey Muldowney (+16 ) | Forward, San Jose Sharks, 6.58 | |
157 | - | Hunter McDonald (+8 ) | Defender, Philadelphia Flyers, 6.44 | |
158 | - | Garrett Brown (-59 ) | Defender, Winnipeg Jets, 6.43 | |
159 | - | Matthew Morden (-28 ) | Defender, Arizona Coyotes, 6.42 | |
160 | - | Elias Pettersson (-80 ) | Defender, Vancouver Canucks, 6.41. The other Elias Pettersson has failed to find success thus far. | |
161 | Marek Alscher (-68 ) | Defender, Florida Panthers, 6.39 |
ROUND 6 | TEAM | ORIGINAL | PLAYER | DETAILS |
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162 | - | Nils Juntorp (+26 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 6.31 | |
163 | - | Mats Lindgren (-57 ) | Defender, Buffalo Sabres, 6.18 | |
164 | - | Isaac Howard (-133 ) | Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning, 6.12. Model's fourth biggest bust and #3 faller. Skating and speed have left Howard dead in the water. While it's possible he could improve with coaching, and he still packs the same snarl, Howard hasn't been able to make an impact in the NCAA at all. Now is the time to be concerned. | |
165 | - | Filip Nordberg (-101 ) | Defender, Ottawa Senators, 6.02. Aggressive and physical, but his lack of offense and mediocre defense are concerning. | |
166 | - | Simon Forsmark (-65 ) | Defender, Carolina Hurricanes, 5.63 | |
167 | Santeri Sulku (+30 ) | Forward, Philadelphia Flyers, 5.56 | ||
168 | - | Ben MacDonald (-77 ) | Forward, Seattle Kraken, 5.55 | |
169 | Michael Fisher (-93 ) | Defender, San Jose Sharks, 5.54 | ||
170 | - | Tyson Dyck (+36 ) | Forward, Ottawa Senators, 5.51 | |
171 | Fabian Wagner (+4 ) | Forward, Winnipeg Jets, 5.42 | ||
172 | - | Gustav Karlsson (+15 ) | Forward, Buffalo Sabres, 5.39 | |
173 | Reese Laubach (+44 ) | Forward, San Jose Sharks, 5.39 | ||
174 | - | Benjamin Strinden (+36 ) | Forward, Nashville Predators, 5.37 | |
175 | - | Adam Zlnka (+29 ) | Forward, Arizona Coyotes, 5.30 | |
176 | - | Tnias Mathurin (-39 ) | Defender, Detroit Red Wings, 5.22 | |
177 | - | Joel Määttä (+45 ) | Forward, Edmonton Oilers, 5.17 | |
178 | Kai Schwindt | Forward, Florida Panthers, 5.09. Brother of Cole Schwindt, who was recently traded from Florida to Calgary in the Tkachuk-Huberdeau deal. | ||
179 | - | Michael Milne (-90 ) | Forward, Minnesota Wild, 5.07 | |
180 | - | Tomas Hamara (-93 ) | Defender, Ottawa Senators, 5.04. Hamara has not adapted well to North American ice. His offense is gone, his defense is meh, and he looks unmotivated. | |
181 | - | Zakary Karpa (+10 ) | Forward, New York Rangers, 4.91 | |
182 | - | Ryan Chesley (-145 ) | Defender, Washington Capitals, 4.87. Model's fifth biggest bust and #1 faller. Holy crap. I was not expecting to be writing this. Ryan Chesley was, on draft day, considered the best defensive defender in the draft. So when the Caps nabbed him in the second round (with VV's pick, too), I was ecstatic. However, this season has gone downhill. Chesley doesn't look the same defensively, while he's still good, he doesn't seem to have the same ability to lock down a play and defend the rush. His decision making has also been questionable, and his shooting has been abysmal. I sincerely hope that Chesley can turn things around, as the potential he once showed was great, but I'm not hopeful. | |
183 | - | Klavs Veinbergs (+41 ) | Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning, 4.86 | |
184 | - | Noah Warren (-142 ) | Defender, Anaheim Ducks, 4.81. #2 faller. Warren was selected for his physicality, so falling in the model is expected. However, it surely was not expected for him to fall this much. His offense has declined, and his defense hasn't improved, either. Warren's lack of skill may prevent him from reaching the NHL, despite his size. | |
185 | - | Maximilian Kilpinen (-56 ) | Forward, Detroit Red Wings, 4.76 | |
186 | Theo Wallberg (-18 ) | Defender, Ottawa Senators, 4.75 | ||
187 | Rieger Lorenz (-131 ) | Forward, Minnesota Wild, 4.55. #4 faller. Last year, Lorenz played in the AJHL but produced as such a high rate that he was considered as valuable as players in the CHL. However, in the NCAA, it's evident that he has gaping holes in his game, especially regarding his shot, stickhandling, and passing. | ||
188 | Joel Ratkovic Berndtsson (+14 ) | Forward, Buffalo Sabres, 4.54 | ||
189 | - | David Gucciardi (+24 ) | Defender, Washington Capitals, 4.53 | |
190 | - | Riku Tohila (+9 ) | Forward, Chicago Hawks, 4.50 | |
191 | - | Jared Wright (-22 ) | Forward, Los Angeles Kings, 4.47. The other Wright. | |
192 | - | Nathan Staios | Defender, Florida Panthers, 4.36 | |
193 | - | Linus Sjödin (+18 ) | Forward, Buffalo Sabres, 4.31 |
ROUND 7 | TEAM | ORIGINAL | PLAYER | DETAILS |
---|
194 | - | Jackson Dorrington (-18 ) | Defender, Vancouver Canucks, 4.30 | |
195 | Landon Sim (-11 ) | Forward, St. Louis Blues, 4.23 | ||
196 | - | Connor Kurth (-4 ) | Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning, 4.11 | |
197 | - | Chris Romaine (-4 ) | Defender, Colorado Avalanche, 3.96 | |
198 | - | Luke Devlin (-16 ) | Forward, Pittsburgh Penguins, 3.94 | |
199 | - | Vittorio Mancini (-40 ) | Defender, New York Rangers, 3.87 | |
200 | Charlie Leddy (-74 ) | Defender, New Jersey Devils, 3.83 | ||
201 | - | James Fisher (+2 ) | Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets, 3.45 | |
202 | - | Angus Booth (-86 ) | Defender, Los Angeles Kings, 3.19 | |
203 | Aleksanteri Kaskimäki (-130 ) | Forward, St. Louis Blues, 3.13. #5 faller. Kaskimaki's defensive flaws and decision making have only gotten worse this year. Also, his underdeveloped skating has been an issue since his promotion to Liiga. | ||
204 | Jack Sparkes (-24 ) | Defender, Los Angeles Kings, 3.08 | ||
205 | Cole Spicer (-88 ) | Forward, Boston Bruins, 3.06 | ||
206 | Joe Fleming | Defender, Vegas Golden Knights, 2.79 | ||
207 | - | Anton Johansson (-102 ) | Defender, Detroit Red Wings, 2.45 | |
208 | - | Artem Barabosha (-10 ) | Defender, New Jersey Devils, 1.68. Zero offensive upside. Defensively competent, but not enough to compete in today's NHL. | |
209 | - | Eli Barnett (-14 ) | Defender, Eli Barnett, 1.40. Barnett's height was the only reason he was drafted. No offense, no defense, and not even much snarl in his game. Barnett is about as spicy as a glass of milk. | |
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