1 | | - | | Not happy the hawks get this one but no brainer |
2 | | - | | I still think Carlsson is a little closer than some think, but it's Fantilli safely |
3 | | - | | Jarmo can't be too upset with this outcome. A top-2 pick in most years if not 1 in a couple drafts |
4 | | - | | The upside is too high. I am NOT accounting for any of the drama around Matvei potentially pulling a Jagr and wanting to go to specific teams -- but when you get a chance to draft a generational guy, you do it. Most prospects take a couple years anyway. He is perennial all-star / #1 pick in many years' drafts and you take that all day at #4 even if you wait 3 years. But we'll see where all this craziness shakes out. |
5 | | - | | I think the last couple years we've learned a ton about D-men moving up. This could be a spot but for now, sticking Smith. |
6 | | - | | Widely predicted, although I have a feel he may be gone by #5. |
7 | | - | | Here's where things get VERY interesting. The Flyers prospect pool is not deep, and terrible at D. Andrae I love but he is not a top-pair guy you throw out late in a tie game at the NHL level. I think they want a foundational D-man here, especially with the wealth of forwards in next years' draft when I bet Philly thinks they're picking even higher. This is reliant on Philly believing in Sim's top-pair upside, but if you believe it, I don't think you settle for Willander or ASP here. A risk, but the payoff is massive. |
8 | | - | | As a Wings fan I'm sad to see Dvorsky go here. His U18 level-set how good he is against his peers and how skating looks a bit relative to the league you're in (aka, he's ok, but not poor here). I like his game a lot |
9 | | - | | I think the Wings will be a bit sad with how this board broke, as I bet Simashev and Dvorsky are high on their list. Unorthodox for DET to go USNTDP, but Leonard is a great 2-way player the wings value, and has more goal-scoring touch than most prospects as well to scratch that itch the Wings desperately have |
10 | | - | | Vancouver had a hunch but is sad to see it develop -- the 2-way D-men are all going before pick #11. Willander is too solid in too valuable a position to drop further. Folks had Korchinski, Mintyukov, even Nemec too low last year and need to learn this position is SO hard to get in FA that you need to address in the draft. |
11 | | - | | I think VAN wants a more two-dimensional guy, but are a little out of options. I think they have Willander and Simashev higher here and will need to believe ASP can work on his rush defense and low-slot D and beef up to be reliable top-4 and not just a PP threat. He's a bit Hughes-y |
12 | | | | I think a lot of teams will balk at Benson (he is NOT 5'10") but AZ isn't one of them and matches him with teammate Geekie. Too strong on offense and worth the translatability risk |
13 | | - | | Buffalo has the luxury of going anywhere here and I think they land a true C prospect. They also look at Oliver Moore heavily. |
14 | | - | | I think Wood got unfair slack for playing NCAA so young -- he really looked good for his age, and then was great in U18s. His timeline to the pros is likely shorter than some above him |
15 | | - | | I would have liked Moore to the Wings, but his top-end speed and upside make him a good swing for Nashville who has 1C upside, although likely 2C. Worth the shot at 15 |
16 | | - | | Strong skater and shooter. I'm personally not the biggest Barlow fan but he's higher floor than many. |
17 | | | | Wings bank a bit on Honzek being slow last year due to injury. Right now Honzek is so much more physical than his peers, which will even out. But he does play a nice all-around game. Lower ceiling but decent floor |
18 | | - | | Jets may lose a lot of scoring the next few years and swing for a guy whose speed may be an issue but nobody is more proven (outside the top-4) in putting pucks in the net |
19 | | | | I love Daniil and he's worth the projection variation for Chicago. He is so complete for his size and age and could go much higher -- I don't really have a great NHL comparable for him. Maybe Tuch on the wing? A bit Thompson-esque? It's hard to tell, he's so unique, but unquestionably talented |
20 | | - | | Francis has gone more with-the-board than most GMs but here he goes off it -- I think Bonk has a solid two way game and rises a bit draft day. |
21 | | - | | Minnesota also has the luxury of doing anything, and Musty has great offensive touch |
22 | | | | Sale is hard to predict, and unlike Wood who I think gets unfairly hurt by level of competition, Sale is a bit less dog-on-bone and I think that hurts his stock mightily. But the tools are there |
23 | | - | | I love Otto as a well-rounded player and hope the NYR talent development system can help him become a middle-6 any situation C/W |
24 | | | | Nashville takes a slot-him-anywhere offensive weapon with some more risk in projection (small and not blazing skater) but with offensive upside |
25 | | | | Really well-rounded player. Blues double-dip in Sweden |
26 | | | | May go higher, very solid player plus the premium on reliable defensemen |
27 | | - | | Colorado is barren in the cupboard and adds a scoring threat |
28 | | | | I don't think this board broke at all the way Toronto would like, but still grab a capable defenseman who would go higher except for size |
29 | | | | This will surprise folks, but his raw talent is fantastic and the Blues bet he will return to former form where he was a consensus top D-man a year-ish ago |
30 | | - | | Carolina swings for a big scoring threat who otherwise may have one-dimensional risk |
31 | | | | This pick will be a surprise, but there's a lot of offensive upside to like even if Liiga was rougher for him this year. Been a trend with a few prospects in recent years, including Lambert last year |
32 | | - | | I think Vegas adds a d-man, although have needs across the boardin the pipeline
Near-misses in the first round for me were several players whose NHL-projectability may be in question due to skating, size, or defense, including Brindley, Heidt, Nadeau Dragicevic. A couple I think could sneak in are Stramel, Morin, Dvorak, Fisker-Molgaard, and Pitre who fit the NHL mold a bit better but are maybe less developed at-present |