1 | | - | | Arizona, now Utah, now gets the player that they will build their new franchise around. Celebrini is a welcome addition to an already stacked forward core that includes Guenther, Cooley, But, and Geekie. Celebrini has no holes in his game, he mostly provides offense but can be at times solid defensively as well. |
2 | | - | | THIS IS CHICAGO'S PICK!!!! The Blackhawks get their guy in Levshunov. Like said in the trade analysis, the Blackhawks are high on Levshunov and Dickinson, between the two Levshunov makes the most sense. Solid two-way defender with size, a booming shot, solid skating. Just needs to improve his decision making. |
3 | | - | | I know wingers are the Sharks strongest position, but I don't see Demidov being drafted past 3rd. The Russian factor is there, but Demidov arguably has the most upside out of any player in the draft, including Celebrini. If the Sharks are able to get the potential out of him, Demidov could end up being the best player in this draft within a few years. |
4 | | - | | THIS IS THE KRAKEN PICK!!!!! In their three years of existence, the Kraken haven't drafted a defender in the 1st round, given that this draft is loaded with D, they should go for one. The best D on the board is Silayev, who also has a lot of upside. His offense has really taken another level this year while still being able to maintain defensive standards. Brings a combination of size and speed which isn't found in many prospects. |
5 | | - | | Given Anaheim's stacked prospect pool, I could see them taking a risk on the biggest boom or bust prospect in my top 10. Eiserman has to develop his game outside his shot, but you can easily teach team defense and skating. Still worth drafting in the top 5, not a reach. |
6 | | - | | If Eiserman is available, he will 100% be the pick. He fits the Columbus system very well as I see a lot of Laine in his game. In the case of him being off the board, I see the Blue Jackets targeting Lindstrom. Not a bad pick by any means, Lindstrom brings size and speed to the lineup, two things that Columbus needs. Will perfectly fit alongside anyone given his two-way game and versatility. |
7 | | - | | The first reach of the draft. I don't have Iginla in my top 10 as of now, but that could change very soon. Montreal is apparently very high on him, so he will be the pick. Montreal tends to pick players that have hockey sense, character, and compete and Iginla checks all the boxes. Solid two-way player that will fit alongside offensive players like Slafkovsky and Caufield. |
8 | | - | | THIS IS THE FLAMES PICK!!! Back to back reaches here. Personally I would prefer Catton or Connelly here, but the Flames seem to heavily value size over anything in their prospects, something that I'm NOT a fan of. But this mock is more of what I think the GM will do more so than what I want to happen. The Flames will take MBN here as he reminds me a lot like Matthew Tkachuk. Offensively gifted but provides grit as well. |
9 | | - | | With the second of back-to-back picks, the Flames take a guy that plays in their backyard in Yakemchuk. Solid offensive defender, but can provide size and physicality. More of a Brent Burns type player. |
10 | | - | | This is where Connelly goes. The Devils will go one of two ways with this pick: physical forward or goal-scorer. It is rumored that the Devils are no longer high on Holtz, let Connelly come in and inject goal-scoring. I also see a lot of Jack Hughes in his game, let him come in and be mentored under Hughes. Pretty much ignore the off-ice issues, take him for the talent. |
11 | | - | | THIS IS THE BLUES PICK!!!! Between Dickinson and Buium, Dickinson is the more safer option. The Blues have a clear need on D, so the play I believe will be best D available. Dickinson is a solid two-way defender with a booming shot, great skating, and elite defensive prowess. Blues fans will be jumping up and down seeing Dickinson fall in their lap. |
12 | | - | | Catton does not fall much further than this. Simple as that. He also addresses the Flyers clear need for a center. |
13 | | - | | The Wild are a team stuck in no man's land. Are they competing or are they rebuilding? But they will be ecstatic when they see Buium fall into their lap. Solid two-way defender with offensive skill. This isn't the type of pick that Guerin normally makes, but Buium has fallen far enough. |
14 | | | | If Yakemchuk is available, he will 100% be the pick. If not, the pick will be Parekh. He is unreal offensively, defensive game needs 1 year of development but the wait will be worth it. RD is the Sharks biggest need, Parekh will become their best D prospect in general. |
15 | | - | | Biggest reach of the draft. Personally I think this is too high for Elick, but I see the Red Wings doing it. He's played with Danielson this season, so assuming the scouts have been watching Danielson, they will also have their sights on Elick. The offensive upside is limited, but defensively Elick is elite. |
16 | | - | | THIS IS THE SABRES PICK!!! The Sabres have a clear need of RD, and Jiricek is the best available. He's had injury troubles, but has similar upside as his brother. Big kid, booming shot, dynamic skater, and solid defensive smarts. |
17 | | - | | THIS IS THE CAPS PICK!!!! The Capitals don't have a solid prospect pool, I see them drafting Stiga here, who is BPA. He is so underrated, defensive game and skating alone he's a top 15 player in this draft. He doesn't use his strength a whole lot, but the two-way game he provides is enticing. |
18 | | - | | This isn't exactly a steal, but its a high upside pick for the Islanders. Helenius will address their center problems, mostly provides offense but can be bet upon defensively as well. |
19 | | - | | At this point, it doesn't matter who Vegas drafts. Whoever they draft will pretty much be gone within 1-2 years. Boisvert's NHL debut will NOT be with the Golden Knights. But he's an up and down player, whenever Boisvert is at his best he provides a solid two-way game. |
20 | | | | If the Blackhawks have their eye on Dickinson (they didn't draft him), I feel like they will draft Greentree. I personally prefer Chernyshov more, but the Blackhawks don't draft Russians. They love CHLers way more, and Greentree would pair up nicely with Bedard. |
21 | | - | | LA gets the next version of Tyler Toffoli here. |
22 | | - | | The Predators need defensive stability up front, I feel like Hemming could provide that. Plus Trotz loves his defensively oriented players. |
23 | | - | | Toronto is a deep team, but if Chernyshov is still sitting on the board he will be the pick. This is high upside at 23rd. |
24 | | | | Sahlin Wallenius may be off the board to some people, but he reminds me of Pavel Mintyukov. |
25 | | - | | Bednarik just feels like an Avalanche, he reminds me of Rantanen. |
26 | | | | Ottawa has a clear need of RD, they draft Mews here, who could inject offense on the back end. I did consider Emery here, but Mews plays in Ottawa's backyard and also reminds me of Erik Karlsson in many ways. Also once had the pedigree of being a top 10 player coming into the season. |
27 | | | | Since Calgary is rebuilding, I feel like they will not only stick to their routes by drafting bigger players, but also go for upside. They will draft the once called best player in the draft in Kiviharju. Undersized at 5'8" but provides a do-it-all game. |
28 | | | | The Flyers need a shutdown defender to complement the likes of Bonk and York, here they get Emery. |
29 | | | | Montreal goes BPA with this pick. That's Basha. |
30 | | - | | This feels like a Canes type pick. They love drafting high schoolers and haven't missed out on those in terms of development, the Morrow and Nadeau picks have paid off well. Burrows has just transitioned over to the USHL and was great in high school. So far doing well in the USHL. |
31 | | - | | Dallas goes BPA, which is Artamonov. |
32 | | - | | The Rangers go off the board here and draft Caswell. Its not like he's a bad player, he's actually very good. Once had the pedigree of being a top 5 player, he was just jumped by a lot of players. Caswell is basically a rawer version of Gabe Perreault, more so a Cole Perfetti type player. |