2018 NHL Draft Prospects

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I try to watch as much as I can. I don't know everything. A few of these players I haven't even seen play, but I read what others say. This is my best guess as of now.

Top 40 skaters.

1. Rasmus Dahlin
2. Bode Wilde
3. Alexander Khovanov
4. Joe Veleno
5. Andrei Svechnikov
6. Libor Zabransky
7. Jake Wise
8. Filip Zadina
9. Ryan Merkley
10. Danila Galenyuk
11. Evan Bouchard
12. Benoit Oliver Grouix
13. Grigori Denisenko
14. KeAndre Miller
15. Oliver Wahlstrom
16. Ryan McLeod
17. Jared McIsaac
18. Adam Boqvist
19. Isac Lundestrom
20. Ty Smith
21. Samuel Fagemo
22. Jesperi Kotkaniemi
23. Allan McShane
24. Jett Woo
25. Joel Farabee
26. Anderson McDonald
27. Jacob Semik
28. Allan McShane
29. Jakub Lauko
30. John Gruden
31. Patrick Giles
32. Martin Fehervary
33. David Gustafsson
34. Mikhail Bitsadze
35. Dominik Bokk
36. Lukas Wernblom
37. Alexander Alexeyev
38. Tyler Weiss
39. Calen Addison
40. Kirill Nizhnikov

Some goalies who are looking like players who could get drafted: Jakub Skarek, Keegan Karki, Amir Miftakhov, Alexis Gravel, Olivier Rodrigue, Kevin Mandolese, Daniil Isayev, Lukas Dostal, Jacob Ingham

 

[Wooren]

I try to watch as much as I can. I don't know everything. A few of these players I haven't even seen play, but I read what others say. This is my best guess as of now.

Top 40 skaters.

1. Rasmus Dahlin
2. Bode Wilde
3. Alexander Khovanov
4. Joe Veleno
5. Andrei Svechnikov
6. Libor Zabransky
7. Jake Wise
8. Filip Zadina
9. Ryan Merkley
10. Danila Galenyuk
11. Evan Bouchard
12. Benoit Oliver Grouix
13. Grigori Denisenko
14. KeAndre Miller
15. Oliver Wahlstrom
16. Ryan McLeod
17. Jared McIsaac
18. Adam Boqvist
19. Isac Lundestrom
20. Ty Smith
21. Samuel Fagemo
22. Jesperi Kotkaniemi
23. Allan McShane
24. Jett Woo
25. Joel Farabee
26. Anderson McDonald
27. Jacob Semik
28. Allan McShane
29. Jakub Lauko
30. John Gruden
31. Patrick Giles
32. Martin Fehervary
33. David Gustafsson
34. Mikhail Bitsadze
35. Dominik Bokk
36. Lukas Wernblom
37. Alexander Alexeyev
38. Tyler Weiss
39. Calen Addison
40. Kirill Nizhnikov

Some goalies who are looking like players who could get drafted: Jakub Skarek, Keegan Karki, Amir Miftakhov, Alexis Gravel, Olivier Rodrigue, Kevin Mandolese, Daniil Isayev, Lukas Dostal, Jacob Ingham

Interesting list.

Zabransky is WAY too high in my opinion, didn't impress me at the U17 tournament that much. Lauko had good tournament, I would still have him lower though. Surprised you completely left out Milos Roman and David Levin.
Thanks for the list though

My current ranking of Czech players:

1. Zadina F - Far and away the best Czech eligible
2. Skarek G - Goalie with 1st round potential
3. Kaut F
4. Dajcar D
5. Kondelik F - 6'7 C with some decent skill
6. Zabransky D
7. Dostal G
8. Kral D
9. Lauko F
10. Malik D
11./Wild card/ - Sedlak F He was one of the few Czech forwards I was really looking forward to see at the U17 Challange, but he didn't make it. (reason he hasn't been taken remains a mystery to me) Great stats in Finnish U18 and got his 1st U20 game like a week ago.

 

[Eyelanders]

11./Wild card/ - Sedlak F He was one of the few Czech forwards I was really looking forward to see at the U17 Challange, but he didn't make it. (reason he hasn't been taken remains a mystery to me) Great stats in Finnish U18 and got his 1st U20 game like a week ago.

Zdenek Sedlak has looked really good with Kärpät U18 - deadly shot, is very strong on the puck and has good puck skills, especially for a 6'2 forward. I would be very surprised if he's not among the very best Czech prospects in the 2018 draft when all is said and done.

 

[Fantomas]

I try to watch as much as I can. I don't know everything. A few of these players I haven't even seen play, but I read what others say. This is my best guess as of now.

Top 40 skaters.

1. Rasmus Dahlin
2. Bode Wilde
3. Alexander Khovanov
4. Joe Veleno
5. Andrei Svechnikov

Khovanov over Svechnikov? No, just no.

LOL. No.

 

[kp61c]

Khovanov over Svechnikov? No, just no.

LOL. No.

yep, that seemed a bit crazy to me too

 

[Fantomas]

Svechnikov has that ideal body that scouts look for. And the ideal skillset to go with that body. Khovanov doesn't.

 

[wings5]

Khovanov over Svechnikov? No, just no.

LOL. No.

If Svechnikov stays in the North American junior hockey system for years then who knows, he may be passed by other Russians. Also, I imagine Anderson McDonald and Nizhnikov will be much higher by next year.

 

[Fantomas]

Also Joe Veleno is not better than Svechnikov.

 

[Eugene85]

Svechnikov is the best forward available for 2018 draft at the moment. He may degrade as a player or someone may pass him in a year, whatever. But right now he is the best.

 

[AirJordan]

Svechnikov is the best forward available for 2018 draft at the moment. He may degrade as a player or someone may pass him in a year, whatever. But right now he is the best.

and meanwhile it is really not even close. he outscored wise, veleno, khovanov and the rest of the 2018 bunch at several tournaments, scored as an 16 year old 4 goals at the ivan hlinka, ppg right there in the ushl and nevertheless some ppl rank him behind those prospects... he was really head an shoulders above khovanov and denisenko at the u17 challenge (plus pre tournament), you simply can't think otherwise if you saw them play. wilde and dahlin are maybe a different story, cause they are defenders. but for forwards, not even close.

 

[czechcanadian]

Interesting list.

Zabransky is WAY too high in my opinion, didn't impress me at the U17 tournament that much. Lauko had good tournament, I would still have him lower though. Surprised you completely left out Milos Roman and David Levin.
Thanks for the list though

My current ranking of Czech players:

1. Zadina F - Far and away the best Czech eligible
2. Skarek G - Goalie with 1st round potential
3. Kaut F
4. Dajcar D
5. Kondelik F - 6'7 C with some decent skill
6. Zabransky D
7. Dostal G
8. Kral D
9. Lauko F
10. Malik D
11./Wild card/ - Sedlak F He was one of the few Czech forwards I was really looking forward to see at the U17 Challange, but he didn't make it. (reason he hasn't been taken remains a mystery to me) Great stats in Finnish U18 and got his 1st U20 game like a week ago.

Just because Zabransky didn't do that great in one tournament doesn't mean a whole lot. From what I've heard he's a big talent. Let's see how he does in his draft year.

 

[Wooren]

Just because Zabransky didn't do that great in one tournament doesn't mean a whole lot. From what I've heard he's a big talent. Let's see how he does in his draft year.

I based it on what I've seen and heard about them. That's one of the reasons why I have the late 99 are so high right now, I have seen them more than the 00. Zabransky remains a potential top prospect in my eyes. He just simply dissapointed me in the U17 tournament.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Khovanov over Svechnikov? No, just no.

LOL. No.

Center over winger.

Svechnikov is very good, but unless you are a goal scoring winger like Patrik Laine who is going to score 50 goals, high draft pick wingers aren't as valuable as high draft pick centers.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

I try to watch as much as I can. I don't know everything. A few of these players I haven't even seen play, but I read what others say. This is my best guess as of now.

Top 40 skaters.

1. Rasmus Dahlin
2. Bode Wilde
3. Alexander Khovanov
4. Joe Veleno
5. Andrei Svechnikov
6. Libor Zabransky
7. Jake Wise
8. Filip Zadina
9. Ryan Merkley
10. Danila Galenyuk
11. Evan Bouchard
12. Benoit Oliver Grouix
13. Grigori Denisenko
14. KeAndre Miller
15. Oliver Wahlstrom
16. Ryan McLeod
17. Jared McIsaac
18. Adam Boqvist
19. Isac Lundestrom
20. Ty Smith
21. Samuel Fagemo
22. Jesperi Kotkaniemi
23. Allan McShane
24. Jett Woo
25. Joel Farabee
26. Anderson McDonald
27. Jacob Semik
28. Allan McShane
29. Jakub Lauko
30. John Gruden
31. Patrick Giles
32. Martin Fehervary
33. David Gustafsson
34. Mikhail Bitsadze
35. Dominik Bokk
36. Lukas Wernblom
37. Alexander Alexeyev
38. Tyler Weiss
39. Calen Addison
40. Kirill Nizhnikov

Some goalies who are looking like players who could get drafted: Jakub Skarek, Keegan Karki, Amir Miftakhov, Alexis Gravel, Olivier Rodrigue, Kevin Mandolese, Daniil Isayev, Lukas Dostal, Jacob Ingham

In the QMJHL, Philipp Kurashev leads all 2018 eligibles in points (14 pts in 20 games). He has 10 points in his last 7.

 

[enj92]

Center over winger.

Svechnikov is very good, but unless you are a goal scoring winger like Patrik Laine who is going to score 50 goals, high draft pick wingers aren't as valuable as high draft pick centers.

It's rightly in the way if both are equally good, but svechnikov is clearly better player at the moment.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

In the QMJHL, Philipp Kurashev leads all 2018 eligibles in points (14 pts in 20 games). He has 10 points in his last 7.

Its all a guess. Kurahsev could very well be listed if someone else made a list, and he was considered for my list.

I'm not sure points matters when comparing McIsaac and Kurashev. A winger should have more points. Kurashev was the oldest of all those players also.

How many games into the season are we? I wouldn't assume that the best draft prospect is always the player with the most points early in the season. There are many different factors like position, age, style of play, floor vs. ceiling.

It's rightly in the way if both are equally good, but svechnikov is clearly better player at the moment.

I didn't think of it as Khovanov vs. Svechnikov when I made the list. I was considering the case for Khovanov as a top 5 pick. He's played at two major international tournaments so far, the YOG and WHC-17. He was tied for first in points at the YOG and second in points at the WHC-17. His current MHL PPG average as a 16 year old is only worse than Kucherov and Buchnevich. He's also taller than I initially thought, 5'11 and seems to have grown some recently, so I wouldn't put him in the same category as Wise who's been 5'10 for a few years, although I did say recently that Wise and Khovanov have the same concerns, but I'm changing my opinion on that. I've watched him play a few times, and he's a very good player. A player like that, whether Russian, whether on the same team as Svechnikov, thats a player who profiles as a likely top 5 pick. If Svechnikov was not in the same draft, I think a lot of Russians would be talking about Khovanov as a possible 1OA. I also don't think Svechnikov is so much better, although maybe he's a little better. I also only put him two spots higher, and its all a guess. I tend to prefer centers to wingers as well.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

FYI, Kurashev is a center. His playing style was compared to Jonathan Huberdeau.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

I hope to god some promising Finns emerge for the 2018 draft, or else it is going to be terrible for us :/

 

[duga]

FYI, Kurashev is a center. His playing style was compared to Jonathan Huberdeau.

He was switching between LW and C the last 2 years. Was Hischier's Left Wing 2 years ago for Bern's U17 team. And IIRC played mostly C for Zurich's U20 last year. then played along Hischier again at this year's Ivan Hlinka.
Isn't on Hischier's talent level, but nevertheless a fine prospect.
It's not even sure he's the best swiss late 99er. Nando Eggenberger has played a few games in the NLA this season, and hasn't looked out of place. Different Player-type though.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

He was switching between LW and C the last 2 years. Was Hischier's Left Wing 2 years ago for Bern's U17 team. And IIRC played mostly C for Zurich's U20 last year. then played along Hischier again at this year's Ivan Hlinka.
Isn't on Hischier's talent level, but nevertheless a fine prospect.
It's not even sure he's the best swiss late 99er. Nando Eggenberger has played a few games in the NLA this season, and hasn't looked out of place. Different Player-type though.

Yes he can play both but he only played center so far this season.

 

[duga]

Yes he can play both but he only played center so far this season.

Yep. And I'd rather have him stay on C. Suits his smarts and hands better IMO.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Yep. And I'd rather have him stay on C. Suits his smarts and hands better IMO.

Exactly. He has to get better on faceoffs though.

 

[czechcanadian]

I based it on what I've seen and heard about them. That's one of the reasons why I have the late 99 are so high right now, I have seen them more than the 00. Zabransky remains a potential top prospect in my eyes. He just simply dissapointed me in the U17 tournament.

I understand that. I really hope he turns into a star. His stats are just jaw dropping. Maybe he's just another Zacha that plays well for club but not for country

 

[Loffer]

Is there any potential superstar like McDavid, Eichel and Matthews in this draft?

Most likely but hardly anybody matching Laine's exquisite skillset.

 

[SergeConstantin74]