I have a short list of players I'd really be targeting at 30 unless there's some major faller. Other than that I'm content to move back. In no particular order it's Jesse Pulkkinen (LHD), Stian Stolberg (LHD), Michael Hage (C), Jett Luchanko (C) and Sacha Boisvert (C).
Some of them have really flew up the rankings so most if not all may not even be available to us. Based off Bob McKenzie's list, Pulkkinen is the only one ranked after where we select.
Let's say all those guys are off the board, in all likelihood BPA will probably be a winger. You'd be looking at prospects like Basha, Artamanov, etc... I'm not against it, these picks could be 4/5 years out from being impact players if they even make it. By then Kreider, Mika, Panarin, Trocheck are either gone or on their way out. New blood will come in. But if it came down to it, I'd rather move down than draft a pure winger. Maybe you move the 1st rounder for an early 2nd and a late 2nd.
There's a few players I like projected for the 2nd round. I know a lot of people are high on Alfons Freij (LHD). He could land in the 2nd, I wouldn't mind the pick. But I'm also a little skeptical of these Swedish defenders. I hate to say it. Their recent track record is shockingly bad. There's a laundry list of them for whatever reason that just haven't met expectations. Brännström, Liljegren, Boqvist, Johansson, Lundkvist, Sandin, Söderström, Broberg, Björnfot... it feels like these guys were drafted yesterday, some of them are already in their mid 20s. The jury is still out on a few of them but they certainly haven't inspired much confidence. I even left out a bunch of the 2nd rounders. They've been incredibly disappointing, it definitely gives me some pause. There's a few other crafty Swedish defenders projected for the 2nd/3rd as well. I'm not saying don't draft them but the track record isn't inspiring.
Big Will Skahan (LHD) from the USNTDP could make sense in the 2nd. McKenzie has him at #49. The point totals aren't sexy, not a ton of offense but he's the sort of player where if he reaches his ceiling he may compliment a guy like Adam Fox really well. Keep an eye out for him, he's going to BC with our boys. No doubt this is right up Drury's alley.
Leon Muggli (LHD) is flying a bit under the radar. The games I've seen there was nothing over the top that really jumped off the page, just a steady player. It's important to remember the kid is a 17 year old playing in the top men's Swiss league. The tools are there. Look at how good JJ Moser has been for Arizona. They took him as an overager at 20 years old after a few seasons in the Swiss League. His final being his big breakout season, the year he was drafted. McKenzie has Muggli at #56.
The big Swedish center Simon Zether is ranked all the way down at #88 on Bob's list now. Honestly I feel playing such a minor role for so long in the SHL really hurt his draft stock. It was much higher when he had just left the J20 after dominating there. I'm fine grabbing him with a 2nd if we acquired one.
There's plenty of wingers to talk about there too but I wouldn't put a huge priority on them. Generally in that area BPA might be a toss up so I'd lean toward organizational needs. I think I'll post a little list of players I like that I'd look to target in the later rounds based off where their rankings have them
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