5. Ivan Demidov
My pick: Ivan Demidov
Rating: A++++++++++++
Can't believe he was there for us. How the hell did this happen? Love it.
21. Michael Hage
My pick: Yegor Surin
Rating: A
While I would have loved Surin's feistiness, Hagel is also an excellent pick. Excellent skill and seems to have great character.
70. Aatos Koivu
My pick: Henry Mews
Rating: B+
Great bloodline pick. I'm perfectly fine with it.
78. Logan Sawyer
My pick: Adam Jecho
Rating: C+
Could be a bottom-six type in the future, who knows. I feel like he could have been taken a round later. I feel like someone such as Jecho has more tools with similar upside, though. Sawyer's going to a good program, however, so we'll see how it plays out.
102. Owen Protz
My pick: Raoul Boilard
Rating: D
Protz is guy that feels like you could get a similar type of player in a later round. Boilard, with more icetime, could have a breakout season. It felt like they were leaving some upside on the table.
130. Tyler Thorpe
My pick: Colton Roberts
Rating: B
.
Maybe I would have taken his teammate, Colton Roberts, but Thorpe was one of my favorite overagers this year. I'm absolutely fine with this pick -- maybe he's a Brett Leason or Justin Brazeau type, which would be fine.
134. Mikus Vecvanags
My pick: Anthony Romani
Rating: n/a; but if I had to give a score, C
Aside from seeing him a few times at the U18's, I don't have much info about Vecvanags. He's a Euro goalie, which is perfect to take some late swings on, I guess.
166. Ben Merrill
My pick: Miroslav Satan
Rating: D
Meh. The Habs definitely had a "type" for their late swings this year, at least. Think I would have preferred them taking a chance on Satan. The 2024 draft pick, that is. Not the lord of the underworld.
210. Makar Khanin
My pick: Tomas Galvas
Rating: C+
I like it overall. Khanin's a perfectly fine late swing. I would have used a pick on Tomas Galvas, who looked good at the U20's, and who definitely should have been drafted... but lacks size. Nonetheless, Khanin has skill and some nice shooting ability, so there's definitely something to work with.
224. Rasmus Bergqvist
My pick: Jack Bodin
Rating: C-
I'll give it a C-. Bergqvist is kind of an unknown. I think I would have preferred a chance on the underrated Bodin. At minimum, Bodin would have been some RHD depth.
Overall: B
I'll give the draft a solid B, solely because of the amazing first round. Every pick after are some swings. Hopefully guys such as Koivu and Sawyer can progress to give us some depth scoring. We'll see about the others.