1 - NYI - Matthew Schaefer - LD
Don’t overthink it. Just take the best player in the draft and walk away with a stud franchise defendeman.
2 - SJ - Michael Misa - C
For me there is a top two tier of their own. Scoring 62 goals in 65 CHL games is super impressive for a draft year prospect. Him a Celebrini could put up big numbers together over the next decade.
3 - CHI - Porter Martone - RW
This is where the real draft starts. I will say that Chicago is not picking a defenceman here. I can’t see them picking Hagens because Bedard and Nazar are already small core forwards they are building upon. It’s between Martone who will compliment Bedard very well or Desnoyers who would make a second coming of Kane / Toews to Celebrini / Desnoyers. I think they opt for Martone because he could ride shotgun to Bedard for a long time.
4 - UTA - Caleb Desnoyers - C
I think Hagens is the best prospect but with Cooley and Keller, Utah would be pretty small up front. There is a lot of talk that they really like Brady Martin but I think that was more from when they were picking #14 and then they won the draft lottery to move up 10 spots. I don’t know if it was the physical aspect of Martin’s play they liked or the two way game, if it was the two way game then Desnoyers is their man.
5 - NAS - James Hagens - C
I truly think Hagens is the third best player in the draft and was only passed over two times last because of teams needs. Preds walk away happy knowing they drafted a top line forward.
6 - PHI - Jake O’Brien - C
He goes slightly higher on here than most but he is pretty raw and has a lot of filling out to do yet. I think this pick is between O’Brien and Frondell. O’Brien would compliment Michkov better.
7 - BOS - Anton Frondell - C
I feel like he is the last player available of a top tier of prospects. No fancy explanation other than drafting the guy who is the clear cut best player available.
8 - SEA - Jackson Smith - LD
I am guessing that the Kraken go with a defenceman here. It’s either Smith or Mrtka with maybe Aitcheson but he would be a reach. Smith coming in at 6’4 at the combine will really help his draft stock. Smith is going to Penn States next year and will have a good year or two to fill out physically. He is a really good skater for a player his size already.
9 - BUF - Brady Martin - C
The NHL is a copycat league where all teams are wanting to get more physical. Martin is known for his two way play and how physical he is. The Soo were a pretty bad team and he put up solid points with 72 in 57 games. He is a player that all teams covet and won’t last long.
10 - ANA - Lynden Lakovic - LW
The Ducks have built one of the best groups of young NHL roster players and prospects throughout the whole league. Lakovic is big and skilled. He plays more of a skilled game over a power forward type of game. If the Ducks can instill a physical aspect to his game then he is a top six forward for many years to come.
11 - PIT - Radim Mrtka - RD
I think he may very well get drafted in the top 10 in the real NHL draft. 6’6 right hand shot defencemen who can skate and have skill don’t tend to fall out of the top 10. They are just too valuable. Penguins are starting to rebuild on the fly with their old core still intact. No one they draft here will be too impactful by the time Crosby, Malkin and Letang retire. Best to pick the prospect who will make an impact on the game for a long time.
12 - NYR - Victor Eklund - LW
He has slipped in my mock and is best player available. He is on the slightly smaller side but physical and a non stop motor. Teams will hate to play against him and his own coaches will love him.
13 - DET - Roger McQueen - C
The biggest wild card of the draft. He could easily go in the top 10 and maybe even closer to #5 than #13. His back problems is the big issue though. With Columbus drafting Cayden Lindstrom early last year who already had back issues, then he re aggrieved his back injury and missed the whole year except for 4 playoff games this year. That will makes teams think a lot harder over picking McQueen. He could go early or he could slip. A 6’5 skilled centre is very hard for teams to pass up on.
14 - CLB - Cole Reschny - C
I am a huge fan of Reschny. He is such a great passer, great hockey IQ and competes. If he was just an inch or two taller he would have been picked already. He may be a reach here but not by much.
15 - VAN - Carter Bear - LW
Pre achilles injury Bear would have been picked higher. Post injury he supposedly is doing great but that is a terrible injury for a hockey player. Best player available.
16 - MON - Justin Carbonneau - RW
It’s not just because he is from Quebec and that would make him a fan favourite, it is because he has high upside. Montreal is pretty deep with prospects and young players. They swing for the fences and Carbonneau could be a top six forward.
17 - MON - Kashawn Aitcheson - LD
This pick doesn’t make much sense in a team standpoint but it is too hard to pass up. Habs are full with LHD and have Hutson who is the power play quarterback. If the Habs draft Aitcheson they could try to mould him into more of a second pair physical two way defender and not so much for his offence.
18 - CAL - Henry Brzustewicz - RD
Don’t look at Brzustewicz’s stats from this season. His 42 points in 67 games is ok but nothing crazy that will make him jump out at you. Just wait until next year though and he will have a massive jump. London was a powerhouse team with Dickinson (1st round), Bonk (1st round), Woolley (6th round) and then traded for Allen (5th round) at the trade deadline. All of those players are NHL drafted defencemen. Yet Brzustewicz still played a top four role. In his rookie season with London he only had 6 points in 52 games and then massive progress this year. With his progress I can’t wait to see what happens next year when he will play a prominent role in London. May help his brother is a Flame too.
19 - STL - Cullen Potter - LW
Potter is labelled as the best skater in the draft. Most draft eligible NCAA players don’t tend to be too productive the their draft years. They are just too young and don’t play a big role unless they are top of the draft type prospects. Potter had 22 points in 35. He was Arizona States seventh highest scoring forward but all six players ahead of him were 4-6 years older than him. If he wasn’t 5’10 and was taller he would be picked a lot earlier.
20 - CLB - Joshua Ravensbergen - G
Merzlikins is 31 years old now and only has two more years under contract. Greaves played great in his brief 11 game NHL stint but is already 24 years old. He has played well in the AHL the last two years. Is Greaves a late bloomer who was never NHL drafted or flash in the pan this past season? Blue Jackets have no other high end potential goalies in the system. Ravensbergen may be drafted a little early here but they may look to address a team need.
21 - OTT - Cameron Reid - LD
Ottawa loves there Kitchener Rangers. Three straight years they have drafted a Kitchener Rangers. I’m sure that they had many scouts at many Kitchener games. Reid is projected to go in this range and he could be the next best offensive defenceman in the draft behind Schaefer.
22 - PHI - Braeden Cootes - C
He is a safer pick to be a middle six centre. I think his biggest player comparison is Mike Richards. Not saying he will be another Mike Richards but ask Philly fans if they would take another Mike Richards.
23 - NAS - Sascha Boumedienne - LD
A year ago he was a projected top 10 pick. This past season he came from Sweden to play at Boston U. He had a bit of an underwhelming season. Then the Under 18 tournament happened and he set the all time record for points as a defendeman with 14 in 7 games. I think that was enough for him to boost his draft stock back to a first rounder.
24 - LA - Logan Hensler - RD
Hensler to me is the least sexy pick in the first round. He has size and can skate and is great defensively. His floor is pretty solid but doesn’t have a huge ceiling. He will compliment his defence partner really well.
25 - CHI - Vaclav Nestrasil - RW
Nestrasil has been climbing the draft rankings the second half of the season. Who doesn’t love a 6’6 forward with skill? Drafting Martone and Nestrasil would make the Hawks really happy coming out of the first round.
26 - NAS - Malcolm Spence - C
After already drafting Hagens and Boumedienne they may opt for a safer third pick. Spence won’t be a play driver but could be a great complementary piece to a top six role. He will work hard and do the dirty work.
27 - WAS - Blake Fiddler - RD
Washington will be a real pain to play against for years to come and Fiddler just adds to that group. 6’4 defenceman who is physical and good defensively with a bit of offence.
28 - WIN - Bill Zonnon - LW
On a personal note as a Habs fan I really like him and would be content if the Habs drafted him at #16 or #17. I just feel as if there is a tier of players he is in from 15 to about 40 that anyone can go in any order. I didn’t intend to have Zonnon fall but I liked someone better for every pick.
29 - CAR - Alexander Zharovsky - RW
Zharovsky is maybe the best stick handler in the draft. He is 6’1 but really skinny yet. Let him simmer over in the KHL and bring him over in a few years. He has high upside to him.
30 - SJ - Jakob Ihs-Wozniak - RW
He has skill and size and can play physical. I think he tops out as a third liner but he could be a very useful NHL player.
31 - PHI - Daniil Prokhorov - RW
I really want to pick a defendeman here but I just don’t see one I like enough. After drafting O’Brien and Cootes I feel like most teams would look to add a defenceman here. Prokhorov has massive size and can score.
32 - CAL - Jack Nesbitt - C
Last pick of my first round but I can see him going a lot earlier. He is a centre with size. He was a point shy of point per game this season and he will play a much bigger role next year in Windsor. Look for him to make a big step.
Honourable mentions;
These players I can see being drafted in the first round;
Benjamin Kindel - small offensive player who some team could fall in love with and draft him a lot earlier.
Jack Murtagh - I am a big fan and really hope he sneaks into the first round. Good all round player.
Shane Vansaghi - has size and plays a really physical game. Teams will covet him for what he brings. Has skill too.
Cameron Schmidt - he oozes talent. If he wasn’t 5’7 he would be a for sure first round pick. Even if he was as a few inches taller he would be more sought after. For every Caufield or DeBrincat there are many smaller forwards who just don’t make it. Very risky pick.
Ivan Ryabkin - a year ago he was a top 5 to 10 pick. He is built like a fire hydrant. If he reaches his max potential then he will be a steal.
William Moore - USNDP games have lots of scouts at them. He has skill and can put up points. He is not my personal favourite but all it takes is to have one team like him.
Cole McKinney - I can’t say I have really seen him mocked in the first round but he was the leading scorer for the USNDP and is 6’0 and 200 pounds. Lots of scouting exposure.
Will Horcoff - 6’4 centre with NHL bloodlines. Still only 180 pounds so needs to fill out. If he is pretty decent at 180 pounds how good will he be at 210?
Kurban Limatov - big Russian shut down defencemen. Now I have a theory about big shut down defencemen and that once they get developed and turn into a NHLer, their trade value is usually a late first round pick by a contending team. Essentially you get back what you put into him.
Mason West - 6’6 and super raw. He says he is going to play hockey but has also said that he is playing his senior high school year as quarterback. He has been recruited by NCAA for football already. If he has a big year playing football and gets big school offers to play football it will be hard for him to pass up that NIL money.
Don’t overthink it. Just take the best player in the draft and walk away with a stud franchise defendeman.
2 - SJ - Michael Misa - C
For me there is a top two tier of their own. Scoring 62 goals in 65 CHL games is super impressive for a draft year prospect. Him a Celebrini could put up big numbers together over the next decade.
3 - CHI - Porter Martone - RW
This is where the real draft starts. I will say that Chicago is not picking a defenceman here. I can’t see them picking Hagens because Bedard and Nazar are already small core forwards they are building upon. It’s between Martone who will compliment Bedard very well or Desnoyers who would make a second coming of Kane / Toews to Celebrini / Desnoyers. I think they opt for Martone because he could ride shotgun to Bedard for a long time.
4 - UTA - Caleb Desnoyers - C
I think Hagens is the best prospect but with Cooley and Keller, Utah would be pretty small up front. There is a lot of talk that they really like Brady Martin but I think that was more from when they were picking #14 and then they won the draft lottery to move up 10 spots. I don’t know if it was the physical aspect of Martin’s play they liked or the two way game, if it was the two way game then Desnoyers is their man.
5 - NAS - James Hagens - C
I truly think Hagens is the third best player in the draft and was only passed over two times last because of teams needs. Preds walk away happy knowing they drafted a top line forward.
6 - PHI - Jake O’Brien - C
He goes slightly higher on here than most but he is pretty raw and has a lot of filling out to do yet. I think this pick is between O’Brien and Frondell. O’Brien would compliment Michkov better.
7 - BOS - Anton Frondell - C
I feel like he is the last player available of a top tier of prospects. No fancy explanation other than drafting the guy who is the clear cut best player available.
8 - SEA - Jackson Smith - LD
I am guessing that the Kraken go with a defenceman here. It’s either Smith or Mrtka with maybe Aitcheson but he would be a reach. Smith coming in at 6’4 at the combine will really help his draft stock. Smith is going to Penn States next year and will have a good year or two to fill out physically. He is a really good skater for a player his size already.
9 - BUF - Brady Martin - C
The NHL is a copycat league where all teams are wanting to get more physical. Martin is known for his two way play and how physical he is. The Soo were a pretty bad team and he put up solid points with 72 in 57 games. He is a player that all teams covet and won’t last long.
10 - ANA - Lynden Lakovic - LW
The Ducks have built one of the best groups of young NHL roster players and prospects throughout the whole league. Lakovic is big and skilled. He plays more of a skilled game over a power forward type of game. If the Ducks can instill a physical aspect to his game then he is a top six forward for many years to come.
11 - PIT - Radim Mrtka - RD
I think he may very well get drafted in the top 10 in the real NHL draft. 6’6 right hand shot defencemen who can skate and have skill don’t tend to fall out of the top 10. They are just too valuable. Penguins are starting to rebuild on the fly with their old core still intact. No one they draft here will be too impactful by the time Crosby, Malkin and Letang retire. Best to pick the prospect who will make an impact on the game for a long time.
12 - NYR - Victor Eklund - LW
He has slipped in my mock and is best player available. He is on the slightly smaller side but physical and a non stop motor. Teams will hate to play against him and his own coaches will love him.
13 - DET - Roger McQueen - C
The biggest wild card of the draft. He could easily go in the top 10 and maybe even closer to #5 than #13. His back problems is the big issue though. With Columbus drafting Cayden Lindstrom early last year who already had back issues, then he re aggrieved his back injury and missed the whole year except for 4 playoff games this year. That will makes teams think a lot harder over picking McQueen. He could go early or he could slip. A 6’5 skilled centre is very hard for teams to pass up on.
14 - CLB - Cole Reschny - C
I am a huge fan of Reschny. He is such a great passer, great hockey IQ and competes. If he was just an inch or two taller he would have been picked already. He may be a reach here but not by much.
15 - VAN - Carter Bear - LW
Pre achilles injury Bear would have been picked higher. Post injury he supposedly is doing great but that is a terrible injury for a hockey player. Best player available.
16 - MON - Justin Carbonneau - RW
It’s not just because he is from Quebec and that would make him a fan favourite, it is because he has high upside. Montreal is pretty deep with prospects and young players. They swing for the fences and Carbonneau could be a top six forward.
17 - MON - Kashawn Aitcheson - LD
This pick doesn’t make much sense in a team standpoint but it is too hard to pass up. Habs are full with LHD and have Hutson who is the power play quarterback. If the Habs draft Aitcheson they could try to mould him into more of a second pair physical two way defender and not so much for his offence.
18 - CAL - Henry Brzustewicz - RD
Don’t look at Brzustewicz’s stats from this season. His 42 points in 67 games is ok but nothing crazy that will make him jump out at you. Just wait until next year though and he will have a massive jump. London was a powerhouse team with Dickinson (1st round), Bonk (1st round), Woolley (6th round) and then traded for Allen (5th round) at the trade deadline. All of those players are NHL drafted defencemen. Yet Brzustewicz still played a top four role. In his rookie season with London he only had 6 points in 52 games and then massive progress this year. With his progress I can’t wait to see what happens next year when he will play a prominent role in London. May help his brother is a Flame too.
19 - STL - Cullen Potter - LW
Potter is labelled as the best skater in the draft. Most draft eligible NCAA players don’t tend to be too productive the their draft years. They are just too young and don’t play a big role unless they are top of the draft type prospects. Potter had 22 points in 35. He was Arizona States seventh highest scoring forward but all six players ahead of him were 4-6 years older than him. If he wasn’t 5’10 and was taller he would be picked a lot earlier.
20 - CLB - Joshua Ravensbergen - G
Merzlikins is 31 years old now and only has two more years under contract. Greaves played great in his brief 11 game NHL stint but is already 24 years old. He has played well in the AHL the last two years. Is Greaves a late bloomer who was never NHL drafted or flash in the pan this past season? Blue Jackets have no other high end potential goalies in the system. Ravensbergen may be drafted a little early here but they may look to address a team need.
21 - OTT - Cameron Reid - LD
Ottawa loves there Kitchener Rangers. Three straight years they have drafted a Kitchener Rangers. I’m sure that they had many scouts at many Kitchener games. Reid is projected to go in this range and he could be the next best offensive defenceman in the draft behind Schaefer.
22 - PHI - Braeden Cootes - C
He is a safer pick to be a middle six centre. I think his biggest player comparison is Mike Richards. Not saying he will be another Mike Richards but ask Philly fans if they would take another Mike Richards.
23 - NAS - Sascha Boumedienne - LD
A year ago he was a projected top 10 pick. This past season he came from Sweden to play at Boston U. He had a bit of an underwhelming season. Then the Under 18 tournament happened and he set the all time record for points as a defendeman with 14 in 7 games. I think that was enough for him to boost his draft stock back to a first rounder.
24 - LA - Logan Hensler - RD
Hensler to me is the least sexy pick in the first round. He has size and can skate and is great defensively. His floor is pretty solid but doesn’t have a huge ceiling. He will compliment his defence partner really well.
25 - CHI - Vaclav Nestrasil - RW
Nestrasil has been climbing the draft rankings the second half of the season. Who doesn’t love a 6’6 forward with skill? Drafting Martone and Nestrasil would make the Hawks really happy coming out of the first round.
26 - NAS - Malcolm Spence - C
After already drafting Hagens and Boumedienne they may opt for a safer third pick. Spence won’t be a play driver but could be a great complementary piece to a top six role. He will work hard and do the dirty work.
27 - WAS - Blake Fiddler - RD
Washington will be a real pain to play against for years to come and Fiddler just adds to that group. 6’4 defenceman who is physical and good defensively with a bit of offence.
28 - WIN - Bill Zonnon - LW
On a personal note as a Habs fan I really like him and would be content if the Habs drafted him at #16 or #17. I just feel as if there is a tier of players he is in from 15 to about 40 that anyone can go in any order. I didn’t intend to have Zonnon fall but I liked someone better for every pick.
29 - CAR - Alexander Zharovsky - RW
Zharovsky is maybe the best stick handler in the draft. He is 6’1 but really skinny yet. Let him simmer over in the KHL and bring him over in a few years. He has high upside to him.
30 - SJ - Jakob Ihs-Wozniak - RW
He has skill and size and can play physical. I think he tops out as a third liner but he could be a very useful NHL player.
31 - PHI - Daniil Prokhorov - RW
I really want to pick a defendeman here but I just don’t see one I like enough. After drafting O’Brien and Cootes I feel like most teams would look to add a defenceman here. Prokhorov has massive size and can score.
32 - CAL - Jack Nesbitt - C
Last pick of my first round but I can see him going a lot earlier. He is a centre with size. He was a point shy of point per game this season and he will play a much bigger role next year in Windsor. Look for him to make a big step.
Honourable mentions;
These players I can see being drafted in the first round;
Benjamin Kindel - small offensive player who some team could fall in love with and draft him a lot earlier.
Jack Murtagh - I am a big fan and really hope he sneaks into the first round. Good all round player.
Shane Vansaghi - has size and plays a really physical game. Teams will covet him for what he brings. Has skill too.
Cameron Schmidt - he oozes talent. If he wasn’t 5’7 he would be a for sure first round pick. Even if he was as a few inches taller he would be more sought after. For every Caufield or DeBrincat there are many smaller forwards who just don’t make it. Very risky pick.
Ivan Ryabkin - a year ago he was a top 5 to 10 pick. He is built like a fire hydrant. If he reaches his max potential then he will be a steal.
William Moore - USNDP games have lots of scouts at them. He has skill and can put up points. He is not my personal favourite but all it takes is to have one team like him.
Cole McKinney - I can’t say I have really seen him mocked in the first round but he was the leading scorer for the USNDP and is 6’0 and 200 pounds. Lots of scouting exposure.
Will Horcoff - 6’4 centre with NHL bloodlines. Still only 180 pounds so needs to fill out. If he is pretty decent at 180 pounds how good will he be at 210?
Kurban Limatov - big Russian shut down defencemen. Now I have a theory about big shut down defencemen and that once they get developed and turn into a NHLer, their trade value is usually a late first round pick by a contending team. Essentially you get back what you put into him.
Mason West - 6’6 and super raw. He says he is going to play hockey but has also said that he is playing his senior high school year as quarterback. He has been recruited by NCAA for football already. If he has a big year playing football and gets big school offers to play football it will be hard for him to pass up that NIL money.
