As always, my notes:
>> I love comparisons -- for everyone. Obviously, not every player is going to become the exact same, it'd be asinine and insane to think so. It's just a fun thing to do, especially when looking back 5+ years from now (to see how wrong I was). On top of that, most of these kids won't even make it, but it's still a fun thing to do.
>> There's no trades. With this being a weaker draft, in reality, there's likely to be a lot more movement with teams trying to trade up for their guy. The only thing hampering excess trades might be this year's decentralized draft format.
>> I'm not a scout, just a fan. I don't get to see every game, every player and so on -- put the credit to the guys that are able to do so. That said, I do love following along with draft year eligibles. For me, it's not that deep of a draft... but you're still going to get your projects.
>> Overall, because it's a "monkey see, monkey do" league, I think teams are going to go for size and depth, with smaller guys plunging farther than they should. It could be a banner year for re-entry candidates, though.
>> Per usual, there'll be a "tl,dr" summary followup at the end.
>> There's probably a litany of errors in this, from typos to incorrect picks. Just blame anything obvious on it being a big project, in which I'd go back and change my mind and have to re-copy and paste.
ROUND 1
1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D
With this being a crazy draft year, it's only appropriate that we get an insane lottery result, with the Islanders jumping from #10 and Utah jumping to the 4th pick. Could the Islanders go with hometown boy, James Hagens? I think they're certainly considering it, especially with how hyped he seems to be about potentially joining them. It makes me wonder if we see a trade-back scenario with Chicago, Nashville or Philadelphia, all teams with high picks and an extra first, if Hagens is guaranteed to be there when they pick (strangely enough, I could see all 3 teams going for Misa over Schaefer, in this case, keeping him from San Jose).
Since there's no trades in this full mock, I'm just going to have the Islanders straight up select Schaefer, despite his injury-shortened season. He's got all the tools to become a future #1, with teams crowning him as "the guy" for this year's crop. With new GM, Mathieu Darche, likely holding his hand close, he probably keeps the pick and selects Schaefer... but it certainly wouldn't be a shock if he straight up takes Hagens at this point, as well. Hell, even Misa being selected by them wouldn't shoch me that much -- it's that much of a weird year.
Comparison: Scott Niedermayer. It's a lofty comparable, but it's a worthy one. Schaefer's a mobile defenseman that's resourceful at every end of the ice. The type of mobile defenseman that gets pucks out of your end, defends incredibly well and has the confidence to work a powerplay. A do-it-all top end defenseman with elite level skating.
2. San Jose: Michael Misa, C/LW
Missing out on Schaefer, Misa is a great consolation prize for San Jose, with Mike Grier making the easiest selection of the draft. Already tearing up the OHL alongside current prospect, Igor Chernyshov, Misa adds to the already overflowing San Jose core of talented prospects, allowing them to run a Celebrini and Misa/Smith duo down the middle for the next decade. Once we get past the first 2 picks, the rest of the draft gets a little more fun and unpredictable.
Comparison: Tyler Seguin. A potential 40+ goal/40+ assists center/winger with excellent shooting skill, speed and dynamism. He's efficient enough to play in any situation, making him a dangerous forward at the top level.
3. Chicago: Anton Frondell, C/RW
An injury at the start of the year stifled his production early. Once back into form, he went into overdrive, putting up offense at a phenomal rate, proving his worth as a potential top pick. It's probably between Desnoyer, Martone and Frondell, with the latter winning out due to his physicality and booming shot, feeling he'd make a versatile collaborator with Connor Bedard.
Comparison: Filip Forsberg. While I don't know if he'll ever have as high a benchmark as Forsberg had, there are some similarities. Neither of them are known for elite skating, with both of them opting to be shoot-first/shoot-hard, versatile forwards that aren't averse to playing physical.
4. Utah: Brady Martin, C/RW
If the rumor is true and they're extraordinarily high on him, he just might be "their guy", giving him a monumental rise into the top 5. Teams like Utah probably look and see what guys such as Sam Bennett are doing in the playoffs -- and are willing to take the chance on someone such as Martin, who is coming off a fantastic performance at the U18's, which saw him play with plenty of physical force. With Bill Armstrong as their GM, they're certainly likely to take a risky swing like this.
Comparison: Think of him as sort of a Sam Bennett-meets-Shane Doan type. While he's not "fast", he's a farm-boy that brings his lunchpail to work every morning, bringing loads of intensity, physicality and a will to win. He can crash and bang his way to the net, where he scores goals, while simultaneously providing excellent two-way effort. A future leader and captain material.
5. Nashville: James Hagens, C/RW
In their history, they have never drafted a forward that have scored more than 65+ points. Barry Trotz is going to try to remedy that by selecting Hagens here. Hagens, in general, is in a weird spot. The Islanders could straight up select him first overall -- they did make the huge jump from 10th place and could affort to take the wild swing on a local guy. Alternatively, Hagens could drop completely out of the top 5, due to concerns over his production and lack of size at center. Playing at Boston College, alongside current prospect, Teddy Stiga, Hagens might be the best option moving forward.
Comparison: Logan Cooley. Hagens is an undersized pivot, whose focus is primarily on puck distribution and playmaking ability. Historically speaking, he's shown high-end upside and good two-way smarts, which makes him a high-upside player, who could even swing to the wing, if need be.
6. Philadelphia: Caleb Desnoyers, C
While drafting Jake O'Brien could be tempting, I think they go with Caleb Desnoyers here. They already have his brother, Elliot, in the organization and their scouting would certainly have all the information needed on him. With their desire for centers, the reigning QMJHL MVP feels like a good fit here, matching well with what they're looking for. He played through the Memorial Cup with an injury -- and teams may actually appreciate that endurance.
Comparison: Mikko Koivu. A well-rounded, two-way center, Desnoyers works magic at both ends of the ice, earning the trust of his coaches. Not only does he make his linemates better, but he's able to win faceoffs and brings a defensively sound game with some playmaking ability. He's someone that can develop into a multi-purpose center.
7. Boston: Porter Martone, RW
Another top 5 potential player that slips. With teams hunting for centers, Martone could find himself on the outside, with Boston happily grabbing him here. While they do need some top-six capable centers, they'd feel Martone is the best player available, which might be a smart strategy to take for the rebuilding Bruins. I'm not sure if David Pastrnak will be there through their rebuild -- if not, Martone could be the heir apparent replacement.
Comparison: Jason Robertson. It's apparent that the early season claims of him being the "new Tkachuk brother" were overblown. While he isn't afraid to mix it up, he's a lot less physical than the Tkachuk brothers, opting to use a more cerebral, playmaking style of game over brute force. He's got good size, though, and it allows him to get in tight to the dangerous areas and help provide offense.
8. Seattle: Radim Mrtka, D
With new GM, Jason Botterill, in charge, there may be a change in drafting philosophy. With a glut of forwards in development, they may choose to select a defenseman this year. Considering Mrtka is already playing in Seattle, it's an easy decision to make. While they may prefered a LHD, the right handed Mrtka is perfectly fine, knowing that he's already comfortable with the area after coming to play in the WHL mid-season.
Comparison: Colton Parayko. A 6'6", mobile, transitional defenseman, Mrtka's able to use his long reach to breakup plays and stifle opposition. Not as physical as his frame suggests, he'd rather use positioning and puck movement to play the game, giving him upside as a huge, two-way, toolsy defenseman.
9. Buffalo: Jake O'Brien, C
Having traded away Dylan Cozens, a Jake O'Brien selection could be a nice boost to their center depth. They may think hard on Eklund, ultimately deciding on O'Brien, going for his hockey smarts and skill, something they tend to value in their players.
Comparison: Paul Stastny. A cerebral and methodical center, O'Brien brings excellent playmaking ability in a solid frame. Even if his skating isn't superb, his ability to process the game make him valuable in multiple roles, able to slot into various positions as a prime-time setup guy.
10. Anaheim: Roger McQueen, C/RW
Due to the longterm back injury, NcQueen's range is all over the place. Could he be a top 5 selection? Maybe. Could he also fall later than this? Also, maybe. For now, with a well developed prospect core, I'll have Anaheim hedging their bets as the team that's willing to take the shot. In targeting him, they hope he can be their next Ryan Getzlaf... which there are some parallels in terms of playstyle. A 6'5" forward capable of playing center, who also brings the talent that he does, is a true swing for the fences type of selection.
Comparison: Something like Blake Wheeler is probably his true top end or a Kirby Dach-like often-injured type. With his size, skill, goal scoring and playmaking skill, McQueen is Wheeler-like in that he can slip into any role, at center or on the wing. If his back isn't truly healed, he could turn into a more chronically-injured type of player, ala Kirby Dach.
11. Pittsburgh: Kashawn Aitcheson, D
At this point, I feel like it's Dubas vs. Wes Clark for whom they select. Dubas, I could see really liking Eklund, while Wes Clark, who loves selecting from the OHL, might lean towards Aitcheson. In the end, I feel like Clark might win out, with Dubas putting his faith into his scouting team. With their leadership core getting up there in age, someone like Aitcheson could be a nice addition to help step in and be the future of this team.
Comparison: Jacob Trouba. An intense, physical and mobile defenseman, Aitcheson can lay the body like Trouba, while simultaneously eating up loads of minutes, carrying a heavy workload. There's leadership potential and he comes armed with a big shot to keep opponent's honest, even if offense doesn't translate to the pros.
12. New York Rangers: Jackson Smith, D
Smith measuring in at 6'4" at the combine will definitely give him a boost to his draft stock. With the Rangers looking for a LHD, he'd be a perfect selection for them, even with the underwhelming U18 performance. His combination of size, skating and physicality gives him top 4 upside, which is perfect for a team such as New York, who are on the hunt for defensemen.
Comparison: Philip Broberg. Measuring in at 6'4" at the combine, Jackson Smith's a tall, athletic and incredibly mobile defenseman that can jet up and down the ice in a flash. He brings an all-around style of game to the rink and can be a contributor at both ends of the ice, both offensively and defensively, with a touch of physicality.
13. Detroit: Viktor Eklund, RW/LW
Teams needing defense and centers might end up pushing Victor Eklund down the board, much to the joy of the Wings. Knowing how much they've historically loved Swedish talent, they'd be overjoyed to take him here, bringing both family pedigree and intensity to the squad. Despite being "undersized", he plays a big man's game, playing an electric, projectable and energetic role, which fans would love.
Comparison: Travis Konecny. Like his brother, Eklund isn't huge in size. Where he differs, though, is in how he plays the game -- bringing relentless energy and tenacity every time he steps onto the ice. He's willing to step into opposing players to make things work in his favor, while also having innate ability to shoot pucks.
14. Columbus: Lynden Lakovic, LW/RW
By all accounts, Columbus could go a multitude of ways with this draft, including choosing another defenseman. For now, Lakovic seems like someone that could be of interest, feeling he'd gel with guys such as Fantilli and Lindstrom. Standing 6'4", you'd think his combination of size and skill would have him higher. Alas, he's main focuses is on playing a finesse style of game that's lacking in aggression and physicality -- and that could knock him down some lists.
Comparison: Brock Nelson. While he's got size, standing 6'4", Lakovic has low penalty minutes and isn't known to be a physical force, which could cost him in the standings. Like Nelson, he's a quick strike again, who brings some finesse and consistency issues to the game, with some teams/scouts holding out hope he can turn into a center.
15. Vancouver: Braeden Cootes, C
If the Canucks don't trade the pick away, someone like Cootes could certainly be of interest to them. Fresh off captaining Canada to gold at the under-18's, Cootes is the only player the Canucks took out to dinner at the combine -- and he would make a good match with them. They're in need of centers and have surely seen a lot of him in the WHL and beyond.
Comparison: Chandler Stephenson. Cootes can be a ball of energy on the ice, likely developing into a Swiss army knife type of middle-six center that uses his relentless speed and high IQ for both attacking, defense, playmaking and two-way play.
16. Montreal [from Calgary]: Carter Bear, LW/C
In reality, the Habs might try to leverage their first rounders into players that can play now -- or to move up for Desnoyers. Otherwise, if Bear falls due to concerns over his achilles injury -- which, by the way has been deemed not as bad as though -- then Montreal would be savvy to jump on him here. He can replace the energetic, grit game and bulldog mentality that Brendan Gallagher has brought for a decade, making a useful pickup.
Comparison: Brandon Hagel. Blessed with a motor that never quits, Bear's quite similar to Hagel, who plays with reckless abandon and grit. He works hard, brings a foundational two-way game, is solid on offense and is the type of winger that'll help you win big games.
17. Montreal: Daniil Prokhorov, RW
With Nick Bobrov being one of their head scouts, they're likely to have a lot of information on him. Going for size and physicality, the Habs grab Prokhorov, who should be familiar with their wunderkind, Ivan Demidov. Someone like Prokhorov could/should be viewed as an insulator for him, while also feeling like he's the type of power winger that'd perform amazing in hotly contested playoff games. With a pretty healthy group of prospects, they can take the big swing on the large, overaged winger, who could go much much earlier than expected.
Comparison: Lawson Crouse. Prokhorov is a hulking winger that crashes bodies, can be an absolute beast on the walls, forechecks hard and go to the high-danger areas to help produce. While he's still a work in progress, he's probably the most physical player in the draft, which would be a bonus for teams with smaller players.
18. Calgary [from New Jersey]: Cole Reschny, C/RW
A late season surge has Reschny pushing his way up draft boards, where's he selected within the top 20. If he's there for the Flames, he'd be difficult to resist, effectively boosting their stock down the middle, filling a surefire need for them. Despite being undersized, standing 5'11", he's a spitfire that works hard, battles hard and never stops fighting.
Comparison: Cole Perfetti. Reschny's not huge in size, standing a mere 5'11", but he makes up for it with a well-crafted two-way game that's filled with excellent playmaking skill and desire to win, much like Perfetti. His hands and vision, coupled with his overall hockey smarts, make him a tantalizing project.
19. St. Louis: Logan Hensler, D
The Blues still need depth on their right side of defense. As such, if Hensler's on the board, he'd make perfect sense for them here. While he may not be flashy, he's the type of defenseman that can keep things simple, which would be just fine for St. Louis, who think his second half of the season proves he has more production than shown.
Comparison: Chris Tanev. Hensler qualifies as a mobile, minute-eating defenseman that plays a calm, shutdown style of game. While he's likely not a huge point producer, he's someone that can keep pucks in motion and uses his excellent skating ability to play a sound overall game by closing gaps, hunting down pucks and playing a non-flashy game.
20. Columbus [from Minnesota]: Blake Fiddler, D
They get their right-handed defenseman with their 2nd first rounder upon taking whomever is left between Logan Hensler and Blake Fiddler, with the latter being their guy. Thanks to his size, reach and skating, he's a guy that probably goes earlier than expected, having the potential to become a modern shutdown defenseman. Coming from good NHL bloodlines, he seems like the type of defenseman they'd really like, even if he may not turn into a huge offensive contributor.
Comparison: Brandon Carlo. Fiddler, like Carlo, is a big defensive defenseman, who skates pretty well despite his size. To go along with size and speed, he's reach is pretty good and he reads plays well, able to position himself well against oncoming attackers.
21. Ottawa: Justin Carbonneau, RW
For the Sens, it'd be hard to pass on the falling Carbonneau here. Concerns over hockey IQ might drop him into their lap, with the Sens grabbing here, hoping he can develop into a future winger to play alongside new #2 center, Dylan Cozens. They've gone to the Q in the past, so it wouldn't surprise me to see them take a chance on him at this range.
Comparison: Evander Kane. Self-described as a tank, Carbonneau's a shoot-first winger that also attacks with speed and tenacity. Not averse to working the hard areas and playing physical, one of Carbonneau's downsides is sometimes he lacks some compete and can get stuck in his own head. Nonetheless, there's lots there for a power-scoring winger.
22. Philadelphia [from Colorado]: Sascha Boumedienne, D
There were rumors of the Flyers being really high on Jackson Smith, so they're definitely looking for a defender. Being the youngest player in the NCAA last season, Boumedienne may be a nice consolation prize for them here, his stock at an all-time high after a record breaking performance at the U18, where he broke the record for most points by a defenseman.
Comparison: Michael Matheson. There's a bit of chaos in Boumedienne's game, similar to Matheson, in that they're a two-way, offense-leaning guy. He can work powerplay duty and shows off tremendous skating ability when with and without the puck.
23. Nashville [from Tampa Bay]: Jack Nesbitt, C
If Hagens isn't able to remain at center in the longrun, taking a big power-center such as Jack Nesbitt would be a good backup plan. It wouldn't surprise me to see him taken much earlier, too -- for example, anything from #12-20. His overall offensive upside may be in question, but his size and skill make him a very projectable talent.
Comparison: Nick Paul. Nesbitt's a 6'4" power center that brings versatility down the middle. He can be a disruptive netfront presence, while also bringing well-rounded, two-way ability, physicality and some playmaking to keep opponent's honest.
24. Los Angeles: Cameron Reid, D
The Kings would like to draft a defenseman here, hoping to build upon organizational depth. Having shown a tendency towards the OHL in previous years, Reid might be a good pickup here. While may not the biggest guy, which may hurt his stock, he can make up for it with fantastic skating, giving the Kings more depth to their blueline.
Comparison: Gustav Forsling. Reid profiles as a mobile, two-way type. He's stellar at transitioning pucks, allowing him to jump into the rush and can bea mobilizing, calming middle-pairing defenseman that makes the a smart first pass, owns a hard shot and IQ.
25. Chicago [from Toronto]: Malcolm Spence, LW
With his ranking being all over the board, Spence is someone that could go in the mid-first or drop into the mid-20's. At this point, Chicago would be wise to take a chance on him, loving his versatility and all-around appeal, thinking he can develop into a perfect jack-of-all trades type of winger that'd make life difficult for opponents. He's exactly the type of forward that they should be taking swings on.
Comparison: Jake Neighbours. Spence is a jack-of-all trades winger that crashes and bangs, riles up opposition, adds secondary scoring and works like a dog out there, trying to get the victory for his team. A hard-working type of winger that'll do his best work under playoff conditions.
26. Nashville [from Vegas]: Ryker Lee, RW/LW
After grabbing 2 potential centers, I have Nashville taking a winger here. An all-around skilled player, Ryker Lee will be attending school at Michigan State next year, with the Preds loving his talent and the fact that he's equal parts distributor and scorer. He's got upside, he'll just need it to be unlocked via development.
Comparison: Jordan Eberle. Maybe not the biggest, most physical or the fastest, Ryker Lee is a quick-strike, cerebral forward, who also knows where to go put up points in a secondary role. After a late season surge, he's shown he's got top-six upside, putting his quality skills to good use.
27. Washington: Bill Zonnon, C/LW
The Caps love players with size. They'd feel Zonnon is the perfect player that can play down the middle, bringing enough versatility for him to slip into multiple roles. He's the type of player that contending teams would love, thinking he's a player that does his best work under playoff style hockey.
Comparison: Charlie Coyle. Zonnon's a hard-working center/winger that fills in any role given to him. While his skating isn't perfect, he's got decent playmaking and a desire to play physical and gritty, making for perfect playoff style of hockey.
28. Winnipeg: Joshua Ravensbergen, G
Sure, Connor Hellebuyck may have just won the Hart and Vezina -- but what about their guy of the future? The goaltending depth just isn't there right now. If they take him, it can be a seamless transition in 4-5 years, with Ravensbergen, the top goalie in this draft, taking over from Hellebuyck. While he still needs some work, his great size alone gives him plenty of tools to work with.
Comparison: Jakob Markstrom. A huge, 6'5" goalie that's also a rare right handed catcher. Ravensbergen's got starter upside and is reguarded as the top netminder in this year's draft.
29. Carolina: Cole McKinney, C
Carolina probably trades back to gather an extra pick. If not, they could straight up select Cole McKinney here. He, along with Jack Murtagh, were the best players on a weaker USNTDP unit this year and he's rewarded with a first round selection. His overall upside may not be huge, but he's someone that's definitely projectable as a player down the middle.
Comparison: Antoine Vermette. Maybe not someone with high-end offensive upside, McKinney's more of a valuable, tenacious and competent two-way guy, who's best results likely won't be shown on the scoresheet. He's excellent on faceoffs, provides secondary offense, blocks shots, plays physical and positions himself well to defend on the penalty kill.
30. San Jose [from Dallas]: Henry Brzustewicz, D
Chances are that Brzustewicz is either off the board here or the next pick, with both San Jose and Philadelphia liking London Knights. With Brzustewicz playing alongside last year's draft selection, Sam Dickinson, it only makes sense to snatch him here, with right-shooting defenseman carrying a premium. Once he receives more playing time next year, he's likely to increase and develop his game, making him a solid late first swing.
Comparison: Damon Severson. Brzustewicz can work many roles. He's physical, robust, skates well, shoots well and is a well-rounded defender. While his IQ may not be elite, he's able to slide into various roles for their blueline, allowing him to play his game.
31. Philadelphia [from Edmonton]: Will Horcoff, LW/C
The Flyers add more size to their core forwards by taking Horcoff here. After impressing at the combine, he may find himself in consideration for a late first round selection. Already fairly defensively responsible, Horcoff's coming from NHL bloodlines, which should play in his favor. His father, Shawn Horcoff, should be well known to Daniel Briere, with the Flyers taking a chance on him here.
Comparison: Dmitri Voronkov. Garnering a lot of attention at the combine for his size and athleticism, Horcoff could find himself in first round consideration. The only thing that might keep him out of it is his lack of foot speed. At best, he could be like Voronkov, a dependable, multifaceted forward that plays center or wing, who can use size for his advantage.
32. Calgary [from Florida]: Milton Gastrin, C/LW
If he's still on the board, it's an easy selection for the Flames to make, giving them a versatile center project, who works well in any role given to him. A quality role-player, Gastrin is perfect for Calgary, who'd want to keep boosting depth at center, with Gastrin being the perfect type of player that'd work well within their system.
Comparison: Jarret Stoll. He kind of reminds me of what Jarrett Stoll brought to the LA Kings -- mainly versatility. Gastrin plays any role given to him and likely slides in as an adaptable 3rd liner that kills penalties, wins draws, blocks shots, shuts down opposition and has enough playmaking for offensive depth scoring.
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ROUND 2
33. San Jose: Jack Murtagh, LW
To start off day 2, the Sharks could target Jack Murtagh, who'll be attending Boston University, which would make Mike Grier happy. He loves his Boston connections and the Sharks feel like Murtagh could help fill out their bottom-six. Murtagh and Cole McKinney were the best USNTDP players of a weak crop and should be expected to be the first players from that system off the board.
Comparison: Tyler Bertuzzi. Murtagh, like Bertuzzi, is a hard-working, versatile forward that plays hard every shift, on a night to night basis. He's willing to scramble to the net to work the slot and is willing to put in the desire effort needed to potentially work in a middle-six role.
34. Chicago: Cullen Potter, LW
First off, Potter is ultra-skilled and is likely the best pure skater in the draft. Alas, he measured in at 5'9" during the combine and that lack of size is going to be an issue for teams. If he's still here for Chicago, he'd the perfect selection, fitting the exact mould of the type of fast, high pace skaters they tend to love.
Comparison: Frank Nazar. Potter's, without a doubt, the fastest skater in this class. As a result, he brings a high pace game, albeit in a smaller body, which he hopes to use to quickly slip past defenders.
35. Nashville: Semyon Frolov, G
The last highly touted Russian goaltender they had, they let him get away. They can't make the same mistake twice, locking down Frolov, who some scouts could be incredibly high on. Both Russian goalies, Frolov and Pyotr Andreyanov, could go relatively high in the 2nd round, with both of them challenging Joshua Ravensbergen as being the best goalies in the draft. The Predators need some star goalies. Frolov would be a good bet.
Comparison: Tuukka Rask. An explosively athletic goalie with decent size, Frolov is someone that potentially pushes for a starter's role in the future. Lack of playing time this season is the only thing holding him back, with the team that selects him having faith in his future growth and development.
36. Philadelphia: Mason West, C
Brent Flahr's ties to Minnesota hockey come into play here, with West being very appealing here and the Flyers willing to throw a dart at him at this point thanks to having a deluge of draft picks. Coming from high school hockey, West has looked really good when jumping up to play in the USHL. Late in the first, it may be quite worth it to take a chance on the 6'6" forward, whose looming year of playing football might scare some teams off.
Comparison: Kevin Hayes. West is a 6'5" center/winger, who skates well for his size, can play physical and put up some offense. His stock may be hurt because he's coming from high school hockey, but there's plenty of tools to work with.
37. Washington [from Boston]: Benjamin Kindel, RW/C
Standing only 5'10" and with less than stellar skating, Kindel falls to to the 2nd round, with teams passing on him for the aforementioned reasons. He'll look to prove them wrong in the end, as Washington could select him, loving their western kids. There may be some redundancy with with players like Terik Parascak and Andrew Cristall in their system, but they go with him nonetheless.
Comparison: Mikael Granlund. Like Granlund, Kindel isn't a speed burner, nor is he big in size. He makes up for this fact with superb hockey IQ and playmaking skill, which he used to showoff his talents in the WHL playoffs.
38. Seattle: Vaclav Nestrasil, LW/RW
Knowing they have some smaller wingers in development, adding a big boy such as Nestrasil could be right up Seattle's alleyway. His stock is in an upward trajectory thanks to his end of season play, which continued with into the Clark Cup playoffs, where he was a bullish, dominant, physical power winger that helped his team to victory.
Comparison: Mason Marchment. Bringing size, physicality, versatility and some scoring depth, Nestrasil would be a welcome addition to any team with some smaller forwards. He can help them create space, using his size to leverage time and space for them, while holding his own offensively.
39. Buffalo: Shane Vansaghi, RW
Having torn apart the combine, Vansaghi is definitely in consideration for a first round selection. I'm sure others teams have taken notice, too. If he's not taken in the first, he's likely gone in the early 2nd, with the Sabres loving what he brings to the table, feeling he can bring the heavy, power game that's missing in their lineup.
Comparison: Tanner Jeannot. Vansaghi had a hot start to the season, trailing off halfway through. Nonetheless, he's a heavy power forward that loves to play physical and take the body. If he makes it, it'll be as a crash and bang bottom-six type that can play big during the playoffs.
40. Philadelphia [from Anaheim]: Jacob Rombach, D
A towering behemoth of a defenseman, Rombach makes a lot of sense for the Flyers at this spot. They're on record of wanting to add size and strength to their blueline, with Rombach ripe for the taking. Since it's hard to get a combination of height and skating ability in one package, Rombach may be in first round consideration if a team really likes him.
Comparison: Kevin Bahl. Rombach's a tall, 6'6" defenseman that moves swiftly, with a long reach and ability to get pucks up the ice. Mainly a stay-at-home type, he can chip in some secondary offense, while pressuring out offense.
41. Montreal [from Pittsburgh]: Alexander Zharovsky, RW
The Habs seem to be back in on the Russian bandwagon. They could either trade up to try and secure him; or if he falls here, they jump on him. Zharovsky absolutely has top 6 upside, in fact he probably has the best overall hands in the draft. Unfortunately, his skating and defensve is kind of lacklustre, which could draft him, along with the entire Russian thing.
Comparison: David Perron. Eagly career Perron, like Zharovsky, was an all-offense player, with holes in his skating and defense. They both had/have soft, electric hands, who could be a hybrid scorer and playmaker from the wing, with the team that drafts him hoping he can similar progression and development as Perron.
42. New York Islanders: William Moore, C/RW
New GM, Mathieu Darche, might want to select a capable center with this pick. Grabbing Will Moore might be an option, deepening their pool down the middle, or at wing, if need be. Not only that, but he has New York connections, so it's a perfect fit for both sides. The fact that he's going to Boston College would make them even happier -- he'll be able to hone his craft there.
Comparison: Morgan Geekie. Moore's a smart, two-way pivot that brings good versatility and is able to shift to the wing, if need be. He's primarily a playmaker that boasts middle-six upside, able to fill in holes and gaps in a roster.
43. New York Rangers: Carter Amico, D
Amico suffered a knee injury back in November and was out for the year, which is a bummer. The good news is that teams such as the Rangers are looking to boost their defensive and could be willing to give him a chance earlier than expected. Before the injury, he could have contended for a first round selection, with the Rangers hoping he can reach his potential upside.
Comparison: Brenden Dillon. Amico's a huge, mobile defenseman, who isn't averse to laying the body, while keeping pucks in momentum. With any luck, his knee has healed and he can keep up with the pace, using his size and reach to shutdown opposition.
44. Detroit: Eric Nilson, C/LW
The Wings are a huge fan of fitness, especially the VO2 max test, which he finished 3rd in, while also putting in good showings on other tests. He's coming from Djugardens to play with Michigan State University, which screams for a Red Wings selection. Coming from NHL bloodlines (his dad was Marcus Nilson), it wouldn't surprise me to see him selected late in the first round (Calgary, perhaps?). Otherwise, if he's there for the Wings, they might take a crack at him.
Comparison: JG Pageau. Nilson's a hard-working, versatile, middle-six type of forward, who can fill multiple roles, including playing down the middle. Despite measuring in at 5'11", he's not afraid to play physical and muck it up, all while playing as both a shooter and playmaker.
45. Philadelphia [from Columbus]: Pyotr Andreyanov, G
The Flye have drafted a lot of Russian goalies of late. Andreyanov might be the best of the bunch. If he or Frolov are here and they miss out on Ravensbergen, they'd definitely consider them in the 2nd, with Andreyanov being someone they'd be willing to invest in. His numbers in Russia this year were fantastic and it gives them a reputable prospective goalie to bet on.
Comparison: Jonathan Quick. Not sure if he'll ever have the pedigree of Quick -- if that was guaranteed, he'd be a first rounder. That said, he's got a fast glove hand, is athletic in net and can potentially be counted upon as an average sized starter, if developed right. His only negative is his lack of elite size (for a goalie).
46. Utah: Haoxi Wang, D
Given his tools and size, Utah could love Wang. They love targeting huge players and Wang is more of that, joining the likes of Dmitri Simashev, Maveric Lamoureux, Tomas Lavoie and Will Skahan as potential giants to commandeer their defense. He'll be a longterm project, with Utah willing to give him all the time in the world to develop at Boston University, also loving his personal story, as a Chinese immigrant.
Comparison: Jamie Oleksiak. For a huge kid, Wang, a Chinese immigrant who started hockey late, moves incredibly well. Beyond that, though, is there much there? He does shoot the puck pretty hard and is pretty strong and physical, so there's that to build upon. He's a longterm project, who may pay off huge... if developed properly.
47. Vancouver: Theodor Halquisth, D
A defenseman playing for Orebro that plays on the right side, Halquisth seems like the perfect fit for the Canucks, who are also in need of defense. Halquisth is the best of the crop of defensemen coming out of Sweden this year and the Canucks could definitely use him, hopefully developing him into a useful piece.
Comparison: Dmitri Kulikov. He's a mobile, two-way defenseman that likes to play physical, clears the front of the net, moves pucks and works an all-around game, trying to keep things safe and simple.
48. Philadelphia [from Calgary]: David Bedkowski, D
The Flyers grab another big defenseman here. Enamored with Bedkowski's physicality, they'd love his ability to drop bodies and clear pucks from the net. He's perfect for playoff hockey, which is their entire reasoning for selecting him here, reinforcing their blueline depth.
Comparison: Mike Komisarek. Not a high end defender, his role will be in defending and shutting down opposition with physicality and playing hard. He can make life miserable for attackers, but still needs to work on his skating and other areas of the game.
49. Montreal: Matthew Gard, C/RW
If Montreal misses out on a center in the first round, they could grab a guy like Gard for their second pick in the 2nd. He fills a hole for exactly the style of player they're in need of - not having any big centers that can bring the grit and intensity that Gard delivers. Even if he tops out as just a bottom-line center, it's still a good addition, feeling like he can be a playoff-style warrior.
Comparison: Adam Lowry. Gard's a hard-working Manitoba boy that brings good size, physicality and an aggressive style to the rink. He can forecheck hard, wins a lot of faceoffs, make opposing players pay the price and can shutdown offenses, while providing some solid depth.
50. New Jersey: Theo Stockselius, C/LW
In need of center depth, Stockselius might be of good use here. He comes packaged with a good story, already beating cancer at a young age. The Devils could absolutely use a big, smart potential center like this, knowing he's coming off an excellent playoff showing in Sweden.
Comparison: Eetu Luostarinen. Stockselius is a two-way forward that has size, good all-around instincts and can produce depth offense. He's someone that can play around the middle-six, with some teams possibly giving him a first round grade.
51. Boston [from St. Louis]: Alexei Medvedev, G
The Bruins need goaltending depth pretty badly. If Medvedev's available, they could swing on him, hoping he addresses issues to develop into a longterm solution in net. After a solid start to the year, he ran a little cold, resulting in him losing the starter's role in London, but there's a lot to like about him, namely in his athleticism an glove hand, which he has cat-like reflexes for.
Comparison: Lukas Dostal. Flexible and athletic, Medvedev's got potential to develop into someone that >> might << develop into a starter's role. His combination of quick glove hand, which is fantastic, along with his reach, agility and size could help him succeed at the next level.
52. Minnesota: Jakob Ihs Wozniak, LW/RW
Coming into the year, Wozniak was thought of as a potential top 10-15 selection. However, early season troubles, along with inconsistency, plagued him on and off throughout the year, resulting in him dropping down draft boards. His size and a late season surge may help his stock and could see him selected much higher, but I'll have him dropping into the hands of the Wild, who aren't strangers to the concept of drafting guys that fall and turning them into regulars in their lineup.
Comparison: Kaapo Kakko. He's kind of a like what Kaapo Kakko has turned into. A middle-six winger, who isn't very fast, but does well along the boards and can add depth scoring via his playmaking ability and hockey sense.
53. San Jose [from Ottawa]: Kurban Limatov, D
Concerns over Russia might drop Limatov a little, but he's got plenty to look. The Sharks could take him here, building up their blueline depth, adding size, physicality and mobility, which is one of their areas they need to address. He's someone that could go in the late 1st to the 3rd round -- taking him here would be worth it.
Comparison: Rasmus Ristolainen. Limatov's a big 6'4" defenseman who's got a combination of fast skating and physicality, allowing him to cream opponents. He's prone to occasionel brainfarts, though, which could lead to turn overs, mistaken coverage, etc. which still are aspects he needs to work on.
54. Calgary [from Colorado]: Nathan Behm, LW
Going local, they grab a Calgary kid, thinking he's the perfect addition to play with some of their smaller guys. At times, he was thought of a first rounder, but inconsistent play, and some softness despite his size, knock him into the late 2nd. For the Flames, it's a worthwhile selection, giving them more depth and size upfront.
Comparison: Guillaume Latendresse. While he's far from a bruiser, Behm's a big kid, who, to me, compares to a Latendresse type. Sometimes showing all the talent in the world and a willing drive, while other times looking way too passive and inconsistent. He's a project that'll need to be worked on, but he has top-six upside.
55. Nashville [from Tampa Bay]: Peyton Kettles, D
Standing 6'5" and being young for the draft class gets Kettles taken late in the 2nd, with Nashville hoping he develops into a defenseman that Tanner Molendyk could potentially be paired with. There's a lot of runway for him to grow and develop, too. The Preds take him here hoping he can keep growing at a good pace.
Comparison: Tyler Kleven. Kettles is a big, rangey defenseman that can be physical, while also being okay at moving pucks along and playing a stay-at-home type of game.
56. Tampa Bay [from Los Angeles]: Cameron Schmidt, RW
With the pending loss of Isaac Howard, the Bolts best care scenario is to take the best player available. In this case, it's the 5'7" Cameron Schmidt, a goal-scoring firecracker with first round talent, who falls into their lap solely due to lack of size. It's a risk Tampa's willing to take, having a good history with undersized talents. If they don't take him here, there's chance Schmidt could even fall into the third.
Comparison: Brian Gionta. Schmidt's one of the fastest skaters in the draft, has one of the best releases and has some grit and tenacity, which make him an energetic puckhound. On the other hand, it all comes at the expense of size, standing only 5'7", which will unfortunately push him later into the draft than expected.
57. Seattle [from Toronto]: Lasse Boelius, D
The Kraken need a leftie defenseman. Boelius could be an option at this point. They have a tendency to like their Finns and he's the top of the class from there this year. Boelius is definitely the type of player they'd value, hoping he can bring his puck-movement game to their squad.
Comparison: Timothy Liljegren. Boelius fashions himself as a mobile, puck-moving defenseman that likes to keep things pacey, but safe. He'll make quick touch passes and zone exits, keeping pucks back up ice, working an all-around game.
58. Vegas: Eddie Genborg, LW
Vegas has a tendency to draft guys top ranked guys that fall to them. If he doesn't go earlier, a player such as Genborg is right in their realm, giving them a hard-working, firecracker type of winger to play around their lineup. He looked like a wrecking ball while playing internationally and they hope he can bring the same kamikaze style to them.
Comparison: Michael Ferland. A toolsy, physical winger that loves crashing into other players and working the corners. He brings his pail to work every night and his nonstop motor can be a pain to play against.
59. Pittsburgh [from Washington]: Luca Romano, C/RW
Headed back to the OHL, Romano feels like the type of player that they'd have a lot of confidence in. Playing in Kitchener, Pittsburgh likes him as the best player available here, boosting their stock upfront. With his speed bursts, he'd be a welcome add.
Comparison: Bryan Rust. A fast, two-way forward/center that can really shoot pucks, Romano profiles as a mobile forward that can shift to the wing if he's too small to stick at center. He's willing to kill penalties, block shots and do all the things to help his team find success, while finding a home in the bottom-nine.
60. New Jersey [from Winnipeg]: Ethan Czata, C/LW
Going for organizational depth, the Devils grab another center -- this time, it's the hard-working Czata. There's upside here for him to become a bottom-six'er that's difficult to play against -- and guess what? That's exactly what New Jersey is looking for.
Comparison: Colton Sissons. Czata's the type of center that'll do all the physical things to try and drive his team to victory. He wins draws, takes bodies, blocks shots, works the corners and can add depth scoring with his playmaking. Someone you'll want out late in a game to shutdown the opposition.
61. Boston [from Carolina]: Charlie Trethewey, D
It was a difficult season for Tretheway. The good news is that he's young for the draft class, showing he's got a lot of runway. The bad news is he probably drops, after coming into the season as a potential first rounder. At this late, the Bruins take a chance on a kid that'll be playing in Boston University, where they'll be able to track him closely.
Comparison: Cody Ceci. Trethewey's got gifted physical tools, can lay the body and owns an incredibly hard shot from the point. He'll need to work on his defensive gaffes and mindfulness, hopefully finding a role as a depth defenseman that can do a little of everything.
62. Chicago [from Dallas]: Kristian Epperson, LW
Passed over last year, it won't happen again, as Epperson has rocketed up draft boards with his play in the OHL this past year. He's shown he can play with talented players -- and they hope he can commit the same way, alongside Connor Bedard. If I'm correct, he'll be going back to school in America this year, with Chicago feeling like his game can translate well.
Comparison: Michael Bunting. Epperson's a speedy, energetic winger that fights like a dog on the ice. He battles hard, fights for and chases down pucks and can become an electric complementary winger that adds secondary offense.
63. Anaheim [from Edmonton]: Max Psenicka, D
Psenicka feels like the perfect type of complementary defenseman they love to collect. He came over to play in the WHL during the season and helped improve his stock, which may even push him higher than where I have him. The Ducks could use some RHD, so Psenicka is a nice pick for them here.
Comparison: Michael Kesselring. A huge 6'5" defenseman that isn't afraid to jump into the rush, Psenicka isn't afraid to drop bodies and bring some toughness. There's a high upside there, it just remains undetermined if he can reach it or not.
64. Toronto [from Florida]: Michael Pradel, G
The Leafs could use another goalie in their system. By taking Pradel here, they grab whom they feel is the best goaltender on the board, with the Slovakian netminder looking good at the international stage and in the USHL. His workload is likely to increase in the coming years and it should be a test to see how well he develops, with the Leafs hoping he pushes for a starting gig.
Comparison: Darcy Kuemper. A standard "big", 6'5" goalie, Pradel will have every opportunity to grow his game, working on things such as pucxk tracking and rebound control over the coming seasons. As of now, he's a composed, technical goalie that could push for a backup role that leads into a starter.
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ROUND 3
65. Vancouver [from San Jose]: Malte Vass, D
Vass is joining Boston University this upcoming year, which is the same program Tom Willander's developing in. Knowing that, plus also knowing their love of Swedes, they take him here, hoping his physicality and toolsy presence can translate to the pros.
Comparison: David Savard. Savard's a very physical defenseman, who'll work you death and does all the things necessary to lead his team to victory. A very dependable, physical defenseman.
66. Chicago: Everett Baldwin, D
Baldwin's definitely in the mould of defenseman that they'd really like -- especially in terms of skating ability. They could take him early in the 3rd, hoping he keeps developing in the coming years. Best care scenario, he becomes an attacking, offensive defenseman for them.
Comparison: Ryker Evans. He plays with mobility and can handle the physical game, able to get pucks up the ice and back into transition. There's offensive upside with him, able to work powerplays and put up points via his skating talents.
67. Nashville: Mace'o Phillips, D
A monstrous defenseman, Phillips has the dominating size a physical defenseman needs to succeed. The Predators take him here, loving his toughness, thinking he can be someone that insulates their skilled guys that they have coming up. He probably goes higher -- maybe in the mid-second, if some team really likes him.
Comparison: Erik Gudbransson. Standing 6'6", Phillips is a towering presence on skates. While he needs a lot of work in his gameplay, his focus will be on playing physical and tough, making life miserable for opposing forwards.
68. Philadelphia: Ivan Ryabkin, C/RW
The tale of Ivan Ryabkin comes to an end here in the 3rd round. With a bounty of picks interspersed throughout the draft, the Flyers can afford to take a shot at him. Word on the street is he didn't have a great combine -- to go along with all the other concerns he had throughout the year, straight on down to his production while playing in Russia. Perhaps playing with Matvei Michkov can be a motivator to get his issues addressed.
Comparison: Max Domi. Ryabkin's a stout, playmaking forward that measured in around 5'11" and over 200+lbs. Like Domi, there are some attitude and temper concerns, while also being able to be a pest on the ice, for better and for worse.
69. Boston: Hayden Paupanekis, C/LW
If Ryabkin had fallen to them, they may have considered him. Instead, they grab the next best center available in Paupanekis. At minimum, they'd love his size, finding it hard to pass on at this point, feeling like he could battle for an eventual bottom-six role.
Comparison: Zach Ostapchuk. A big forward that can drive to the net, work the danger areas and brings a well-rounded game, while standing 6'5". He's a toolsy forward whose size and reach makes him versatile.
70. New York Rangers [from Seattle]: Jan Chovan, C/RW
A Slovakian center that can potentially shift to wing, Chovan seems like a fine pickup by the Rangers here. They apparently interviewed him at the combine -- and if they like what they hear, maybe they take a chance on him. While his play at international tournaments was great, his seasonal play was a little lacklustre, so it may keep him from being taken in the top 64. In the third round, though? He's a good selection.
Comparison: Aatu Raty. Like Raty, I wouldn't call him a speed burner. He can bring depth offense in a middle-six role -- likely as a 3rd line center, playing a two-way game, while being aqeduate at setting up for offense -- likely in front of the net.
71. Buffalo: Maxim Agafonov, D
Grabbing a right shooting defenseman, the Sabres take someone to build depth in that area. They can keep him in Russia for the foreseeable future, making him a savvy longterm developmental project. They hold out hope he turns into a hard-to-play against defenseman that can play multiple roles.
Comparison: Jake McCabe. Agafonov profiles as a well-rounded, jack-of-all trades defender that does a little of everything. He moves pucks along, skates well, has a good foundational game and upside to be a mid-pairing guy.
72. Anaheim: Brandon Gorzynski, LW
The Ducks tend to like their western kids. Having a breakout second half that pushes him up boards, Gorzynski could be someone that catches the eye of the Ducks, who like his playstyle. If he can add depth to their wings, it'd be perfect as a longterm guy.
Comparison: Miles Wood. Gorzynski's a versatile offensive winger with size and scoring ability. Quite adaptable, he can play with various types of linemates, helping to round out a line.
73. Pittsburgh: Gustav Hillstrom, C/RW
Hillstrom's a type of forward that would look good playing down the middle for the Penguins in a depth role. He's toolsy, physical and has good size, making him a quality, versatile project that'd fit right in and give them some depth at center.
Comparison: Brooks Laich. A hard-working, versatile checking forward that can play physical, block shots, brings leadership and has a nonstop motor.
74. New York Islanders: Mateo Nobert, C/LW
Wanting to target a center, Nobert might a good option for the Islanders in the 3rd. His vision and energy give him a good foundation to build upon, with Mathieu Darche likely taking some guys from the Q. Nobert might be the best option available.
Comparison: Tyler Bozak. Nobert's a smart, effective center that possesses good playmaking skill, solid defensive conscious and he's able to play a positionally sound game.
75. Detroit [from New York Rangers]: Vojtech Cihar, LW
Putting up a good showing at the combine, Cihar seems destined to be a Red Wing thanks to his level of fitness. Playing a projectable game, he's an energetic forward from Czechia that projects as a role-playing depth forward. It's a valuable asset to have, with the Wings angling for more depth.
Comparison: Noah Cates. Cihar could project to be similar to what Cates does for Philadelphia -- an energetic, two-way forward that can bring energy from the wing. He's a hard working winger that probably excels in a 3rd line energy role.
76. Detroit: Brady Peddle, D
An impressive second half has Peddle surging up draft lists. Not only that, but he was dominant during the Clark Cup playoffs, using his physicality and defensive senses to play so well that he got invited to the combine. Attenting Michigan State next year, he could develop right under their nose, whilst adding the physicality and depth that they're looking for.
Comparison: Josh Manson. Peddle's a strong, stay-at-home, physical defenseman that plays a strong shutdown game. Maybe there's bottom pairing and penalty killing upside that'll help him find an eventual role.
77. Columbus: Lucas Beckman, G
The Jackets definitely need goaltending depth. Beckman might be considered the best on the board at this point. He became a fulltime starter this year and looked impressive, which the Jackets could appreciate. They're quick to jump on him here, hoping he can push for a starting role in the future.
Comparison: Filip Gustavsson. An average sized goalie that leans into his technique and style to make saves, Beckman's composed and drops down, making himself square to stop pucks. He comes up big when it matters and has history of playing on the international stage.
78. Utah: Carter Klippenstein, LW/RW
Putting up an impressive performance at the combine, Klippenstein's stock is certainly on the up and up. He's athletic and raw, which the Mammoth would really like, adding more size and meat to their core. Once he adds muscle and strength, they could feel he has the makings of a decent power winger.
Comparison: Morgan Barron. Bringing raw athletic ability, Klippenstein could develop into a prominent power winger in a depth role, if all things go well. His heavy style of play would work well during the playoffs, allowing him to lean on and shutdown opposing players.
79. Montreal [from Vancouver]: Sean Barnhill, D
Barnhill had an excellent showing in the balance and agility testing at the combine, which bodes well in his favor. He's going to Northeastern University next year, a system Kent Hughes would know quite well, and fits the criteria for a right shooting defenseman that they're on the hunt for.
Comparison: Scott Mayfield. Barnill aspires to be a big, mobile shutdown defenseman that closes gaps, plays physical, cuts off the rush by playing a simple game. Not a huge offensive guy, he's someone that'll do lots of hard work playing a defensive defenseman role.
80. Calgary: Tyler Hopkins, C/LW
Grabbing another capable center, the Flames load up down the middle, liking Hopkins for his adaptability. His potential to make it as a pro is quite good, as he could slide into a bottom-six pretty well and has many pro qualities. For the Flames, he played with current prospect, Jacob Battaglia, and they'd like to reunite them.
Comparison: Andrew Copp. Hopkins has speed, a good engine and is versatile enough to slide into any role given to him. His speed allows him to hunt down pucks and he's a willing penalty killer.
81. Montreal: Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, LW/RW
Passed over last year, history is not likely to repeat itself, with the Habs taking a chance on another overager. The Danish forward, Klyvo's been playing pretty well for Frolunda in Sweden, looking like the exact type of player that Montreal would like to add to their overall core. If they deem worthy, they could throw a pick at him here.
Comparison: Warren Foegele. An above average skating forward that competes well for pucks, while having some good shooting skill. He works hard against the boards and is someone that potentially works around a bottom-nine.
82. Montreal [from New Jerseu]: Burke Hood, G
The Canadiens have many ties to the Vancouver Giants, so I'm sure they've gotten a lot of good word on Hood. Their goaltending situation is pretty good -- loving the additions of Jacob Fowler, to go along with Jakub Dobes, Cayden Primeau, Yevgeni Volokhin and so on. While Samuel Montembeault is currently holding down the fort, they still haven't found a true replacement for Carey Price. The addition of Hood gives them more options moving forward.
Comparison: Adin Hill. Hood has all the makings of the modern day goalie -- technically sound, tracks pucks well, goes down to the butterfly fast and very composed. Someone that relies on good, quality positioning, who has translatable skill.
83. Pittsburgh [from Minnesota]: Ben Kevan, RW
Kevan feels like the type of forward that the Dubas staff could really like. He's someone that may have sneaky upside as a middle-six winger that can play a multi-faceted utility role. While he didn't shine at the U18's and his overall season wasn't as good as hoped, he has shown potential and that's good enough to place him in the top 100.
Comparison: Connor Brown. Kevan's kind of a plug and play type of winger that does everything quite well. He's good at takeaways, works the boards well and has upstanding two-way smarts. A Swiss Army knife type of forward.
84. Edmonton [from St. Louis]: Bryce Pickford, D
Pickford exploded offensively this year, especially during the WHL playoffs, where he was a machine. The overager, who is further along in his developmental path, can be selected by the Oilers in the mid-rounds to help refuel their blueline, and should be quicker to step in and apply his trade. He's a local kid, born in Edmonton, too.
Comparison: Jake Walman. A freewheeling offensive defenseman, Pickford has a bomb of a shot and profiles as a goal-scoring defender, who also isn't afraid to drop bodies.
85. Pittsburgh [from Ottawa]: Jack Ivankovic, G
Ivankovic is finally off the board here. Being a 5'11" goaltender is a lot like being a 5'7" forward -- you're going to fall in the draft. The Penguins latch on to him, hoping he can continue in the path of Dustin Wolf, who showed excellent ability for a smaller goalie this year.
Comparison: Jaroslav Halak. Size is going to be the major issue for Ivankovic moving forward. He's played at the international stage for Canada and looked good, showing off his athleticism and puck tracking ability.
86. San Jose [from Colorado]: William Belle, RW
Going for raw physicality and size with this pick, Belle is someone that'd work well in the Sharks system as a depth power forward. With a lot of talent upfront, they're going to need someone to bring physicality and leadership to their pending core, with Belle seeming like a nice fit at this point. He's the type of player that works well in a winning environment.
Comparison: Nathan Bastian. A 6'4" power forward, Belle is one of the best hitters in the draft. What he lacks for in skill, he makes up for in power and pure physicality, very willing to crush bodies.
87. Carolina [from Tampa Bay]: Filip Ekberg, LW
It's a case of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde for Filip Ekberg. During seasonal play in Ottawa of the OHL, he languished mostly looking like he wasn't developing. Once he got clear of Ottawa's management team, though, it was a different story. He was electric during the U18's, where he tied the record for most Swedish goals in the tourney. That play has pushed him back up draft boards, with Carolina willing to take a mid-round swing at him, being just the type of player they love to take chances on.
Comparison: Nick Robertson. An undersized, but energetic goal scorer. The team that drafts him will have to get him onto a better program, where he can receive more playtime to show off his true skill. At his best, he's a hard-working sniper.
88. Los Angeles: Love Harenstam, G
Needing goalie depth, taking the best guy available would be a smart move. Harenstam had a shaky U18 -- and season overall -- but he's shown upside and projectability at multiple levels. He's definitely worth a shot for longterm development.
Comparison: Jeremy Swayman. To me, he's like Swayman in that he's got decent athleticism, enabling him to flop around the crease, react quickly to shots and has a fast glove hand. There's potential for him to develop into a lower end starter.
89. New York Rangers [from Toronto]: Cooper Simpson, LW
The Rangers are no strangers to American systems. While it's hard to get a good read on high school players, Simpson has shown good flashes as a sniper. He could be a worthy guy to work on developing, allowing them to check in on him in 3-4 years from now, to see if he can step in.
Comparison: Daniel Sprong. A pure shooter, Simpson's got good offensive value, specifically in terms of shooting the puck and his hands. He'll have to work on consistency and skating for the longterm.
90. New Jersey [from Vegas]: Tomas Poletin, LW
If they want to build a strong leadership core in the bottom-six, Poletin is the type of player to grab, having a reputation as a battler. A player with a high floor/low ceiling, he's looked like a solid kid with pro potential in the Finnish U20 leagues. He's someone that would fit the stylistic mold that the Devils are hunting for.
Comparison: Jordan Martinook. Not a high upside player, he's more likely to find a home in a bottom-six, grinding his way to victory, working in front of the net to smash home pucks and delivering a well-rounded game.
91. Vegas [from Washington]: Owen Conrad, D
Despite having kind of a disappointing season, Conrad has a lot of qualities that Vegas likes in their defense -- namely size. There's plenty of projectability with him, even as a bottom pairing guy, which Vegas is willing to bet on.
Comparison: Andrew Peeke. An all-around, two-way defenseman, who has minor offensive pop, but can also play a fine shutdown game, keeping things non-flashy and making good first passes out of the zone.
92. Winnipeg: Alex Huang, D
The Jets could use a mobile, offensive defenseman like Huang on their blueline. He'll apparently be playing for Harvard next season, in which he'll have plenty of time to work on his game. After an underwhelming season, they'd be willing to give him all the developmental time in the world, happy as long as his offense can break through.
Comparison: Darren Raddysh. An underwhelming season could push Huang further down the board than originally thought. That said, his foot speed and attacking ability are good, showing upside as a potential offensive defenseman.
93. Washington [from Carolina]: Yegor Borikov, RW/LW
I remember reading on twitter/X about some team ready to jump on Borikov as soon as the third round. I'm going to guess that team is a team that has a bustling, savvy European scouting staff, who also likes Russians and overagers... so, maybe Washington? It's just a guess, but they have a history of liking both described aspects. Maybe there's something to it.
Comparison: Alex Laferriere. Borikov's a smart, sniping winger who has already been passed over twice. He had a great breakout year this season and could be ready to show off his depth scoring skill as a pro, once his KHL contract is over.
94. Dallas: Evan Passmore, D
The Stars could use some depth at RHD, with Passmore addressing that area. They'd love his ability to play hard and shutdown opposition, along with the fact that he plays in the OHL -- an area they scout heavily. They're a contending team and they need a player like that to help win them games.
Comparison: Alex Petrovic He plays heavy, hits hard and brings a defensively sound shutdown game. A stay at home guy that'll make opposing forwards pay.
95. San Jose [from Edmonton]: Samuel Meloche, G
In case Yaroslav Askarov stumbles, fortifying their goaltending might be a smart idea. Adding another goalie of the caliber of Meloche would be a wise move, which should encourage and push Askarov. As a bonus, he's on the younger side for the draft and is coming off a really strong, breakthrough season where he commandeered a heavy workload. He's definitely on an upward trajectory.
Comparison: Joonas Korpisalo. With goalies being voodoo, you never know how they'll turn out. Maybe someone such as Korpisalo can be a comparable. They're right about the same size, both technically sound with good athleticism and foundational skills.
96. Ottawa [from Florida]: Carlos Handel, D
The Sens look to fortify their blueline. One way to do that is by targeting some more RHD depth. For example, Handel could be a target -- having played in the QMJHL last year. His ability to do a little of everything could be appetizing for Ottawa, whose blueline is still a work in progress.
Comparison: John Marino. While he shows good prowess as a puck-moving type of defenseman at the junior level, he's more likely to find a place as a safe, mobile defenseman that plays a smart, reliable game. He captained the Germans at the U18 and he could be a calming presence in the locker room and on the ice.
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>> I love comparisons -- for everyone. Obviously, not every player is going to become the exact same, it'd be asinine and insane to think so. It's just a fun thing to do, especially when looking back 5+ years from now (to see how wrong I was). On top of that, most of these kids won't even make it, but it's still a fun thing to do.
>> There's no trades. With this being a weaker draft, in reality, there's likely to be a lot more movement with teams trying to trade up for their guy. The only thing hampering excess trades might be this year's decentralized draft format.
>> I'm not a scout, just a fan. I don't get to see every game, every player and so on -- put the credit to the guys that are able to do so. That said, I do love following along with draft year eligibles. For me, it's not that deep of a draft... but you're still going to get your projects.
>> Overall, because it's a "monkey see, monkey do" league, I think teams are going to go for size and depth, with smaller guys plunging farther than they should. It could be a banner year for re-entry candidates, though.
>> Per usual, there'll be a "tl,dr" summary followup at the end.
>> There's probably a litany of errors in this, from typos to incorrect picks. Just blame anything obvious on it being a big project, in which I'd go back and change my mind and have to re-copy and paste.
ROUND 1
1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D
With this being a crazy draft year, it's only appropriate that we get an insane lottery result, with the Islanders jumping from #10 and Utah jumping to the 4th pick. Could the Islanders go with hometown boy, James Hagens? I think they're certainly considering it, especially with how hyped he seems to be about potentially joining them. It makes me wonder if we see a trade-back scenario with Chicago, Nashville or Philadelphia, all teams with high picks and an extra first, if Hagens is guaranteed to be there when they pick (strangely enough, I could see all 3 teams going for Misa over Schaefer, in this case, keeping him from San Jose).
Since there's no trades in this full mock, I'm just going to have the Islanders straight up select Schaefer, despite his injury-shortened season. He's got all the tools to become a future #1, with teams crowning him as "the guy" for this year's crop. With new GM, Mathieu Darche, likely holding his hand close, he probably keeps the pick and selects Schaefer... but it certainly wouldn't be a shock if he straight up takes Hagens at this point, as well. Hell, even Misa being selected by them wouldn't shoch me that much -- it's that much of a weird year.
Comparison: Scott Niedermayer. It's a lofty comparable, but it's a worthy one. Schaefer's a mobile defenseman that's resourceful at every end of the ice. The type of mobile defenseman that gets pucks out of your end, defends incredibly well and has the confidence to work a powerplay. A do-it-all top end defenseman with elite level skating.
2. San Jose: Michael Misa, C/LW
Missing out on Schaefer, Misa is a great consolation prize for San Jose, with Mike Grier making the easiest selection of the draft. Already tearing up the OHL alongside current prospect, Igor Chernyshov, Misa adds to the already overflowing San Jose core of talented prospects, allowing them to run a Celebrini and Misa/Smith duo down the middle for the next decade. Once we get past the first 2 picks, the rest of the draft gets a little more fun and unpredictable.
Comparison: Tyler Seguin. A potential 40+ goal/40+ assists center/winger with excellent shooting skill, speed and dynamism. He's efficient enough to play in any situation, making him a dangerous forward at the top level.
3. Chicago: Anton Frondell, C/RW
An injury at the start of the year stifled his production early. Once back into form, he went into overdrive, putting up offense at a phenomal rate, proving his worth as a potential top pick. It's probably between Desnoyer, Martone and Frondell, with the latter winning out due to his physicality and booming shot, feeling he'd make a versatile collaborator with Connor Bedard.
Comparison: Filip Forsberg. While I don't know if he'll ever have as high a benchmark as Forsberg had, there are some similarities. Neither of them are known for elite skating, with both of them opting to be shoot-first/shoot-hard, versatile forwards that aren't averse to playing physical.
4. Utah: Brady Martin, C/RW
If the rumor is true and they're extraordinarily high on him, he just might be "their guy", giving him a monumental rise into the top 5. Teams like Utah probably look and see what guys such as Sam Bennett are doing in the playoffs -- and are willing to take the chance on someone such as Martin, who is coming off a fantastic performance at the U18's, which saw him play with plenty of physical force. With Bill Armstrong as their GM, they're certainly likely to take a risky swing like this.
Comparison: Think of him as sort of a Sam Bennett-meets-Shane Doan type. While he's not "fast", he's a farm-boy that brings his lunchpail to work every morning, bringing loads of intensity, physicality and a will to win. He can crash and bang his way to the net, where he scores goals, while simultaneously providing excellent two-way effort. A future leader and captain material.
5. Nashville: James Hagens, C/RW
In their history, they have never drafted a forward that have scored more than 65+ points. Barry Trotz is going to try to remedy that by selecting Hagens here. Hagens, in general, is in a weird spot. The Islanders could straight up select him first overall -- they did make the huge jump from 10th place and could affort to take the wild swing on a local guy. Alternatively, Hagens could drop completely out of the top 5, due to concerns over his production and lack of size at center. Playing at Boston College, alongside current prospect, Teddy Stiga, Hagens might be the best option moving forward.
Comparison: Logan Cooley. Hagens is an undersized pivot, whose focus is primarily on puck distribution and playmaking ability. Historically speaking, he's shown high-end upside and good two-way smarts, which makes him a high-upside player, who could even swing to the wing, if need be.
6. Philadelphia: Caleb Desnoyers, C
While drafting Jake O'Brien could be tempting, I think they go with Caleb Desnoyers here. They already have his brother, Elliot, in the organization and their scouting would certainly have all the information needed on him. With their desire for centers, the reigning QMJHL MVP feels like a good fit here, matching well with what they're looking for. He played through the Memorial Cup with an injury -- and teams may actually appreciate that endurance.
Comparison: Mikko Koivu. A well-rounded, two-way center, Desnoyers works magic at both ends of the ice, earning the trust of his coaches. Not only does he make his linemates better, but he's able to win faceoffs and brings a defensively sound game with some playmaking ability. He's someone that can develop into a multi-purpose center.
7. Boston: Porter Martone, RW
Another top 5 potential player that slips. With teams hunting for centers, Martone could find himself on the outside, with Boston happily grabbing him here. While they do need some top-six capable centers, they'd feel Martone is the best player available, which might be a smart strategy to take for the rebuilding Bruins. I'm not sure if David Pastrnak will be there through their rebuild -- if not, Martone could be the heir apparent replacement.
Comparison: Jason Robertson. It's apparent that the early season claims of him being the "new Tkachuk brother" were overblown. While he isn't afraid to mix it up, he's a lot less physical than the Tkachuk brothers, opting to use a more cerebral, playmaking style of game over brute force. He's got good size, though, and it allows him to get in tight to the dangerous areas and help provide offense.
8. Seattle: Radim Mrtka, D
With new GM, Jason Botterill, in charge, there may be a change in drafting philosophy. With a glut of forwards in development, they may choose to select a defenseman this year. Considering Mrtka is already playing in Seattle, it's an easy decision to make. While they may prefered a LHD, the right handed Mrtka is perfectly fine, knowing that he's already comfortable with the area after coming to play in the WHL mid-season.
Comparison: Colton Parayko. A 6'6", mobile, transitional defenseman, Mrtka's able to use his long reach to breakup plays and stifle opposition. Not as physical as his frame suggests, he'd rather use positioning and puck movement to play the game, giving him upside as a huge, two-way, toolsy defenseman.
9. Buffalo: Jake O'Brien, C
Having traded away Dylan Cozens, a Jake O'Brien selection could be a nice boost to their center depth. They may think hard on Eklund, ultimately deciding on O'Brien, going for his hockey smarts and skill, something they tend to value in their players.
Comparison: Paul Stastny. A cerebral and methodical center, O'Brien brings excellent playmaking ability in a solid frame. Even if his skating isn't superb, his ability to process the game make him valuable in multiple roles, able to slot into various positions as a prime-time setup guy.
10. Anaheim: Roger McQueen, C/RW
Due to the longterm back injury, NcQueen's range is all over the place. Could he be a top 5 selection? Maybe. Could he also fall later than this? Also, maybe. For now, with a well developed prospect core, I'll have Anaheim hedging their bets as the team that's willing to take the shot. In targeting him, they hope he can be their next Ryan Getzlaf... which there are some parallels in terms of playstyle. A 6'5" forward capable of playing center, who also brings the talent that he does, is a true swing for the fences type of selection.
Comparison: Something like Blake Wheeler is probably his true top end or a Kirby Dach-like often-injured type. With his size, skill, goal scoring and playmaking skill, McQueen is Wheeler-like in that he can slip into any role, at center or on the wing. If his back isn't truly healed, he could turn into a more chronically-injured type of player, ala Kirby Dach.
11. Pittsburgh: Kashawn Aitcheson, D
At this point, I feel like it's Dubas vs. Wes Clark for whom they select. Dubas, I could see really liking Eklund, while Wes Clark, who loves selecting from the OHL, might lean towards Aitcheson. In the end, I feel like Clark might win out, with Dubas putting his faith into his scouting team. With their leadership core getting up there in age, someone like Aitcheson could be a nice addition to help step in and be the future of this team.
Comparison: Jacob Trouba. An intense, physical and mobile defenseman, Aitcheson can lay the body like Trouba, while simultaneously eating up loads of minutes, carrying a heavy workload. There's leadership potential and he comes armed with a big shot to keep opponent's honest, even if offense doesn't translate to the pros.
12. New York Rangers: Jackson Smith, D
Smith measuring in at 6'4" at the combine will definitely give him a boost to his draft stock. With the Rangers looking for a LHD, he'd be a perfect selection for them, even with the underwhelming U18 performance. His combination of size, skating and physicality gives him top 4 upside, which is perfect for a team such as New York, who are on the hunt for defensemen.
Comparison: Philip Broberg. Measuring in at 6'4" at the combine, Jackson Smith's a tall, athletic and incredibly mobile defenseman that can jet up and down the ice in a flash. He brings an all-around style of game to the rink and can be a contributor at both ends of the ice, both offensively and defensively, with a touch of physicality.
13. Detroit: Viktor Eklund, RW/LW
Teams needing defense and centers might end up pushing Victor Eklund down the board, much to the joy of the Wings. Knowing how much they've historically loved Swedish talent, they'd be overjoyed to take him here, bringing both family pedigree and intensity to the squad. Despite being "undersized", he plays a big man's game, playing an electric, projectable and energetic role, which fans would love.
Comparison: Travis Konecny. Like his brother, Eklund isn't huge in size. Where he differs, though, is in how he plays the game -- bringing relentless energy and tenacity every time he steps onto the ice. He's willing to step into opposing players to make things work in his favor, while also having innate ability to shoot pucks.
14. Columbus: Lynden Lakovic, LW/RW
By all accounts, Columbus could go a multitude of ways with this draft, including choosing another defenseman. For now, Lakovic seems like someone that could be of interest, feeling he'd gel with guys such as Fantilli and Lindstrom. Standing 6'4", you'd think his combination of size and skill would have him higher. Alas, he's main focuses is on playing a finesse style of game that's lacking in aggression and physicality -- and that could knock him down some lists.
Comparison: Brock Nelson. While he's got size, standing 6'4", Lakovic has low penalty minutes and isn't known to be a physical force, which could cost him in the standings. Like Nelson, he's a quick strike again, who brings some finesse and consistency issues to the game, with some teams/scouts holding out hope he can turn into a center.
15. Vancouver: Braeden Cootes, C
If the Canucks don't trade the pick away, someone like Cootes could certainly be of interest to them. Fresh off captaining Canada to gold at the under-18's, Cootes is the only player the Canucks took out to dinner at the combine -- and he would make a good match with them. They're in need of centers and have surely seen a lot of him in the WHL and beyond.
Comparison: Chandler Stephenson. Cootes can be a ball of energy on the ice, likely developing into a Swiss army knife type of middle-six center that uses his relentless speed and high IQ for both attacking, defense, playmaking and two-way play.
16. Montreal [from Calgary]: Carter Bear, LW/C
In reality, the Habs might try to leverage their first rounders into players that can play now -- or to move up for Desnoyers. Otherwise, if Bear falls due to concerns over his achilles injury -- which, by the way has been deemed not as bad as though -- then Montreal would be savvy to jump on him here. He can replace the energetic, grit game and bulldog mentality that Brendan Gallagher has brought for a decade, making a useful pickup.
Comparison: Brandon Hagel. Blessed with a motor that never quits, Bear's quite similar to Hagel, who plays with reckless abandon and grit. He works hard, brings a foundational two-way game, is solid on offense and is the type of winger that'll help you win big games.
17. Montreal: Daniil Prokhorov, RW
With Nick Bobrov being one of their head scouts, they're likely to have a lot of information on him. Going for size and physicality, the Habs grab Prokhorov, who should be familiar with their wunderkind, Ivan Demidov. Someone like Prokhorov could/should be viewed as an insulator for him, while also feeling like he's the type of power winger that'd perform amazing in hotly contested playoff games. With a pretty healthy group of prospects, they can take the big swing on the large, overaged winger, who could go much much earlier than expected.
Comparison: Lawson Crouse. Prokhorov is a hulking winger that crashes bodies, can be an absolute beast on the walls, forechecks hard and go to the high-danger areas to help produce. While he's still a work in progress, he's probably the most physical player in the draft, which would be a bonus for teams with smaller players.
18. Calgary [from New Jersey]: Cole Reschny, C/RW
A late season surge has Reschny pushing his way up draft boards, where's he selected within the top 20. If he's there for the Flames, he'd be difficult to resist, effectively boosting their stock down the middle, filling a surefire need for them. Despite being undersized, standing 5'11", he's a spitfire that works hard, battles hard and never stops fighting.
Comparison: Cole Perfetti. Reschny's not huge in size, standing a mere 5'11", but he makes up for it with a well-crafted two-way game that's filled with excellent playmaking skill and desire to win, much like Perfetti. His hands and vision, coupled with his overall hockey smarts, make him a tantalizing project.
19. St. Louis: Logan Hensler, D
The Blues still need depth on their right side of defense. As such, if Hensler's on the board, he'd make perfect sense for them here. While he may not be flashy, he's the type of defenseman that can keep things simple, which would be just fine for St. Louis, who think his second half of the season proves he has more production than shown.
Comparison: Chris Tanev. Hensler qualifies as a mobile, minute-eating defenseman that plays a calm, shutdown style of game. While he's likely not a huge point producer, he's someone that can keep pucks in motion and uses his excellent skating ability to play a sound overall game by closing gaps, hunting down pucks and playing a non-flashy game.
20. Columbus [from Minnesota]: Blake Fiddler, D
They get their right-handed defenseman with their 2nd first rounder upon taking whomever is left between Logan Hensler and Blake Fiddler, with the latter being their guy. Thanks to his size, reach and skating, he's a guy that probably goes earlier than expected, having the potential to become a modern shutdown defenseman. Coming from good NHL bloodlines, he seems like the type of defenseman they'd really like, even if he may not turn into a huge offensive contributor.
Comparison: Brandon Carlo. Fiddler, like Carlo, is a big defensive defenseman, who skates pretty well despite his size. To go along with size and speed, he's reach is pretty good and he reads plays well, able to position himself well against oncoming attackers.
21. Ottawa: Justin Carbonneau, RW
For the Sens, it'd be hard to pass on the falling Carbonneau here. Concerns over hockey IQ might drop him into their lap, with the Sens grabbing here, hoping he can develop into a future winger to play alongside new #2 center, Dylan Cozens. They've gone to the Q in the past, so it wouldn't surprise me to see them take a chance on him at this range.
Comparison: Evander Kane. Self-described as a tank, Carbonneau's a shoot-first winger that also attacks with speed and tenacity. Not averse to working the hard areas and playing physical, one of Carbonneau's downsides is sometimes he lacks some compete and can get stuck in his own head. Nonetheless, there's lots there for a power-scoring winger.
22. Philadelphia [from Colorado]: Sascha Boumedienne, D
There were rumors of the Flyers being really high on Jackson Smith, so they're definitely looking for a defender. Being the youngest player in the NCAA last season, Boumedienne may be a nice consolation prize for them here, his stock at an all-time high after a record breaking performance at the U18, where he broke the record for most points by a defenseman.
Comparison: Michael Matheson. There's a bit of chaos in Boumedienne's game, similar to Matheson, in that they're a two-way, offense-leaning guy. He can work powerplay duty and shows off tremendous skating ability when with and without the puck.
23. Nashville [from Tampa Bay]: Jack Nesbitt, C
If Hagens isn't able to remain at center in the longrun, taking a big power-center such as Jack Nesbitt would be a good backup plan. It wouldn't surprise me to see him taken much earlier, too -- for example, anything from #12-20. His overall offensive upside may be in question, but his size and skill make him a very projectable talent.
Comparison: Nick Paul. Nesbitt's a 6'4" power center that brings versatility down the middle. He can be a disruptive netfront presence, while also bringing well-rounded, two-way ability, physicality and some playmaking to keep opponent's honest.
24. Los Angeles: Cameron Reid, D
The Kings would like to draft a defenseman here, hoping to build upon organizational depth. Having shown a tendency towards the OHL in previous years, Reid might be a good pickup here. While may not the biggest guy, which may hurt his stock, he can make up for it with fantastic skating, giving the Kings more depth to their blueline.
Comparison: Gustav Forsling. Reid profiles as a mobile, two-way type. He's stellar at transitioning pucks, allowing him to jump into the rush and can bea mobilizing, calming middle-pairing defenseman that makes the a smart first pass, owns a hard shot and IQ.
25. Chicago [from Toronto]: Malcolm Spence, LW
With his ranking being all over the board, Spence is someone that could go in the mid-first or drop into the mid-20's. At this point, Chicago would be wise to take a chance on him, loving his versatility and all-around appeal, thinking he can develop into a perfect jack-of-all trades type of winger that'd make life difficult for opponents. He's exactly the type of forward that they should be taking swings on.
Comparison: Jake Neighbours. Spence is a jack-of-all trades winger that crashes and bangs, riles up opposition, adds secondary scoring and works like a dog out there, trying to get the victory for his team. A hard-working type of winger that'll do his best work under playoff conditions.
26. Nashville [from Vegas]: Ryker Lee, RW/LW
After grabbing 2 potential centers, I have Nashville taking a winger here. An all-around skilled player, Ryker Lee will be attending school at Michigan State next year, with the Preds loving his talent and the fact that he's equal parts distributor and scorer. He's got upside, he'll just need it to be unlocked via development.
Comparison: Jordan Eberle. Maybe not the biggest, most physical or the fastest, Ryker Lee is a quick-strike, cerebral forward, who also knows where to go put up points in a secondary role. After a late season surge, he's shown he's got top-six upside, putting his quality skills to good use.
27. Washington: Bill Zonnon, C/LW
The Caps love players with size. They'd feel Zonnon is the perfect player that can play down the middle, bringing enough versatility for him to slip into multiple roles. He's the type of player that contending teams would love, thinking he's a player that does his best work under playoff style hockey.
Comparison: Charlie Coyle. Zonnon's a hard-working center/winger that fills in any role given to him. While his skating isn't perfect, he's got decent playmaking and a desire to play physical and gritty, making for perfect playoff style of hockey.
28. Winnipeg: Joshua Ravensbergen, G
Sure, Connor Hellebuyck may have just won the Hart and Vezina -- but what about their guy of the future? The goaltending depth just isn't there right now. If they take him, it can be a seamless transition in 4-5 years, with Ravensbergen, the top goalie in this draft, taking over from Hellebuyck. While he still needs some work, his great size alone gives him plenty of tools to work with.
Comparison: Jakob Markstrom. A huge, 6'5" goalie that's also a rare right handed catcher. Ravensbergen's got starter upside and is reguarded as the top netminder in this year's draft.
29. Carolina: Cole McKinney, C
Carolina probably trades back to gather an extra pick. If not, they could straight up select Cole McKinney here. He, along with Jack Murtagh, were the best players on a weaker USNTDP unit this year and he's rewarded with a first round selection. His overall upside may not be huge, but he's someone that's definitely projectable as a player down the middle.
Comparison: Antoine Vermette. Maybe not someone with high-end offensive upside, McKinney's more of a valuable, tenacious and competent two-way guy, who's best results likely won't be shown on the scoresheet. He's excellent on faceoffs, provides secondary offense, blocks shots, plays physical and positions himself well to defend on the penalty kill.
30. San Jose [from Dallas]: Henry Brzustewicz, D
Chances are that Brzustewicz is either off the board here or the next pick, with both San Jose and Philadelphia liking London Knights. With Brzustewicz playing alongside last year's draft selection, Sam Dickinson, it only makes sense to snatch him here, with right-shooting defenseman carrying a premium. Once he receives more playing time next year, he's likely to increase and develop his game, making him a solid late first swing.
Comparison: Damon Severson. Brzustewicz can work many roles. He's physical, robust, skates well, shoots well and is a well-rounded defender. While his IQ may not be elite, he's able to slide into various roles for their blueline, allowing him to play his game.
31. Philadelphia [from Edmonton]: Will Horcoff, LW/C
The Flyers add more size to their core forwards by taking Horcoff here. After impressing at the combine, he may find himself in consideration for a late first round selection. Already fairly defensively responsible, Horcoff's coming from NHL bloodlines, which should play in his favor. His father, Shawn Horcoff, should be well known to Daniel Briere, with the Flyers taking a chance on him here.
Comparison: Dmitri Voronkov. Garnering a lot of attention at the combine for his size and athleticism, Horcoff could find himself in first round consideration. The only thing that might keep him out of it is his lack of foot speed. At best, he could be like Voronkov, a dependable, multifaceted forward that plays center or wing, who can use size for his advantage.
32. Calgary [from Florida]: Milton Gastrin, C/LW
If he's still on the board, it's an easy selection for the Flames to make, giving them a versatile center project, who works well in any role given to him. A quality role-player, Gastrin is perfect for Calgary, who'd want to keep boosting depth at center, with Gastrin being the perfect type of player that'd work well within their system.
Comparison: Jarret Stoll. He kind of reminds me of what Jarrett Stoll brought to the LA Kings -- mainly versatility. Gastrin plays any role given to him and likely slides in as an adaptable 3rd liner that kills penalties, wins draws, blocks shots, shuts down opposition and has enough playmaking for offensive depth scoring.
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ROUND 2
33. San Jose: Jack Murtagh, LW
To start off day 2, the Sharks could target Jack Murtagh, who'll be attending Boston University, which would make Mike Grier happy. He loves his Boston connections and the Sharks feel like Murtagh could help fill out their bottom-six. Murtagh and Cole McKinney were the best USNTDP players of a weak crop and should be expected to be the first players from that system off the board.
Comparison: Tyler Bertuzzi. Murtagh, like Bertuzzi, is a hard-working, versatile forward that plays hard every shift, on a night to night basis. He's willing to scramble to the net to work the slot and is willing to put in the desire effort needed to potentially work in a middle-six role.
34. Chicago: Cullen Potter, LW
First off, Potter is ultra-skilled and is likely the best pure skater in the draft. Alas, he measured in at 5'9" during the combine and that lack of size is going to be an issue for teams. If he's still here for Chicago, he'd the perfect selection, fitting the exact mould of the type of fast, high pace skaters they tend to love.
Comparison: Frank Nazar. Potter's, without a doubt, the fastest skater in this class. As a result, he brings a high pace game, albeit in a smaller body, which he hopes to use to quickly slip past defenders.
35. Nashville: Semyon Frolov, G
The last highly touted Russian goaltender they had, they let him get away. They can't make the same mistake twice, locking down Frolov, who some scouts could be incredibly high on. Both Russian goalies, Frolov and Pyotr Andreyanov, could go relatively high in the 2nd round, with both of them challenging Joshua Ravensbergen as being the best goalies in the draft. The Predators need some star goalies. Frolov would be a good bet.
Comparison: Tuukka Rask. An explosively athletic goalie with decent size, Frolov is someone that potentially pushes for a starter's role in the future. Lack of playing time this season is the only thing holding him back, with the team that selects him having faith in his future growth and development.
36. Philadelphia: Mason West, C
Brent Flahr's ties to Minnesota hockey come into play here, with West being very appealing here and the Flyers willing to throw a dart at him at this point thanks to having a deluge of draft picks. Coming from high school hockey, West has looked really good when jumping up to play in the USHL. Late in the first, it may be quite worth it to take a chance on the 6'6" forward, whose looming year of playing football might scare some teams off.
Comparison: Kevin Hayes. West is a 6'5" center/winger, who skates well for his size, can play physical and put up some offense. His stock may be hurt because he's coming from high school hockey, but there's plenty of tools to work with.
37. Washington [from Boston]: Benjamin Kindel, RW/C
Standing only 5'10" and with less than stellar skating, Kindel falls to to the 2nd round, with teams passing on him for the aforementioned reasons. He'll look to prove them wrong in the end, as Washington could select him, loving their western kids. There may be some redundancy with with players like Terik Parascak and Andrew Cristall in their system, but they go with him nonetheless.
Comparison: Mikael Granlund. Like Granlund, Kindel isn't a speed burner, nor is he big in size. He makes up for this fact with superb hockey IQ and playmaking skill, which he used to showoff his talents in the WHL playoffs.
38. Seattle: Vaclav Nestrasil, LW/RW
Knowing they have some smaller wingers in development, adding a big boy such as Nestrasil could be right up Seattle's alleyway. His stock is in an upward trajectory thanks to his end of season play, which continued with into the Clark Cup playoffs, where he was a bullish, dominant, physical power winger that helped his team to victory.
Comparison: Mason Marchment. Bringing size, physicality, versatility and some scoring depth, Nestrasil would be a welcome addition to any team with some smaller forwards. He can help them create space, using his size to leverage time and space for them, while holding his own offensively.
39. Buffalo: Shane Vansaghi, RW
Having torn apart the combine, Vansaghi is definitely in consideration for a first round selection. I'm sure others teams have taken notice, too. If he's not taken in the first, he's likely gone in the early 2nd, with the Sabres loving what he brings to the table, feeling he can bring the heavy, power game that's missing in their lineup.
Comparison: Tanner Jeannot. Vansaghi had a hot start to the season, trailing off halfway through. Nonetheless, he's a heavy power forward that loves to play physical and take the body. If he makes it, it'll be as a crash and bang bottom-six type that can play big during the playoffs.
40. Philadelphia [from Anaheim]: Jacob Rombach, D
A towering behemoth of a defenseman, Rombach makes a lot of sense for the Flyers at this spot. They're on record of wanting to add size and strength to their blueline, with Rombach ripe for the taking. Since it's hard to get a combination of height and skating ability in one package, Rombach may be in first round consideration if a team really likes him.
Comparison: Kevin Bahl. Rombach's a tall, 6'6" defenseman that moves swiftly, with a long reach and ability to get pucks up the ice. Mainly a stay-at-home type, he can chip in some secondary offense, while pressuring out offense.
41. Montreal [from Pittsburgh]: Alexander Zharovsky, RW
The Habs seem to be back in on the Russian bandwagon. They could either trade up to try and secure him; or if he falls here, they jump on him. Zharovsky absolutely has top 6 upside, in fact he probably has the best overall hands in the draft. Unfortunately, his skating and defensve is kind of lacklustre, which could draft him, along with the entire Russian thing.
Comparison: David Perron. Eagly career Perron, like Zharovsky, was an all-offense player, with holes in his skating and defense. They both had/have soft, electric hands, who could be a hybrid scorer and playmaker from the wing, with the team that drafts him hoping he can similar progression and development as Perron.
42. New York Islanders: William Moore, C/RW
New GM, Mathieu Darche, might want to select a capable center with this pick. Grabbing Will Moore might be an option, deepening their pool down the middle, or at wing, if need be. Not only that, but he has New York connections, so it's a perfect fit for both sides. The fact that he's going to Boston College would make them even happier -- he'll be able to hone his craft there.
Comparison: Morgan Geekie. Moore's a smart, two-way pivot that brings good versatility and is able to shift to the wing, if need be. He's primarily a playmaker that boasts middle-six upside, able to fill in holes and gaps in a roster.
43. New York Rangers: Carter Amico, D
Amico suffered a knee injury back in November and was out for the year, which is a bummer. The good news is that teams such as the Rangers are looking to boost their defensive and could be willing to give him a chance earlier than expected. Before the injury, he could have contended for a first round selection, with the Rangers hoping he can reach his potential upside.
Comparison: Brenden Dillon. Amico's a huge, mobile defenseman, who isn't averse to laying the body, while keeping pucks in momentum. With any luck, his knee has healed and he can keep up with the pace, using his size and reach to shutdown opposition.
44. Detroit: Eric Nilson, C/LW
The Wings are a huge fan of fitness, especially the VO2 max test, which he finished 3rd in, while also putting in good showings on other tests. He's coming from Djugardens to play with Michigan State University, which screams for a Red Wings selection. Coming from NHL bloodlines (his dad was Marcus Nilson), it wouldn't surprise me to see him selected late in the first round (Calgary, perhaps?). Otherwise, if he's there for the Wings, they might take a crack at him.
Comparison: JG Pageau. Nilson's a hard-working, versatile, middle-six type of forward, who can fill multiple roles, including playing down the middle. Despite measuring in at 5'11", he's not afraid to play physical and muck it up, all while playing as both a shooter and playmaker.
45. Philadelphia [from Columbus]: Pyotr Andreyanov, G
The Flye have drafted a lot of Russian goalies of late. Andreyanov might be the best of the bunch. If he or Frolov are here and they miss out on Ravensbergen, they'd definitely consider them in the 2nd, with Andreyanov being someone they'd be willing to invest in. His numbers in Russia this year were fantastic and it gives them a reputable prospective goalie to bet on.
Comparison: Jonathan Quick. Not sure if he'll ever have the pedigree of Quick -- if that was guaranteed, he'd be a first rounder. That said, he's got a fast glove hand, is athletic in net and can potentially be counted upon as an average sized starter, if developed right. His only negative is his lack of elite size (for a goalie).
46. Utah: Haoxi Wang, D
Given his tools and size, Utah could love Wang. They love targeting huge players and Wang is more of that, joining the likes of Dmitri Simashev, Maveric Lamoureux, Tomas Lavoie and Will Skahan as potential giants to commandeer their defense. He'll be a longterm project, with Utah willing to give him all the time in the world to develop at Boston University, also loving his personal story, as a Chinese immigrant.
Comparison: Jamie Oleksiak. For a huge kid, Wang, a Chinese immigrant who started hockey late, moves incredibly well. Beyond that, though, is there much there? He does shoot the puck pretty hard and is pretty strong and physical, so there's that to build upon. He's a longterm project, who may pay off huge... if developed properly.
47. Vancouver: Theodor Halquisth, D
A defenseman playing for Orebro that plays on the right side, Halquisth seems like the perfect fit for the Canucks, who are also in need of defense. Halquisth is the best of the crop of defensemen coming out of Sweden this year and the Canucks could definitely use him, hopefully developing him into a useful piece.
Comparison: Dmitri Kulikov. He's a mobile, two-way defenseman that likes to play physical, clears the front of the net, moves pucks and works an all-around game, trying to keep things safe and simple.
48. Philadelphia [from Calgary]: David Bedkowski, D
The Flyers grab another big defenseman here. Enamored with Bedkowski's physicality, they'd love his ability to drop bodies and clear pucks from the net. He's perfect for playoff hockey, which is their entire reasoning for selecting him here, reinforcing their blueline depth.
Comparison: Mike Komisarek. Not a high end defender, his role will be in defending and shutting down opposition with physicality and playing hard. He can make life miserable for attackers, but still needs to work on his skating and other areas of the game.
49. Montreal: Matthew Gard, C/RW
If Montreal misses out on a center in the first round, they could grab a guy like Gard for their second pick in the 2nd. He fills a hole for exactly the style of player they're in need of - not having any big centers that can bring the grit and intensity that Gard delivers. Even if he tops out as just a bottom-line center, it's still a good addition, feeling like he can be a playoff-style warrior.
Comparison: Adam Lowry. Gard's a hard-working Manitoba boy that brings good size, physicality and an aggressive style to the rink. He can forecheck hard, wins a lot of faceoffs, make opposing players pay the price and can shutdown offenses, while providing some solid depth.
50. New Jersey: Theo Stockselius, C/LW
In need of center depth, Stockselius might be of good use here. He comes packaged with a good story, already beating cancer at a young age. The Devils could absolutely use a big, smart potential center like this, knowing he's coming off an excellent playoff showing in Sweden.
Comparison: Eetu Luostarinen. Stockselius is a two-way forward that has size, good all-around instincts and can produce depth offense. He's someone that can play around the middle-six, with some teams possibly giving him a first round grade.
51. Boston [from St. Louis]: Alexei Medvedev, G
The Bruins need goaltending depth pretty badly. If Medvedev's available, they could swing on him, hoping he addresses issues to develop into a longterm solution in net. After a solid start to the year, he ran a little cold, resulting in him losing the starter's role in London, but there's a lot to like about him, namely in his athleticism an glove hand, which he has cat-like reflexes for.
Comparison: Lukas Dostal. Flexible and athletic, Medvedev's got potential to develop into someone that >> might << develop into a starter's role. His combination of quick glove hand, which is fantastic, along with his reach, agility and size could help him succeed at the next level.
52. Minnesota: Jakob Ihs Wozniak, LW/RW
Coming into the year, Wozniak was thought of as a potential top 10-15 selection. However, early season troubles, along with inconsistency, plagued him on and off throughout the year, resulting in him dropping down draft boards. His size and a late season surge may help his stock and could see him selected much higher, but I'll have him dropping into the hands of the Wild, who aren't strangers to the concept of drafting guys that fall and turning them into regulars in their lineup.
Comparison: Kaapo Kakko. He's kind of a like what Kaapo Kakko has turned into. A middle-six winger, who isn't very fast, but does well along the boards and can add depth scoring via his playmaking ability and hockey sense.
53. San Jose [from Ottawa]: Kurban Limatov, D
Concerns over Russia might drop Limatov a little, but he's got plenty to look. The Sharks could take him here, building up their blueline depth, adding size, physicality and mobility, which is one of their areas they need to address. He's someone that could go in the late 1st to the 3rd round -- taking him here would be worth it.
Comparison: Rasmus Ristolainen. Limatov's a big 6'4" defenseman who's got a combination of fast skating and physicality, allowing him to cream opponents. He's prone to occasionel brainfarts, though, which could lead to turn overs, mistaken coverage, etc. which still are aspects he needs to work on.
54. Calgary [from Colorado]: Nathan Behm, LW
Going local, they grab a Calgary kid, thinking he's the perfect addition to play with some of their smaller guys. At times, he was thought of a first rounder, but inconsistent play, and some softness despite his size, knock him into the late 2nd. For the Flames, it's a worthwhile selection, giving them more depth and size upfront.
Comparison: Guillaume Latendresse. While he's far from a bruiser, Behm's a big kid, who, to me, compares to a Latendresse type. Sometimes showing all the talent in the world and a willing drive, while other times looking way too passive and inconsistent. He's a project that'll need to be worked on, but he has top-six upside.
55. Nashville [from Tampa Bay]: Peyton Kettles, D
Standing 6'5" and being young for the draft class gets Kettles taken late in the 2nd, with Nashville hoping he develops into a defenseman that Tanner Molendyk could potentially be paired with. There's a lot of runway for him to grow and develop, too. The Preds take him here hoping he can keep growing at a good pace.
Comparison: Tyler Kleven. Kettles is a big, rangey defenseman that can be physical, while also being okay at moving pucks along and playing a stay-at-home type of game.
56. Tampa Bay [from Los Angeles]: Cameron Schmidt, RW
With the pending loss of Isaac Howard, the Bolts best care scenario is to take the best player available. In this case, it's the 5'7" Cameron Schmidt, a goal-scoring firecracker with first round talent, who falls into their lap solely due to lack of size. It's a risk Tampa's willing to take, having a good history with undersized talents. If they don't take him here, there's chance Schmidt could even fall into the third.
Comparison: Brian Gionta. Schmidt's one of the fastest skaters in the draft, has one of the best releases and has some grit and tenacity, which make him an energetic puckhound. On the other hand, it all comes at the expense of size, standing only 5'7", which will unfortunately push him later into the draft than expected.
57. Seattle [from Toronto]: Lasse Boelius, D
The Kraken need a leftie defenseman. Boelius could be an option at this point. They have a tendency to like their Finns and he's the top of the class from there this year. Boelius is definitely the type of player they'd value, hoping he can bring his puck-movement game to their squad.
Comparison: Timothy Liljegren. Boelius fashions himself as a mobile, puck-moving defenseman that likes to keep things pacey, but safe. He'll make quick touch passes and zone exits, keeping pucks back up ice, working an all-around game.
58. Vegas: Eddie Genborg, LW
Vegas has a tendency to draft guys top ranked guys that fall to them. If he doesn't go earlier, a player such as Genborg is right in their realm, giving them a hard-working, firecracker type of winger to play around their lineup. He looked like a wrecking ball while playing internationally and they hope he can bring the same kamikaze style to them.
Comparison: Michael Ferland. A toolsy, physical winger that loves crashing into other players and working the corners. He brings his pail to work every night and his nonstop motor can be a pain to play against.
59. Pittsburgh [from Washington]: Luca Romano, C/RW
Headed back to the OHL, Romano feels like the type of player that they'd have a lot of confidence in. Playing in Kitchener, Pittsburgh likes him as the best player available here, boosting their stock upfront. With his speed bursts, he'd be a welcome add.
Comparison: Bryan Rust. A fast, two-way forward/center that can really shoot pucks, Romano profiles as a mobile forward that can shift to the wing if he's too small to stick at center. He's willing to kill penalties, block shots and do all the things to help his team find success, while finding a home in the bottom-nine.
60. New Jersey [from Winnipeg]: Ethan Czata, C/LW
Going for organizational depth, the Devils grab another center -- this time, it's the hard-working Czata. There's upside here for him to become a bottom-six'er that's difficult to play against -- and guess what? That's exactly what New Jersey is looking for.
Comparison: Colton Sissons. Czata's the type of center that'll do all the physical things to try and drive his team to victory. He wins draws, takes bodies, blocks shots, works the corners and can add depth scoring with his playmaking. Someone you'll want out late in a game to shutdown the opposition.
61. Boston [from Carolina]: Charlie Trethewey, D
It was a difficult season for Tretheway. The good news is that he's young for the draft class, showing he's got a lot of runway. The bad news is he probably drops, after coming into the season as a potential first rounder. At this late, the Bruins take a chance on a kid that'll be playing in Boston University, where they'll be able to track him closely.
Comparison: Cody Ceci. Trethewey's got gifted physical tools, can lay the body and owns an incredibly hard shot from the point. He'll need to work on his defensive gaffes and mindfulness, hopefully finding a role as a depth defenseman that can do a little of everything.
62. Chicago [from Dallas]: Kristian Epperson, LW
Passed over last year, it won't happen again, as Epperson has rocketed up draft boards with his play in the OHL this past year. He's shown he can play with talented players -- and they hope he can commit the same way, alongside Connor Bedard. If I'm correct, he'll be going back to school in America this year, with Chicago feeling like his game can translate well.
Comparison: Michael Bunting. Epperson's a speedy, energetic winger that fights like a dog on the ice. He battles hard, fights for and chases down pucks and can become an electric complementary winger that adds secondary offense.
63. Anaheim [from Edmonton]: Max Psenicka, D
Psenicka feels like the perfect type of complementary defenseman they love to collect. He came over to play in the WHL during the season and helped improve his stock, which may even push him higher than where I have him. The Ducks could use some RHD, so Psenicka is a nice pick for them here.
Comparison: Michael Kesselring. A huge 6'5" defenseman that isn't afraid to jump into the rush, Psenicka isn't afraid to drop bodies and bring some toughness. There's a high upside there, it just remains undetermined if he can reach it or not.
64. Toronto [from Florida]: Michael Pradel, G
The Leafs could use another goalie in their system. By taking Pradel here, they grab whom they feel is the best goaltender on the board, with the Slovakian netminder looking good at the international stage and in the USHL. His workload is likely to increase in the coming years and it should be a test to see how well he develops, with the Leafs hoping he pushes for a starting gig.
Comparison: Darcy Kuemper. A standard "big", 6'5" goalie, Pradel will have every opportunity to grow his game, working on things such as pucxk tracking and rebound control over the coming seasons. As of now, he's a composed, technical goalie that could push for a backup role that leads into a starter.
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ROUND 3
65. Vancouver [from San Jose]: Malte Vass, D
Vass is joining Boston University this upcoming year, which is the same program Tom Willander's developing in. Knowing that, plus also knowing their love of Swedes, they take him here, hoping his physicality and toolsy presence can translate to the pros.
Comparison: David Savard. Savard's a very physical defenseman, who'll work you death and does all the things necessary to lead his team to victory. A very dependable, physical defenseman.
66. Chicago: Everett Baldwin, D
Baldwin's definitely in the mould of defenseman that they'd really like -- especially in terms of skating ability. They could take him early in the 3rd, hoping he keeps developing in the coming years. Best care scenario, he becomes an attacking, offensive defenseman for them.
Comparison: Ryker Evans. He plays with mobility and can handle the physical game, able to get pucks up the ice and back into transition. There's offensive upside with him, able to work powerplays and put up points via his skating talents.
67. Nashville: Mace'o Phillips, D
A monstrous defenseman, Phillips has the dominating size a physical defenseman needs to succeed. The Predators take him here, loving his toughness, thinking he can be someone that insulates their skilled guys that they have coming up. He probably goes higher -- maybe in the mid-second, if some team really likes him.
Comparison: Erik Gudbransson. Standing 6'6", Phillips is a towering presence on skates. While he needs a lot of work in his gameplay, his focus will be on playing physical and tough, making life miserable for opposing forwards.
68. Philadelphia: Ivan Ryabkin, C/RW
The tale of Ivan Ryabkin comes to an end here in the 3rd round. With a bounty of picks interspersed throughout the draft, the Flyers can afford to take a shot at him. Word on the street is he didn't have a great combine -- to go along with all the other concerns he had throughout the year, straight on down to his production while playing in Russia. Perhaps playing with Matvei Michkov can be a motivator to get his issues addressed.
Comparison: Max Domi. Ryabkin's a stout, playmaking forward that measured in around 5'11" and over 200+lbs. Like Domi, there are some attitude and temper concerns, while also being able to be a pest on the ice, for better and for worse.
69. Boston: Hayden Paupanekis, C/LW
If Ryabkin had fallen to them, they may have considered him. Instead, they grab the next best center available in Paupanekis. At minimum, they'd love his size, finding it hard to pass on at this point, feeling like he could battle for an eventual bottom-six role.
Comparison: Zach Ostapchuk. A big forward that can drive to the net, work the danger areas and brings a well-rounded game, while standing 6'5". He's a toolsy forward whose size and reach makes him versatile.
70. New York Rangers [from Seattle]: Jan Chovan, C/RW
A Slovakian center that can potentially shift to wing, Chovan seems like a fine pickup by the Rangers here. They apparently interviewed him at the combine -- and if they like what they hear, maybe they take a chance on him. While his play at international tournaments was great, his seasonal play was a little lacklustre, so it may keep him from being taken in the top 64. In the third round, though? He's a good selection.
Comparison: Aatu Raty. Like Raty, I wouldn't call him a speed burner. He can bring depth offense in a middle-six role -- likely as a 3rd line center, playing a two-way game, while being aqeduate at setting up for offense -- likely in front of the net.
71. Buffalo: Maxim Agafonov, D
Grabbing a right shooting defenseman, the Sabres take someone to build depth in that area. They can keep him in Russia for the foreseeable future, making him a savvy longterm developmental project. They hold out hope he turns into a hard-to-play against defenseman that can play multiple roles.
Comparison: Jake McCabe. Agafonov profiles as a well-rounded, jack-of-all trades defender that does a little of everything. He moves pucks along, skates well, has a good foundational game and upside to be a mid-pairing guy.
72. Anaheim: Brandon Gorzynski, LW
The Ducks tend to like their western kids. Having a breakout second half that pushes him up boards, Gorzynski could be someone that catches the eye of the Ducks, who like his playstyle. If he can add depth to their wings, it'd be perfect as a longterm guy.
Comparison: Miles Wood. Gorzynski's a versatile offensive winger with size and scoring ability. Quite adaptable, he can play with various types of linemates, helping to round out a line.
73. Pittsburgh: Gustav Hillstrom, C/RW
Hillstrom's a type of forward that would look good playing down the middle for the Penguins in a depth role. He's toolsy, physical and has good size, making him a quality, versatile project that'd fit right in and give them some depth at center.
Comparison: Brooks Laich. A hard-working, versatile checking forward that can play physical, block shots, brings leadership and has a nonstop motor.
74. New York Islanders: Mateo Nobert, C/LW
Wanting to target a center, Nobert might a good option for the Islanders in the 3rd. His vision and energy give him a good foundation to build upon, with Mathieu Darche likely taking some guys from the Q. Nobert might be the best option available.
Comparison: Tyler Bozak. Nobert's a smart, effective center that possesses good playmaking skill, solid defensive conscious and he's able to play a positionally sound game.
75. Detroit [from New York Rangers]: Vojtech Cihar, LW
Putting up a good showing at the combine, Cihar seems destined to be a Red Wing thanks to his level of fitness. Playing a projectable game, he's an energetic forward from Czechia that projects as a role-playing depth forward. It's a valuable asset to have, with the Wings angling for more depth.
Comparison: Noah Cates. Cihar could project to be similar to what Cates does for Philadelphia -- an energetic, two-way forward that can bring energy from the wing. He's a hard working winger that probably excels in a 3rd line energy role.
76. Detroit: Brady Peddle, D
An impressive second half has Peddle surging up draft lists. Not only that, but he was dominant during the Clark Cup playoffs, using his physicality and defensive senses to play so well that he got invited to the combine. Attenting Michigan State next year, he could develop right under their nose, whilst adding the physicality and depth that they're looking for.
Comparison: Josh Manson. Peddle's a strong, stay-at-home, physical defenseman that plays a strong shutdown game. Maybe there's bottom pairing and penalty killing upside that'll help him find an eventual role.
77. Columbus: Lucas Beckman, G
The Jackets definitely need goaltending depth. Beckman might be considered the best on the board at this point. He became a fulltime starter this year and looked impressive, which the Jackets could appreciate. They're quick to jump on him here, hoping he can push for a starting role in the future.
Comparison: Filip Gustavsson. An average sized goalie that leans into his technique and style to make saves, Beckman's composed and drops down, making himself square to stop pucks. He comes up big when it matters and has history of playing on the international stage.
78. Utah: Carter Klippenstein, LW/RW
Putting up an impressive performance at the combine, Klippenstein's stock is certainly on the up and up. He's athletic and raw, which the Mammoth would really like, adding more size and meat to their core. Once he adds muscle and strength, they could feel he has the makings of a decent power winger.
Comparison: Morgan Barron. Bringing raw athletic ability, Klippenstein could develop into a prominent power winger in a depth role, if all things go well. His heavy style of play would work well during the playoffs, allowing him to lean on and shutdown opposing players.
79. Montreal [from Vancouver]: Sean Barnhill, D
Barnhill had an excellent showing in the balance and agility testing at the combine, which bodes well in his favor. He's going to Northeastern University next year, a system Kent Hughes would know quite well, and fits the criteria for a right shooting defenseman that they're on the hunt for.
Comparison: Scott Mayfield. Barnill aspires to be a big, mobile shutdown defenseman that closes gaps, plays physical, cuts off the rush by playing a simple game. Not a huge offensive guy, he's someone that'll do lots of hard work playing a defensive defenseman role.
80. Calgary: Tyler Hopkins, C/LW
Grabbing another capable center, the Flames load up down the middle, liking Hopkins for his adaptability. His potential to make it as a pro is quite good, as he could slide into a bottom-six pretty well and has many pro qualities. For the Flames, he played with current prospect, Jacob Battaglia, and they'd like to reunite them.
Comparison: Andrew Copp. Hopkins has speed, a good engine and is versatile enough to slide into any role given to him. His speed allows him to hunt down pucks and he's a willing penalty killer.
81. Montreal: Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, LW/RW
Passed over last year, history is not likely to repeat itself, with the Habs taking a chance on another overager. The Danish forward, Klyvo's been playing pretty well for Frolunda in Sweden, looking like the exact type of player that Montreal would like to add to their overall core. If they deem worthy, they could throw a pick at him here.
Comparison: Warren Foegele. An above average skating forward that competes well for pucks, while having some good shooting skill. He works hard against the boards and is someone that potentially works around a bottom-nine.
82. Montreal [from New Jerseu]: Burke Hood, G
The Canadiens have many ties to the Vancouver Giants, so I'm sure they've gotten a lot of good word on Hood. Their goaltending situation is pretty good -- loving the additions of Jacob Fowler, to go along with Jakub Dobes, Cayden Primeau, Yevgeni Volokhin and so on. While Samuel Montembeault is currently holding down the fort, they still haven't found a true replacement for Carey Price. The addition of Hood gives them more options moving forward.
Comparison: Adin Hill. Hood has all the makings of the modern day goalie -- technically sound, tracks pucks well, goes down to the butterfly fast and very composed. Someone that relies on good, quality positioning, who has translatable skill.
83. Pittsburgh [from Minnesota]: Ben Kevan, RW
Kevan feels like the type of forward that the Dubas staff could really like. He's someone that may have sneaky upside as a middle-six winger that can play a multi-faceted utility role. While he didn't shine at the U18's and his overall season wasn't as good as hoped, he has shown potential and that's good enough to place him in the top 100.
Comparison: Connor Brown. Kevan's kind of a plug and play type of winger that does everything quite well. He's good at takeaways, works the boards well and has upstanding two-way smarts. A Swiss Army knife type of forward.
84. Edmonton [from St. Louis]: Bryce Pickford, D
Pickford exploded offensively this year, especially during the WHL playoffs, where he was a machine. The overager, who is further along in his developmental path, can be selected by the Oilers in the mid-rounds to help refuel their blueline, and should be quicker to step in and apply his trade. He's a local kid, born in Edmonton, too.
Comparison: Jake Walman. A freewheeling offensive defenseman, Pickford has a bomb of a shot and profiles as a goal-scoring defender, who also isn't afraid to drop bodies.
85. Pittsburgh [from Ottawa]: Jack Ivankovic, G
Ivankovic is finally off the board here. Being a 5'11" goaltender is a lot like being a 5'7" forward -- you're going to fall in the draft. The Penguins latch on to him, hoping he can continue in the path of Dustin Wolf, who showed excellent ability for a smaller goalie this year.
Comparison: Jaroslav Halak. Size is going to be the major issue for Ivankovic moving forward. He's played at the international stage for Canada and looked good, showing off his athleticism and puck tracking ability.
86. San Jose [from Colorado]: William Belle, RW
Going for raw physicality and size with this pick, Belle is someone that'd work well in the Sharks system as a depth power forward. With a lot of talent upfront, they're going to need someone to bring physicality and leadership to their pending core, with Belle seeming like a nice fit at this point. He's the type of player that works well in a winning environment.
Comparison: Nathan Bastian. A 6'4" power forward, Belle is one of the best hitters in the draft. What he lacks for in skill, he makes up for in power and pure physicality, very willing to crush bodies.
87. Carolina [from Tampa Bay]: Filip Ekberg, LW
It's a case of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde for Filip Ekberg. During seasonal play in Ottawa of the OHL, he languished mostly looking like he wasn't developing. Once he got clear of Ottawa's management team, though, it was a different story. He was electric during the U18's, where he tied the record for most Swedish goals in the tourney. That play has pushed him back up draft boards, with Carolina willing to take a mid-round swing at him, being just the type of player they love to take chances on.
Comparison: Nick Robertson. An undersized, but energetic goal scorer. The team that drafts him will have to get him onto a better program, where he can receive more playtime to show off his true skill. At his best, he's a hard-working sniper.
88. Los Angeles: Love Harenstam, G
Needing goalie depth, taking the best guy available would be a smart move. Harenstam had a shaky U18 -- and season overall -- but he's shown upside and projectability at multiple levels. He's definitely worth a shot for longterm development.
Comparison: Jeremy Swayman. To me, he's like Swayman in that he's got decent athleticism, enabling him to flop around the crease, react quickly to shots and has a fast glove hand. There's potential for him to develop into a lower end starter.
89. New York Rangers [from Toronto]: Cooper Simpson, LW
The Rangers are no strangers to American systems. While it's hard to get a good read on high school players, Simpson has shown good flashes as a sniper. He could be a worthy guy to work on developing, allowing them to check in on him in 3-4 years from now, to see if he can step in.
Comparison: Daniel Sprong. A pure shooter, Simpson's got good offensive value, specifically in terms of shooting the puck and his hands. He'll have to work on consistency and skating for the longterm.
90. New Jersey [from Vegas]: Tomas Poletin, LW
If they want to build a strong leadership core in the bottom-six, Poletin is the type of player to grab, having a reputation as a battler. A player with a high floor/low ceiling, he's looked like a solid kid with pro potential in the Finnish U20 leagues. He's someone that would fit the stylistic mold that the Devils are hunting for.
Comparison: Jordan Martinook. Not a high upside player, he's more likely to find a home in a bottom-six, grinding his way to victory, working in front of the net to smash home pucks and delivering a well-rounded game.
91. Vegas [from Washington]: Owen Conrad, D
Despite having kind of a disappointing season, Conrad has a lot of qualities that Vegas likes in their defense -- namely size. There's plenty of projectability with him, even as a bottom pairing guy, which Vegas is willing to bet on.
Comparison: Andrew Peeke. An all-around, two-way defenseman, who has minor offensive pop, but can also play a fine shutdown game, keeping things non-flashy and making good first passes out of the zone.
92. Winnipeg: Alex Huang, D
The Jets could use a mobile, offensive defenseman like Huang on their blueline. He'll apparently be playing for Harvard next season, in which he'll have plenty of time to work on his game. After an underwhelming season, they'd be willing to give him all the developmental time in the world, happy as long as his offense can break through.
Comparison: Darren Raddysh. An underwhelming season could push Huang further down the board than originally thought. That said, his foot speed and attacking ability are good, showing upside as a potential offensive defenseman.
93. Washington [from Carolina]: Yegor Borikov, RW/LW
I remember reading on twitter/X about some team ready to jump on Borikov as soon as the third round. I'm going to guess that team is a team that has a bustling, savvy European scouting staff, who also likes Russians and overagers... so, maybe Washington? It's just a guess, but they have a history of liking both described aspects. Maybe there's something to it.
Comparison: Alex Laferriere. Borikov's a smart, sniping winger who has already been passed over twice. He had a great breakout year this season and could be ready to show off his depth scoring skill as a pro, once his KHL contract is over.
94. Dallas: Evan Passmore, D
The Stars could use some depth at RHD, with Passmore addressing that area. They'd love his ability to play hard and shutdown opposition, along with the fact that he plays in the OHL -- an area they scout heavily. They're a contending team and they need a player like that to help win them games.
Comparison: Alex Petrovic He plays heavy, hits hard and brings a defensively sound shutdown game. A stay at home guy that'll make opposing forwards pay.
95. San Jose [from Edmonton]: Samuel Meloche, G
In case Yaroslav Askarov stumbles, fortifying their goaltending might be a smart idea. Adding another goalie of the caliber of Meloche would be a wise move, which should encourage and push Askarov. As a bonus, he's on the younger side for the draft and is coming off a really strong, breakthrough season where he commandeered a heavy workload. He's definitely on an upward trajectory.
Comparison: Joonas Korpisalo. With goalies being voodoo, you never know how they'll turn out. Maybe someone such as Korpisalo can be a comparable. They're right about the same size, both technically sound with good athleticism and foundational skills.
96. Ottawa [from Florida]: Carlos Handel, D
The Sens look to fortify their blueline. One way to do that is by targeting some more RHD depth. For example, Handel could be a target -- having played in the QMJHL last year. His ability to do a little of everything could be appetizing for Ottawa, whose blueline is still a work in progress.
Comparison: John Marino. While he shows good prowess as a puck-moving type of defenseman at the junior level, he's more likely to find a place as a safe, mobile defenseman that plays a smart, reliable game. He captained the Germans at the U18 and he could be a calming presence in the locker room and on the ice.
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