Well, this is the year everyone and their dog will be doing a mock Draft blog. So I thought I would take a stab at it. This year is harder because the only pick that is a sure thing is the first.
Buffalo Sabres Rasmus Dahlin 1
Rasmus is a can't-miss prospect. He is a terrific playmaking defenceman who can carry the puck out of the zone. A very smooth skater who makes up for his mistakes with his speed. Dahlin is a terrific powerplay quarterback. The Sabres will benefit right away. He is what they so badly need in a number one dman.
Carolina Hurricanes Andrei Svechnikov 2
Andrei is the best offensive forward in the draft. Svechnikov has been described as a young OV. He is a terrific young sniper with a great shot. When he sees his chance, he buries it. I truly believe he is the most gifted player in the draft.
Montreal Canadians Jesperi Kotkaniemi 3
You get what you pay for in Jasperi. A rugged two power forward who can mess with the best of them. Or you get huge centermen who uses his size at the draw. Either way, he is a no-nonsense player who will do everything well, though nothing exceptional. He is adequate at all angles of the game and could be big on the Habs powerplay because of his size. I can see Jasperi as a future number two centermen, with some offensive punch.
Ottawa Senators Adam Boqvist 4
Adam is an offensive-minded defenseman who distributes the puck with high accuracy. He has a great shot. He has the ability to get the puck out of the zone to the forwards. He will help the Rangers tremendously in the transition game. His passes will make it easier for the time counterattack. Defensively, he is average, but he will get better with time. He is a great asset to any team. The Rangers will have to be patient, but in time, he will make it worth their while.
Arizona Coyotes Brady Tkachuk 5
I will describe him as GI Joe on skates. A phenomenal power forward who can score. Like his brother, Matthew Brady can get into teams heads, his puck in the corner game will outwork his opponents. He will wear the opposing forward down, dominating him physically. When it comes to the big goal, Brady will get it.
Detroit Red Wings Filip Zadina 6
A little less talented than the Russian, Philip is a dynamic pistol on the forward line. He could stickhandle through a phone booth. Phillip is the typical offensive juggernaut who pounces on defensive mistakes. He will add punch to the listless Wings offence.
Vancouver Canucks Quinton Hughes 7
Quinton is a very explosive defenceman. He is a terrific two player, who can pass to the forwards with high accuracy. Quinton is an all-around defenseman who will fit in with the Canucks. He is committed to his education. The Canucks are the perfect team to pick him. They will be patient with him, and there will be growing pains. Quinton has the potential to be a solid number two or three dman who will fit in great in Vancouver.
Chicago Blackhawks Oliver Wahlstrom 8
A talented, big left winger, with offensive skill. A typical power forward who can add to the offence and ensure there is no monkey business on the ice. Oliver has a terrific shot and will score in bunches. He can take one-timers and put them in the net before the goalie even has a chance to move.
New York Ranger Noah Dobson 9
Noah is probably the second best defencemen in this draft. He is a mobile defender who has a solid two-way game. A top playmaking defenceman who is just as dependable in his own end. He has the potential to be a future star. The Wings are getting offensive talent. He will help the Wings in all aspects of the game. He will especially help in the Wings' powerplay with a laser shot from the blue line.
Edmonton Oilers Evan Bouchard 10
Evan is a dynamic offensive defenseman who will do well on the powerplay. An explosive shot is a key. If he uses his howitzer, he will be a powerhouse. Evan is a highly skilled offensive defenceman. He will help with the transition game.
New York Islanders Joe Veleno 11
Joe is a playmaking center who will excel if he continues to develop his skills. He is an excellent passer and will blend in with the odd goal. He will be an asset to the Islander's powerplay. He sees the ice, thinks well on his feet, and is always two plays ahead. My only concern is that he needs to get stronger. He has tons of potential to become a good offensive player.
New York Islanders Bode Wilde 12
A big, rugged blueliner who is very smart with the puck. Bodie is very capable of being a bona fide number two dman. He uses his size to his advantage. Bode is capable of being all-around dman who is adequate in all aspects. He is capable of carrying the puck from end to end. He is going to be a steady number three and maybe even a number two dman.
Dallas Stars Barrett Hayton 13
A rugged centerman who is hard-working in all aspects of the game. He is an excellent penalty killer who is very good in his own zone. A brilliant centre who understands the game and gets the job done. He is a future number two centerman.
Philadephia Flyers Joel Farabee 14
A solid left winger who knows his role. Hard worker who is a little undersized, but does not let that stop him. He never gives up on a play and is capable of finishing his chances. The offensive opportunities are due to his hard work. A third line winger with a potential of scoring 2-30 goals a season.
Florida Panthers Ty Smith 15
Fast on his feet, Ty defends surprisingly well. He will help the Panthers in the powerplay. He is a smart passer with quick hands. A very fast skater, he can make up mistakes with his speed. Ty could very well be a powerplay quarterback.
Colorado Avalanche Ryan Merkley 16
Gifted offensive defenceman with speed to burn. Ryan is brilliant and carries the puck with confidence. He will be a factor in the powerplay because of his hockey IQ. He has good vision and the ability to get the puck to the upcoming forwards in the transition game. He has a ton of potential.
New Jersey Devils Vitali Kravtsov 17
The Devils are in dire need of a big, rugged winger. Hall was run over too many times. Vitall is a huge winger with some offensive upside. He is a fast winger who can get into the corners and uses his strength to his advantage. It is tough to get the puck off of him.
Columbus Blue Jackets Grigori Denisenko 18
A skillful Russsian with speed, high hockey IQ, Grigori thinks two steps ahead at all times. He needs to grow out a bit and get stronger. An extremely intelligent playmaker.
Philadelphia Flyers Rasmus Kupari 19
Rasmus is solid winger-center. He is a versatile player who skates very well, makes transitional plays by either carrying the puck over the blue line or is a good passer, and who knows how to distribute the puck.
Los Angeles Kings Mattias Samuelsson 20
A big mean, nasty dman who does his job well. He knows his ability and does not do more than he should. He does the little things well, a potentially solid stay-home dman.
San Jose Sharks Jett Woo 21
A fast-skating dman who came out of nowhere. Jett seems to be able to handle more each year. He is capable of playing all aspects of his game. Could be very handy on the powerplay.
Ottawa Senators Isac Lundestrom 22
A hardworking centreman. Very good on faceoffs. A very versatile forward, he can play all three forward positions. He will be used on the powerplay and the penalty killing unit. If the Senators are patient with him, he could be a solid second/third line centreman his entire career. A project a little ways away.
Anaheim Ducks Serron Noel 23
A giant winger who is uses his size to his advantage. Serron has some offensive help, could develop into a power forward. Perfect for a Duck.
Minnesota Wild Calen Addison 24
An offensive dman who carries the puck to end to end. An undersized dman who nevertheless plays big. He won't let people Push him around. Generally, a good skater. He may need to develop defensively.
Toronto Maple Leafs Alexander Alexeyev 25
A rugged dman with some nastiness. Exactly what the Maple Leafs ordered. He will be polished dman in years to come. He has some offensive potential. The Leafs would be lucky to have him.
New York Rangers Akil Thomas 26
A small centre who plays bigger than his size. Akil will step up when needed. He has some offensive punch and will help in all aspects of the game. A well-rounded centerman. He will take some time to develop. I am sure the Rangers will be patient with him.
Chicago Blackhawks Ryan McLeod 27
The Blackhawks need a big centerman who can add some size to their forwards. Just like his brother, he can handle himself. It is hard to get him off his feet. He will help the Blackhawks get stronger up the middle.
New York Rangers Rasmus Sandin 28
The Rangers' defence is in need of an all-around defence who can help in the offensive zone coverage. Rasmus can certainly help with that. A smart dman who knows how to transition the puck out of the zone.
St. Louis Blues Martin Kaut 29
A highly-skilled right winger with excellent puck skills. He sees the whole ice; he generally makes good decisions with the puck. He has a strong show, is capable of finishing, and makes plays you don't think are there.
Montreal Canadiens Damien Giroux 30
Damien will put the puck in when called upon. A solid third line right winger with some scoring punch.
Detroit Red Wings Ty Dellandrea 31
Ty is a spark plug who shifts the momentum. He generally lifts his team with hard work. Has a ton of offensive skill.
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