It's time for the NHL scouts to earn their paycheques. All eyes are on the host team, the Montreal Canadiens. Not that anyone doubts whether the Habs will keep their picks or trade them. I have to admit that this year the top five are pretty secure picks. After that, it is anyone's guess. Be patient with me as I struggle to figure out who goes where. I mostly picked players based on the team's needs as I see them.
1 Shane Wright
Montreal Canadiens
Everyone picks Wright for number one in the draft. Shane is the best stick handler in the draft. His hockey IQ is through the roof. He is very smart with the puck, makes good decisions, and is a precision passer. His shot can be tricky. Goalies are never quite sure whether he will shoot or pass.
2 Juraj Slafkovsky - Right-wing/Left-wing
New Jersey Devils
Juraj is a powerful power forward who can steamroll over you or simply fake you out of your jock strap. He has a menacing hard shot that goes through goalies. He is a surprisingly good passer; you usually don't expect that from a power forward.
I love this kid. He reminds me of Kevin Stevens. In my opinion, Juraj is the third-best prospect, but the Devils should go with the position they need, not the best player.
3 Logan Cooley - Centre
Arizona Coyotes
Logan is a hard-working centre who has all the talent in the world. He is a fast, smooth skater who is accurate from zone to zone. Logan's ability to think on the fly makes him dynamic, always thinking two or three moves ahead. He is a terrific playmaker. I would match his passing skills with anyone in this draft.
4 Simon Nemec - Defense
Seattle Kraken
Simon is probably the best defender in the draft. He is described as an outstanding all-around defenceman. Simon has tremendous skills and could probably stick handle the puck through a phone booth. He is defensively sound in his own zone, and he knows where he is supposed to be. Scouts can't say enough about how mature he is. Simon has a very high hockey IQ. The Kraken would be lucky to get him.
5 David Jiříček - Defense
Philadelphia Flyers
David is a terrific skater with a high hockey IQ. An excellent passer with great vision, he will find you if you are in the open. David knows when to pinch in the offensive zone; he has perfect timing for his pinches. He is a pinpoint passer; this combined with his great puck skills, makes him a dangerous weapon. In defense, he will stick to his opponent like glue and knows his assignments. He will not let you out of his sight. David is a welcomed addition to any powerplay. The Sens would be happy to add him to their system.
6 Matthew Savoie - Centre
Columbus Blue Jackets
The best description for Savoie is he is a speed demon. He might be one of the fastest skaters in the draft. He is a powerplay specialist and has a great release on his wrist shot. His size is the main problem; he can overcome that with hard work.
7 Cutter Gauthier - Centre
Ottawa Senators
Gauthier is gutsy power forward. His first burst of speed pulls away into the offensive zone. He is a strong two-way forward who has developed his defensive game. He is strong on his feet and won't be taken off; his feet will wear down opponents. Cutter has a strong wrist shot with a quick release.
8 Joakim Kemell - Right-wing
Detroit Red Wings
Joakim does not shy away from the physical game. He is constantly moving around getting involved in both ends. He has a great shot, and is an offensive forward with a chip on his shoulder. He will play in all aspects of the game. An intelligent player with tons of potential. Scouts love his work ethic. He could be an elite forward.
9 Jonathan Lekkerimäki - Centre
Buffalo Sabres
Jonathan is an elite offensive centre. He is an excellent stick handler who will find a weakness in the defense; he has a great shot and can show from anywhere. If you need a sniper, Jonathan is your man.
10 Conor Geekie
Anaheim Ducks
Connor is a highly-skilled play-making centre. He is a pinpoint passer who thinks ahead on his feet. He knows when to shoot and when to pass and has a decent shot. Connor has a high hockey IQ and makes great decisions on the fly. He plays with heart and does not let his size hinder him.
11 Frank Nazar III - Centre
San Jose Sharks
Frank is a highly-skilled forward who can score from anywhere. His stick handling speed creates space in traffic. This complete player has all the tools, including defense.
12 Kevin Korchinski - Defencemen
Columbus Blue Jackets
Kevin is a terrific defenceman who has a high hockey IQ. He reads the plays well, thinks ahead, and has excellent puck-handling skills. Kevin is a mature defenceman with the poise to make good decisions with the puck under pressure.
13 Pavel Mintyukov - Defense
New York Islanders
Pavel is an offensively gifted defenseman. Pavel keeps the puck alive and battles with his size. He is an above average defensive zone defender. Pavel is a great puck distributor as well as being skilled in rushing with the puck. He has the potential of being a top pairing dman.
14 Danila Yurov - Right-Wing
Winnipeg Jets
Can you say sniper? If the listing for sniper in the dictionary had a picture beside it, it would be Danila Yurov. The Russian is a speed demon who will scare opponents to death. His puck-handling skills have defense backing up before he goes into the offensive zone.
15 Brad Lambert - Centre
Vancouver Canucks
Brad is a smooth skater who accelerates into the offensive zone. He is a great playmaking centre who can make pinpoint passes on the fly. Brad's strength is his puck-handling skill; with his speed, he can create room in the offensive zone.
16 Isaac Howard - Right-wing/Left-Wing
Buffalo Sabres
Isaac is a versatile forward playing both wings, which makes his stock even higher. He creates scoring chances for himself and his linemates. He is a good playmaking forward with a deceiving shot.
17 Marco Kasper - Centre
Nashville Predators
Marco is a hard-working centre who is like the Energizer Bunny—constantly moving. He works hard for the puck, the prototype third line shutdown centre with some scoring touch.
18 Denton Meytachuk - Defense
Dallas Stars
Denton is a high-impact offensive defenceman. He is a puck-rushing defenceman. He is a stabilizer in the back end and never panics. Denton is a great skater with a terrific shot. With hard work, he pinches to keep the puck in the offensive zone, which makes up for his size.
19 James Jimmy Snuggerud - Right-Wing
Minnesota Wild
Jimmy is an offensive juggernaut. He has a dangerous shot; the sniper first, passes second. He has a quick release on his shot. I see him as a future second-line forward and powerplay specialist.
20 Liam Öhgren - Left-wing
Washington Capitals
Liam is a skilled left-winger. He has great eye vision and always knows where the puck is and where he is. He has a great shot to go with excellent puck-handling skills. He keeps a level head and is very calm; Mr. Clutch in the pressure.
21 Filip Mešár - Centre
Pitsberg Penquins
Filip's best asset is his speed; his first acceleration into the offensive zone is deadly. He has no fear of going into or out of traffic to get the puck. Filip has Creative puck skills. He can make something out of nothing. He is an exciting player to watch.
22 Jagger Firkus - Right-Wing
Anaheim Ducks
Jagger is a smooth skater. He seems to skate effortlessly into the offensive zone. Jagger will find the space in the slot, giving his teammates a target to pass the puck to. He has a high hockey IQ and plays well without the puck.
23 Alexander Perevalov - Left-Wing
St. Louis Blues
Alexander is a pure goal score. He will be a significant asset on the powerplay with his one-time shot. He has an excellent release on his wrist shot. I can see an Ov comparison on the horizon.
24 Ryan Chesley - Defense
Minnesota Wild
Ryan might be one of the strongest players in the draft. A reliable defensive defenceman who clears any traffic in front of his net. Chesley is remarkable in his own zone.
25 Ivan Miroshnichenko - Right-Wing
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ivan was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, so that he will be off most of the team's boards. I know this is a gamble on my part, but he is probably one of the most gifted forwards in the draft. He is a pure sniper with a great shot. He playmaking skills and his strength made him a dangerous power forward. If Ivan can beat this, he is a perfect specimen.
26 Jiri Kulich - Centre
Montreal Candiens
Jiri is strong centermen with all the tools in the right place. He has good vision and makes great decisions with the puck: he is an excellent passer and a possible second-line playmaking centre.
27 Tristan Luneau - Centre
Arizona Coyotes
Tristan is an excellent two-way centremen. He has good vision and makes good hockey decisions in traffic. A hard-working player that never gives up.
28 Rutger McGroarty - Centre
Buffalo Sabres
Rutger is a creative centre who can make scoring chances on his own.
He has a decent size and works hard. He has excellent passing skills, is a pinpoint passer, and a good quick release. Teams may very well pick him before this because of his size.
29 Lian Bichsel - Defense
Edmonton Oilers
Lian is a big defender who uses all six foot five inches to his advantage. He is a solid defensive defenceman. He plays his strengths, hits hard, and takes care of intruders in their defensive zone. He is working on his offensive zone to become an all-around defenseman.
30 Jack Hughes - Centre
Winnipeg Jets
Jack is an offensive centre who has excellent skills. He Might be a future second or third-line centre. A fast skater with excellent passing skills who can make plays out of nothing.
31 Ty Nelson - Defence
Tampa Bay Lightning
Ty is a solid defenseman. He has a heavy shot and uses it. He is aggressive in the offense, joins in the offensive zone, and pinches in. He will be used in all aspects of the game.
32 Nathan Gaucher - Centre
Arizona Coyotes
Nathan is a strong two-way centre. He is terrific on the draw and will be used on the penalty kill. Nathan reminds me of Joel Otto with a little more scoring touch. He uses his size in the corners and will win the loose puck battles and be a fan favourite.
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