It is that time of year when I get to make a complete fool out of myself. Even I should be able to pick who is picked for the first overall pick. Although it may be a no-brainer, the consensus is that Connor Bedard will be selected.
Chicago Blackhawks
1 Connor Bedard - Centre
Connor is the best prospect to lead since the other Connor; His acceleration and keeping the puck away from opposing players make him the most dangerous player in the draft. His hockey IQ is off the charts, thinking four plays ahead. Bedard is a pinpoint passer who is creative and gives defensemen nightmares. Connor could be a better defensive player, but he tries and works hard at it, which makes him more than adequate on his own end.
Anaheim Ducks
2 Adam Fantili - Centre
Just as Connor is the consensus number one pick, Adam is a slam dunk as the number two pick. Adam is a slick playing maker with excellent vision. He makes players look better by doing what it takes to be a winner. Fantelli has great puck-handling skills, and his ability to hang on to the puck until the last second is something to behold. Adam's defensive game may require some fine-tuning as he transitions into the NHL; I expect him to develop into a complete player.
Columbus Blue Jackets
3 Leo Carlsson - Centre/Wing
Leo might be the best two-way player in the draft. He excels at driving to the net, possessing a strong determination to keep the puck. Carlson has excellent puck vision. He is known for playing a mature game. He doesn't panic with the puck.
He will outwork the players to get the puck out, carry the puck out of the zone, and get out of danger. People love his offensive skills. He has a great shot and is a proven playmaker with excellent passing skills.
San Jose Sharks
4 Matvei Michkov - Right Wing
Sniper, sniper, sniper. Matvei can score from anywhere. His wrist shot is registered as a deadly weapon. He has all the skills in the world; the one downside is that he is trying to get out of a KHL contract. If Michkov were free and clear, he would be the second-best player in the draft.
Montreal Canadiens
5 William Will Smith - Centre
The fifth pick is challenging because the Habs must prioritize their needs over the best player. William is a dynamic offensive machine. He is the best American-born player in the draft and has all the tools to be a star. William is a smooth skater with a powerful wrist shot. He may not be the best defensive player, but he's adequate. He knows the basics in the defensive zone. William has a quick release on his wrist shot, which catches goalies off guard. All signs point to him being a star in the making.
Arizona Coyotes
6 Zach Benson - Left Wing
Zach's biggest hindrance is his size. He is a gifted winger with a great shot. His 36 goals and 62 assists are a testament to his outstanding playmaker abilities. He could be used efficiently and effectively on the powerplay. He has a tremendous hockey IQ and always seems to be one step ahead of the game. He is a smooth skater; he can find his niche in the League with his talent and hard work. He is an excellent asset to any team that drafts him.
Philadelphia Flyers
7 Dalibor Dvorsky - Centre/Right Wing
Dalibor is an excellent skater with terrific playmaking abilities. He's a smooth skater who can turn on a dime. He has a high hockey IQ, so he's very creative with the puck. Divorsky is always thinking ahead. He is a terrific passer and can make plays with the best of them, with the potential of being a second-line centre.
Washington Capitals
8 David Reinbacher - Defense
David is arguably the best defenseman in the draft. He is a solid defensive dman who knows where he is supposed to be. He Plays a solid game and a solid shot. David is also a talented puck-mover, able to get himself out of trouble with his skating and passing abilities.
Detroit Red Wings
9 Ryan Leonard - Centre
Ryan is a speed demon. He uses his speed to blow past the defenseman in the offensive zone. He has the tenacity of the Tasmanian devil, works consistently hard for the puck, and never gives up. Ryan has an excellent shot. He is a terrific playmaker and all-around good hockey player. Ryan is more than adequate in the defensive zone. He takes his defensive responsibility seriously and sticks with his opponent.
St Louis Blues
10 Oliver Moore - Centre
Oliver Moore is the kind of player you can build a team around. He has a terrific shot, especially his one-timers. His one-timer is a dangerous weapon, and he has the potential to become a powerplay specialist. He excels in the offensive zone, using crossovers to confuse the defense. Oliver is an excellent stick handler who can work in tight places, allowing him to get out of trouble.
Vancouver Canucks
11 Colby Barlow - Left Wing
Colby might be one of the fastest skaters in the draft. He's an excellent stick handler with a great shot. Colby uses his size along the boards to get the puck out of difficult spots. He is not afraid to get his nose dirty and will do what it takes to get the win. His leadership abilities would make a great addition to any locker room.
Arizona Coyotes
12 Axel Sundin Pellikka - Defense
Axel's offensive skills are immaculate. He is probably the most skilled offensive defenseman in the draft. His passing and powerful shot from the point make him an ideal candidate to quarterback powerplay units in the future.
Buffalo Sabers
13 Eduard Šalé - Right Wing
Eduard is renowned for his excellent passing skills. He is a swift skater with stickhandling skills that allow him to get out of sticky situations. His ability to handle any passes is out of this world. He is known for his one-timers on the powerplay; he is deadly from the circle.
Pittsburgh Penguins
14 Nate Danielson Centre
Nate is a solid Centreman who is developed in all aspects of his game. He is probably one of the best skaters in the game. Can score from anywhere, great playmaker. A solid star.
Nashville Predators
15 Brayden Yager - Center
Bayden is a smooth-skating forward who glides effortlessly up and down the ice. He has excellent playmaking skills. It is hard to take the puck off him. He has a quick release, a tough shot; his one-timer is especially lethal.
Calgary Flames
16 Matthew Wood - Left Wing
Matthew is an intelligent player with soft hands with a great explosive shot. His greatest strength is his one-timers. He will be an offensive weapon on the powerplay. Matthew is a silk-smooth forward with an intense hockey IQ and will always be dangerous in the offensive zone.
Detroit Red Wings
17 Dmitri Simashev - Defense
Dmitri will be a solid NHL defenseman. Most people agree he has tons of potential and a high hockey IQ. Dmitri has solid defensive and excellent stickhandling skills, allowing him to quickly take control of the puck and move it from end to end. With these abilities, Dmitri will make an impact in any team's defensive zone and help them get the puck out of their own end with ease.
Winnipeg Jets
18 Samuel Honzeky - Centre
Samuel is a solid skater who has plenty of offensive talent. He has a ton of heart and is willing to work in the corner. Once Honzeky fills out, he will be a sold powerplay quarterback. He has a good shot. He could get his share of garbage goals.
Chicago Blackhawks
19 Andrew Cristall - Left Wing
Andrew has a remarkable ability to read the game and make the right decisions in any situation. His intelligence and skill on the ice are unmatched, and he has an impressive knack for finding the puck. What he does is simply score. He might be one of the smartest players in the draft. A solid skater with an underrated shot.
Seattle Kraken
20 Riley Heidt - Centre
Riley is a dangerous offensive forward. His impressive puck vision allows him to make precise passes. Riley has a tremendous asset on the powerplay. He can make a difference with his ability to find the open man and excellent skating skills. He is the total package.
Minnesota Wild
21 Otto Stenberg - Center
The best way to describe Otto is a second-line centre. Stenberg knows when to get involved. He is a good all-around player. He is defensively responsible. While he may not have any standout qualities, his all-around ability makes him an invaluable asset to any team.
Philadelphia Flyers
22 Calum Ritchie - Centre
Calum is a solid prospect. He is a solid prospect and an excellent playmaker. He is known for his exceptional vision when it comes to finding open teammates, and rarely gets flustered when in possession of the puck. He always looks at his options before dishing the puck. He has been named a strong puck carrier. It is hard to take the puck off him. Ritchie is developing his physical game, which will only make him stronger.
New York Rangers
23 Tom Wallander - Defencemen
Tom is a well-rounded defenceman who is an asset on both sides of the ice. He excels in the defensive zone and provides a valuable offensive spark. His two-way play makes him a valuable contributor to his team's success.
Nashville Predators
24 Mikhail Gulyayev - Defense
Mikhail is an offensive powerhouse. His ability to jump into the play creates plenty of scoring opportunities for his team. His passing skills are out of this world. If he can improve his defense, he might be the steal in the first round.
St Louis Blues
25 Gabe Perreault - Right Wing
Gabe is an offensive forward with plenty of tools. He is a great playmaker. His passing is precise and he uses his rapid pace to draw defenders away, thus creating space for his teammates to move into.
San Jose Sharks
26 Kasper Halttunen - Right Wing
Kasper has some grit. He uses his size to his advantage and plays better with the rough stuff. He is especially dangerous on the powerplay, where his heavy one-timers create havoc. If he remains focused, Kasper can be a real menace on the ice.
Colorado Avalanche
27 Charlie Stramel - Centre
Charlie is a solid offensive forward who needs a little work. He has a great shot he can use to his advantage. He can be hard to take off the puck. He is tenacious in working with the puck and does not shy away from the rough game. He is a future power forward.
Toronto Maple Leafs
28 Lukas Dragicevic - Defense
Lukas is an offensive defenseman who will put up points in the NHL. He is willing to take risks and join the rush, while also being comfortable playing a line along the boards. He won't shy away from the rough side of the game. Lukas is working on his defensive play. We'll need more development on that side of the game. He is an excellent all-around defenseman.
St Louis Blues
29 Galvin Brindley - Right Wing
Galvin can be summed up as a Tasmanian devil in defense. He is tenacious and attends to detail. Galvin has a high hockey IQ. He will bail out his teammates when they make mistakes. He will make the ideal third-line Right-Wing or great penalty-killing leader in the dressing room.
Carolina Hurricanes
30 Daniil But Left |Wing
But is highly regarded in the offensive zone. He's a speedy skater with a great shot from the blue line. He will be a great addition to any powerplay. But is a great puck distributor and has great passing skills. He will find the man in the open regularly. While his offensive skills are impressive, he may need additional work in the defensive zone.
Montreal Canadiens
31 Ethan Gauthier - Right Wing
Ethan knows how to get into a team's head. He gets his nose dirty and will fight for the puck. Gauthier has good hands and goes to the net to pick up the garbage goals.
Las Vegas Golden Knights
32 Koehn Ziemmer - Right Wing
Koehn is a pinpoint passer with amazing accuracy. He has a high hockey IQ reading the plays. Koehn rarely gets caught out of place because of his hockey vision. He has a quick release, which will be tantalizing to scouts because of its deadly accuracy. In a single word, Koehn can be summed up as a sniper.
