Before I start this blog, I can tell most of these players will be way out of whack. I am not picking who I think the teams will like but deciding who I want for the teams. Especially for the Calgary Flames, I have been told there is a good chance Taj will not be there at the ninth pick.
San Jose Sharks
1 Macklin Celebrini
Macklin stands alone in this draft. He is the top player available, possessing every tool needed to become a star. Macklin has wheels. If he were a car, he would be a Ferrari. Trust me, when he races from end to end, he cannot be caught. He is a terrific playmaker and an excellent passer. He does everything right on the ice. Clearly, he is going to be one of those exceptional players.
Chicago Blackhawks
2 Ivan Demidov
The biggest surprise I discovered about Ivan was his willingness to get his nose dirty. I had no idea he was so good along the boards. Everything else about him, I expected; I knew about his skating. I learned about his playmaking skills. He might be just as good at passing the puck as Macklin.
Anaheim Ducks
3 Artyom Levshunov
Artyom is an excellent all-around defenseman. His shot is solid, though he could work on his decision-making when it comes to pinching in. He's not afraid to get involved in the offense. He will be a good powerplay quarterback. I had no idea he could skate so fast. I love his speed and ability to get away from opponents.
Columbus Jackets
4 Anton Silayev Defense
I have never seen anyone the size of Anton skate as fast as he does. He is like a giraffe on steroids. Strong as an axe, he might be the best defensive dman in the draft. Anton uses the full reach of his stick to break up rushes. He is defensively sound. He is an old-fashioned stay-at-home dman who will save as many goals as an offensive dman will score.
Montreal Canadiens
5 Cayden Lindstrom
A talented young centre who is willing to do what it takes to win. Lindstrom's hockey IQ is off the charts, and he always thinks ahead. His ability to make plays on the run makes him a dangerous offensive weapon. Cayden's passing skills are second to none, with pinpoint accuracy. Though his wrist shot is underrated, and he's sometimes too unselfish, using it more could boost his point tally. A terrific skater, Lindstrom is smooth and fast. He uses his speed to blow by defencemen.
Utah hockey team
6 Sam Dickinson
Sam is a physical defenceman with a chip on his shoulder. He is fearless in mixing it up and cleaning up other players' mistakes. While he has notable offensive abilities, Sam excels at pinching in on scoring chances and has the speed to recover without getting caught out of position. Sam has a terrific shot at the point and loves to play. Sam also excels at distributing the puck effectively to clear the zone without panicking under pressure.
Ottawa Senators
7 Zayne Parekh
Zayne is an offensive machine for a defenceman. He has a knack for shooting from any position on the ice, boasting a heavy shot and quick release. He skates very well, is smart, and has a high hockey IQ. He makes plays happen. Zayne's average size is well-suited for an offensive defenceman.
Seattle Kracken
8 Zeev Buium
Zeev's standout skill is his ability to break out of the zone. He is always thinking of how to make plays, and his passing skills are excellent, which makes him a very dangerous offensive defenseman. Buium, a powerplay specialist, promises to be an innovative player in the future.
Calgary Flames
9 Tij Iginla
Tij, like his father, is a sniper/power forward. Playing at centre or left wing, he possesses an explosive shot. He is not afraid of the corners, fights hard for the puck, and, more importantly, is hard to get the puck away from. Let's say this: Tij scores and scores often. His puck control is exceptional, and his quick release makes him a formidable power forward who knows when to pass the puck.
New Jersey Devils
10 Berkley Catton
Berkley boasts exceptional speed, allowing him to easily outpace defenders. He has a terrific shot and shoots on a dime. His shot has a quick release. He knows how to slow the play down and controls the pace with excellent vision. Berkley has excellent puck skills, and his dangles are deadly. His high hockey IQ contributes to his standout offensive talent.
San Jose Sharks
11 Carter Yakemchuk
In a long time, Carter may be one of the best young players from the Calgary Hitmen players. Scoring 31 goals as a defenceman is impressive, but achieving this on a mediocre Calgary Hitmen team is even more notable. He's a terrific shooter with the playmaking skills necessary to quarterback any powerplay. Carter has all the attributes to be a star for years to come.
Philadelphia Flyers
12 Konsta Helenius
Konsta is sneaky good with his puck skills and tenacious in his play. He relentlessly pursues the puck, never giving up and always working hard. Helenius works harder when he does not have to find the open spaces so the players can get them to pocket to shoot it. He has an excellent shot and is deadly accurate.
Minnesota Wild
13 Beckett Sennecke
Beckett has the potential to become an elite forward. His vision for finding open teammates is exceptional, and he consistently delivers precise tape-to-tape passes. He has a solid work ethic and has been improving year after year.
14 Buffalo Sabres
Cole Eiserman
Cole has all the tools to become a star. His number one asset is his Hockey IQ; which allows him to anticipate plays several steps ahead. He has a knack for finding space so teammates can see him. More importantly, he creates space for his teammates. His quick releases on one-timers makes him an invaluable asset on the powerplay. I was particularly impressed with his ability to get clear in the offensive zone for scoring opportunities.
Detroit Red Wings
15 Adam Jiricek
Adam is a dynamic puck-rushing defenseman, excelling at end-to-end rushes. He has excellent passing skills, often making no-look passes. With excellent vision on the ice, he is a superb passer and adds significant value to any team's playmaking abilities.
St Louis Blues
16 Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
Michael's best quality is his physical play. He does not back down. He has a fast shot and can let into it. He will bring in high energy and constantly get involved in the play. He has a dangerous one-timer on the powerplay.
Washington Capitals
17 Igor Chernyshov
Igor is known for his straight-up from end to end. He uses his strength to position himself in front of the net. Though not the strongest player in the league, he has the potential to become a top 6 forward. He has great shots, and his playmaking skills make up his best skills. He has good speed and works hard. His puck-handling skills are excellent; he gets people to look at the puck. He effectively uses his body to shield the puck, making it difficult for opponents to strip it from him.
Chicago Black Hawks
18 Trevor Connelly
Trevor Connelly stands out as one of the most talented players in the draft. He works hard to minimize puck losses, and his ability to pass is unrivaled. His speed on the ice is intimidating, often forcing opponents into mistakes. He is aggressive in the offensive zone and makes plays happen. His ability to anticipate plays makes him a formidable force as one of the fastest players available.
Vegas Golden Knights
19 Liam Greentree
Liam has all the tools to be a star. His shot is deadly accurate and his ability to distribute the puck makes him a significant threat. He has the skill level to be in the top 10, has moves in the offensive zone, and does not panic with the puck. While not known for physical play, he is a sniper capable of putting up big numbers.
New York Islanders
20 Sacha Boisvert
Sacha is an excellent skater who can break away from opponents. He uses his size in small corners and has exceptional puck handling skills. Boisvert can rip it off the rush with a terrific shot. He has a ton of potential to improve his physical play.
Los Angeles Kings
21 Andrew Basha
Andrew tries hard and has good puck-moving skills. He also has excellent playmaking skills as a passer. He understands his limitations and ensures he's in the right place at the right time, allowing him to make smart decisions. He's also one of the fastest skaters in the draft.
Nashville Predators
22 Michael Hage
Michael is a creative centre with great skill. He is considered a two-way centre who can play at both ends. His puck-passing is outstanding. As a terrific skater, he has the potential to become a future second-line centre.
Toronto Maple Leafs
23 Stian Solberg
Stian is one of the most nasty defencemen in the draft. He is a stay-at-home defenceman with a chip on his shoulder. Stian is known for finishing his hits and sticking to his man until he forces a turnover. He is a no-nonsense dman who takes care of his zone.
Colorado Avalanche
24 Terik Parascak
Terik excels at finding niches in the offensive zone, always spotting those empty spaces. His sniper shot and quick reflexes make him a threat. He is a fair skater. From what I have read, I love his work ethic.
Boston Bruins
25 Jett Luchanko
Jett's most significant problem is his size. Luchanko has good skating and puck-moving skills and can handle the puck well. He has an extra gear in his skating. He's confident in making plays and has excellent vision, making him a potential standout as a second-line winger.
Montreal Canadians
26 Charlie Elick Defense
Charlie is a big, tough stay-at-home defenseman who understands his role well. He will contribute to any team's penalty kill and is defensively responsible. He will clear before the net so goalies can see the puck. He plays the physical game and plays it well.
Carolina Hurricanes
27 Aron Kiviharju
Aron is a high-end skater who thrives under pressure. He effectively distributes the puck to clear it out of his end. He plays excellent defense. He shies away from physical play but makes up for it with his defensive responsibility.
Calgary Flames
28 Nikita Artamonov
Nikita is the Russian forward, which means he is all offense. His playmaking ability is his key strength. He is an outstanding passer and a tall, lean forward who works diligently with the puck.
Dallas Stars
29 Emil Henning
Emil is an excellent defensive forward with great hands. He has mastered plugging the middle zone and forcing opponents to make mistakes. He is willing to get his nose clean and works hard along the board, always prioritizing loose pucks. His offensive strength is his shot.
New York Rangers
30 Ryder Ritchie
Ryder has plenty of playmaking skills, a quick release on his shot, good puck-handling skills, and the potential to be an NHL forward. He works hard on the ice and does not give up his determination.
31 Cole Hutson
Cole Hutson, the apple is not far from the tree. Like his brother, Cole is a smooth-skating dman with an offensive flare. He is an excellent playmaker with great vision and knows how to set up scoring opportunities. He is a skilled skater with tons of potential.
32 Dean Letourneau
Dean Letourneau is a highly skilled forward with a good touch. Dean has a great shot, but it's hard to judge Dean. The jury is still out until he matures. I have yet to hear much about him. Most people think he has enough talent to shoot for the moon; I wonder if he will find a ship to get him there.
