Islanders: getting back at it

Lou was never a man of excuses; he was a man of results. He will not give his players an excuse. He grades the results. That being said, Lou has all the tools in place. Lou's number one priority is to build around his core. For argument's sake, I believe the core is Centre Matthew Barzal, Goaltender Ilya Sorokin, Defenceman Noah Dobson, and the fourth and final piece, Centre Brock Nelson. These players are not going anywhere.

The Isles' younger players have a strong base. Leading the way is Oliver Wahlstrom, a power forward in the making. Everyone knows Aatu Ratty, a gifted playmaking centre the Isles stole in the second round. William Dufour is a powerful forward who likes getting dirty in the corners. He can snipe garbage goals with the best of them. There are plenty of other prospects; these are my top 3. 

The Isles need to get more out of their big guns for next season. A healthy Barzal really needs a sniper alongside him. He needs someone to dish the puck to Lou, who needs to address that issue this season. 

The Isles have plenty of cap room to go big game hunting in the off-season. If they decide to trade Varly, things could get even more interesting. 

I have watched Lou for many years. He will investigate every avenue possible to improve this team. So hold your heads up, Isles fans—there are reasons to be optimistic for next season. 

Randy

So is there a light ?

I have heard so many opinions on the Toronto Maple Leafs and their future. Most believe the Leafs should stay the course. We are close to where we should be. Matthews is an elite goal scorer in the NHL. He proved that this season with sixty goals. 

The two biggest trade chips are Nylander and Muzzin. Both players are assets that can bring cap relief for next season. 

With the salary cap not going up, the Leafs have a dilemma making the money fit. The Maple Leafs have four UFA's: Ilya Lyubushkin, Jason Spezza, Colin Blackwell, and of course, the Man—goaltender Jack Campbell. 

A few words on Campbell. If the Leafs fork out the money to sign him, which Campbell will we get? The early season version where he was lights out? The ugly Campbell who couldn't stop a beach ball? The Maple Leafs have to make sure they get the right Campbell or else go shopping for one in the off-season via a trade. 

With Gio's signing, the Maple Leafs solidify the defence a little more. But, the question remains: do they try to trade Justin Holl? Justin brings a lot to his game, including his penalty-killing skills. There have been a lot of complaints about his defensive blunders and puck handling skills. Don't get me wrong—I have been frustrated with his play at times, but what he brings might still be enough to keep him. The Leafs have plenty of young defence, including Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin. That will be an interesting area to look at in the off-season.   

Randy

What Bringing in Gio Means

At the deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs had to bring in a defenseman or a goalie. Since they told everyone that their goaltending was fine, I was pretty sure it would be a defenseman. 

The Leafs needed a dman who would help stabilize the sloppy play in the defensive zone. They have to cut down the giveaways and the scoring chances, thus cutting the goals against down. 

They needed a steady, no-nonsense defender who adds the odd goal. And that is precisely what the Leafs got when they acquired Mark Giordano. Mark will make Brodie a better dman than he already is. 

Gio will set an example to that whole core. He will show them exactly what to do in the defensive zone. He will calm the nerves down in that dressing room make it fun to play hockey again. 

Should the Leafs care about where they finish? We know they're playing the Canes, Bolts, Bruins, or Panthers; pick your poison. The only thing that matters is playing well before the playoffs and, of course, home-ice advantage. 

One last tidbit of info: it looks like Campbell will be on the roster soon. So we will find out if opting out of another goalie was the right choice after all. Buckle up, ladies and gents—this is going to be fun.

Randy

The Isles are Running on All Cylinders

 A good friend of mine helped with this idea of what to write about the Islanders this week. So thanks to you, Bill Brady, I salute you.

Let's talk about the young players the Isles have; we have a lot to be excited about the future of this team. 

Oliver Wahlstrom 

Oliver is an offensive juggernaut, especially on the powerplay. He has a one-timer that is deadly. Wahlstrom is a terrific skater who can glide with the best of them. 

As good as Wahlstrom is offensively, he has to develop his game defensively. I love Oliver's abilities, but in this system, it is defense first, and the offense will take care of itself. Oliver has to get himself noticed, and he will be if he becomes a complete player. 

Noah Dobson

Noah might be the best dman on the New York Islander roster. Noah's strength is his hockey IQ. He is a very smart defenceman. To go with that hockey IQ, Dobson has a ton of offensive skills, including a Howitzer from the point. If he can use the shot from the point more often, the Isles powerplay will become a lot more effective. The only thing Dobson has to shore up is his defensive mistakes. He is young, which will come with experience. He has all the potential to be an all-star defenceman for years to come. 

Prospect Watch

William Dufour

William is a no-nonsense power forward. As I understand it, he will hit anything that breathes. Will sticks up for his teammates in the dressing room. The Islanders have a steal, with Dufour being picked in the fifth round. He might be just what Trotz needs. William has a knack for scoring the big goal, good hands, and a nice wrist shot. He still needs some seasoning. If he keeps his mind in the game, he will be a keeper for many years to come. 

Aatu Ratty

Aatu is a smooth, playmaking forward who was also a steal in the second round for the Islanders. A terrific player who has great vision that pinpoints a pass from anywhere. When I did a mock draft the year Ratty was drafted, I had him going in the first round. He is fast and deadly whenever he comes into the offensive zone, always thinking ahead. He needs to grow on the farm to develop his whole game. Ratty needs to bulk up and play in all situations of the game. 

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Conclusion

The Isles have plenty of bright spots. The prospects cupboard is plenty full. The draft coming up this season is excellent. The Isles are drafting around spots 12-15. I will be doing what I expect at the draft in another blog. Smile—the future is bright.  

Randy

Flames: Are They Good Enough

So, did the Flames do enough? 

I know they are probably the best team in the Pacific Division. Apparently, they tried to get a depth defenceman, but couldn't make it work. The reason was there were not many options left by that point. I wonder if the Flames could have started earlier if they had made more cap room? They had to put Richardson on waivers just to be able to tinker in the final hour. 

The Flames could have made a cap casualty trade. Now bear with me—they could have traded Monahan for a cheaper third-line centre. If they are going to use Monahan as a third-line centre, they might as well use an actual third-line player to do the same thing for cheaper.  

One of my contacts has expressed how he feels about their use of Monahan: "They frankly misuse the talented centre."  I know Flames fans are often frustrated with Monahan, but is it his fault? When a team undervalues a player, can he help but think less of himself? 

The second part of this question: Should the Flames have considered making room for the Tkachuk and Gaudreau extensions next season? Could they have made a cap casualty trade without hurting the team? 

One contact explained why they couldn't dump any cap: "When you have the chance at the cup, you have to go for it." I countered about having to lose Tkachuk or Gaudreau next year. Another contact agreed with not changing anything before the playoffs: "You can't mess with a team's chemistry when it is one of the best teams in the League."  

With this discussion, I learned precisely what goes through a General Manager's mind at the deadline. They have to consider every option and then judge the likely result. Who knew?

Randy

Leafs: Is it Goalending or is it Defence?

Whether the defence or goaltending is the cause of the Leaf's problems lately has been a heated topic in many forums. 

The defence is terrible; I will be the first to admit it. The defence is getting outworked in the corners. Their lack of toughness is a huge weakness. The forwards are getting lazy in their defensive zone coverage.  

The team's collapses in the third period are almost comical. You know it's coming, but you don't know how they could possibly blow their lead this time. And then... they do.

Why is the defence having so many problems? I suggest it is the pressure of knowing that if they make one mistake, the puck will be in the net. Campbell and Mrazek don't have to be perfect, but they need to be consistently good. Right now, the Leafs need above-average goaltending. Campbell and Mrazek are not giving it to them. 

If the Maple Leafs can find that extra stay-home dman and shore up their defence, that might be the answer. But the goaltending market is quite dry right now; I don't know if they will be able to acquire a goalie who is any better than they currently have. 

The Islanders never Quit

The Islanders are coming to a crossroads. In the last few blogs, I have speculated about what the Isles might do over the next few months. I continue to write on a touchy subject — whether or not teams will tank.

Let me start with a great quote "No team will publically tell their players to tank, but you sure know ***** well they're thinking it." I will let you fill in the blank. It is not in a hockey players' mentality to say it is all right to lose. If it is okay with him, you have to kick him in the butt. General Managers call this cheque to cheque syndrome — playing just for the money. Once this disease gets into a locker room, it spreads like wildfire.

I have a source who explained it to me this way: "The team got so used to losing that the team did not care anymore; it got toxic in the dressing room." The Islanders cannot and will not tank for even one season. You don't want that poisonous atmosphere for even one game, let alone an entire season. Leaders like Lee and Neilson are valuable to the Islanders and will block this attitude in the dressing room. They will instill this into young players like Dobson, Wahlstrom, and Bellows. And Coach Trotz will beat them with the never-quit. 

So far, those who want the Isles to lose understand that the team will try to win, which is good. I bet the Isles will play far better down the stretch, because Trotz will ensure they will. 

Randy

The Verdict

The hottest topic right not now is whether to hang on to Lou. I am not saying there is a chance of this happening, just that there is a lot of discussion. Let me emphasize this again: there is no way Lou's job is in jeopardy. 

I will give three reasons to keep Lou. I will then have a rebuttal. I am playing the devil's advocate.

1. The Thirteen-Game Road Trip

A 13-game road trip was a rough way to start the year. The Islanders never recovered from the road trip. Name another team that had to start on the road for 13 straight. They never got into a rhythm, never got off on the right foot. It takes time for a team to meld; the process does not happen overnight. A couple of bad games should not mean Lou loses his job. 

Rebuttal

The Isles knew about the 13-game road trip before the season started. That is just an excuse for how bad the team is. They are responsible for the games. If Lou cannot bring a team who can handle a little hardship, what good is he to us? If this team is not good enough to make the playoffs, that is on Lou. 

2. Acquisitions

The Islanders need a leader with a cup ring on his finger—a veteran who knows how to win. Lou signed a Chara. Chara is the perfect mentor for a young and upcoming defence core like the Isles. The next thing in Lou's eyes is we needed a third-line help. One of the biggest complaints was that the Isles did not have a third line. Lou went out to fix that, signing Zach Parise—who can score the odd goal—and lit a fire under his linemates' butts.    

Rebuttal

At first blush, it looks like Lou is filling holes in the lineups. However, if you look closely, you will see that the team is one of the oldest in the league. It is like a baker hiding day-old bread among the fresh loaves hoping no one will notice. Unfortunately, other teams saw and used speed to their advantage. This often put the Isles on the wrong side of two-on-ones and three-on-twos. 

3. Palmieri

Kyle Palmieri was the perfect signing for the Islanders, keeping a star in the fold. The Isles could not afford to lose Kyle to free agency. Great job by Lou.

Rebuttal

Yes, we needed to try to retain Palmieri, but not at the expense of Barzal, a top-line winger. This has been a weakness in the Islanders lineup for the last two years, if not more. Lou has failed to fill it. 

Last Word

There you have it, is Lou innocent, or does he hang? You decide.

Randy

Isles: GM 101

Everyone knows the Islanders have some decisions to make at the deadline. Let's try doing a breakdown of the New York Islanders. I know what you're thinking—"But we don't have time for a nervous breakdown!" :-) But this is supposed to be a serious blog. 

Putting on the hat of the Isles GM, here is what I would do.

The biggest complaint I have heard from the Isles fans is that the defense is old and slow. I am sure the Islanders recognize this. As GM, I would address this and try to move Green out at the deadline. I would also ask Chara if he wants to go or stay. Most people believe that Chara will choose to stay, but you never know.

Among the forwards, I would definitely make Cal Clutterbuck available. I would put Zach Parise up for the taking. With the Isles cap, this is not an issue. I don't give incentives to take the contracts. These players are getting traded for assets, not for financial reasons.  

It is believed that most of these players will be made available, making it easy for my decision-making. 

Now the next player is the goalie. I would hear offers with the understanding of getting another goalie back in return. I have to make sure that a goalie comes back in the trade. Every team in the League realizes they need a two-goalie tandem. You don't want to overwork Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin is still a young asset. The Isles need another goalie to mentor him. 

I have purposely left Josh Bailey out, simply because of his 5 million dollar cap. I am not sure there will be many teams calling on him. I  wrote a blog not long ago on Bailey, and no one could agree on his value to the team. I am sure if the Isles get calls, they will listen. 

Randy

My Kingdom for a Defenceman

The Toronto Maple Leafs need a number 4 dman to rescue them. As I wrote in my last blog, we had to watch them go by the wayside too often. A 3-1 lead almost became a gong show just to see how we could blow it.   

There are players out there who could help with the defense. Unfortunately, the trade value of the available dmen is at an all-time high.

Justin Braun 

Justin Braun would be a depth move to fill a hole. Justin is a typical number 5 or 6 defenceman. He won't help much with the offensive side of the game. He will help with the penalty kill and is pretty solid in his own end. Braun should not be too expensive to acquire.

Ben Chiarot 

This name has been widely suggested—a solid defender who is pretty good in his own end. Ben is not flashy, but he gets the job done. He is not the fastest skater, though. Cap hit might be the problem here.

I will put one more name out there:

Sebastian Aho

Sebastian is a young dman who fills in as a number 6 or 7 dman. He is a fast skater who adds some offensive punch. He is good in his end to cut down defensive mistakes. 

Of course, I have heard more names connected to the Leafs. The two biggest ones are Gio out of Seattle and Manson of the Ducks. Gio's cap hit is too high for the Leafs, and Manson will cost an arm and a leg. 

Time will tell. 

Randy

A nasty habit shows its ugly face

The Maple Leafs are a brand new car falling apart the day after the warranty runs out. Of late, the Leafs have been off to great starts and then lose it when it really counts.                                                               

They seem to have fixed that in Long Island, but that is only one game. The loosey-goosey third periods have to change for the Leafs to be successful. There are too many giveaways in the defensive zone. The Maple Leafs forwards are too lazy coming back.

The Leafs blew their leads against Colorado and Vegas, running out of steam in the third period. They have clean up the leaky defensive play of late. 

Cambell is getting tired. The Leafs have to be careful not to give him too many starts in the second half. Campbell really struggled at the last road trips. Mrazek needs to get some starts. He is a steady backup in goal when he is healthy.  

Final word

I love the way our captain has been playing of late. JT has been taking the role of a leader. He is constantly working hard at this defensive game, and his offensive numbers are rising because of it. You know the saying —when you take care of the defense, the offense takes care of itself. 

Randy

Let the good time roll

The Maple Leafs have been playing with purpose. They have been winning the puck battles in corners. They have been crisper with passes to each other. The most significant message the team has received is loud and clear: everyone has a job to do and does it in buckets. 

First improvement. Matthews leads the way with responsible defence.

Matthews has become a complete player. Matthews has made an effort to come back defensively. I especially love his effort to return to the defensive zone and not give it up. The never-say-die attitude in the defensive zone has spread to the team. I am watching a much more defensively responsible team this season.

Secondary scoring led by Ondrej Kase and Michael Bunting 

For the Leafs to be successful, there has to be more scoring from someone not named Nylander, Marner, Matthews, or Tavaras. That is where Kase and Bunting have picked up the pace. It is vital, especially for Kase. The bottom six have to pitch in with the odd goal. There will be games where the big four will be held in check; someone has to come through for the team. It's nice to see the team get some scoring from the secondary players. 

Leadership is getting stronger: Spezza and Simmonds

It is becoming clear that Spezza and Simmonds are here to win. Wayne Simmonds and Jason Spezza have made the message that last year's collapse will not be repeated. This season, the Leafs have rarely been overworked. I do not necessarily mean they haven't been out-hit. But they have not stopped skating. The Leafs have become a hard-working team that is willing to do what it takes to win. 

Last word

Campbell is becoming one of the best goaltenders in the League. The Leafs thought they fixed the backup goalie situation with Mrazek. But the Mrazek injuries are worrisome. There is nothing wrong with Mrazek if he is healthy; he is a stable goaltender who gives the Leafs a chance to win each night. The Leafs will have to take care not to overload Campbell, so he is rested for the playoff run.

Randy

Fix the holes

The Islanders having issues in their zone is a little alarming. That does not mean it is time to panic. The issues have to be addressed, but there is plenty of time to fix it. 

Calling out players or coaches does not fix anything. I am a firm believer that you win as a team and you lose as a team. 

The biggest issue is that the Isles are playing without emotion. They are only going through the motions and expecting results. Their days of coming in and surprising teams are gone. 

The powerplay issue is nothing new. Is shooting the puck on the powerplay not an option? I have been preaching this over and over again. Let Pelech and Pulock shoot from the point. Of course, Pulock is out, so someone else will have to blast that shot from the point. The other option is to set up Whalstrom for one-timers from the circle. No more of these "20 passes and then shoot" plays.  

It is easy to blame goaltending. Let me give you a quote from someone in the know. "In a blowout, it is not a time to blame the goalies; it is in 8-7 or 7-6 game. In a blowout, it is a whole team problem, not just the goalie." Yes, the goaltending can be better; the more significant concern is the players in front of the goalies.  

The defence getting caught is an issue, but the forwards are not coming back to help. The speed of the dmen is an issue; the faster forwards need to get back to help in the coverage. The defense is getting caught up, but the forwards act like it is not their job to help out defensive coverage. 

There is plenty of time left in the season. A homestand may be precisely what the doctor ordered. 

Randy

Isles—Back to Basics

The Islanders have not been their old selves.  Playing with rust and not interested in doing what it takes to win.  Sloppy coverage in their own zone. They are allowing easy access into their zone. It is easy to blame the defence, but the forwards are not exactly hustling to help out.  Too many times, the Isles are being outworked in the corners.

Yes, the Isles' defence has had their problems—mostly speed. But in all fairness, this is not their only problem. That might have something to do with playing the Coyotes and beaten-up Golden Knights. The Isles went back to the way they played before and started doing the things that turn losses into wins. 

So what happened? Was it basically that Sorokin turned out his game? Or is it that Sorokin is stealing the game? The defense is still a little too loose, especially in the Vegas game. Sorokin was bailing them out.  Barzal was showing some signs of coming around. I like the fact that Whalstrom is being used more and his one-timer is beginning to connect. 

The powerplay has been struggling once again. It is too predictable. Players are not moving around. We have seen this movie before! The offense is stagnant. Barzal and Whalstrom need more support. The Isles have to use Poluck's shot as a weapon to get in front of the net, making it harder for the goalies. Right now, they are making it too easy for teams to defend.  

The upcoming road trip games are winnable. Taking advantage of playing weaker teams may get the Islanders moving up in the standings. It is crucial to their success that they don't fall into the trap of playing to the level of the opposition. The Isles should move up and up in the standings after this road trip is done. 

Randy

How Valuable is Mr. Cambell?

With Mrazek's injury, the Maple Leafs' goaltending duo has been put on hold. No offense to Michael Hutchinson; Campbell's role has just become vital to the Maple Leafs success. Hutchinson is what is a third-string borderline AHL goaltender. The key is when do we give Jack Campbell a rest? As much as we may want him to, Jack cannot play every game. Sooner or later, Jack will fall down and not get up.  

With the Bruins, Lightning, and Panthers, the Maple Leafs will have a hard time keeping up. All three of those teams will get over or close to 100 points. They are putting pressure on Toronto if they want to get home ice in the playoffs to keep winning. Bottom line: Jack Campbell's stock keeps rising. 

Jack Campbell Payday

How much is money will the Maple Leafs fork out to keep Campbell for next season? I expect Jack Campbell's representatives to use several goalies with the same skill level as Campbell to establish Campbell's value. 

Juuse Saros of the Preds has a cap hit of $5,000,000. Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins signed a $5,000,000 contract. 

Both goalies are comparable to Campbell.

An example of an upper-echelon goalie a little better than Campbell is Igor Shesterkin of the Rangers. He is making a $5,666,667 annual cap hit. 

Expect Campbell's cap to hit between $4.75-5.25 million annually for four years. 

That will make it a little difficult for the Leafs to make room, but I believe the Leafs will make the adjustments to fit him in. 

Randy

2021 Draft

The 2021 NHL draft is almost a craps shoot. One source said it is in the eyes of the beholder. After pick 10, it is anyone's guess who gets grabbed. This year especially, the pandemic is making it hard for the teams to see these prospects play. There may be some picks off the board. So it almost ludicrous that I try to do my draft board, but I am crazy anyway. Here it goes. 

1 Buffalo Sabres

Owen Power - Defence

From what I have read on Owen, he is an offensively gifted defenceman. His strength is his passing skills being able to distribute the puck without panicking. He uses his size to get the puck out of danger. He has a great shot, and because of this, Owen will be on most teams' powerplay units. Scouts love his smooth skating skills speedy skater for a big defenceman.

2 Seattle Kraken

Matthew Beniers - Centre 

Matthew is a terrific play-making centre who thrives with the puck. Scouts love his soft hands, smooth puck-handling skills. I am a firm believer that team builds around defence and then the first-line centre. Matthew is a swift skater who accelerates in and out of the zone. He will be a future second-line centre if he lives up to his potential. 

3 Anaheim Ducks

Dylan Guenther - Right Wing

Dylan has a knack for being able to find the open spots in the offensive zone. Brilliant right-winger with an excellent release on his shot. Dylan is a gifted passer who can see the open man through a needle in a haystack. Solid in his own zone, which makes him even more valuable in the draft. A smooth skater with a high hockey IQ. 

4 New Jersey Devils

Brandt Clarke - Defence

Brandt is offensively gifted, to put it mildly. A terrific young dman who skates like the wind. What makes Brandt so dangerous is his hockey smarts, being able to find the open man. He will make a great powerplay quarterback on any team. Brandt's ability to pinch in is uncanny. A terrific young dman for many years to come. 

5 Columbus Blue Jackets

William Eklund - Left Wing

Eklund is a terrific young forward who excels every time he has the puck. An excellent puck handler who stick-handles with the best. Eklund sneaks in and out of traffic. The defence will back up and give up the blue-line because of his speed. He intimidates players into making mistakes because they are worried about getting beaten down in their defensive end. 

6 Detroit Red Wings

Luke Hughes - Defence

This name sounds familiar? Yes, he is the third brother from the Hughes clan. Luke is a terrific skater who has major offensive talent. Luke has a great shot will be an asset on the powerplay. It may take some time to develop, but he can become a second-pairing defenceman. He will be used on the Red Wings powerplay. 

7 SJ. Sharks 

Kent Johnston - Centre 

 

Kent's best skill is as a play-making centre. Being hard to bring down and possessing great puck-handling skills make him dangerous in the offensive zone. He knows how to get the passes there. What makes him dangerous is his ability to make things happen. He will be a dynamic centre for years to come. 

8 LA Kings

Simon Edvinsson - Defence

Simon is a smooth-skating dman who is a game-changer—he has been described as a panther when a team makes a mistake. Simon knows when to pinch in the offensive zone and rarely gets caught because of his speed. His quick wrist shot often catches the goalie off guard. He might very well be the best passer in the draft. 

9 Vancouver Canucks

Mason McTavish - Centre

Mason is a big centre who is willing to get his nose dirty. Mason moves well for a big man. Mason is known for his heavy shot with accuracy. He is hard to take off his game. He may not be the fastest player, but he makes it up with determination and will. Mason is a solid second-line centre with a chip on his shoulder.

10 Ottawa Senators 

Jesper Wallstedt - Goalie

Jesper is the best goalie in the draft. Scouts seem to think that he could be close to jumping into the NHL. He rarely gets caught out of position. Jesper controls rebounds and is always aware of the puck. Rapid reflexes combined with a never-say-die attitude make him a top prospect. 

11 Arizona Coyotes  

Bad boys, no pick for you.

12 Chicago Blackhawks 

Cole Sillinger - Centre

Cole is one of the best playmakers in the draft. He can make a pass from anywhere. Scouts say he can score from anywhere at any time. He is a pure sniper. What makes him truly incredible is that he can shoot from anywhere in the offensive zone and still score—the perfect top-6 forward the Hawks need.

13 Calgary Flames

Fabian Lysell - Right Wing

Fabien is a highly skilled forward who can skate through a phone booth. His puck handling skills are amazing; he is a game-changer. He is a playmaker who can score goals at will. The Flames badly need a top-six right winger for years. Fabian would be an answer to the Flames fans' prayers. 

14 Philadelphia Flyers

Carson Lambos - Defence

Carson is a solid defender who will help stabilize the Flyer's defence. He is an excellent puck handler, which gets him out of trouble in his zone. He has good passing skills, which make him a two-way game. Capable of helping with the Flyers offensive game, Carson knows when to pitch and when not to. Scouts say he has a stride in his skating skill. A terrific young defenceman with great skill. 

15 Dallas Stars

Chaz Lucius - Centre

Chaz is a powerful centre who has a complete game. Chaz has a powerful, accurate shot that will give goalies trouble. He will score his share of goals. Great offensive centre with size. Chaz is strong and hard to take off the puck. He may not be the best skater, but he will more than make up for it with his terrific shot. 

16 New York Rangers

Aatu Ratay - Centre

Aatu is an excellent puck-handling centre. He is always thinking two moves ahead; he has a high hockey IQ. Aatu should be put with a sniper who could get tons of goals with this highly skilled playmaker. Aatu is probably one of the best passers in the draft.  

17 St.Louis Blues 

Zachary Bolduc - Centre 

Zachary is a gifted centre with excellent vision. He is a great puck distributor. Bolduc is a smooth skater who has a good first stride; he accelerates into the zone. He has all the tools in the world offensively. Zachary needs to develop his defensive game, which is quite common for the QMJHL. 

18 Winnipeg Jets 

Corson Cuelemans - Defence

Corson is a powerful skater who is aware of his surroundings. Scouts say Cuelmans can be relied on in all aspects of the game. He is solid defensively, rarely caught out of position in his own zone. Corson has a fantastic shot with a quick release. Known for being an offensive defenceman, he needs to develop his defensive zone coverage. 

19 Nashville Predators 

Xavier Bourgault - Centre/Right Wing

Xavier is a terrific play-making forward. He has amazing puck-handling skills, especially for the cycle game. He is a hard-working forward, never give up has this never-die attitude, which will pay dividends in making it to the NHL. Xavier is a sniper who knows how to put the puck in the net. However, he needs some help on the defensive end. That will come if the team is patient with him. 

20 Edmonton Oilers 

Sebastian Cossa - Goalie

Sebastian is a stand-up goalie who uses his size to his best ability. Cossa has excellent vision and is a great positional goalie. He has the potential to be an outstanding goaltender. The Oilers have had a great need for a first-string goaltender for some time and Sebastian fits the bill.

21 Boston Bruins 

Daniil Chayka - Defence 

Daniil is a big defenceman who is outstanding in the defensive zone. He uses his reach to his advantage in his defensive game, bringing the poke check back. He fits the Bruins' mold and has the potential to be a big bruiser defenceman with some offensive punch. 

22 Minnesota Wild

Isak Rosen - Right Wing

Isak is an elite, skilled playmaker. He is a technically sound player who understands what is going on around him. His stickhandling skills are off the charts. Isak gets defencemen to look at the puck and before they know it, he is around them with a scoring chance. 

23 Detroit Red Wings

Francesco Pinelli - Centre

Francesco will not have any trouble playing hard. He will get his nose dirty to fight for the puck. Pinelli is a highly skilled player who will make the players around him better. His hockey IQ is high, as he always thinks ahead. A great passer with puck handling skills to match. He has a quick release and is a finisher when there are no other options.

24 Florida Panthers

Brennan Othmann - Left Wing

Brennan has a deadly shot with a quick release. Brennan is a slick stick-handler, able to fend off even the most formidable defenders. His ability to find space in the offensive zone makes him dangerous. Brennan has an excellent ability to find players in the open. He has a knack for being where the puck is. 

25 Columbus Blue Jackets

Zachary H`ueruex - Left Wing

Zachary is a terrific skater, with the ability to change direction on a dime. He is a pure sniper with an explosive wrister score from anywhere. The only negative I have seen is keeping his temper in check. Zachary has a ton of potential. His passing is alright, but not his strong suit. 

26 Minnesota Wild

Oskar Olausson - Left Wing/Right Wing

Oskar is a slick puck handler with moves that gets him through from one end to the other end. He has excellent speed with a quick first stride that throws off opposing defenders. Finally, Oskar has a nose for the scoring chances and always finds that niche in the offensive zone. 

27 Caroline Hurricanes

Nikita Chibrikov - Forward

Nikita is a Russian forward. He can score and score in bunches. Nikita has excellent stickhandling skills and manoeuvres well in small spaces. He has a way of ending with the puck. A great passer with all the offensive talent in the world. Again, his weakness is in the defensive end. 

28 Colorado Avalanche 

Simon Robertsson - Right Wing

Simon has an an excellent release on his wrist shot. Robertsson will be a weapon on the powerplay because of his ability to do a one-timer. An above-average passer who can distribute the puck in the offensive zone. He is capable of being a top-six forward, but it will take a few years to get there. 

29 New Jersey Devils

Mackie Samoskevich - Centre

Mackie's greatest ability is speed. He glides with the puck. The defence has to back up as he heads into the offensive zone. He has a wrister to die for, with accuracy to boot. Mackie reminds me of Barzal because of his play of circling in the offensive zone.  

30 Los Vegas Golden Knights

Sasha Pastujov - Forward

Sasha has a high hockey IQ. He has excellent puck handling skills. He has a good shot and will be used on the powerplay. His defensive zone coverage is a work in progress. He has the potential of being a top-9 forward but has to develop his defensive game.

31 Montreal Canadians

Zach Dean - Centre

Zach has a ton of heart who works hard. Dean has good vision with a high hockey IQ. His awareness of what is going on around him makes him dangerous. Dean has a good wrister and could be a solid sniper. A solid all-around player who has a nose for the net. He is capable of being a second-line centre.

32 Columbus Blue Jackets

Fedor Svechnikov - Centre/Wing

Fedor is not a typical Russian Centre; his best skills are on the defensive side. He is technically sound with his coverage as he uses his stick to bring his opponents to a standstill. A solid defensive centre who can become a third-line centre.