Here is the fifth edition of my 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: After slotting Luka Doncic here last mock draft, I switched back to Ayton, who is perhaps the drafts best prospect due to his size, soft touch at the rim, and his promising jump shot. He's drawn comparisons to Joel Embiid and Patrick Ewing and the Suns, who don't really have a long term true center, won't want to pass on him.
2. Sacramento Kings- Marvin Bagley, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Bagley could very well end up the best player from this draft class. He has great athleticism and can shoot it from three and it would be interesting to see what the Kings would do with Willie Cauley-Stein if they were to pick Bagley or Jaren Jackson Jr over Luka Doncic.
3. Atlanta Hawks- Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Jackson is a bit of a wild card in this lottery portion of the draft considering he exceeded expectations as a freshman in college and played his way to this position. Although he struggled in the Big Dance, his rim protecting as well as his perimeter game were excellent.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Real Madrid: Doncic will be the most proven player in the draft due to his success overseas. He is an ideal fit for the perimeter-oriented league and should have a long, productive NBA career. There are reports out there that Doncic does not want to play in Sacramento, so don't be shocked if Doncic drops this far.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Mohamed Bomba, Center, Texas: Bomba doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his defensive presence with his height and shot blocking should appeal to any team. Bomba would learn from Dirk Nowitzki for at least one if not seasons and Rick Carlisle would love someone like Bomba.
6. Orlando Magic- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter barely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 6. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Magic can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and have a need for versatile forwards.
7. Chicago Bulls- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Bulls can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot as they go with best player available. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics)- Collin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Cavs have a need at point guard, whether LeBron James leaves this summer or not. Sexton is super-fast, super-quick and forever aggressive -- all of which are great qualities for anybody entering the NBA. He puts pressure on the defense basically every possession.
9. New York Knicks- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Reports out of the combine are that the Knicks really like Young. Young is very polarizing because of how his season went and how defenses started figuring him out in conference play. That said, he has a Steph Curry type of ceiling and the Knicks may not pass on it.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns)- Mikal Bridges, Small Forward, Villanova: Bridges took a massive leap this year for the Wildcats. Due to his three-and-D capability, Birdges is one of the drafts safest bets. The Sixers would be a nice landing spot for him as he can begin off the bench and can eventually start.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Miles Bridges, Small Forward, Michigan State: Although, Bridges might end up becoming a small ball power forward in the future due to his average ball handling, he is a great shooter on the wing and provides great athleticism. Bridges would be a nice fit on this rebuilding Hornet team as they can view him as a building block.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Kentucky: Knox hasn't been as consistent as a shooter as the Wildcats hoped, but he still projects as a solid defender and can rebound very well. If he develops a shot, he could end up as a rotation piece for the Clippers.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- Robert Williams, Power Forward/Center, Texas A&M: Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back to school for one more season. Williams isn't known for his offense, but he's great at rebounding and defending the rim. He could be a poor mans D'Andre Jordan.
14. Denver Nuggets- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock is trending up after he had a great season for the Wildcats. He has great size and finishing craft, defensive versatility, and maybe even quickness. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice piece for the Nuggets possibly replacing Will Barton.
15. Washington Wizards- Lonnie Walker, Shooting Guard, Miami: Walker didn't have the greatest freshman season due to coming off his meniscus tear, which provided an interesting case for him to return to Miami for his sophomore season. That said, Walker is worth taking in this spot due to his pure talent and potential.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Khyri Thomas, Shooting Guard, Creighton: Thomas is interesting because he doesn't have much upside. What Thomas does have though, is a two-way presence with is great shooting and perimeter defending. This pick would be a solid one for the Suns and he would probably come off the bench for them.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith went from a three-star recruit to a likely first-round pick thanks to elite athleticism and ultra aggressive two-way play at Texas Tech. His freshman season was full of highlight reel plays, with tip-dunks and chasedown blocks becoming nightly occurrences.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Elie Okobo, Point Guard, France: Okobo has suddenly become one of the draft's most fascinating prospects, particularly after going for 44 points on 17 shots in a Pro A playoff game last week. The Spurs could use both young talent and shooting, and Okobo checks both boxes.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Jermone Robinson, Shooting Gaurd, Boston College: Robinson in the mix for the most slept-on prospect in the country due to Boston College's lack of success. Robinson should be able to bring more attention to his potential during workouts. He is athletic and would be a nice fit in Atlanta.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Kevin Huerter, Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter is a fast riser on peoples mock boards. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
21. Utah Jazz- Donte DiVincenzo, Shooting Guard, Villanova: DiVincenzo broke out in a major way at the combine and fortified the strong impression he left in March and over the course of Villanova’s season. It’s clear he’s not a flash in the pan, as his consistent level of focus, instincts for forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds and ability to hit open jumpers build in a degree of safety.
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Chandler Hutchinson, Small Forward, Boise State: Hutchinson is one of my sleepers in this draft class. Hutchinson isn't a great shooter, but has a nice all-around game with his ability to attack the rim, rebounding, and he's a solid off the ball defender.
23. Indiana Pacers- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday is another one of my sleepers. Holiday is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint. Darren Collison isn't the long term answer at the point for the Pacers and Holiday would fit nicely here.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Troy Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: Brown is an interesting prospect considering that he had a solid season at Oregon, but has a reputation of disappearing in games. Brown's size and ball-handling ability is what makes him worth a selection at this spot and I like this spot for Brown.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- De'Anthony Melton, Shooting Guard, USC: Melton was held out the entire season by USC following the program’s role in the FBI investigation. What the Trojans missed was a bulldog defender and a skilled passer who found ways to impact the game even without a dependable jump shot. He has a Swiss Army Knife-type of skill set that would fit well on any bench.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- Kieta Bates-Diop, Power Forward, Ohio State: Bates-Diop had an outstanding junior collegiate season. What hurts Bates-Diop is his lack of athleticism, but his season cannot be ignored due to his outstanding shooting and providing match-up problems for the opposition.
27. Boston Celtics- Jacob Evans, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Cincinnati: Evans's upside is limited though because he's an erratic shooter and isn't aggressive at the rim. His defense is his strength and he can guard both wing positions very well.
28. Golden State Warriors- Melvin Frazier, Small Forward, Tulane: Frazier called it quits after a strong first day at the NBA combine, which is a potential sign he received some assurance about his draft stock. He's limited offensively, but the rising value of versatile defenders who can shoot benefits him. He'll guard multiple positions and make open shots.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto Raptors)- Moritz Wagner, Power Forward, Michigan: Wagner's stock is trending upwards after a great NCAA Tournament. He displays a nice shooting stroke, although his release is slow. He is a very good 3-point shooter as this makes him a very tough cover for opposing defenders.
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets via Los Angeles Clippers)- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a steal considering that Robinson has the talent of a lottery pick. He had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience beyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
2018 NBA Playoffs: Finals Prediction
Warriors vs Cavaliers. Round Four. Another fascinating series. Is this the last few weeks of LeBron James's Cavaliers career? Is this the final time we will see The Big Four all together for the Warriors? So much depends on how this series plays out.
(W2) Golden State Warriors vs (E4) Cleveland Cavaliers: The Warriors are coming off a seven game series win over the Houston Rockets and it certainly helped that Chris Paul got injured or else the Warriors are probably sitting at home right now wondering how they lost games four and five. The Cavaliers are coming off a seven game series win over the Boston Celtics. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green could possibly be playing their last series all together as teammates and expect them all to be great. LeBron James has been by far the best player in the NBA Playoffs this year and he should be named MVP over James Harden. Kevin Love will probably be back for game one after missing game seven against Boston with a concussion. George Hill, Tristian Thompson, and Jeff Green have had impacts in the Celtics series as well. Those guys plus guys like JR Smith, Kyle Korver, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr need to step up. Rodney Hood and Cedi Osman shockingly fell out of the rotation. Andre Igoudala will miss game one with a leg contusion and he should help the Warriors. Kevin Looney, Jordan Bell, Nick Young, and Shaun Livingston have had impacts for the Warriors as well. That said, The Warriors are superior to the Cavaliers this time and I believe they'll repeat as NBA Champions. If this series goes seven or heck even six, LeBron James has to win Finals MVP.
Prediction: Warriors in five games.
Finals MVP: Stephen Curry
(W2) Golden State Warriors vs (E4) Cleveland Cavaliers: The Warriors are coming off a seven game series win over the Houston Rockets and it certainly helped that Chris Paul got injured or else the Warriors are probably sitting at home right now wondering how they lost games four and five. The Cavaliers are coming off a seven game series win over the Boston Celtics. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green could possibly be playing their last series all together as teammates and expect them all to be great. LeBron James has been by far the best player in the NBA Playoffs this year and he should be named MVP over James Harden. Kevin Love will probably be back for game one after missing game seven against Boston with a concussion. George Hill, Tristian Thompson, and Jeff Green have had impacts in the Celtics series as well. Those guys plus guys like JR Smith, Kyle Korver, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr need to step up. Rodney Hood and Cedi Osman shockingly fell out of the rotation. Andre Igoudala will miss game one with a leg contusion and he should help the Warriors. Kevin Looney, Jordan Bell, Nick Young, and Shaun Livingston have had impacts for the Warriors as well. That said, The Warriors are superior to the Cavaliers this time and I believe they'll repeat as NBA Champions. If this series goes seven or heck even six, LeBron James has to win Finals MVP.
Prediction: Warriors in five games.
Finals MVP: Stephen Curry
Monday, May 28, 2018
2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Final Prediction
This is going to be some Stanley Cup Final! So many story lines! The expansion Vegas Golden Knights looking for the cup in their inaugural season and the Capitals looking for their first cup in team history! You also have Golden Knights GM George McPhee against his former team that he used to run in DC. Alex Ovechkin is also four wins away from his first Stanley Cup as well. Who do I like?
(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs (M1) Washington Capitals: As I mentioned above, there are a ton of fun storylines in this series. The Golden Knights are solid offensively led by William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, David Perron, and Reilly Smith. The Caps offense is great too led by Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, TJ Oshie, and Evgeny Kuznestov. The Golden Knights defense is really good led by Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore, Colin Miller, and Brayden McNabb. The Caps are solid defensively too with John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, Matt Niskanen, and Brooks Orpik. Marc-Andre Fleury has been phenomenal in these playoffs as well as Braden Holtby and if the Caps were to win this series, the decision to go back to Holtby after starting Philipp Grubauer the first two games may go down as the best in franchise history. That said, I think the Golden Knights with a little bit more rest and playing less games than the Caps, will take home the Cup in their inaugural season to make some real history in what should be an epic series.
Prediction: Golden Knights in seven games.
Conn Smythe Trophy Prediction: Marc-Andre Fleury
(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs (M1) Washington Capitals: As I mentioned above, there are a ton of fun storylines in this series. The Golden Knights are solid offensively led by William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, David Perron, and Reilly Smith. The Caps offense is great too led by Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, TJ Oshie, and Evgeny Kuznestov. The Golden Knights defense is really good led by Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore, Colin Miller, and Brayden McNabb. The Caps are solid defensively too with John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, Matt Niskanen, and Brooks Orpik. Marc-Andre Fleury has been phenomenal in these playoffs as well as Braden Holtby and if the Caps were to win this series, the decision to go back to Holtby after starting Philipp Grubauer the first two games may go down as the best in franchise history. That said, I think the Golden Knights with a little bit more rest and playing less games than the Caps, will take home the Cup in their inaugural season to make some real history in what should be an epic series.
Prediction: Golden Knights in seven games.
Conn Smythe Trophy Prediction: Marc-Andre Fleury
Sunday, May 27, 2018
2018 MLB Mock Draft: Fourth Edition
Here is the fourth edition of my 2018 MLB Mock Draft.
1. Detroit Tigers- Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn: Mize is pretty much thought out to be the slam dunk consensus number one pick. Mize has always had the stuff, with three plus pitches, including a double plus split-finger, but health has held back his projection. Showing consistent health in 2018 has kept him #1 and should keep him here as a projection as a future #1/2 rotation piece with an impressive competitive streak.
2. San Francisco Giants- Joey Bart, Catcher, Georgia Tech: Bart opened the season as an elite defensive catcher with definite plus skills behind the plate, a plus arm, and highly-regarded coachability in his receiving skills with some raw ability with the bat in his hand. His hitting this spring has him in such a spot that there is talk that the Giants are considering him at two and even the Tigers might take him first over Mize.
3. Philadelphia Phillies- Alec Bohm, Third Baseman, Wichita State: Bohm could end up going second or even first with the talent he has. He has the offensive profile for third base, has shown a tick up in his defense, and he’s a hard worker at the position, which should serve him very well as a pro. The bat is special, however, with plus contact and raw double-plus power abilities that could allow him to be a future home run champion.
4. Chicago White Sox- Brady Singer, RHP, Florida: In many places, Singer was the preseason top overall player in the draft class, and like A.J. Puk a few years ago, he had a rough opening to his season, but he’s really worked well in recent weeks, and a strong finish should keep him in the top 10 and make his drafting team very happy. I won't be shocked if Singer goes second, if not first.
5. Cincinnati Reds- Nick Madrigal, Second Baseman, Oregon State: While there could be a legit argument that Madrigal is the best overall player in the draft, a player listed at a generous 5’7″ tall and weighing in at a generous 160 pounds isn’t going to be the type of guy who would go 1-1, even without Mize. As much progress as scouting has made to look beyond just body type to the player, that much bias still exists, much like the “no HS RHP will go 1-1” bias.
6. New York Mets- Jonathan India, Third Baseman, Florida: India is a fast riser among many people's draft boards. Most assumed India would be a later rounds pick that might have to come back for his senior year when the year opened in Gainesville. Instead, he’s hitting as well or better than any college hitter this year, showing tremendous polish in his swing, adjustments within game, and maintaining his above-average defense and speed that he’s always had.
7. San Diego Padres- Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (ARI): Really the one top high school arm coming into the spring that has held his spot all spring, Liberatore was the definite top of a shallow left-handed high school crop at the end of last summer, and he’s shown well enough that he has even led many to argue him as high as #2 overall. Liberatore does not bring any one double-plus pitch to the mix, but he throws four above-average pitches with impressive command for a high school arm, and he’s already showing the ability to manipulate his mix on the second time around to keep hitters off base.
8. Atlanta Braves- Nolan Gorman, Third Baseman, O'Connor HS (AZ): Gorman put on shows at summer showcases, making home run derby competitions his highlight reels all summer, but now that he’s working in the spring, some have whispered about his hit tool being messed up from a focus on showing out in those derby performances, seeing his swing elongate and even hitch. Gorman’s also added some muscle that he did not work into his body along with flexibility, so he’s become stronger, but more rigid, leading many to wonder about his future at third, though he’s definitely got the arm.
9. Oakland Athletics- Travis Swaggerty, Outfielder, South Alabama: Swaggerty has plus speed at the least along with above-average power, a fringe-plus hit tool, and above-average outfield defense at all three outfield spots. He takes plenty of walks and could be an elite leadoff man that offered 15+ home run pop or better at his best or develop into a middle of the lineup guy who has an impressive OBP.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates- Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS (FLA): Stewart had a strong summer and then came out this spring even better, with a couple ticks more velocity, allowing his fastball to grade out as a plus-plus pitch. He has a good frame at 6’6″ and already filled in to 200-210 pounds, and he pairs his incredible fastball with a curve that when it’s on will flash double-plus as well.
11. Baltimore Orioles- Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (CA): Winn had good frame and three pitches that would project plus as a prep from Colorado. He transferred to one of the biggest schools in California for baseball to get more exposure, and he’s certainly done that, with plenty of scouts seeing him throw weekly.
12. Toronto Blue Jays- Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida: McClanahan has had a bit of an up and down season as about the only college arm that’s had peaks as high as Mize, but he’s shown some wear as the season’s gone on, and, unless he turns around to the performances we were seeing in the early spring season, he’ll likely hold to a top 10 spot, but likely lower in the top 10, which will make whomever grabs him a very happy team.
13. Miami Marlins- Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss: Rolison is not likely going to be a guy to go early in the draft, but he could move quickly with polish and high raw grades on at least one of his breaking pitches. Rolison spins a curve that flashes 70-75 grade break, but his balance of pitches allow him to keep hitters honest and not let them sit on it, which allows his raw stuff to play up.
14. Seattle Mariners- Jarred Kelenic, Outfielder, Waukesha West HS (WI): One of the biggest climbers in the spring is really just getting his season truly underway as fields in Wisconsin are finally being cleared of snow for Kelenic to launch balls out of them. He is thought be many to be a top ten talent so the Mariners selecting him 14th would be a steal.
15. Texas Rangers- Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida: Kowar has a nasty fastball that is one of the toughest to square up in college this spring, and he pairs it with a plus change that he locates very well. He’s worked to locate his curveball better this spring, though he still struggles a bit with consistency in the pitch’s break. He should move quickly through the Rangers’ system.
16. Tampa Bay Rays- Connor Scott, Outfielder, Plant HS (FL): Not many have the run tool that Scott does in the 2018 MLB draft class, and he also flashes raw power that could be at least average, if not a tick above. Scott has a plus to double-plus arm on defense that just adds to his impressive range, though he could use some refinement in his jumps off the bat.
17. Los Angeles Angels- Ryan Weathers, LHP, Lorretto HS (TN): Weathers has the pedigree, with a father who pitched for nearly 20 years, and the balance of pitches, with three above-average pitches and plus control, to be a high schooler who could move fast yet also factor at the front of a rotation. He was an excellent basketball player as well in high school, and the athleticism shows in his repeatable delivery and quick adaption to learning new pitches and new nuances to the game.
18. Kansas City Royals- Jordyn Adams, Outfielder, Green Hope HS (NC): Adams is a fast riser on many peoples mock boards. He has lots of helium leading up to the draft and he's the type of prospect who could take off once he turns his full attention to baseball, and his plus-plus speed will serve him well on the diamond. There's no doubt he's a project, but the payoff could be huge.
19. St. Louis Cardinals- Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson: With aces like Jacob deGom and Corey Kluber hailing from Stetson, the history of arms from the school developing well as pros could help push Gilbert as well. He doesn’t offer an elite fastball or a plus offspeed pitch, but he has above-average control of all of his pitches, and flashes plus with all four pitches with a great frame to project.
20. Minnesota Twins- Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS (GA): An extremely mature body for a high school player, Rocker impressed summer showcases with his double-plus fastball and plus slider that has wicked break when it’s on. Some scouts worry about a bit of “bad weight”, but Rocker is athletic off the mound and repeats well, just working to be more consistent in his grips on pitches at this point.
21. Milwaukee Brewers- Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Central Heights HS (TX): Rodriguez, a prototype Texas arm that has jumped forward in his senior year, flashing a double plus fastball, but also showing much more than just a fastball, as he does have four pitches that he can control with excellent downhill plane as he stays tall in his delivery from a 6’5″ frame.
22. Colorado Rockies- Cole Wilcox, RHP, Heritage HS (GA): Wilcox is another fast riser on many peoples mock boards as he has the potential for three plus pitches and isn't far behind the top group of high school pitchers. The Rockies have some options here as they've been linked to some outfielders and catchers as well.
23. New York Yankees- Brice Turang, Shortstop, Santiago HS (CA): One of the more divisive prospects among scouts, there is one thing everyone is in agreement on – Turang can flat-out field the ball. A certain above-average shortstop, and arguably a plus one, Turang is a hard worker and has natural leadership skills that have many comparing him on the field to former top overall selection Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves.
24. Chicago Cubs- Ethan Hawkins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS (GA): Hawkins had a rough spring and an injury have put some questions on Hankins – enough to drop him out of the top 10 for sure, but does have top ten talent. After that point, it could require a fairly significant bonus to get Hankins away from his Vanderbilt commitment, which could see Hankins slide to the back of the first round and especially to the comp round possibly.
25. Arizona Diamondbacks- Steele Walker, Outfielder, Oklahoma: Walker's best tool is his bat and to go along with his outstanding instincts and makeup that allow his tools to play up. He's also one of the better offensive performers in college this year and that could appeal to the Diamondbacks.
26. Boston Red Sox- Noah Naylor, Catcher/Third Baseman, St. Joan of Arc Catholic HS (Ontario): Naylor's lefthanded bat and very high-level of athleticism have plenty of scouts speculating about whether the top Canadian prospect in the class might be better off starting his career at third base to maximize those two talent areas.
27. Washington Nationals- Mason Denaburg, RHP/Catcher, Merritt Island HS (FL): Denaburg would have been a top ten sure thing if he was fully healthy. He is a very good kicker and punter in football, and he could play for Florida as well as playing both ways. When healthy, he has good feel for a hard curve and can reach upper 90s. There’s going to be some development time with Denaburg, but there’s legit frontline potential.
28. Houston Astros- Sean Hjelle, RHP, Kentucky: The Astros can afford to take players that provide untapped potential. Hjelle has impressed all season at Kentucky, with the elite downward plane from his 6’11” frame allowing his low-90s fastball with a loose, easy delivery that has generated more velocity and could have more in the tank with pro coaching.
29. Cleveland Indians- Nick Schnell, Outfielder, Roncalli HS (IN): Schnell is a pop-up prospect who has put himself in the first-round conversation with a strong showing this spring. He has the full toolbox at his disposal with a real chance to be a five-tool contributor. There's plenty of room to add strength to his 6'2", 180-pound frame, giving him intriguing power potential. He should also be able to stick in center field defensively, which further adds to his upside.
30. Los Angeles Dodgers- Jordan Groshas, Third Baseman, Magnolia HS (TX): Groshas is the type of guy that really will grow on teams the more they see him as he doesn’t explode off of film when you watch him, without any standout tool that jumps off the page, but he’s got average to above-average present tools across the board with raw plus tools in his fielding and power. He’s played short in high school, but his physical body and range works at third, so once he gets reps there, he should jump forward in his defensive ability and could be a very valuable late first round selection.
1. Detroit Tigers- Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn: Mize is pretty much thought out to be the slam dunk consensus number one pick. Mize has always had the stuff, with three plus pitches, including a double plus split-finger, but health has held back his projection. Showing consistent health in 2018 has kept him #1 and should keep him here as a projection as a future #1/2 rotation piece with an impressive competitive streak.
2. San Francisco Giants- Joey Bart, Catcher, Georgia Tech: Bart opened the season as an elite defensive catcher with definite plus skills behind the plate, a plus arm, and highly-regarded coachability in his receiving skills with some raw ability with the bat in his hand. His hitting this spring has him in such a spot that there is talk that the Giants are considering him at two and even the Tigers might take him first over Mize.
3. Philadelphia Phillies- Alec Bohm, Third Baseman, Wichita State: Bohm could end up going second or even first with the talent he has. He has the offensive profile for third base, has shown a tick up in his defense, and he’s a hard worker at the position, which should serve him very well as a pro. The bat is special, however, with plus contact and raw double-plus power abilities that could allow him to be a future home run champion.
4. Chicago White Sox- Brady Singer, RHP, Florida: In many places, Singer was the preseason top overall player in the draft class, and like A.J. Puk a few years ago, he had a rough opening to his season, but he’s really worked well in recent weeks, and a strong finish should keep him in the top 10 and make his drafting team very happy. I won't be shocked if Singer goes second, if not first.
5. Cincinnati Reds- Nick Madrigal, Second Baseman, Oregon State: While there could be a legit argument that Madrigal is the best overall player in the draft, a player listed at a generous 5’7″ tall and weighing in at a generous 160 pounds isn’t going to be the type of guy who would go 1-1, even without Mize. As much progress as scouting has made to look beyond just body type to the player, that much bias still exists, much like the “no HS RHP will go 1-1” bias.
6. New York Mets- Jonathan India, Third Baseman, Florida: India is a fast riser among many people's draft boards. Most assumed India would be a later rounds pick that might have to come back for his senior year when the year opened in Gainesville. Instead, he’s hitting as well or better than any college hitter this year, showing tremendous polish in his swing, adjustments within game, and maintaining his above-average defense and speed that he’s always had.
7. San Diego Padres- Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (ARI): Really the one top high school arm coming into the spring that has held his spot all spring, Liberatore was the definite top of a shallow left-handed high school crop at the end of last summer, and he’s shown well enough that he has even led many to argue him as high as #2 overall. Liberatore does not bring any one double-plus pitch to the mix, but he throws four above-average pitches with impressive command for a high school arm, and he’s already showing the ability to manipulate his mix on the second time around to keep hitters off base.
8. Atlanta Braves- Nolan Gorman, Third Baseman, O'Connor HS (AZ): Gorman put on shows at summer showcases, making home run derby competitions his highlight reels all summer, but now that he’s working in the spring, some have whispered about his hit tool being messed up from a focus on showing out in those derby performances, seeing his swing elongate and even hitch. Gorman’s also added some muscle that he did not work into his body along with flexibility, so he’s become stronger, but more rigid, leading many to wonder about his future at third, though he’s definitely got the arm.
9. Oakland Athletics- Travis Swaggerty, Outfielder, South Alabama: Swaggerty has plus speed at the least along with above-average power, a fringe-plus hit tool, and above-average outfield defense at all three outfield spots. He takes plenty of walks and could be an elite leadoff man that offered 15+ home run pop or better at his best or develop into a middle of the lineup guy who has an impressive OBP.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates- Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS (FLA): Stewart had a strong summer and then came out this spring even better, with a couple ticks more velocity, allowing his fastball to grade out as a plus-plus pitch. He has a good frame at 6’6″ and already filled in to 200-210 pounds, and he pairs his incredible fastball with a curve that when it’s on will flash double-plus as well.
11. Baltimore Orioles- Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (CA): Winn had good frame and three pitches that would project plus as a prep from Colorado. He transferred to one of the biggest schools in California for baseball to get more exposure, and he’s certainly done that, with plenty of scouts seeing him throw weekly.
12. Toronto Blue Jays- Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida: McClanahan has had a bit of an up and down season as about the only college arm that’s had peaks as high as Mize, but he’s shown some wear as the season’s gone on, and, unless he turns around to the performances we were seeing in the early spring season, he’ll likely hold to a top 10 spot, but likely lower in the top 10, which will make whomever grabs him a very happy team.
13. Miami Marlins- Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss: Rolison is not likely going to be a guy to go early in the draft, but he could move quickly with polish and high raw grades on at least one of his breaking pitches. Rolison spins a curve that flashes 70-75 grade break, but his balance of pitches allow him to keep hitters honest and not let them sit on it, which allows his raw stuff to play up.
14. Seattle Mariners- Jarred Kelenic, Outfielder, Waukesha West HS (WI): One of the biggest climbers in the spring is really just getting his season truly underway as fields in Wisconsin are finally being cleared of snow for Kelenic to launch balls out of them. He is thought be many to be a top ten talent so the Mariners selecting him 14th would be a steal.
15. Texas Rangers- Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida: Kowar has a nasty fastball that is one of the toughest to square up in college this spring, and he pairs it with a plus change that he locates very well. He’s worked to locate his curveball better this spring, though he still struggles a bit with consistency in the pitch’s break. He should move quickly through the Rangers’ system.
16. Tampa Bay Rays- Connor Scott, Outfielder, Plant HS (FL): Not many have the run tool that Scott does in the 2018 MLB draft class, and he also flashes raw power that could be at least average, if not a tick above. Scott has a plus to double-plus arm on defense that just adds to his impressive range, though he could use some refinement in his jumps off the bat.
17. Los Angeles Angels- Ryan Weathers, LHP, Lorretto HS (TN): Weathers has the pedigree, with a father who pitched for nearly 20 years, and the balance of pitches, with three above-average pitches and plus control, to be a high schooler who could move fast yet also factor at the front of a rotation. He was an excellent basketball player as well in high school, and the athleticism shows in his repeatable delivery and quick adaption to learning new pitches and new nuances to the game.
18. Kansas City Royals- Jordyn Adams, Outfielder, Green Hope HS (NC): Adams is a fast riser on many peoples mock boards. He has lots of helium leading up to the draft and he's the type of prospect who could take off once he turns his full attention to baseball, and his plus-plus speed will serve him well on the diamond. There's no doubt he's a project, but the payoff could be huge.
19. St. Louis Cardinals- Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson: With aces like Jacob deGom and Corey Kluber hailing from Stetson, the history of arms from the school developing well as pros could help push Gilbert as well. He doesn’t offer an elite fastball or a plus offspeed pitch, but he has above-average control of all of his pitches, and flashes plus with all four pitches with a great frame to project.
20. Minnesota Twins- Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS (GA): An extremely mature body for a high school player, Rocker impressed summer showcases with his double-plus fastball and plus slider that has wicked break when it’s on. Some scouts worry about a bit of “bad weight”, but Rocker is athletic off the mound and repeats well, just working to be more consistent in his grips on pitches at this point.
21. Milwaukee Brewers- Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Central Heights HS (TX): Rodriguez, a prototype Texas arm that has jumped forward in his senior year, flashing a double plus fastball, but also showing much more than just a fastball, as he does have four pitches that he can control with excellent downhill plane as he stays tall in his delivery from a 6’5″ frame.
22. Colorado Rockies- Cole Wilcox, RHP, Heritage HS (GA): Wilcox is another fast riser on many peoples mock boards as he has the potential for three plus pitches and isn't far behind the top group of high school pitchers. The Rockies have some options here as they've been linked to some outfielders and catchers as well.
23. New York Yankees- Brice Turang, Shortstop, Santiago HS (CA): One of the more divisive prospects among scouts, there is one thing everyone is in agreement on – Turang can flat-out field the ball. A certain above-average shortstop, and arguably a plus one, Turang is a hard worker and has natural leadership skills that have many comparing him on the field to former top overall selection Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves.
24. Chicago Cubs- Ethan Hawkins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS (GA): Hawkins had a rough spring and an injury have put some questions on Hankins – enough to drop him out of the top 10 for sure, but does have top ten talent. After that point, it could require a fairly significant bonus to get Hankins away from his Vanderbilt commitment, which could see Hankins slide to the back of the first round and especially to the comp round possibly.
25. Arizona Diamondbacks- Steele Walker, Outfielder, Oklahoma: Walker's best tool is his bat and to go along with his outstanding instincts and makeup that allow his tools to play up. He's also one of the better offensive performers in college this year and that could appeal to the Diamondbacks.
26. Boston Red Sox- Noah Naylor, Catcher/Third Baseman, St. Joan of Arc Catholic HS (Ontario): Naylor's lefthanded bat and very high-level of athleticism have plenty of scouts speculating about whether the top Canadian prospect in the class might be better off starting his career at third base to maximize those two talent areas.
27. Washington Nationals- Mason Denaburg, RHP/Catcher, Merritt Island HS (FL): Denaburg would have been a top ten sure thing if he was fully healthy. He is a very good kicker and punter in football, and he could play for Florida as well as playing both ways. When healthy, he has good feel for a hard curve and can reach upper 90s. There’s going to be some development time with Denaburg, but there’s legit frontline potential.
28. Houston Astros- Sean Hjelle, RHP, Kentucky: The Astros can afford to take players that provide untapped potential. Hjelle has impressed all season at Kentucky, with the elite downward plane from his 6’11” frame allowing his low-90s fastball with a loose, easy delivery that has generated more velocity and could have more in the tank with pro coaching.
29. Cleveland Indians- Nick Schnell, Outfielder, Roncalli HS (IN): Schnell is a pop-up prospect who has put himself in the first-round conversation with a strong showing this spring. He has the full toolbox at his disposal with a real chance to be a five-tool contributor. There's plenty of room to add strength to his 6'2", 180-pound frame, giving him intriguing power potential. He should also be able to stick in center field defensively, which further adds to his upside.
30. Los Angeles Dodgers- Jordan Groshas, Third Baseman, Magnolia HS (TX): Groshas is the type of guy that really will grow on teams the more they see him as he doesn’t explode off of film when you watch him, without any standout tool that jumps off the page, but he’s got average to above-average present tools across the board with raw plus tools in his fielding and power. He’s played short in high school, but his physical body and range works at third, so once he gets reps there, he should jump forward in his defensive ability and could be a very valuable late first round selection.
Friday, May 25, 2018
2018 NHL Mock Draft: Third Edition
Here is the third edition of my 2018 NHL Mock Draft.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): Dahlin is the consensus best player in this draft class and Dahlin gets the chance to go to a young team that needs more transcendent talent other than Jack Eichel. He will pair on the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen for the foreseeable future.
2. Carolina Hurricanes- Andrei Scechnikov, Wing, Barrie (OHL): The Canes have an up and coming defense, so here they address their biggest need which is scoring. He has elite scoring touch but can also play a power forward game.
3. Montreal Canadiens- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Canadiens are a team that is in dire need of young talent and Zadina would be a nice start. He is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
4. Ottawa Senators- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Sens have a ton of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Tkachuk has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Boqvist would be a nice fit. He is an elite puck-moving defenseman who will likely be the second one off the board.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Red Wings have a lot of needs although they do have some promising young players. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Canucks have a bigger need on defense, but Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on. He has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Evan Bouchard Defenseman, London (OHL): The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, especially on the blue line with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook aging. Enter Bouchard, who is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft and his passing ability allows him to generate offense from all three zones of the ice while staying in great position.
9. New York Rangers- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): After the Rangers traded Ryan McDonagh away and got rid of Dan Girardi last summer, they need to rebuild their defensive depth. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Oilers have a major need on defense and Smith fits the bill. He is more known for his offensive game rather than his defensive game and is slightly undersized but as the game continues to evolve that is less and less of an issue as long as the talent is there to back it up.
11. New York Islanders- Joe Voleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Islanders could very well lose John Tavares this summer in free agency so it's a good thing they have two picks and here they take the versatile Voleno. He is a smart center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Isles take another forward here in Farabee. He possesses an elite shot for his age and is also a gifted skater and he knows how to use it to benefit himself.
13. Dallas Stars- Barrett Hayton, Center, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): People out there think Hayton is the best two way center in this draft. The one thing holding Hayton back is his production. He has all of the tools to be successful and an elite player, but his numbers just didn’t show it.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Jet Woo, Defenseman, Moose Jaw (WHL): Woo is an above average defenseman when he has the puck on his stick and seems to get better the more freedom he is given in the offensive zone. His vision is great but his hockey IQ is even better.
15. Florida Panthers- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Jackets don't have that many needs but Kupari would be a nice fit. Kupari is a very skilled center from Finland and he may have some the best hands in the draft.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Vitali Kravstov, Wing, Traktor (KHL): For Kravstov's age and the level of competition, he plays at he is a good defender. He needs to continue to grow but he has talent and uses his speed to get himself into a good position, cause turnovers and generate offense.
17. New Jersey Devils- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Devils really don't have a need at defense, but passing up on a talent like Wilde will be hard. He is a complete defenseman who is talented in both ends of the ice and has a pro level shot and close to pro level skating at the age of 18.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Jackets don't have that many needs but Merkley would be a nice fit. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman, USNDT: There are plenty of talented offensive defensemen in this year’s draft, but Samuelsson is not nearly as flashy or talented offensively. His game is taking care of the puck in his own end and shutting down opponents.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Isac Lundestrom, Center/Wing, Lulea (SHL): Lundestrom won’t blow past anyone with blinding speed, but he is a talented skater. He has versatility and powerful strides that make him hard to knock off of the puck.
21. San Jose Sharks- Serron Noel, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): Noel is one of the elite wingers this year in terms of projected first round prospects. He is really strong offensively featuring good hands, and a great shot and because of his size and good hands, he can score a lot of his goals from in tight.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): The Ducks don't really have any big needs, but I like the fit of McLeod here. He can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. McLeod can stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
24. Minnesota Wild- Akil Thomas, Center, Niagara (OHL): Thomas is a center who can put up points in bunches. One of his best attributes is his work ethic with and without the puck and is responsible in all three zones and never takes a shift off.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Grigori Denisenko, Wing, Lokomotiv (MHL): Denisenko projects as a high end scorer, but will need to be less generous with the puck on the attack. He has high and dangle and deception skills, and seems to be able to take games over or at very least, looks to me a cut above everyone else on the ice sheet.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Jared McIssac, Defenseman, Halifax (QMJHL): Due to his great skating talent, McIssac is able to carry the puck out of his zone and start the offense. He is also able to quickly recover when necessary and does well to get back into position.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Ty Dellandrea, Center, Flint (OHL): Dellandrea is versatile and his best attribute is his skating with the puck on his stick. Some players his age have great speed but can struggle to handle the puck he is the opposite and actually gets better with the puck on his stick.
28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Center, Halifax (QMJHL): Groulx is not a bad skater but he needs to work on his acceleration. He has a tremendous shot that is both powerful and accurate and has a strong understanding of his defensive responsibilities as well.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Alexander Alexeyev, Defenseman, Red Deer (WHL): Alexeyev is a big Russian import who has really improved the pace at which he plays in all phases. He's a rangy defender with footwork, who can transport through the neutral zone in a few strides.
30. Washington Capitals- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Capitals you can argue have a bigger need on defense, but here they take Bokk to bolster their forward prospect corps. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
31. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller falling this far would be a steal for the Blues. He will be a little bit of a project but a project that will be well worth the wait. A lot of young defensemen struggle with defensive responsibility. Not him, his best attribute is his defensive play. As he continues to develop his game he will only get better.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): Dahlin is the consensus best player in this draft class and Dahlin gets the chance to go to a young team that needs more transcendent talent other than Jack Eichel. He will pair on the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen for the foreseeable future.
2. Carolina Hurricanes- Andrei Scechnikov, Wing, Barrie (OHL): The Canes have an up and coming defense, so here they address their biggest need which is scoring. He has elite scoring touch but can also play a power forward game.
3. Montreal Canadiens- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Canadiens are a team that is in dire need of young talent and Zadina would be a nice start. He is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
4. Ottawa Senators- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Sens have a ton of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Tkachuk has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Boqvist would be a nice fit. He is an elite puck-moving defenseman who will likely be the second one off the board.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Red Wings have a lot of needs although they do have some promising young players. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Canucks have a bigger need on defense, but Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on. He has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Evan Bouchard Defenseman, London (OHL): The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, especially on the blue line with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook aging. Enter Bouchard, who is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft and his passing ability allows him to generate offense from all three zones of the ice while staying in great position.
9. New York Rangers- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): After the Rangers traded Ryan McDonagh away and got rid of Dan Girardi last summer, they need to rebuild their defensive depth. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Oilers have a major need on defense and Smith fits the bill. He is more known for his offensive game rather than his defensive game and is slightly undersized but as the game continues to evolve that is less and less of an issue as long as the talent is there to back it up.
11. New York Islanders- Joe Voleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Islanders could very well lose John Tavares this summer in free agency so it's a good thing they have two picks and here they take the versatile Voleno. He is a smart center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Isles take another forward here in Farabee. He possesses an elite shot for his age and is also a gifted skater and he knows how to use it to benefit himself.
13. Dallas Stars- Barrett Hayton, Center, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): People out there think Hayton is the best two way center in this draft. The one thing holding Hayton back is his production. He has all of the tools to be successful and an elite player, but his numbers just didn’t show it.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Jet Woo, Defenseman, Moose Jaw (WHL): Woo is an above average defenseman when he has the puck on his stick and seems to get better the more freedom he is given in the offensive zone. His vision is great but his hockey IQ is even better.
15. Florida Panthers- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Jackets don't have that many needs but Kupari would be a nice fit. Kupari is a very skilled center from Finland and he may have some the best hands in the draft.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Vitali Kravstov, Wing, Traktor (KHL): For Kravstov's age and the level of competition, he plays at he is a good defender. He needs to continue to grow but he has talent and uses his speed to get himself into a good position, cause turnovers and generate offense.
17. New Jersey Devils- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Devils really don't have a need at defense, but passing up on a talent like Wilde will be hard. He is a complete defenseman who is talented in both ends of the ice and has a pro level shot and close to pro level skating at the age of 18.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Jackets don't have that many needs but Merkley would be a nice fit. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman, USNDT: There are plenty of talented offensive defensemen in this year’s draft, but Samuelsson is not nearly as flashy or talented offensively. His game is taking care of the puck in his own end and shutting down opponents.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Isac Lundestrom, Center/Wing, Lulea (SHL): Lundestrom won’t blow past anyone with blinding speed, but he is a talented skater. He has versatility and powerful strides that make him hard to knock off of the puck.
21. San Jose Sharks- Serron Noel, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): Noel is one of the elite wingers this year in terms of projected first round prospects. He is really strong offensively featuring good hands, and a great shot and because of his size and good hands, he can score a lot of his goals from in tight.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): The Ducks don't really have any big needs, but I like the fit of McLeod here. He can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. McLeod can stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
24. Minnesota Wild- Akil Thomas, Center, Niagara (OHL): Thomas is a center who can put up points in bunches. One of his best attributes is his work ethic with and without the puck and is responsible in all three zones and never takes a shift off.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Grigori Denisenko, Wing, Lokomotiv (MHL): Denisenko projects as a high end scorer, but will need to be less generous with the puck on the attack. He has high and dangle and deception skills, and seems to be able to take games over or at very least, looks to me a cut above everyone else on the ice sheet.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Jared McIssac, Defenseman, Halifax (QMJHL): Due to his great skating talent, McIssac is able to carry the puck out of his zone and start the offense. He is also able to quickly recover when necessary and does well to get back into position.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Ty Dellandrea, Center, Flint (OHL): Dellandrea is versatile and his best attribute is his skating with the puck on his stick. Some players his age have great speed but can struggle to handle the puck he is the opposite and actually gets better with the puck on his stick.
28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Center, Halifax (QMJHL): Groulx is not a bad skater but he needs to work on his acceleration. He has a tremendous shot that is both powerful and accurate and has a strong understanding of his defensive responsibilities as well.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Alexander Alexeyev, Defenseman, Red Deer (WHL): Alexeyev is a big Russian import who has really improved the pace at which he plays in all phases. He's a rangy defender with footwork, who can transport through the neutral zone in a few strides.
30. Washington Capitals- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Capitals you can argue have a bigger need on defense, but here they take Bokk to bolster their forward prospect corps. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
31. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller falling this far would be a steal for the Blues. He will be a little bit of a project but a project that will be well worth the wait. A lot of young defensemen struggle with defensive responsibility. Not him, his best attribute is his defensive play. As he continues to develop his game he will only get better.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
2018 NBA Mock Draft: Fourth Edition
Here is the fourth edition of my 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: After slotting Luka Doncic here last mock draft, I switched back to Ayton, who is perhaps the drafts best prospect due to his size, soft touch at the rim, and his promising jump shot. He's drawn comparisons to Joel Embiid and Patrick Ewing and the Suns, who don't really have a long term true center, won't want to pass on him.
2. Sacramento Kings- Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Real Madrid: Doncic will be the most proven player in the draft due to his success overseas. He is an ideal fit for the perimeter-oriented league and should have a long, productive NBA career. There are reports out there that Doncic does not want to play in Sacramento, so don't be shocked if they pass on Doncic as well as the Hawks.
3. Atlanta Hawks- Marvin Bagley, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Bagley could very well end up the best player from this draft class. He has great athleticism and can shoot it from three and he and John Collins would be a nice front court pairing.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Jackson is a bit of a wild card in this lottery portion of the draft considering he exceeded expectations as a freshman in college and played his way to this position. Although he struggled in the Big Dance, his rim protecting as well as his perimeter game were excellent. He could eventually replace Marc Gasol.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Mohamed Bomba, Center, Texas: Bomba doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his defensive presence with his height and shot blocking should appeal to any team. Bomba would learn from Dirk Nowitzki for at least one if not seasons and Rick Carlisle would love someone like Bomba.
6. Orlando Magic- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Magic can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot as they go with best player available. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor.
7. Chicago Bulls- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter barely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 7. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Bulls can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and have a need for versatile forwards.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics)- Collin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Cavs have a need at point guard, whether LeBron James leaves this summer or not. Sexton is super-fast, super-quick and forever aggressive -- all of which are great qualities for anybody entering the NBA. He puts pressure on the defense basically every possession.
9. New York Knicks- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Reports out of the combine are that the Knicks really like Young. Young is very polarizing because of how his season went and how defenses started figuring him out in conference play. That said, he has a Steph Curry type of ceiling and the Knicks may not pass on it.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns)- Mikal Bridges, Small Forward, Villanova: Bridges took a massive leap this year for the Wildcats. Due to his three-and-D capability, Birdges is one of the drafts safest bets. The Sixers would be a nice landing spot for him as he can begin off the bench and can eventually start.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Miles Bridges, Small Forward, Michigan State: Although, Bridges might end up becoming a small ball power forward in the future due to his average ball handling, he is a great shooter on the wing and provides great athleticism. Bridges would be a nice fit on this rebuilding Hornet team as they can view him as a building block.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting
PGuard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock is trending up after he had a great season for the Wildcats. He has great size and finishing craft, defensive versatility, and maybe even quickness. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice piece for the Clippers going forward as they enter a rebuild.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- Robert Williams, Power Forward/Center, Texas A&M: Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back to school for one more season. Williams isn't known for his offense, but he's great at rebounding and defending the rim. He could be a poor mans D'Andre Jordan.
14. Denver Nuggets- Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Hornets: Knox hasn't been as consistent as a shooter as the Wildcats hoped, but he still projects as a solid defender and can rebound very well. If he develops a shot, he could end up as the small forward of the future for the Nuggets.
15. Washington Wizards- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a reach. Robinson had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience
Pbeyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Khyri Thomas, Shooting Guard, Creighton: Thomas is interesting because he doesn't have much upside. What Thomas does have though, is a two-way presence with is great shooting and perimeter defending. This pick would be a solid one for the Suns and he would probably come off the bench for them.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Lonnie Walker, Shooting Guard, Miami: Walker didn't have the greatest freshman season due to coming off his meniscus tear, which provides an interesting case for him to return to Miami for his sophomore season. That said, Walker is worth taking in this spot due to his pure talent and potential.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith went from a three-star recruit to a likely first-round pick thanks to elite athleticism and ultra aggressive two-way play at Texas Tech. His freshman season was full of highlight reel plays, with tip-dunks and chasedown blocks becoming nightly occurrences.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Anfernee Simons, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, IMG Academy: Simons is a bit undersized for a shooting guard, which makes him a bit of a project, but he can attack the basket and has a decent shot, but must develop on the defensive end. Dennis Schroeder may not be in the Hawks' long term plans so Simons makes sense here.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Donte DiVincenzo, Shooting Guard, Villanova: DiVincenzo broke out in a major way at the combine and fortified the strong impression he left in March and over the course of Villanova’s season. It’s clear he’s not a flash in the pan, as his consistent level of focus, instincts for forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds and ability to hit open jumpers build in a degree of safety.
21. Utah Jazz- Troy Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: Brown is an interesting prospect considering that he had a solid season at Oregon, but has a reputation of disappearing in
games. Brown's size and ball-handling ability is what makes him worth a selection at this spot and I like this spot for Brown.
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Chandler Hutchinson, Small Forward, Boise State: Hutchinson is one of my sleepers in this draft class. Hutchinson isn't a great shooter, but has a nice all-around game with his ability to attack the rim, rebounding, and he's a solid off the ball defender.
23. Indiana Pacers- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday is another one of my sleepers. Holiday is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint. Darren Collison isn't the long term answer at the point for the Pacers and Holiday would fit nicely here.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Jacob Evans, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Cincinnati: Evans's upside is limited though because he's an erratic shooter and isn't aggressive at the rim. His defense is his strength and he can guard both wing positions very well.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- Jontay Porter, Center, Missouri: Porter quietly bursted on to the scene as a freshman in light of his brother and his bride college career. Porter is great all around with his rebounding and passing and can shoot it from three. Could be a poor mans Nikola Jokic.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- De'Anthony Melton, Shooting Guard, USC: Melton was held out the entire season by USC following the program’s role in the FBI investigation. What the Trojans missed was a bulldog defender and a skilled passer who found ways to impact the game even without a dependable jump shot. He has a Swiss Army Knife-type of skill set that would fit well on any bench.
27. Boston Celtics- Bruce Brown, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Miami: Brown could be a steal at this spot considering he missed most of the season with a foot injury. Brown has great athleticism, size, and has a good defensive-mind.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jermone Robinson, Shooting Gaurd, Boston College: Robinson could be a steal in this spot. Robinson is a great scorer and is great at creating his own shot off the dribble, but he's not an upper-tear athlete.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto Raptors)- Kieta Bates-Diop, Power Forward, Ohio State: Bates-Diop had an outstanding junior collegiate season. What hurts Bates-Diop is his lack of athleticism, but his season cannot be ignored due to his outstanding shooting and providing match-up problems for the opposition.
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets via Los Angeles Clippers)- Dzanan Musa, Small Forward, Cedevita: Musa is an intriguing international prospect that is motivated to play in the NBA. Musa is a great scorer on the wing and his play making skills are improving. The Hawks love international prospects so this pick makes a lot of sense.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: After slotting Luka Doncic here last mock draft, I switched back to Ayton, who is perhaps the drafts best prospect due to his size, soft touch at the rim, and his promising jump shot. He's drawn comparisons to Joel Embiid and Patrick Ewing and the Suns, who don't really have a long term true center, won't want to pass on him.
2. Sacramento Kings- Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Real Madrid: Doncic will be the most proven player in the draft due to his success overseas. He is an ideal fit for the perimeter-oriented league and should have a long, productive NBA career. There are reports out there that Doncic does not want to play in Sacramento, so don't be shocked if they pass on Doncic as well as the Hawks.
3. Atlanta Hawks- Marvin Bagley, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Bagley could very well end up the best player from this draft class. He has great athleticism and can shoot it from three and he and John Collins would be a nice front court pairing.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Jackson is a bit of a wild card in this lottery portion of the draft considering he exceeded expectations as a freshman in college and played his way to this position. Although he struggled in the Big Dance, his rim protecting as well as his perimeter game were excellent. He could eventually replace Marc Gasol.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Mohamed Bomba, Center, Texas: Bomba doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his defensive presence with his height and shot blocking should appeal to any team. Bomba would learn from Dirk Nowitzki for at least one if not seasons and Rick Carlisle would love someone like Bomba.
6. Orlando Magic- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Magic can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot as they go with best player available. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor.
7. Chicago Bulls- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter barely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 7. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Bulls can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and have a need for versatile forwards.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics)- Collin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Cavs have a need at point guard, whether LeBron James leaves this summer or not. Sexton is super-fast, super-quick and forever aggressive -- all of which are great qualities for anybody entering the NBA. He puts pressure on the defense basically every possession.
9. New York Knicks- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Reports out of the combine are that the Knicks really like Young. Young is very polarizing because of how his season went and how defenses started figuring him out in conference play. That said, he has a Steph Curry type of ceiling and the Knicks may not pass on it.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns)- Mikal Bridges, Small Forward, Villanova: Bridges took a massive leap this year for the Wildcats. Due to his three-and-D capability, Birdges is one of the drafts safest bets. The Sixers would be a nice landing spot for him as he can begin off the bench and can eventually start.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Miles Bridges, Small Forward, Michigan State: Although, Bridges might end up becoming a small ball power forward in the future due to his average ball handling, he is a great shooter on the wing and provides great athleticism. Bridges would be a nice fit on this rebuilding Hornet team as they can view him as a building block.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting
PGuard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock is trending up after he had a great season for the Wildcats. He has great size and finishing craft, defensive versatility, and maybe even quickness. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice piece for the Clippers going forward as they enter a rebuild.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- Robert Williams, Power Forward/Center, Texas A&M: Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back to school for one more season. Williams isn't known for his offense, but he's great at rebounding and defending the rim. He could be a poor mans D'Andre Jordan.
14. Denver Nuggets- Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Hornets: Knox hasn't been as consistent as a shooter as the Wildcats hoped, but he still projects as a solid defender and can rebound very well. If he develops a shot, he could end up as the small forward of the future for the Nuggets.
15. Washington Wizards- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a reach. Robinson had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience
Pbeyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Khyri Thomas, Shooting Guard, Creighton: Thomas is interesting because he doesn't have much upside. What Thomas does have though, is a two-way presence with is great shooting and perimeter defending. This pick would be a solid one for the Suns and he would probably come off the bench for them.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Lonnie Walker, Shooting Guard, Miami: Walker didn't have the greatest freshman season due to coming off his meniscus tear, which provides an interesting case for him to return to Miami for his sophomore season. That said, Walker is worth taking in this spot due to his pure talent and potential.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith went from a three-star recruit to a likely first-round pick thanks to elite athleticism and ultra aggressive two-way play at Texas Tech. His freshman season was full of highlight reel plays, with tip-dunks and chasedown blocks becoming nightly occurrences.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Anfernee Simons, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, IMG Academy: Simons is a bit undersized for a shooting guard, which makes him a bit of a project, but he can attack the basket and has a decent shot, but must develop on the defensive end. Dennis Schroeder may not be in the Hawks' long term plans so Simons makes sense here.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Donte DiVincenzo, Shooting Guard, Villanova: DiVincenzo broke out in a major way at the combine and fortified the strong impression he left in March and over the course of Villanova’s season. It’s clear he’s not a flash in the pan, as his consistent level of focus, instincts for forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds and ability to hit open jumpers build in a degree of safety.
21. Utah Jazz- Troy Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: Brown is an interesting prospect considering that he had a solid season at Oregon, but has a reputation of disappearing in
games. Brown's size and ball-handling ability is what makes him worth a selection at this spot and I like this spot for Brown.
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Chandler Hutchinson, Small Forward, Boise State: Hutchinson is one of my sleepers in this draft class. Hutchinson isn't a great shooter, but has a nice all-around game with his ability to attack the rim, rebounding, and he's a solid off the ball defender.
23. Indiana Pacers- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday is another one of my sleepers. Holiday is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint. Darren Collison isn't the long term answer at the point for the Pacers and Holiday would fit nicely here.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Jacob Evans, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Cincinnati: Evans's upside is limited though because he's an erratic shooter and isn't aggressive at the rim. His defense is his strength and he can guard both wing positions very well.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- Jontay Porter, Center, Missouri: Porter quietly bursted on to the scene as a freshman in light of his brother and his bride college career. Porter is great all around with his rebounding and passing and can shoot it from three. Could be a poor mans Nikola Jokic.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- De'Anthony Melton, Shooting Guard, USC: Melton was held out the entire season by USC following the program’s role in the FBI investigation. What the Trojans missed was a bulldog defender and a skilled passer who found ways to impact the game even without a dependable jump shot. He has a Swiss Army Knife-type of skill set that would fit well on any bench.
27. Boston Celtics- Bruce Brown, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Miami: Brown could be a steal at this spot considering he missed most of the season with a foot injury. Brown has great athleticism, size, and has a good defensive-mind.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jermone Robinson, Shooting Gaurd, Boston College: Robinson could be a steal in this spot. Robinson is a great scorer and is great at creating his own shot off the dribble, but he's not an upper-tear athlete.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto Raptors)- Kieta Bates-Diop, Power Forward, Ohio State: Bates-Diop had an outstanding junior collegiate season. What hurts Bates-Diop is his lack of athleticism, but his season cannot be ignored due to his outstanding shooting and providing match-up problems for the opposition.
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets via Los Angeles Clippers)- Dzanan Musa, Small Forward, Cedevita: Musa is an intriguing international prospect that is motivated to play in the NBA. Musa is a great scorer on the wing and his play making skills are improving. The Hawks love international prospects so this pick makes a lot of sense.
Monday, May 21, 2018
2018 MLB Mock Draft: Third Edition
Here is the third edition of my 2018 MLB Mock Draft.
1. Detroit Tigers- Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn: Mize is pretty much thought out to be the slam dunk consensus number one pick. Mize has always had the stuff, with three plus pitches, including a double plus split-finger, but health has held back his projection. Showing consistent health in 2018 has kept him #1 and should keep him here as a projection as a future #1/2 rotation piece with an impressive competitive streak.
2. San Francisco Giants- Joey Bart, Catcher, Georgia Tech: Bart opened the season as an elite defensive catcher with definite plus skills behind the plate, a plus arm, and highly-regarded coachability in his receiving skills with some raw ability with the bat in his hand. His hitting this spring has him in such a spot that there is talk that the Giants are considering him at two and even the Tigers might take him first over Mize.
3. Philadelphia Phillies- Nick Madrigal, Second Baseman, Oregon State: While there could be a legit argument that Madrigal is the best overall player in the draft, a player listed at a generous 5’7″ tall and weighing in at a generous 160 pounds isn’t going to be the type of guy who would go 1-1, even without Mize. As much progress as scouting has made to look beyond just body type to the player, that much bias still exists, much like the “no HS RHP will go 1-1” bias.
4. Chicago White Sox- Alec Bohm, Third Baseman, Wichita State: Bohm could end up going second or even first with the talent he has. He has the offensive profile for third base, has shown a tick up in his defense, and he’s a hard worker at the position, which should serve him very well as a pro. The bat is special, however, with plus contact and raw double-plus power abilities that could allow him to be a future home run champion.
5. Cincinnati Reds- Brady Singer, RHP, Florida: In many places, Singer was the preseason top overall player in the draft class, and like A.J. Puk a few years ago, he had a rough opening to his season, but he’s really worked well in recent weeks, and a strong finish should keep him in the top 10 and make his drafting team very happy. I won't be shocked if Singer goes second, if not first.
6. New York Mets- Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (ARI): Really the one top high school arm coming into the spring that has held his spot all spring, Liberatore was the definite top of a shallow left-handed high school crop at the end of last summer, and he’s shown well enough that he has even led many to argue him as high as #2 overall. Liberatore does not bring any one double-plus pitch to the mix, but he throws four above-average pitches with impressive command for a high school arm, and he’s already showing the ability to manipulate his mix on the second time around to keep hitters off base.
7. San Diego Padres- Ethan Hawkins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS (GA): Hawkins had a rough spring and an injury have put some questions on Hankins – enough to drop him out of the top 10 for sure, but does have top ten talent. After that point, it could require a fairly significant bonus to get Hankins away from his Vanderbilt commitment, which could see Hankins slide to the back of the first round and especially to the comp round possibly.
8. Atlanta Braves- Nolan Gorman, Third Baseman, O'Connor HS (AZ): Gorman put on shows at summer showcases, making home run derby competitions his highlight reels all summer, but now that he’s working in the spring, some have whispered about his hit tool being messed up from a focus on showing out in those derby performances, seeing his swing elongate and even hitch. Gorman’s also added some muscle that he did not work into his body along with flexibility, so he’s become stronger, but more rigid, leading many to wonder about his future at third, though he’s definitely got the arm.
9. Oakland Athletics- Travis Swaggerty, Outfielder, South Alabama: Swaggerty has plus speed at the least along with above-average power, a fringe-plus hit tool, and above-average outfield defense at all three outfield spots. He takes plenty of walks and could be an elite leadoff man that offered 15+ home run pop or better at his best or develop into a middle of the lineup guy who has an impressive OBP.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates- Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (CA): Winn had good frame and three pitches that would project plus as a prep from Colorado. He transferred to one of the biggest schools in California for baseball to get more exposure, and he’s certainly done that, with plenty of scouts seeing him throw weekly.
11. Baltimore Orioles- Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS (FLA): Stewart had a strong summer and then came out this spring even better, with a couple ticks more velocity, allowing his fastball to grade out as a plus-plus pitch. He has a good frame at 6’6″ and already filled in to 200-210 pounds, and he pairs his incredible fastball with a curve that when it’s on will flash double-plus as well.
12. Toronto Blue Jays- Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida: McClanahan has had a bit of an up and down season as about the only college arm that’s had peaks as high as Mize, but he’s shown some wear as the season’s gone on, and, unless he turns around to the performances we were seeing in the early spring season, he’ll likely hold to a top 10 spot, but likely lower in the top 10, which will make whomever grabs him a very happy team.
13. Miami Marlins- Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss: Rolison is not likely going to be a guy to go early in the draft, but he could move quickly with polish and high raw grades on at least one of his breaking pitches. Rolison spins a curve that flashes 70-75 grade break, but his balance of pitches allow him to keep hitters honest and not let them sit on it, which allows his raw stuff to play up.
14. Seattle Mariners- Ryan Weathers, LHP, Lorretto HS (TN): Weathers has the pedigree, with a father who pitched for nearly 20 years, and the balance of pitches, with three above-average pitches and plus control, to be a high schooler who could move fast yet also factor at the front of a rotation. He was an excellent basketball player as well in high school, and the athleticism shows in his repeatable delivery and quick adaption to learning new pitches and new nuances to the game.
15. Texas Rangers- Jonathan India, Third Baseman, Florida: Most assumed India would be a later rounds pick that might have to come back for his senior year when the year opened in Gainesville. Instead, he’s hitting as well or better than any college hitter this year, showing tremendous polish in his swing, adjustments within game, and maintaining his above-average defense and speed that he’s always had.
16. Tampa Bay Rays- Jarred Kelenic, Outfielder, Waukesha West HS (WI): One of the biggest climbers in the spring is really just getting his season truly underway as fields in Wisconsin are finally being cleared of snow for Kelenic to launch balls out of them. He is thought be many to be a top ten talent so the Rays selecting him 16th would be a steal.
17. Los Angeles Angels- Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS (GA): An extremely mature body for a high school player, Rocker impressed summer showcases with his double-plus fastball and plus slider that has wicked break when it’s on. Some scouts worry about a bit of “bad weight”, but Rocker is athletic off the mound and repeats well, just working to be more consistent in his grips on pitches at this point.
18. Kansas City Royals- Brice Turang, Shortstop, Santiago HS (CA): One of the more divisive prospects among scouts, there is one thing everyone is in agreement on – Turang can flat-out field the ball. A certain above-average shortstop, and arguably a plus one, Turang is a hard worker and has natural leadership skills that have many comparing him on the field to former top overall selection Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves.
19. St. Louis Cardinals- Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson: With aces like Jacob deGom and Corey Kluber hailing from Stetson, the history of arms from the school developing well as pros could help push Gilbert as well. He doesn’t offer an elite fastball or a plus offspeed pitch, but he has above-average control of all of his pitches, and flashes plus with all four pitches with a great frame to project.
20. Minnesota Twins- Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida: Kowar has a nasty fastball that is one of the toughest to square up in college this spring, and he pairs it with a plus change that he locates very well. He’s worked to locate his curveball better this spring, though he still struggles a bit with consistency in the pitch’s break. He should move quickly through the Twins’ system.
21. Milwaukee Brewers- Trevor Larnach, Outfielder, Oregon State: Larnach showed out big-time in the early spring and has cooled off some, but after a big summer in the Cape Cod, he’s not going to fall off too far. Larnach is a guy with corner outfield skills offensively and defensively, with more hit over power right now, but there’s certainly plenty of raw power there that would allow him to grow into a dominant hitter
22. Colorado Rockies- Tristian Casas, First/Third Baseman, American Heritage HS (FL): One of the most impressive power hitters in the high school class of the 2018 MLB draft, Casas generates double plus raw power in cage and already shows above-average power in game situation in Team USA competitions. While the bat is special, Casas offers very little defensively and could use some work on trimming down his body.
23. New York Yankees- Mike Vasil, RHP, Boston College HS (MA): Vasil was a guy to watch this spring as he had an impressive pitch mix during the Tournament of Stars with USA Baseball. He has a definite plus fastball that can reach 97 with decent movement. He has above-average breaking pitches, but he’s still working to repeat his delivery, something many thought could be that launching step for a Northeast pitcher to jump into the top half of the first round.
24. Chicago Cubs- Connor Scott, Outfielder, Plant HS (FL): Not many have the run tool that Scott does in the 2018 MLB draft class, and he also flashes raw power that could be at least average, if not a tick above. Scott has a plus to double-plus arm on defense that just adds to his impressive range, though he could use some refinement in his jumps off the bat.
25. Arizona Diamondbacks- Nick Schnell, Outfielder, Roncalli HS (IN): Schnell is a fast riser among peoples draft boards. People have him linked to the D-Backs. He's athletic, raw, long and lanky and he can drive the ball to all fields.
26. Boston Red Sox- Steele Walker, Outfielder, Oklahoma: Walker's best tool is his bat and to go along with his outstanding instincts and makeup that allow his tools to play up. He's also one of the better offensive performers in college this year and that could appeal to the Red Sox.
27. Washington Nationals- Mason Denaburg, RHP/Catcher, Merritt Island HS (FL): Denaburg would have been a top ten sure thing if he was fully healthy. He is a very good kicker and punter in football, and he could play for Florida as well as playing both ways. When healthy, he has good feel for a hard curve and can reach upper 90s. There’s going to be some development time with Denaburg, but there’s legit frontline potential.
28. Houston Astros- Jordan Groshas, Third Baseman, Magnolia HS (TX): Groshas is the type of guy that really will grow on teams the more they see him as he doesn’t explode off of film when you watch him, without any standout tool that jumps off the page, but he’s got average to above-average present tools across the board with raw plus tools in his fielding and power. He’s played short in high school, but his physical body and range works at third, so once he gets reps there, he should jump forward in his defensive ability and could be a very valuable late first round selection.
29. Cleveland Indians- Noah Naylor, Catcher/Third Baseman, St. Joan of Arc Catholic HS (Ontario): Naylor's lefthanded bat and very high-level of athleticism have plenty of scouts speculating about whether the top Canadian prospect in the class might be better off starting his career at third base to maximize those two talent areas.
30. Los Angeles Dodgers- Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford: Beck has the frame and loose arm to project additional velocity, and he already shows great feel for a change and control of all three of his pitches. After being drafted originally last year, he decided to go back to school and is better because of that decision.
1. Detroit Tigers- Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn: Mize is pretty much thought out to be the slam dunk consensus number one pick. Mize has always had the stuff, with three plus pitches, including a double plus split-finger, but health has held back his projection. Showing consistent health in 2018 has kept him #1 and should keep him here as a projection as a future #1/2 rotation piece with an impressive competitive streak.
2. San Francisco Giants- Joey Bart, Catcher, Georgia Tech: Bart opened the season as an elite defensive catcher with definite plus skills behind the plate, a plus arm, and highly-regarded coachability in his receiving skills with some raw ability with the bat in his hand. His hitting this spring has him in such a spot that there is talk that the Giants are considering him at two and even the Tigers might take him first over Mize.
3. Philadelphia Phillies- Nick Madrigal, Second Baseman, Oregon State: While there could be a legit argument that Madrigal is the best overall player in the draft, a player listed at a generous 5’7″ tall and weighing in at a generous 160 pounds isn’t going to be the type of guy who would go 1-1, even without Mize. As much progress as scouting has made to look beyond just body type to the player, that much bias still exists, much like the “no HS RHP will go 1-1” bias.
4. Chicago White Sox- Alec Bohm, Third Baseman, Wichita State: Bohm could end up going second or even first with the talent he has. He has the offensive profile for third base, has shown a tick up in his defense, and he’s a hard worker at the position, which should serve him very well as a pro. The bat is special, however, with plus contact and raw double-plus power abilities that could allow him to be a future home run champion.
5. Cincinnati Reds- Brady Singer, RHP, Florida: In many places, Singer was the preseason top overall player in the draft class, and like A.J. Puk a few years ago, he had a rough opening to his season, but he’s really worked well in recent weeks, and a strong finish should keep him in the top 10 and make his drafting team very happy. I won't be shocked if Singer goes second, if not first.
6. New York Mets- Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (ARI): Really the one top high school arm coming into the spring that has held his spot all spring, Liberatore was the definite top of a shallow left-handed high school crop at the end of last summer, and he’s shown well enough that he has even led many to argue him as high as #2 overall. Liberatore does not bring any one double-plus pitch to the mix, but he throws four above-average pitches with impressive command for a high school arm, and he’s already showing the ability to manipulate his mix on the second time around to keep hitters off base.
7. San Diego Padres- Ethan Hawkins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS (GA): Hawkins had a rough spring and an injury have put some questions on Hankins – enough to drop him out of the top 10 for sure, but does have top ten talent. After that point, it could require a fairly significant bonus to get Hankins away from his Vanderbilt commitment, which could see Hankins slide to the back of the first round and especially to the comp round possibly.
8. Atlanta Braves- Nolan Gorman, Third Baseman, O'Connor HS (AZ): Gorman put on shows at summer showcases, making home run derby competitions his highlight reels all summer, but now that he’s working in the spring, some have whispered about his hit tool being messed up from a focus on showing out in those derby performances, seeing his swing elongate and even hitch. Gorman’s also added some muscle that he did not work into his body along with flexibility, so he’s become stronger, but more rigid, leading many to wonder about his future at third, though he’s definitely got the arm.
9. Oakland Athletics- Travis Swaggerty, Outfielder, South Alabama: Swaggerty has plus speed at the least along with above-average power, a fringe-plus hit tool, and above-average outfield defense at all three outfield spots. He takes plenty of walks and could be an elite leadoff man that offered 15+ home run pop or better at his best or develop into a middle of the lineup guy who has an impressive OBP.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates- Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (CA): Winn had good frame and three pitches that would project plus as a prep from Colorado. He transferred to one of the biggest schools in California for baseball to get more exposure, and he’s certainly done that, with plenty of scouts seeing him throw weekly.
11. Baltimore Orioles- Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS (FLA): Stewart had a strong summer and then came out this spring even better, with a couple ticks more velocity, allowing his fastball to grade out as a plus-plus pitch. He has a good frame at 6’6″ and already filled in to 200-210 pounds, and he pairs his incredible fastball with a curve that when it’s on will flash double-plus as well.
12. Toronto Blue Jays- Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida: McClanahan has had a bit of an up and down season as about the only college arm that’s had peaks as high as Mize, but he’s shown some wear as the season’s gone on, and, unless he turns around to the performances we were seeing in the early spring season, he’ll likely hold to a top 10 spot, but likely lower in the top 10, which will make whomever grabs him a very happy team.
13. Miami Marlins- Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss: Rolison is not likely going to be a guy to go early in the draft, but he could move quickly with polish and high raw grades on at least one of his breaking pitches. Rolison spins a curve that flashes 70-75 grade break, but his balance of pitches allow him to keep hitters honest and not let them sit on it, which allows his raw stuff to play up.
14. Seattle Mariners- Ryan Weathers, LHP, Lorretto HS (TN): Weathers has the pedigree, with a father who pitched for nearly 20 years, and the balance of pitches, with three above-average pitches and plus control, to be a high schooler who could move fast yet also factor at the front of a rotation. He was an excellent basketball player as well in high school, and the athleticism shows in his repeatable delivery and quick adaption to learning new pitches and new nuances to the game.
15. Texas Rangers- Jonathan India, Third Baseman, Florida: Most assumed India would be a later rounds pick that might have to come back for his senior year when the year opened in Gainesville. Instead, he’s hitting as well or better than any college hitter this year, showing tremendous polish in his swing, adjustments within game, and maintaining his above-average defense and speed that he’s always had.
16. Tampa Bay Rays- Jarred Kelenic, Outfielder, Waukesha West HS (WI): One of the biggest climbers in the spring is really just getting his season truly underway as fields in Wisconsin are finally being cleared of snow for Kelenic to launch balls out of them. He is thought be many to be a top ten talent so the Rays selecting him 16th would be a steal.
17. Los Angeles Angels- Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS (GA): An extremely mature body for a high school player, Rocker impressed summer showcases with his double-plus fastball and plus slider that has wicked break when it’s on. Some scouts worry about a bit of “bad weight”, but Rocker is athletic off the mound and repeats well, just working to be more consistent in his grips on pitches at this point.
18. Kansas City Royals- Brice Turang, Shortstop, Santiago HS (CA): One of the more divisive prospects among scouts, there is one thing everyone is in agreement on – Turang can flat-out field the ball. A certain above-average shortstop, and arguably a plus one, Turang is a hard worker and has natural leadership skills that have many comparing him on the field to former top overall selection Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves.
19. St. Louis Cardinals- Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson: With aces like Jacob deGom and Corey Kluber hailing from Stetson, the history of arms from the school developing well as pros could help push Gilbert as well. He doesn’t offer an elite fastball or a plus offspeed pitch, but he has above-average control of all of his pitches, and flashes plus with all four pitches with a great frame to project.
20. Minnesota Twins- Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida: Kowar has a nasty fastball that is one of the toughest to square up in college this spring, and he pairs it with a plus change that he locates very well. He’s worked to locate his curveball better this spring, though he still struggles a bit with consistency in the pitch’s break. He should move quickly through the Twins’ system.
21. Milwaukee Brewers- Trevor Larnach, Outfielder, Oregon State: Larnach showed out big-time in the early spring and has cooled off some, but after a big summer in the Cape Cod, he’s not going to fall off too far. Larnach is a guy with corner outfield skills offensively and defensively, with more hit over power right now, but there’s certainly plenty of raw power there that would allow him to grow into a dominant hitter
22. Colorado Rockies- Tristian Casas, First/Third Baseman, American Heritage HS (FL): One of the most impressive power hitters in the high school class of the 2018 MLB draft, Casas generates double plus raw power in cage and already shows above-average power in game situation in Team USA competitions. While the bat is special, Casas offers very little defensively and could use some work on trimming down his body.
23. New York Yankees- Mike Vasil, RHP, Boston College HS (MA): Vasil was a guy to watch this spring as he had an impressive pitch mix during the Tournament of Stars with USA Baseball. He has a definite plus fastball that can reach 97 with decent movement. He has above-average breaking pitches, but he’s still working to repeat his delivery, something many thought could be that launching step for a Northeast pitcher to jump into the top half of the first round.
24. Chicago Cubs- Connor Scott, Outfielder, Plant HS (FL): Not many have the run tool that Scott does in the 2018 MLB draft class, and he also flashes raw power that could be at least average, if not a tick above. Scott has a plus to double-plus arm on defense that just adds to his impressive range, though he could use some refinement in his jumps off the bat.
25. Arizona Diamondbacks- Nick Schnell, Outfielder, Roncalli HS (IN): Schnell is a fast riser among peoples draft boards. People have him linked to the D-Backs. He's athletic, raw, long and lanky and he can drive the ball to all fields.
26. Boston Red Sox- Steele Walker, Outfielder, Oklahoma: Walker's best tool is his bat and to go along with his outstanding instincts and makeup that allow his tools to play up. He's also one of the better offensive performers in college this year and that could appeal to the Red Sox.
27. Washington Nationals- Mason Denaburg, RHP/Catcher, Merritt Island HS (FL): Denaburg would have been a top ten sure thing if he was fully healthy. He is a very good kicker and punter in football, and he could play for Florida as well as playing both ways. When healthy, he has good feel for a hard curve and can reach upper 90s. There’s going to be some development time with Denaburg, but there’s legit frontline potential.
28. Houston Astros- Jordan Groshas, Third Baseman, Magnolia HS (TX): Groshas is the type of guy that really will grow on teams the more they see him as he doesn’t explode off of film when you watch him, without any standout tool that jumps off the page, but he’s got average to above-average present tools across the board with raw plus tools in his fielding and power. He’s played short in high school, but his physical body and range works at third, so once he gets reps there, he should jump forward in his defensive ability and could be a very valuable late first round selection.
29. Cleveland Indians- Noah Naylor, Catcher/Third Baseman, St. Joan of Arc Catholic HS (Ontario): Naylor's lefthanded bat and very high-level of athleticism have plenty of scouts speculating about whether the top Canadian prospect in the class might be better off starting his career at third base to maximize those two talent areas.
30. Los Angeles Dodgers- Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford: Beck has the frame and loose arm to project additional velocity, and he already shows great feel for a change and control of all three of his pitches. After being drafted originally last year, he decided to go back to school and is better because of that decision.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
2018 NHL Mock Draft: Second Edition
Here is the second edition of my 2018 NHL Mock Draft.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): Dahlin is the consensus best player in this draft class and Dahlin gets the chance to go to a young team that needs more transcendent talent other than Jack Eichel. He will pair on the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen for the foreseeable future.
2. Carolina Hurricanes- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): Zadina is a scoring winger with this talent is something the Hurricanes can’t pass over. This pick makes a ton of sense for the Canes considering that they need scoring. He has elite scoring touch but can also play a power forward game.
3. Montreal Canadiens- Andrei Scechnikov, Wing, Barrie (OHL): Svechnikov is a dynamic scoring winger that’ll score 30-40 goals in the NHL. This would be a need pick for the Habs and he can step right into their lineup next season.
4. Ottawa Senators- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Sens have a ton of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Tkachuk has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Boqvist would be a nice fit. He is an elite puck-moving defenseman who will likely be the second one off the board.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Red Wings have a lot of needs although they do have some promising young players. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Many mocks have the Canucks taking a forward here, but I feel that they have a bigger need on defense. Bouchard is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft and his passing ability allows him to generate offense from all three zones of the ice while staying in great position.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Blackhawks are a team that is aging and they need young talent everywhere and getting Wahlstrom at eight is a steal. He is a
top-five talent and one of the best scorers in the draft.
9. New York Rangers- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): After the Rangers traded Ryan McDonagh away and got rid of Dan Girardi last summer, they need to rebuild their defensive depth. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Oilers have a major need on defense and Smith fits the bill. He is more known for his offensive game rather than his defensive game and is slightly undersized but as the game continues to evolve that is less and less of an issue as long as the talent is there to back it up.
11. New York Islanders- Joe Voleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Islanders could very well lose John Tavares this summer in free agency so it's a good thing they have two picks and
here they take the versatile Voleno. He is a smart center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Islanders use their second lottery pick on a defenseman and Wilde would be a nice fit. He is a complete defenseman who is talented in both ends of the ice and has a pro level shot and close to pro level skating at the age of 18.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): Dahlin is the consensus best player in this draft class and Dahlin gets the chance to go to a young team that needs more transcendent talent other than Jack Eichel. He will pair on the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen for the foreseeable future.
2. Carolina Hurricanes- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): Zadina is a scoring winger with this talent is something the Hurricanes can’t pass over. This pick makes a ton of sense for the Canes considering that they need scoring. He has elite scoring touch but can also play a power forward game.
3. Montreal Canadiens- Andrei Scechnikov, Wing, Barrie (OHL): Svechnikov is a dynamic scoring winger that’ll score 30-40 goals in the NHL. This would be a need pick for the Habs and he can step right into their lineup next season.
4. Ottawa Senators- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Sens have a ton of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Tkachuk has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Boqvist would be a nice fit. He is an elite puck-moving defenseman who will likely be the second one off the board.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Red Wings have a lot of needs although they do have some promising young players. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Many mocks have the Canucks taking a forward here, but I feel that they have a bigger need on defense. Bouchard is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft and his passing ability allows him to generate offense from all three zones of the ice while staying in great position.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Blackhawks are a team that is aging and they need young talent everywhere and getting Wahlstrom at eight is a steal. He is a
top-five talent and one of the best scorers in the draft.
9. New York Rangers- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): After the Rangers traded Ryan McDonagh away and got rid of Dan Girardi last summer, they need to rebuild their defensive depth. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Oilers have a major need on defense and Smith fits the bill. He is more known for his offensive game rather than his defensive game and is slightly undersized but as the game continues to evolve that is less and less of an issue as long as the talent is there to back it up.
11. New York Islanders- Joe Voleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Islanders could very well lose John Tavares this summer in free agency so it's a good thing they have two picks and
here they take the versatile Voleno. He is a smart center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Islanders use their second lottery pick on a defenseman and Wilde would be a nice fit. He is a complete defenseman who is talented in both ends of the ice and has a pro level shot and close to pro level skating at the age of 18.
13. Dallas Stars- Barrett Hayton, Center, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): People out there think Hayton is the best two way center in this draft. The one thing holding Hayton back is his production. He has all of the tools to be successful and an elite player, but his numbers just didn’t show it.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Flyers really don't have any needs with a lot of young talent up and coming. Farabee possesses an elite shot for his age and is also a gifted skater and he knows how to use it to benefit himself.
15. Florida Panthers- Jet Woo, Defenseman, Moose Jaw (WHL): Woo is an above average defenseman when he has the puck on his stick and seems to get better the more freedom he is given in the offensive zone. His vision is great but his hockey IQ is even better.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
17. New Jersey Devils- Isac Lundestrom, Center/Wing, Lulea (SHL): Lundestrom won’t blow past anyone with blinding speed, but he is a talented skater. He has versatility and powerful strides that make him hard to knock off of the puck.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Jackets don't have that many needs but Kupari would be a nice fit. Kupari is a very skilled center from Finland and he may have some the best hands in the draft.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman, USNDT: There are plenty of talented offensive defensemen in this year’s draft, but Samuelsson is not nearly as flashy or talented offensively. His game is taking care of the puck in his own end and shutting down opponents.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Kings need an infusion of young talent and Merkley would be a nice start. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
21. San Jose Sharks- Vitali Kravstov, Wing, Traktor (KHL): For Kravstov's age and the level of competition, he plays at he is a good defender. He needs to continue to grow but he has talent and
uses his speed to get himself into a good position, cause turnovers and generate offense.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Rasmus Sandin, Defenseman, Woo (WHL): What makes Sandin great is his ability to play in all situations. It does not matter if it is on the powerplay, penalty kill or even strength Sandin thrives in all of them.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): The Ducks don't really have any big needs, but I like the fit of McLeod here. He can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. McLeod can stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
24. Minnesota Wild- Akil Thomas, Center, Niagara (OHL): Thomas is a center who can put up points in bunches. One of his best attributes is his work ethic with and without the puck and is responsible in all three zones and never takes a shift off.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Jared McIssac, Defenseman, Halifax (QMJHL): Due to his great skating talent, McIssac is able to carry the puck out of his zone and start the offense. He is also able to quickly recover when necessary and does well to get back into position.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Center, Halifax (QMJHL): Groulx is not a bad skater but he needs to work on his acceleration. He has a tremendous shot that is both powerful and accurate and has a strong understanding of his defensive responsibilities as well.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Calen Addison, Defenseman, Lethbridge (WHL): Addison will probably be a late round steal and could be a very nice consolation prize for a team that picks late in the first round (or early in the second). He’s a promising young player with a ton of potential and a high ceiling if he can continue to add to his offensive repertoire.
28. Washington Capitals- Ty Dellandrea, Center, Flint (OHL): Dellandrea is versatile and his best attribute is his skating with the puck on his stick. Some players his age have great speed but can struggle to handle the puck he is the opposite and actually gets better with the puck on his stick.
29. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Alexander Alexeyev, Defenseman, Red Deer (WHL): Alexeyev is a big Russian import who has really improved the pace at which he plays in all phases. He's a rangy defender with footwork, who can transport through the neutral zone in a few strides.
30. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Serron Noel, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): Noel is one of the elite wingers this year in terms of projected first round prospects. He is really strong offensively featuring good hands, and a great shot and because of his size and good hands, he can score a lot of his goals from in tight.
31. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller falling this far would be a steal for the Blues. He will be a little bit of a project but a project that will be well worth the wait. A lot of young defensemen struggle with defensive responsibility. Not him, his best attribute is his defensive play. As he continues to develop his game he will only get better.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Jackets don't have that many needs but Kupari would be a nice fit. Kupari is a very skilled center from Finland and he may have some the best hands in the draft.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman, USNDT: There are plenty of talented offensive defensemen in this year’s draft, but Samuelsson is not nearly as flashy or talented offensively. His game is taking care of the puck in his own end and shutting down opponents.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Kings need an infusion of young talent and Merkley would be a nice start. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
21. San Jose Sharks- Vitali Kravstov, Wing, Traktor (KHL): For Kravstov's age and the level of competition, he plays at he is a good defender. He needs to continue to grow but he has talent and
uses his speed to get himself into a good position, cause turnovers and generate offense.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Rasmus Sandin, Defenseman, Woo (WHL): What makes Sandin great is his ability to play in all situations. It does not matter if it is on the powerplay, penalty kill or even strength Sandin thrives in all of them.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): The Ducks don't really have any big needs, but I like the fit of McLeod here. He can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. McLeod can stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
24. Minnesota Wild- Akil Thomas, Center, Niagara (OHL): Thomas is a center who can put up points in bunches. One of his best attributes is his work ethic with and without the puck and is responsible in all three zones and never takes a shift off.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Jared McIssac, Defenseman, Halifax (QMJHL): Due to his great skating talent, McIssac is able to carry the puck out of his zone and start the offense. He is also able to quickly recover when necessary and does well to get back into position.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Center, Halifax (QMJHL): Groulx is not a bad skater but he needs to work on his acceleration. He has a tremendous shot that is both powerful and accurate and has a strong understanding of his defensive responsibilities as well.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Calen Addison, Defenseman, Lethbridge (WHL): Addison will probably be a late round steal and could be a very nice consolation prize for a team that picks late in the first round (or early in the second). He’s a promising young player with a ton of potential and a high ceiling if he can continue to add to his offensive repertoire.
28. Washington Capitals- Ty Dellandrea, Center, Flint (OHL): Dellandrea is versatile and his best attribute is his skating with the puck on his stick. Some players his age have great speed but can struggle to handle the puck he is the opposite and actually gets better with the puck on his stick.
29. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Alexander Alexeyev, Defenseman, Red Deer (WHL): Alexeyev is a big Russian import who has really improved the pace at which he plays in all phases. He's a rangy defender with footwork, who can transport through the neutral zone in a few strides.
30. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Serron Noel, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): Noel is one of the elite wingers this year in terms of projected first round prospects. He is really strong offensively featuring good hands, and a great shot and because of his size and good hands, he can score a lot of his goals from in tight.
31. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller falling this far would be a steal for the Blues. He will be a little bit of a project but a project that will be well worth the wait. A lot of young defensemen struggle with defensive responsibility. Not him, his best attribute is his defensive play. As he continues to develop his game he will only get better.
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