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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