Here is the final 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- 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.
4. Ottawa Senators- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Senators have a lot of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Coyotes need more help on defense, but a talent like Zadina would be hard to pass on. He is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Canucks have a bigger need on defense. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Blackhawks have more of a need on defense but a talent like Tkachuk would be hard to pass up on. He has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
9. New York Rangers- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Rangers considering they have a need on defense. He 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.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- 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.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- 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.
15. Florida Panthers- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Panthers take a 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.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Avs don't have many needs, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
17. New Jersey Devils- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Devils have a need on defense and 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- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- 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.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock board. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
21. San Jose Sharks- 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.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- 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.
23. Anaheim Ducks- 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.
24. Minnesota Wild- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Maple Leafs have a bigger need on defense, but Kupari would be a steal at this spot. Kupari is a very skilled center from Finland and he may have some the best hands in the draft.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
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)- 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.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Liam Foudy, Center, London (OHL): Foudy is a great skater and is a special-teamer. He has crazy athletic genes and proved, when given playing time, that he can produce.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
31. Washington Capitals- 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.
Friday, June 22, 2018
Thursday, June 21, 2018
2018 NHL Mock Draft: Tenth Edition
Here is the tenth 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- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Senators have a lot of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Coyotes have more of a need on defense but a talent like Tkachuk would be hard to pass up on. He has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop as he's a fast riser heading into Friday's draft. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, so they need a ton of youth. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
9. New York Rangers- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Canucks considering they have a need on defense. He 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.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Stars take a 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.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Flyers 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.
15. Florida Panthers- 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.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Avs don't have many needs, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
17. New Jersey Devils- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Devils have a need on defense and 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- 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.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock board. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
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- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- 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.
23. Anaheim Ducks- 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.
24. Minnesota Wild- 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.
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)- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
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)- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Rangers use their third first rounder to improve their defense prospect pool. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
31. Washington Capitals- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
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- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Senators have a lot of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Coyotes have more of a need on defense but a talent like Tkachuk would be hard to pass up on. He has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop as he's a fast riser heading into Friday's draft. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, so they need a ton of youth. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
9. New York Rangers- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Canucks considering they have a need on defense. He 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.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Stars take a 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.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Flyers 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.
15. Florida Panthers- 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.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Avs don't have many needs, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
17. New Jersey Devils- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Devils have a need on defense and 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- 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.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock board. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
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- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- 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.
23. Anaheim Ducks- 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.
24. Minnesota Wild- 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.
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)- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
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)- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Rangers use their third first rounder to improve their defense prospect pool. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
31. Washington Capitals- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
2018 NBA Mock Draft: Final Edition
Here is the final edition of my 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: Ayton is the consensus 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- 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.
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.
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- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Magic have a need at point guard after the trading of Elfrid Payton and they already have a lot of bigs on their roster. 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 Magic wouldn't pass on it.
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)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Colin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Knicks have a need at point guard as they may think that Frank Ntlikina is a shooting guard. He 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.
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- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended 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 Hornets, who need more depth at the guard positions.
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 or even a starter 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- 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 Nuggets team.
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)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He 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.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- 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 with the Bucks off the bench.
18. San Antonio Spurs- 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.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- 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 a few weeks ago, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Hawks may move on from Dennis Schroeder and Okobo could be a nice replacement.
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- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter was a fast riser on peoples mock boards and than he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
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's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Blazers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
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- 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 Blazers and he would probably come off the bench for them.
27. Boston Celtics- 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.
28. Golden State Warriors- 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.
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: Ayton is the consensus 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- 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.
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.
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- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Magic have a need at point guard after the trading of Elfrid Payton and they already have a lot of bigs on their roster. 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 Magic wouldn't pass on it.
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)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Colin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Knicks have a need at point guard as they may think that Frank Ntlikina is a shooting guard. He 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.
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- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended 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 Hornets, who need more depth at the guard positions.
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 or even a starter 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- 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 Nuggets team.
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)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He 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.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- 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 with the Bucks off the bench.
18. San Antonio Spurs- 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.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- 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 a few weeks ago, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Hawks may move on from Dennis Schroeder and Okobo could be a nice replacement.
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- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter was a fast riser on peoples mock boards and than he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
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's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Blazers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
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- 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 Blazers and he would probably come off the bench for them.
27. Boston Celtics- 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.
28. Golden State Warriors- 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.
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.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
2018 NHL Mock Draft: Ninth Edition
Here is the ninth version 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- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
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): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Canucks considering they have a need on defense. He 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, so they need a ton of youth. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
9. New York Rangers- 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.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Stars take a 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.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- 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.
15. Florida Panthers- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Flyers 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- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Avs don't have many needs, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
17. New Jersey Devils- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Devils have a need on defense and 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- 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.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
21. San Jose Sharks- 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.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- 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.
23. Anaheim Ducks- 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.
24. Minnesota Wild- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
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)- 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.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock board. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- 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.
31. Washington Capitals- 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.
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- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
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): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Canucks considering they have a need on defense. He 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, so they need a ton of youth. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
9. New York Rangers- 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.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Stars take a 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.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- 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.
15. Florida Panthers- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Flyers 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- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Avs don't have many needs, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
17. New Jersey Devils- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Devils have a need on defense and 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- 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.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
21. San Jose Sharks- 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.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- 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.
23. Anaheim Ducks- 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.
24. Minnesota Wild- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
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)- 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.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock board. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- 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.
31. Washington Capitals- 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.
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
2018 NBA Mock Draft: Eleventh Edition
Here is my eleventh edition of my 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: Ayton is the consensus 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- 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.
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.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter barely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 5. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Mavs can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and could make Harrison Barnes expandable.
6. Orlando Magic- 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. The Magic have a surplus of big men, but some of them are older and don't have the upside of Bomba, at least from a defensive standpoint.
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. 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)- Trae Young, Point Guard, Alabama: The Cavs have a need at point guard, whether LeBron James leaves this summer or not. 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 Cavs may not pass on it.
9. New York Knicks- Colin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Knicks have a need at point guard as they may think that Frank Ntlikina is a shooting guard. He 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.
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- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended 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 Hornets, who need more depth at the guard positions.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- 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.
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, 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 Nuggets.
15. Washington Wizards- 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 Wizards team and would be a steal.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He 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.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter was a fast riser on peoples mock boards and than he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- 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.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- 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.
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- 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, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Pacers need a long term point guard and Okobo could be that.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Blazers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- 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 with the Lakers off the bench.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- 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 Blazers and he would probably come off the bench for them.
27. Boston Celtics- 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.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Warriors can use more back up point guard help with Shaun Livingston aging.
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: Ayton is the consensus 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- 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.
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.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter barely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 5. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Mavs can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and could make Harrison Barnes expandable.
6. Orlando Magic- 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. The Magic have a surplus of big men, but some of them are older and don't have the upside of Bomba, at least from a defensive standpoint.
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. 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)- Trae Young, Point Guard, Alabama: The Cavs have a need at point guard, whether LeBron James leaves this summer or not. 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 Cavs may not pass on it.
9. New York Knicks- Colin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Knicks have a need at point guard as they may think that Frank Ntlikina is a shooting guard. He 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.
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- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended 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 Hornets, who need more depth at the guard positions.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- 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.
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, 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 Nuggets.
15. Washington Wizards- 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 Wizards team and would be a steal.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He 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.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter was a fast riser on peoples mock boards and than he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- 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.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- 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.
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- 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, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Pacers need a long term point guard and Okobo could be that.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Blazers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- 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 with the Lakers off the bench.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- 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 Blazers and he would probably come off the bench for them.
27. Boston Celtics- 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.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Warriors can use more back up point guard help with Shaun Livingston aging.
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.
2018 NHL Mock Draft: Eighth Edition
Here is the eighth 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- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop, although his stock is trending up as we approach the draft. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
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- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Coyotes 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.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Red Wings considering they have a need on defense. He 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.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Canucks have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards into mostly everyone's top ten everywhere.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, so they need a ton of youth. Zadina is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone. This would be a steal for Chicago.
9. New York Rangers- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Rangers have a ton of options here and the possibility of them trading up for someone like Tkachuk can't be ruled out. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Stars take a 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.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Flyers 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.
15. Florida Panthers- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Panthers don't have many needs, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
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 have a need on defense and 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- 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.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- 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.
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- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
23. Anaheim Ducks- 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.
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)- 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.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Blackhawks use their second first rounder to improve their defense prospect pool. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock boards of late. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
31. Washington Capitals- 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.
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- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop, although his stock is trending up as we approach the draft. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
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- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Coyotes 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.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Red Wings considering they have a need on defense. He 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.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Canucks have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards into mostly everyone's top ten everywhere.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, so they need a ton of youth. Zadina is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone. This would be a steal for Chicago.
9. New York Rangers- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Rangers have a ton of options here and the possibility of them trading up for someone like Tkachuk can't be ruled out. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Stars take a 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.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Flyers 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.
15. Florida Panthers- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Panthers don't have many needs, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
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 have a need on defense and 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- 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.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- 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.
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- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
23. Anaheim Ducks- 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.
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)- 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.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Blackhawks use their second first rounder to improve their defense prospect pool. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock boards of late. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
31. Washington Capitals- 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.
Monday, June 18, 2018
2018 NBA Mock Draft: Tenth Edition
Here is my tenth 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- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Magic have a need at point guard after the trading of Elfrid Payton and they already have a lot of bigs on their roster. 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 Magic wouldn't pass on it.
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)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Colin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Knicks have a need at point guard as they may think that Frank Ntlikina is a shooting guard. He 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.
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- 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 or even a starter for the Hornets.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended 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, who need more depth at the guard positions.
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- 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 Nuggets team.
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)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He 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.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
18. San Antonio Spurs- 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.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- 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.
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- 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, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Jazz could use a backup guard to come off the bench and he can provide that.
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- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Pacers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter was a fast riser on peoples mock boards and than he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
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- 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 Blazers and he would probably come off the bench for them.
27. Boston Celtics- 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.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Warriors can use more back up point guard help with Shaun Livingston aging.
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- 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- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Magic have a need at point guard after the trading of Elfrid Payton and they already have a lot of bigs on their roster. 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 Magic wouldn't pass on it.
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)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Colin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: The Knicks have a need at point guard as they may think that Frank Ntlikina is a shooting guard. He 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.
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- 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 or even a starter for the Hornets.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended 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, who need more depth at the guard positions.
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- 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 Nuggets team.
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)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He 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.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
18. San Antonio Spurs- 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.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- 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.
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- 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, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Jazz could use a backup guard to come off the bench and he can provide that.
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- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Pacers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter was a fast riser on peoples mock boards and than he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
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- 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 Blazers and he would probably come off the bench for them.
27. Boston Celtics- 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.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Warriors can use more back up point guard help with Shaun Livingston aging.
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.
2018 NHL Mock Draft: Seventh Edition
Here is my seventh edition of my 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- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop, although his stock is trending up as we approach the draft. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
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- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
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- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): Thr Canucks have a bigger need in defense, but Zadina falling this far might have the Canucks snag him here. He is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, so they need a ton of youth. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
9. New York Rangers- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Rangers considering they have a need on defense. He 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.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Stars don't have a need on offense, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Flyers take a 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.
15. Florida Panthers- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Panthers 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 have a need on defense and 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- 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.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelp (OHL): The Flyers could afford to select someone like Merkley. He is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
20. Los Angeles Kings- 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.
21. San Jose Sharks- 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.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
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- 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.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- 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.
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)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock board. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- 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.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- 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.
31. Washington Capitals- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
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- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop, although his stock is trending up as we approach the draft. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
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- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
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- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): Thr Canucks have a bigger need in defense, but Zadina falling this far might have the Canucks snag him here. He is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, so they need a ton of youth. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
9. New York Rangers- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Rangers considering they have a need on defense. He 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.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers 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, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- 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.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a 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.
13. Dallas Stars- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Stars don't have a need on offense, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Flyers take a 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.
15. Florida Panthers- Rasmus Kupari, Center, Liija: The Panthers 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 have a need on defense and 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- 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.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelp (OHL): The Flyers could afford to select someone like Merkley. He is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
20. Los Angeles Kings- 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.
21. San Jose Sharks- 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.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller 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.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
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- 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.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- 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.
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)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Rangers take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock board. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- 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.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- 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.
31. Washington Capitals- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
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