1. San Jose Sharks- Macklin Celebrini, Center, Boston University (NCAA): This is a slam dunk pick for the Sharks, who need a young star to build around for the foreseeable future. Celebrini has the experience of excelling against strong competition so he should fit right in.
2. Chicago Blackhawks- Artyom Levshunov, Defenseman, Michigan State (NCAA): The Blackhawks have plenty of choices of fine defenseman here and they chose Levshunov. He has the NHL size already and he has a great two-way game too.
3. Anaheim Ducks- Anton Silayev, Defenseman, Torpedo (Rus.): The Ducks are still looking for longterm keepers, especially on defense and Silayev is a good start. He has great defensive upside due to his skating and range.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets- Ivan Demidov, Wing, SKA-St. Petersburg (Rus.): The Jackets snag arguably the second best playler in this draft here with Demidov. He is a super explosive player that has the skills to be around for a long time.
5. Montreal Canadiens- Cayden Lindstrom, Center, Medicine Hat (WHL): The Canadiens still are lacking many different things as they are still in their rebuild. Lindstrom is a physical presence who can produce, despite injury questions.
6. Utah ?- Zeev Buium, Defenseman, Denver (NCAA): The newest team in town that needs a completely fresh start gets a player that is a pretty safe bet in Buium. He has all the makings of a franchise D-man with his ability to put up points, defend his own end, and log up minutes.
7. Ottawa Senators- Zayne Parekh, Defenseman, Saginaw (OHL):Parekh ís a prototypical offensive defenseman and the Sens can use that type of player in its rebuild. As his defensive play improves, so would his value.
8. Seattle Kraken- Sam Dickinson, Defenseman, London (OHL): Defenseman will dominate this top ten and the Kraken get a solid one in Dickinson. Some scouts say he's like an NHL veteran with his defensive play and physicality and his offensive game broke out this past season too.
9. Calgary Flames- Tij Iginla, Center, Kelowna (WHL): Of course the first mock has legendary Flame Jarome's son going to Calgary. Iginla improved big time this past season with his great shot and willingness to go to tough areas with the puck.
10. New Jersey Devils- Berkly Catton, Center, Spokane (WHL): The Devils can use some more offensive fire power so Catton makes sense. Catton excels in all facets of the game, with no glaring weaknesses whatsoever besides his lack of size.
11. Buffalo Sabres- Konsta Helenius, Center, HIFK (Fin.): Now we are on a center's run as the Sabres take Helenius. He's a very well rounded player with his ability to be ahead in the game and excels defensively.
12. Philadelphia Flyers- Beckett Sennecke, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): The Flyers cam pretty close to making the playoffs this past season, but they still need youth. Sennecke is a powerful player that overwhelms opponents with driving to the net.
13. Minnesota Wild- Carter Yakemchuk, Defenseman, Calgary (WHL): The Wild are getting older defensively, so it makes to go defense here. Yakemchuk is super involved for a d-man with his play in transition and creating chances for teammates.
14. San Jose Sharks (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Cole Eiserman, Wing, U.S. NTDP (USHL): The Sharks get another forward with their second first rounder in Eiserman. His scoring ability is top notch, but his defensive play would keep him out of the top ten.
15. Detroit Red Wings- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Wing, Mora (Swe.): The Red Wings cam oh so close to breaking their playoff drought and they add to their young collection of talent here with Brandsegg-Nygard. He is a super physical player that excels in the offensive zone too.
16. St. Louis Blues- Trevor Connelly, Wing, Tri-City (USHL): The Blues can go anywhere here, but some may argue Connelly here is a reach. Connelly excels with the puck in space and makes good moves when defenders are around.
17. Washington Capitals- Adam Jiricek, Defenseman, Plzen (Cze.): The Capitals still need top notch talent that can help them right away on the NHL level and Jiricek is a good choice. He isn't flashy, but his skillset can make him slide into a teams top 4.
18. Chicago Blackhawks (from New York Islanders)- Michael Hage, Center, Chicago (USHL): The Blackhawks with their second first rounder go with the hometown kid in Hage. He excels in the rush and with give-and-go playmaking.
19. Vegas Golden Knights- Liam Greentree, Wing, Windsor (OHL): The Golden Knights need more youth in their system and Greentree here would be solid. He’s constantly scanning, registering his options and the obstacles that would keep him from getting them the puck.
20. New York Islanders- Igor Chernyshov, Wing, Dynamo Moscow (Rus.): The Islanders need more forwards in their system and Chernyshov makes sense here. He is great at beating defenders and building up speed below the puck.
21. Los Angeles Kings- Sacha Boisvert, Center, Muskegon (USHL): The Kings can go anywhere with their pick and going with Boisvert here makes sense. He is an elite goal scorer and also is a great passer.
22. Nashville Predators- Cole Beaudoin, Center, Barrie (OHL): The Preds here go with the center in Beaudoin. He eats up the boards, grinds them, spins off opponents, drags the puck out of traffic, and gets it to the middle of the ice.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs- Jett Luchanko, Center, Guelph (OHL): The Leafs need more offensive punch in their farm system so Luckanko makes sense. He is a very fast player and applies pressure on opponents.
24. Colorado Avalanche- Nikita Artamonov, Wing, Torpedo (Rus.): The Avalanche need more offensive weapons with high upside in their system. Artamonov is a high motor, intelligent winger who can beat you with pace or skill.
25. Ottawa Senators (from Boston Bruins)- Terik Parascak, Wing, Prince George (WHL): With their second first rounder, the Sense go offense. Parascak’s a high-end quick-possession player, capable of both setting up plays and finishing them.
26. Montreal Canadiens (from Winnipeg Jets)- Cole Hutson, Defenseman, U.S. NTDP (USHL2): With their second first, the Habs go defense with a player at this point would be a reach. Hutson has a good one-on-one play and gets past the first layer of defence.
27. Carolina Hurricanes- Yegor Surin, Center, Loko (Rus.): The Canes have to go best player available route considering how many pending free agents they have. Surin flies around the ice as he does so much at his maximum velocity.
28. Calgary Flames (from Vancouver Canucks)- EJ Emery, Defenseman, NTDP (USHL): The Flames go defense with their second first rounder and Emery may be a reach here. Emery absorbs and erases opposing rushes with smooth backward strides and a stable, perfect posture.
29. Dallas Stars- Emil Hemming, Wing, TPS (Fin.): The Stars should go with best available here and they take a good one in Hemming. He is an explosive scorer as his shot types vary and can score from a distance.
30. New York Rangers- Charlie Elick, Defenseman, Brandon (WHL): The Rangers should go defense with their pick and they do here with Elick. He is a physical and proactive player and is a great skater too.
31. Anaheim Ducks (from Edmonton Oilers)- Sam O'Reilly, Center, London (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Ducks go with the forward in O'Reilly, who may be a reach here. O'Reilly is a relentless shutdown defensive centre with physicality, details, and a clever quick-touch passing game.
32. Philadelphia Flyers (from Florida Panthers)- Ryder Ritchie, Wing, Prince Albert (WHL): With their second first rounder, the Flyers go offense here with Ritchie. He is both a scoring and playmaking threat that is great with crossovers.
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