This
is now an annual tradition. As I always mention, while I cover the
OHL extensively, my role at McKeen’s Hockey gives me a fair amount
of knowledge of the other players available.
There
are so many reasons that this draft has the likelihood of being
extremely unpredictable. Firstly, due to the pandemic, we have such
unevenness in terms of exposure and playing time across the various
junior leagues in the world. The USHL played a full season. European
men’s leagues played a full year. The QMJHL had a fairly full year.
However, the WHL, European junior leagues (especially Sweden), and of
course the OHL were disrupted, shortened, or canceled. We can only
hypothesize how that affects things. Secondly, this draft does leave
some to be desired due to its lack of superstar potential. That means
a lot of players will be ranked closely together and teams will, no
doubt, have very different draft boards in comparison.
So
what does that mean? It means I am making an excuse for this mock
draft to be very inaccurate! In all seriousness, all mock drafts are
hard to peg down, but it is still a fun endeavour that provides an
easy and fun read.
Just
as was the case last year, I am mocking the first two rounds.
1.
Buffalo Sabres - Owen Power, D, Michigan (NCAA)
Much
has been made about the validity of Power as a first overall
selection in recent months. However, I do believe that the NHL
scouting community does see a gap between Power and the other
contenders; that appears to be clear in reading anonymous quotes from
polls (like Bob McKenzie’s or Corey Pronman’s, for example). His
phenomenal play at the World Championships for Canada had to solidify
that even further. While Power may not end up as the best NHL player
in this draft class, he should end up as ONE of the best and that
sort of stability is greatly needed in Buffalo. By adding someone
like Power, perhaps the Sabres can finally unleash the likes of
Dahlin and Ristolainen. I do believe that he has a chance to help
turn this organization around finally.
2.
Seattle Kraken - Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan (NCAA)
How
do you determine potential preferences of an organization that has
yet to make a draft selection? I think the easy answer there is to
look at who they hired as their head scout; Robert Kron (previously
head of European scouting for Carolina). With Carolina, their
European picks did largely follow a trend. They valued skating
ability and well rounded skill sets, which should not come as a
surprise given that they described Kron’s NHL skill set to an
extent. So who fits that bill the most at the top of the draft?
Probably Beniers. Not to mention that Beniers is also one of the
draft’s only true premier centers, something Seattle likely wants
to build around. I am sure we will get more intel on the type of team
they want to build after the expansion draft, but this pick makes
sense to me at the moment.
3.
Anaheim Ducks - Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)
This
pick is so hard to nail down with so many of the top options
available for Anaheim. The team just does not seem to have scouting
preferences like other organizations. Could they go with a two-way
defender with size in Edvinsson, someone they can pair with Drysdale
in the future? Could they go with William Eklund? What about a
surprise pick of someone like Mason McTavish who could give the team
such incredible depth down the middle? At the end of the day, I see
them leaning towards Guenther. Not only would his offensive skill set
fit extremely well alongside someone like Zegras (or the other young
players they have in the organization), but he is someone who seems
to be really appreciated by scouts.
4.
New Jersey Devils - William Eklund, LW, Djurgardens (SHL)
Look,
I know there is a lot of speculation that the Devils will select
either Brandt Clarke or Luke Hughes based on the family ties in the
organization. And they very well could and either player would be a
great selection for the franchise. But I do think that us, as fans,
care more about this stuff than NHL scouts. In William Eklund, we
have a real connection as the Devils would be very familiar with him
given that he has been playing with Alexander Holtz. However, he also
gives the organization a winger with elite skating ability and hockey
sense, someone who can really help drive play alongside Hughes and
Hischier. This is also someone who should be able to help in a year’s
time (after another year in Sweden). His accelerated timeline over
someone like Hughes or Clarke (who I think will take a few years to
develop) would also be attractive to a team like Jersey who has to
feel close to turning their rebuild around.
5.
Columbus Blue Jackets - Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (SHL)
I
think this pick does make sense for a few reasons. The first is the
obvious European bias that Columbus has shown at the draft in recent
years. Hard to ignore that trend. The second is that Columbus has
shown a real affinity for those who skate at an elite level. Insert
Simon Edvinsson. While he seems to be a pretty polarizing player,
those who love him, love him a lot and believe that he has the
ceiling to be one of the better two-way defenders in the NHL. If his
floor is someone like Seth Jones, even that would be fine for the
Jackets, given that they are likely waving goodbye to said player
this offseason.
6.
Detroit Red Wings - Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (OHL)
There
is a lot of talk about the Wings taking a goaltender here (either
Wallstedt or Cossa). Quite frankly, I could see it, especially given
that they will not be able to sign Keith Petruzzelli. However, the
Wings also have a bunch of second round picks that they could use to
take one of the guys in the next tier. The reality is, the team’s
center depth is not great. Michael Rasmussen has not developed the
way they thought he would. Joe Veleno’s development could be
classified the same way. So here the Wings see a potentially dominant
two-way center who can really fit in well with the kinds of skilled
wingers that they have accumulated. Detroit is going to focus on the
BPA and I think they see that as McTavish. Of course, they could opt
for the hometown kid in Luke Hughes, but they passed on Quinn once
upon a time ago too.
7.
San Jose Sharks - Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton (WHL)
The
first shocker (of which there are bound to be many this year) sees
the Sharks take Cossa at #7. This might be more shocking because
Cossa goes before Wallstedt, not because the Sharks take a netminder.
The reality is that everything I’m reading and hearing lately is
suggesting that NHL scouts may like Cossa more because of his size
and athleticism combination; he is far from a finished product.
Whereas Wallstedt is not in the same category as an athlete and
scouts may be concerned that he has less room for growth. Both are
phenomenal goaltending prospects but I do believe Cossa goes first.
Sharks fans may not feel great about this given that this is the
team’s only pick in the first two rounds. However, we know that San
Jose loves drafting out of the WHL. There is a bias there. The team
has also drafted only one goalie in the last five years...and it
shows. At some point, the Sharks need to bite the bullet and try to
bring in a blue chipper at the position. Cossa has the chance to be a
Vezina winner.
8.
Los Angeles Kings - Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie (OHL)
If
Clarke and Hughes are still available here for the Kings, I would be
shocked if one of those two are not LA’s selection. So which one
would they favor? On one hand, with such a deep farm system, maybe
the Kings take Hughes knowing that he is more of a longer term
project. On the other hand, LA has always valued vision and hockey
sense at the draft, more so than skating. They believe that their
development team can fix skating deficiencies (much like Toronto),
and that’s why I see them leaning towards Clarke, who can be an
anchor of a likely very dangerous powerplay in a few years.
9.
Vancouver Canucks - Luke Hughes, D, USDP (USHL)
This
is a tough one. I could see the Canucks passing on Hughes here
because he profiles similar to some of the young defenders that they
already have in the system like his brother Quinn and Jack Rathbone.
But the same could be said for a lot of players in this range. You
draft the best player available and that is Hughes. Sure there is the
family connection. But that won't matter as much as you think.
Instead, the Canucks see the Avalanche and what they have built...and
then think of having to play them again next year. With Quinn,
Rathbone, Luke, and Jett Woo, Vancouver focuses on skating on the
back-end. Imagine the possibilities available to them with those four
in the fold? That’s modern day hockey.
10.
Ottawa Senators - Chaz Lucius, F, USDP (USHL)
This
pick could go in so many different ways. But I do feel like Ottawa
might show preference to one of the top goal scoring options
available in Lucius or Sillinger...or even Matt Coronato. Lucius was
robbed of the opportunity of showing his skills at the U18’s due to
injury, and the injury concerns are real, but his anticipation and
awareness in the offensive end are terrific. It is easy to see his
goal scoring ability translating well given how he scores. And where
he scores would fit in very well with the system Ottawa is trying to
employ and the players that they would surround him with.
11.
Chicago Blackhawks - Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (SHL)
The
Hawks certainly got some promising output out of Kevin Lankinen this
season, and Drew Commesso had a great freshman year at Boston
University, but you can never put all your eggs in one basket. And
that is precisely why the Hawks have been connected to either Cossa
or Wallstedt for this draft spot. The only thing that has me
hesitating here is that the Hawks have not gone to Sweden very much
in the opening rounds of the draft, save Adam Boqvist. However, I
think many people would tell you that if you can get Wallstedt at
number eleven, you’re doing well. I have read some scouting
comments on him recently that call him one of the most intelligent
young goalies these scouts have ever seen. If Chicago can bring him
into the fold with Commesso, they should be able to develop at least
one of them into a top flight starter.
12.
Calgary Flames - Kent Johnson, F, Michigan (NCAA)
The
Calgary Flames could take a few different directions with this
selection. I could see them having a lot of interest in either Cole
Sillinger or Matthew Coronato. Adding another high end goal scorer
would be very alluring. I could see them taking one of the top two
Russian players in Svechkov or Chibrikov. But, I think Johnson could
be someone Flames’ brass really has interest in as the BPA. There
are some pace of play and perimeter concerns, but his offensive
potential is sky high. We know Tod Button scouts the US very heavily
and the Flames just make sense as a possible destination for Johnson.
13.
Philadelphia Flyers - Fyodor Svechkov, C, Togliatti (MHL)
Svechkov
just seems like someone NHL scouts are going to take higher than the
amateur scouting community is projecting (and even then, it isn’t
that much of a stretch). He’s one of the few top notch forwards
available who is likely to stay down the middle given his strong
two-way play. The Flyers have not avoided Russia in recent years and
his skill set would really fit in well with some of the other players
in their system currently. I could also see the Flyers targeting a
defender with some size here like Ceulemans or Chayka, but they have
rarely drafted out of any tier two ranks (in the case of Ceulemans).
14.
Dallas Stars - Brennan Othmann, LW, Flint (OHL)
There
are two areas that Dallas has targeted heavily in recent years; the
OHL and Sweden. I could see them looking at Lysell, Rosen, or
Olausson here. I could see them looking at Chayka. But at the end of
the day, it is clear that Dallas has a vision of the way that they
want to play in the future. They want to be a hard team to match up
against and that is Brennan Othmann. The physical winger has drawn
some comparisons to former Dallas standout Brendan Morrow and is the
perfect complement to more skilled players because he can score and
because he does not require consistent puck touches to be effective.
There is a simplicity to his game that is going to translate well to
the NHL level.
15.
New York Rangers - Cole Sillinger, F, Sioux Falls (USHL)
This
just feels like a good fit. Sillinger provides a lot of versatility
given his strong physical play, elite goal scoring ability, and
potential to develop into a strong two-way forward. He could really
play well alongside some of the high skill forwards that the Rangers
have accumulated recently. And although they could be tempted by a
player with a little more skill like Lysell or Coronato, I feel like
adding someone like Sillinger could make a lot of sense for them.
Perhaps Zachary L’Heureux...or even Tyler Boucher could be
possibilities too?
16.
St. Louis Blues - Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL)
Now
under Tony Feltrin as the director of amateur scouting, it will be
interesting to see which way the Blues lean with their first rounder
this year. This is the highest they have selected since 2010, so
hitting on a good player is imperative. If they want to focus on high
end skill, I think the Swedes are in play. Same for Matt Coronato.
But something tells me that Ceulemans could really draw their
interest. If there is a team who has faith in the AJHL, it’s the
Blues (having selected Colton Parayko out of the league a few years
ago). Ceulemans’ size, mobility, and skill set make him a likely
NHL player, and he may just have more offensive potential than we
give him credit for.
17.
Winnipeg Jets - Isak Rosen, RW, Leksands (SHL)
One
thing that Winnipeg has done consistently since Peter Ratchuk took
over as the director of scouting is target Sweden. So it is easy to
see them going with one of the top Swedish forwards available in this
scenario. I really wanted to suggest Matthew Coronato here. I really
am not confident that he slips this far. That said, the Jets have
avoided the USHL since Ratchuk took over. These types of trends do
tend to hold true a lot of the time. Rosen has a similar kind of
projection as a high end scorer with speed and adds some dynamic
transitional ability to the Winnipeg system.
18.
Nashville Predators - Matthew Coronato, LW, Chicago (USHL)
Nashville
took two Steel players at the draft last year, so they would be
incredibly familiar with Coronato. Again, part of me wants to think
that he goes earlier than this. That program and how they have
developed players is highly regarded. Part of me wonders if Nashville
has too many similar players in the fold already. But the other part
says that Nashville could not ignore it if Coronato is still there
given the connections and his high end offensive abilities. I could
definitely see Fabian Lysell as an option here. Ditto Olausson.
Perhaps this is a possible landing spot for Aatu Raty too, but the
Preds and Jeff Kealty have largely ignored Finland in recent years
after drafting so heavily out of the league for years.
19.
Edmonton Oilers - Fabian Lysell, RW, Lulea (SHL)
If
Lysell is still there when the Oilers pick, I would be shocked if
they looked the other way. This is exactly the type of player that
they should be targeting. Are there some warts? Absolutely. But he
has among the highest upside of any winger available this year and
his skating ability and transitional talents would have to be very
intriguing to a team that is still looking for someone to play with
the likes of McDavid and Draisaitl. I could also see them being
interested in one of the Q forwards like Bourgault or L’Heureux
too. But Lysell would be a slam dunk pick here.
20.
Boston Bruins - Tyler Boucher, RW, USDP (USHL)
Speed,
size, and tenacity has been long valued by this organization. They
also have a deep rooted connection to taking players from the U.S.
National Development team program. Insert Tyler Boucher. He missed
the entire second half of the season due to injury, but he seems to
be a player really gaining traction as a potential first round pick
given his rare skill set. And if there is a team who truly values
what he brings to the table it is Boston. There is the potential for
him to develop into a Tom Wilson kind of player for them, which would
be fantastic.
21.
Minnesota Wild - Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg (WHL)
Lambos
does not come without risk. The health issue that kept him out of
action late this year is a concern and Wild team doctors will need to
give him clearance. But the Wild did draft Daemon Hunt last year in a
similar position, and that has worked out pretty well for them. In
Lambos they add a potential two-way defender who likely has more
offensive potential than other D in the system outside of Calen
Addison. From a purely sentimental point of view, it would be great
to see the Wild go after a guy like Jack Peart here, but they haven’t
had a ton of success from the high school ranks in Minnesota. I could
also see them targeting Nikita Chibrikov here.
22.
Detroit Red Wings (via Washington Capitals) - Olen Zellweger, D,
Everett (WHL)
While
I am not completely confident that Zellweger goes this early, I think
he probably deserves to after a strong U18’s performance. There is
a lot of room for growth still, but his skating ability is
impressive, as is his offensive potential. If the Wings don’t
select one of the high end offensive defenders at six (like I have in
this draft), I could see them really going for a home run pick on
defense here. Aleksi Heimosalmi, Jack Peart, or Scott Morrow could be
options too. But something tells me Zellweger could be the
preference. Of course, the Wings could really take anyone here too.
They really don’t seem to have a bias.
23.
Florida Panthers - Daniil Chayka, D, Guelph (OHL)
Would
I draft Chayka this high? No. Do I think he gets drafted in the first
round this year? Absolutely. His combination of size, mobility, and
two-way capabilities are going to be alluring to at least one
franchise who thinks that they can bring out the best in his skill
set. Insert the Florida Panthers, who have drafted out of the OHL and
Russia in recent years. Chayka would give them another high end
defensive prospect, increasing their odds that they can find eventual
replacements for the likes of Yandle and Stralman, who are certainly
in the twilight of their NHL careers.
24.
Columbus Blue Jackets (via Toronto Maple Leafs) - Aatu Raty, Center,
Karpat (Liiga)
You
know that someone is going to take a chance on Raty in the first
round. He came into the year as a potential first overall candidate
but really disappointed in Liiga this year. That said, he still has a
relatively high floor in addition to a high ceiling. Columbus and
Jarmo take a chance on the Finnish center in hopes that he can
develop into a quality top six forward in the NHL.
25.
Minnesota Wild (via Pittsburgh Penguins) - Alexander Kisakov, LW, MHK
Dynamo Moskva (MHL)
Yeah,
yeah. I know what I said earlier. Nikita Chibrikov could certainly be
an option. But...hear me out. I know of a few people who think that
Kisakov deserves to be a first rounder based on talent. And guess who
else came out of the CSKA program...Dollar Bill Kirill. Kisakov has a
terrific offensive skill set and a ton of offensive potential. Given
his late birthday, he may be flying under the radar due to a lack of
international exposure. However his ability to push the pace could
give Kaprizov a terrific running mate (and country mate).
26.
Carolina Hurricanes - Evan Nause, D, Quebec (QMJHL)
Would
it be surprising if Nause was the first QMJHL player off the board
this year? Absolutely. But defenders like Nause go in the first round
every year. There is a safeness to his game because of his
combination of mobility and two-way abilities. He could easily be a
long-time second pairing guy in the league and in the second half, he
started to show that he may have more offensive upside. The other
name that really spoke to me here was Zachary L’Heureux, given how
Carolina was drawn to a similar player in Jamieson Rees two years
ago.
27.
Colorado Avalanche - Zachary L’Heureux, F, Halifax (QMJHL)
There
is going to be a real familiarity with L’Heureux’s game having
scouted Justin Barron this year. He is a real polarizing player
because of his on ice antics (he was suspended four separate times
this year). However, the Avs appreciate physically intense offensive
forwards like L’Heureux (see Landeskog and Kadri), and likely
believe that they can reign him in a bit. The talent level is there
and I think NHL teams will view him as a possible standout playoff
performer. I could see Colorado targeting Olausson, Robertsson, or
Bourgault here too. Olausson, in particular, could be intriguing
because of his skating ability, which Colorado places a lot of
emphasis on.
28.
New Jersey Devils (via New York Islanders) - Nikita Chibrikov, RW,
SKA (MHL)
Chibrikov
is a highly skilled offensive winger who had a really strong U18’s
for Russia and who would be a great add to the Devils organization,
who has not shied away from taking Russian players in recent years.
With Eklund at #4 and Chibrikov here, New Jersey is trying to improve
the skill of their wingers to help support some of the high end
centers the organization already has in the fold. Xavier Bourgault is
an option here too. As would be Mackie Samoskevich and Sasha
Pastujov.
29.
Vegas Golden Knights - Francesco Pinelli, C, Kitchener (OHL)
I
like this fit for Pinelli. In 2017 the Golden Knights took Nick
Suzuki, a similar type of player in his draft year to Pinelli, only
to trade him and see him flourish in Montreal. They try to rectify
that by taking Pinelli, who is extremely intelligent and can develop
into a high end two-way player if he can learn to be a little more
consistent. The Golden Knights have been known to overlook some
skating concerns too, which Pinelli has. Bourgault and Olausson
shouldn’t be dropping this far, but stranger things have happened.
30.
Montreal Canadiens - Matthew Knies, LW, Tri-City (USHL)
Knies
is someone who had a really strong finish to the season, possibly
saving his first round status in this draft. He came into the year as
a likely first round pick but a slow start saw him fall down
rankings. A strong finish may be enough to entice a team like
Montreal who could really value his skill set as a net driving
presence and support winger. There are a lot of ways Montreal could
go with this selection, but I do see them taking a strong winger with
some size and scoring potential. Maybe William Stromgren is a
possibility here too, or of course, Olausson.
31.
Columbus Blue Jackets (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Oskar Olausson, RW,
HV71 (SWE J20)
Again,
in recent years the Jackets have really shown a bias towards both
Europe and strong skating players. In Olausson, the Jackets are
taking a true wild card. He skates well. He has good size. He has
flashed some real high end potential, but consistency has definitely
been an issue. If he is still there at this pick (which is definitely
a bit of a fall for him), I can’t see Columbus passing on him given
he has the exact attributes that they really value as an organization
from a scouting perspective.
---------------------------------------------
32.
Buffalo Sabres - Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor (OHL)
Again,
I am not sure that I would draft Johnston this high, but I do think
that an NHL team is going to bite on him very early. Lots of room for
physical growth because he has sprouted up this year and Buffalo is a
team that has traditionally looked hard at these types who are not
yet physically mature. Johnston projects as a high end middle six
forward because of his high IQ, tenacity, and vision. Obviously
Buffalo could go a variety of different ways here, but Johnston
certainly is “their type.”
33.
Anaheim Ducks - Mackie Samoskevich, F, Chicago (USHL)
Anaheim
is another team with a connection with the Chicago Steel, having
several players from the organization recently. I think that the
Ducks really want to continue to build up skill at the forward
position and Samoskevich is certainly skilled. He isn’t big. He may
take some time to develop. But the offensive potential is going to be
very alluring to them here.
34.
Seattle Kraken - Xavier Bourgault, F, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
I’m
not sure I see Bourgault falling this far...but there will be some
guys who do. In this scenario, I do think it is feasible. Later
birthday. How much did his game progress this year? Will his game
translate well? Is he a wing or a center? Lots of questions. But he
is an intelligent and skilled offensive player and the Kraken need to
focus on loading up their farm system by taking big swings.
35.
Vegas Golden Knights (via New Jersey Devils) - Shai Buium, D, Sioux
City (USHL)
Buium
strikes me as the type that NHL scouts will jump on early. There is a
real projectable upside because of his physical tools. He’s 6’3,
214lbs and shows potential as a two-way defender because of his
transitional abilities. Patience will definitely be required, but
Vegas has definitely drafted some similar players with raw, physical
abilities.
36.
Arizona Coyotes (via Columbus Blue Jackets) - Logan Stankoven, F,
Kamloops (WHL)
Without
a first round pick (forfeited) and with a brand new scouting staff,
who knows how the Coyotes select with these two early second round
picks. You would have to think that they look at bringing in a real
high upside player with at least one of those picks. Both Darryl
Plandowski and Ryan Jankowski have shown some bias towards and have
some connections with Western Canada. So why not take a chance on
Stankoven? His skating is a polarizing topic, but his skills are not.
This is not an undersized perimeter player either. This is a young
man who has a chance to be mentioned in the same vein as Alex
Debrincat in that we say “why didn’t he go earlier?”
37.
Detroit Red Wings - William Stromgren, W, Modo (Allsvenskan)
There
are certainly a couple Q players left that could be alluring to the
Wings, but since Stevie Y took over, they haven’t targeted a single
Q player. I see either Stromgren, Tuomaala, Pastujov, or Robertsson
being prime targets here as goal scoring wingers. I think Stromgren
is a guy who could really interest Detroit in that his size and speed
combination makes him very intriguing, especially when combined with
his big shot. Consistency is an issue and patience will be required,
but Detroit has to like the physical tools.
38.
Ottawa Senators (via San Jose Sharks) - Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat
U20 (SM-sarja)
I
do really believe that there is a chance Heimosalmi goes in the first
round after his breakout performance at the U18’s. But if he
doesn’t, I think he’s a target of most teams in this range. The
Senators land an elite skating puck mover whose defensive game is
very raw, but who does have the potential to be an impact offensive
defender. The Senators certainly have the kind of depth to take these
chances.
39.
Nashville Predators (via Los Angeles Kings) - Jack Peart, D, Fargo
(USHL)
Personally,
I think Peart deserves to be a first round selection. This is a
highly intelligent two-way defender who has significant offensive
upside. However, his lack of elite physical tools likely keeps him
out of the first, especially his average skating ability when
combined with his average size. But I think NHL teams are going to
see a lot of Adam Fox in Peart, and the Preds grab another out of the
USHL (well and Minnesota High School Hockey). This was the pick
recently acquired for Arvidsson.
40.
Vancouver Canucks - Simon Robertsson, W, Skelleftea (SHL)
While
Robertsson did underwhelm a bit at the U18’s, I don’t think it
hurt his draft stock too much. There are still a lot of things to
like. There is goal scoring potential. He is a hard worker away from
the puck who plays a pretty complete game. It is easy to see
Robertsson as a support player to some of the highly skilled and
creative offensive players that the team has brought into the fold.
And to be honest, he is probably the BPA at this point on a lot of
draft boards.
41.
Ottawa Senators - Zach Dean, F, Gatineau (QMJHL)
There
is going to be a ton of familiarity here with Dean playing so close.
The last player that the Senators took out of Gatineau was JG Pageau
and he turned out alright. Dean probably projects as a similar kind
of player too. While consistency was tough on an up and down
Olympiques team, there is a lot to like about Dean who navigates
space extremely well.
42.
Arizona Coyotes - Zachary Bolduc, F, Rimouski (QMJHL)
Again,
there will be players who fall in the draft. There always are. Maybe
it’s my own bias showing, since I’m not as high on Bolduc as
others. However, Bolduc’s profile is similar to others who have
fallen at the draft. Is there a hunger to his game that makes him an
attractive first round pick? Or is he one of those guys that teams
like...but there is always someone that they like a little bit more.
The Coyotes grab another potential high upside forward here. I
wouldn’t be shocked if this pick was a goaltender too. I also
wouldn’t be shocked if this pick was Josh Doan.
43.
Chicago Blackhawks - Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)
Morrow
has to be considered one of the most polarizing players available
this year. The skill set is dynamic. The offensive potential is sky
high. But how well does he think the game and how good can he become
defensively? The Blackhawks have never shied away from taking these
types of defenders and even dipped into the Minnesota High School
scene early last year. Wouldn’t be shocked if Sasha Pastujov is the
pick here too...if he is available.
44.
Calgary Flames - Prokhor Poltapov, F, Moskva (MHL)
Polatpov
is a really interesting forward this year. He is strong in puck
protection and shows an ability to drive the net. He, like some other
Russian forwards available, had a strong performance at the U18’s
and I think that solidified his spot in the first two rounds. Calgary
has been drafting a lot of Russian players lately and won’t be
afraid of taking a chance on Poltapov.
45.
Philadelphia Flyers - Ayrton Martino, F, Omaha (USHL)
I
think the Flyers are a team who could really appreciate what Martino
brings to the table as an offensive forward. While his energy could
be channeled better in the defensive end, there is no denying his
energy in the offensive end. Terrific on his edges, Martino is
slippery in the offensive zone and always seems to keep his feet
moving. Heading to Clarkson, the Flyers can be patient with him, but
they have to hope he develops similar to someone like Joel Farabee.
46.
Dallas Stars - Samu Tuomaala, W, Karpat U20 (SM-sarja)
Even
though the Stars went with Othmann in the first round, they still
take Tuomaala in the second. Both project as high end goal scorers,
but their games are very different. Tuomaala is a high end skater and
shooter who is dangerous in transition, where as Othmann is more
calculated in his approach. Wouldn’t shock me at all to see Dallas
jump on Ben Gaudreau here though, or even Belarussian goaltender
Alexei Kolosov.
47.
Detroit Red Wings (via New York Rangers) - Ben Gaudreau, G, Sarnia
(OHL)
If
the Wings don’t take a goaltender at 6th, you have to think that
they use one of these second rounders on one to help fill
organizational depth. Gaudreau oozes potential because of his high
end processing ability and strong technical abilities. He was the top
goaltender at the U18’s and would be a terrific addition to the
Wings system. The only hesitation is that the Wings haven’t drafted
a goaltender under 6’4 in a while. It’s clear that they value
size in the position from a scouting perspective. Gaudreau isn’t
small (6’2), but he isn’t huge either...by Detroit’s standards.
48.
Los Angeles Kings (via St. Louis Blues) - Samu Salminen, C, Jokerit
U20 (SM-sarja)
Salminen
had a really strong U18’s for Finland and stands out because he is
a natural center in a draft with not a ton of them. A highly
intelligent two-way center, Salminen has a lot of the qualities that
the Kings consistently value in their draft selections. Wouldn’t
shock me at all to see them select Chase Stillman here either. I
could see them valuing his physicality as a potential replacement for
Dustin Brown.
49.
Winnipeg Jets - Josh Doan, F, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Sure
it’s a great story. Josh gets drafted by the city that drafted his
father...even though the team moved to Arizona and that’s where
Shane made his mark. However, I would be shocked at this point if
Josh is not a top 50 selection, given his progression, bloodlines,
and how the scouting community has been talking about him lately.
This would be a great pick by Winnipeg, as Doan projects as a strong
middle six complementary piece with some size and snarl.
50.
Nashville Predators - Oliver Kapanen, F, KalPa U20 (SM-sarja)
The
cousin of Kasperi Kapanen, Oliver projects as a similar kind of
middle six forward, given his speed and awareness on the ice. There
is also some positional versatility, as he looks like a future swiss
army knife. We know Nashville has drafted a lot out of Finland and a
potential two-way center like Kapanen is going to be intriguing for
the Preds after taking Coronato and Peart earlier.
51. New York Islanders (via DET & EDM) - Kirill Kirsanov, D, St.
Petersburg (KHL)
Always
tough to gauge the offensive potential of young Russian defenders
when they play in the KHL like Kirsanov. However, at minimum, he
looks like a potential second pairing guy who could provide stability
and flexibility with his skill set. Of course, the Isles haven’t
had a ton of luck with their Russian draft picks in recent years, but
I don’t think it stops them here.
52.
Buffalo Sabres (via Boston Bruins) - Sasha Pastujov, F, USDP (USHL)
Definitely
a bit of a fall for Pastujov, who is certainly a first round
contender. But a disappointing U18’s, in combination with some
skating concerns, makes me wonder if he falls. Additionally, his
older brothers seemed to plateau early in their development, so is he
a finished product? Regardless, his ability to dominate touches and
chances between the hash marks could translate well if he can elevate
other areas of his game. This is a player I could see Buffalo being
on board for.
53.
Minnesota Wild - Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
Another
“re-entry” selection, Kolosov may not be extremely large, but he
is crazy athletic. He already played well in the KHL and even at the
World Championships for Belarus. I could see Minnesota looking to add
depth to their goaltending pool and Kolosov could be a good one. I do
believe that he is someone who could be the third goaltender selected
this year (or the fourth in the case of this mock draft).
54.
Washington Capitals - Stanislav Svozil, D, Brno (Czech)
Without
a first round pick, it seems likely that Washington ends up with a
perceived faller here. That would be a guy that they had higher on
their list, but perhaps others didn’t. The Capitals have drafted
out of the Czech Republic a few times in recent years and Svozil is
the kind of safe, top four defender that they have targeted. His
disappointing U18’s has made some second guess the potential, but
there is no question that he would be a great pick here.
55.
Florida Panthers - Josh Lopina, C, UMass (NCAA)
Yup...another
“re-entry.” If there is a team that has jumped on second and
third year eligible players in recent years, it is the Florida
Panthers. They also have loved targeting Hockey East. Well how about
the Hockey East’s rookie of the year and a league champion? Lopina
plays a real pro style game. With some continued improvement to his
skating, he could develop into the type of elite third line player
that the Lightning just won back to back Cups with.
56.
Toronto Maple Leafs - Jack Bar, D, Chicago (USHL)
Seems
like anyone and everyone is projecting the Leafs to take a Steel
player at this draft. Why not? They have several times before. And
they just brought Ryan Hardy into the fold. I think any Leafs fan
would agree that the team needs to look at adding a little more size,
skating ability, and snarl to the back-end. Insert Jack Bar. Blessed
with some nice physical tools, Bar improved a ton over his first USHL
season and is heading to Harvard next year. Did I mention that the
Leafs also like Harvard players?
57.
Pittsburgh Penguins - Colton Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)
When
the Pens have targeted centers at the draft in the last decade, they
all seem to fit a similar profile. Good size. Good physical tools.
Colton Dach fits that bill. While I’m not sure I would personally,
I definitely see an NHL team taking Dach inside the first two rounds.
Teams will look at Kirby’s trajectory and wonder if Colton can
achieve similar things with more development time. The Pens are going
to try to swing for the fences here to see if they can hit the
jackpot and Dach could be that.
58.
Carolina Hurricanes - Tristan Broz, F, Fargo (USHL)
Broz
just loves to attack. This is an aggressive offensive player who
excels playing through traffic with his puck protection ability. I
think Carolina could see him as being an excellent fit in their
system. Headed to U of Minnesota, Broz will have a few years to
develop, but after a strong USHL playoffs, he could be selected even
higher than this.
59. Arizona Coyotes (via NYI & COL) - Zakhar Bardakov, W, Vityaz
(KHL)
Given
the nature of scouting in the pandemic, I think most scouts seem to
agree that we may see more second and third year eligible players
selected. In a normal year, we always have a few go in the first
couple of rounds. In this mock, this would be the fourth to go already. Bardakov
stood out at the WJC’s with his penalty killing ability and
strength down low. But in the KHL he showed some goal scoring
prowess. I could see a team jumping on him early in
hopes that he develops into an elite third line player like a Barclay
Goodrow. After taking two big swings with their earlier selections, Arizona opts for a safer player like Bardakov who could possibly help them very soon. Of course, Arizona could opt for a defender here, such as Brent Johnson.
60.
Colorado Avalanche (via NJ & NYI) - Ethan Del Mastro, D,
Mississauga (OHL)
The
pick was recently acquired from New Jersey in exchange for Ryan
Graves. With it, they could very well opt for one of the higher end
potential defensive stalwarts to replace Graves in the system. Insert
Ethan Del Mastro. While his offensive potential remains a bit of a
mystery due to him not playing much this year, his U18 performance
had to have impressed some NHL scouts enough to take him inside the
first two rounds. Nolan Allan, Cam Whynot, Cole Jordan or Anton
Olsson could be options here too. Allan, Whynot, and Jordan could
possibly be better options due to their high end skating ability,
again something Colorado values highly.
61.
Chicago Blackhawks (via Vegas Golden Knights) - Chase Stillman, F,
Sudbury (OHL)
Yeah
yeah, I know. The Hawks recently traded for and signed his brother
Riley. It makes a cute story that NHL scouts don’t often care about
that much. However, I do think that Stillman goes in this range and I
think that he is the type of player that they do covet at the draft.
His physicality and energy will be attractive to NHL teams as he has
the chance to develop into a really elite third line player at the
NHL level. I could see the Hawks taking a chance on Justin Robidas
here too. They will take chances on players with size issues.
62.
Montreal Canadiens - Brent Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)
Johnson
is a high end thinker from the back-end who is an analytics darling.
He’s not the biggest. He’s not the quickest. But he is just so
efficient at both ends. A high end thinker inside the offensive zone,
it is easy to see his offensive game developing even more. Montreal
does seem to value these types of defenders higher than their
competitors. It Would not shock me to see them go for a strong
two-way center here too, like Brett Harrison, Ryan Winterton, Samuel
Helenius, Red Savage, etc.
63.
Montreal Canadiens (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Sean Tschigerl, W,
Calgary (WHL)
Had
the WHL season been longer, I do believe that we would have seen
Tschigerl move up draft boards pretty significantly. He finished the
season so strongly. Montreal was just beaten by Tampa, who utilized
an incredible third line made up of players just like Tschigerl.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. With goal scoring
potential, physicality, and quickness, Tschigerl is the exact kind of
player I see Montreal adding with one of these two second rounders.
Zack Ostapchuk, James Malatesta, Justin Janicke are some other
options.
The
Next 15?
The
players that I heavily considered in the second round who I think
have a legitimate shot of going in the top two rounds
Nolan
Allan, D, Prince Albert
Brett
Harrison, F, Oshawa
Ville
Koivunen, W, Karpat U20
Dylan
Duke, C, USDP
Artyom
Grushnikov, D, Hamilton
Ryan
Winterton, F, Hamilton
Jakub
Brabanec, C, Brno
Ilya
Fedotov, F, Novgorod
Cameron
Whynot, D, Halifax
Samuel
Helenius, C, JYP
Zack
Ostapchuk, F, Vancouver
Anton
Olsson, D, Malmo
Janis
Moser, D, EHC Biel
Danila
Klimovich, F, Belarus
Victor
Stjernborg, F, Vaxjo
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