It’s been a while so why not take a stab at predicting how the upcoming NHL Entry Draft will unfold. As upper usual teams holding multiple first round picks will shake up consensus. There will be a fun on defensemen early with the end of the round containing a lot of European players. Those without size and late season hype will be the fallers. Russians are always a wild card and even more so now but the highly talented ones will go earlier than expected. No goalies in this first round.
1. CHI – C Connor Bedard
No need to predict anything else.
2. ANH – C Leo Carlsson
Ducks likely to see the sky high upside with the Swede.
3. CBJ – C Adam Fantili
Columbus is happy to add a prolific forward who might be NHL ready this season.
4. SJS – LW Matevi Michkov
An organization unafraid of Russians cashes in.
5. MON – C William Smith
Habs happy to get high-end talent down the middle at this point in the draft.
6. ARZ – RW Ryan Leonard
A dominant winger to pair with Logan Cooley sounds like a good idea.
7. PHI – RD David Reinbacher
After moving Provorov this begins the blueline rebuild in Philly.
8. WAS – C Dalibor Dvorsky
Capitals go for a safe bet after not picking this high in ages.
9. DET – LW Daniel But
Detroit adds some more dynamic scoring to their rebuild and are familiar with Russians.
10. STL – LD Dimitri Shimashev
Blues need to rebuild prospect depth on the blueline and take a big time swing.
11. VAN – RD Tom Willander
It’s no secret the Canucks want to draft for need and get in on this run on blueliners.
12. ARZ – LD Axel Sandin Pellikka
The Coyotes complete the run to make sure they walk away with a defenseman.
13. BUF – LW Samuel Honzek
Sabres have the luxury of going for upside with the big Slovak.
14. PIT – RW Gabriel Perreault
Kyle Dubas wants his Knies replacement in the Steel City.
15. NSH – C Nate Danielson
Nashville still needs a center to hit and this is a well-rounded choice.
16. CGY – LW Zach Benson
A bit of a slide for this small talent but the Flames benefit.
17. DET – C Oliver Moore
Another upside bet for Detroit.
18. WPG – LW Quentin Musty
The Jets need to start rebuilding their forward core.
19. CHI – LW Colby Barlow
Bedard is going to need a winger to pass to in Chicago.
20. SEA – C Calum Ritchie
Another big center for the Kraken.
21. MIN – C Otto Stenberg
Always in search of centers and the Wild love drafting Swedes.
22. PHI – RW Matthew Wood
After grabbing a defenseman first the Flyers take a big forward who produced in the NCAA.
23. NYR – RW Charlie Stramel
Nothing excites the Rangers more than big college boys.
24. NSH – D Lukas Dragicevic
Trotz wants the org to swing for a star and here’s a very skillful choice.
25. STL – LW Andrew Cristall
Probably the greatest boom or bust pick in the first round.
26. SJS – RW Kasper Halttunen
The run on Euros starts now as the Sharks want a safer bet.
27. COL – C Brayden Yager
The next great hope of developing a center internally in Colorado.
28. TOR – C David Enstrom
Leafs need cheap forwards to fill out their roster sooner than later.
29. STL – D Mikhail Gulyayev
With multiple firsts the Blues can take chances as they are keen to take Russians.
30. CAR – LW Edouard Sale
A great system of talent can help bring a player with question marks along.
31. COL (lol) – Bradly Nadeau
If they actually make this pick Colorado gets their Newhook replacement from the BCHL.
32. VGK – LD Étienne Morin
Vegas scouts strike again and get this underrated talent to close out the first round.