2024 NHL Mock Draft (Second and Final Version)
Folks, it’s time. The second and final mock draft of mine is finally out. This year I’ll only be doing the first round because frankly, my track record on the second round was so horrendous and it wasn’t worth all the effort. So, we’ll be sticking with the first round. Last year I nailed three picks and was within one spot with nine draftees. Not bad for my first time doing it. This year I hope to improve to nailing four picks. Ok, I have higher aspirations than that, but this is also a terrible year for trying to improve on last year. If you don’t know, this year will be a bit chaotic. The first pick is a certainty and the second pick is a near-certainty, but after that? God only knows. If anyone gets even five picks right this year, then they’ve been blessed by Apollo. This will be rather long, so let’s get into it.
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#1: San Jose Sharks
Player: Macklin Celebrini | Position: Center | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Left
This one is so obvious that their GM has even publicly stated who they’re drafting. It’s Macklin Celebrini. What can be said that hasn’t been said thousands of times already? Well, nothing, but just in case you don’t know much about him, he’s elite. It’s really that simple. He’s an elite player. He has a high compete level, is great at transition play, has high hockey IQ, speedy, is an elite skater, has elite hands, is great at positioning himself, is always battling for the puck, his stick is always active and making things happen, and is a quick, deceptive, and accurate shooter. That said, he does need to work on his defense and not forcing plays. That said, he’s still going to be a franchise superstar for the Sharks and provide them with one of the scariest one-two punches down the center with him and Will Smith.
#2: Chicago Blachawks
Player: Artyom Levshunov | Position: Defense | Height: 6’2” | Shot: Right
The Chicago Blackhawks have been pretty consistent in drafting the best player available rather than for need (though to be fair, they’ve been needing everything for a bit now). The problem is: what does the best player available mean to them? From what insiders have been saying for a week or two now, it sounds like it’s Levshunov. The reality is that height and position do get taken into account when creating prospect rankings, and a potential #1 defender who’s tall and has a right shot is no doubt too tempting for Chicago. I don’t blame them. They already have a solid foundation for their blue line of the future and Levshunovshould be the cherry on top. He’s quick and agile, a great shooter and playmaker, physical, great in transition play, and a great defender off the rush. The only things he needs to work on are being more confident, decision-making, and being more aggressive.
If they choose to go forward, I would expect Ivan Demidov.
#3: Anaheim Ducks
Player: Anton Silayev | Position: Defense | Height: 6’7” | Shot: Left
This is where figuring out the draft gets hard. While I would consider Ivan Demidov to be easily the best player available, I have this feeling that Silayev is more of a Verbeek pick. Silayev is a generational shutdown defender and I think that may be too much to pass up, especially when the Ducks already have a great forward group. What they don’t have is size and defense on the blue line. Thankfully for them, the perfect solution for this is available and they’ll take the big smooth-skating Russian. In addition to being a shutdown presence he’s physical, has a high compete level, has good hands, and knows how to use his size. Unfortunately, as great as he is defensively, he’s quite mediocre offensively and struggles to keep his composure in high-pressure situations. That said, the Ducks already have Zellweger and Mintyukov who bring the offense, so I don’t think a mediocre offensive game should scare them away. They’re good when it comes to offense from the blue line. It’s defense they’re sorely lacking.
If they choose to go forward, I would expect Ivan Demidov.
#4: Columbus Blue Jackets
Player: Ivan Demidov | Position: Right Wing | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Left
This pick I have zero confidence in and I’m probably galaxy-braining, but I just don’t see how the Blue Jackets pass up on Demidov. I don’t. Sure, it feels as if Lindstrom is the pick because of Waddell, and Lindstrom was made in a lab for Waddell, but I don’t know how you pass up a superstar for a player with the ceiling of a second-line center. Now watch as Waddell does just that. Anyway, allow me to continue justifying Demidov over Lindstrom: what superstar winger do the Blue Jackets have not named “Johnny Gaudreau”? Seriously, name one. Also, Johnny is 30, right at the end of his prime. Who’s going to be that elite winger alongside Fantilli in a few years? Finding a superstar is a lot harder than getting a second-line center. They have a need for top-line wingers, and what do you know, but the best player available is one. Plus, we know the Blue Jackets have no problem drafting Russians, their organization is full of them, so Demidov would fit right in. Honestly, as I type all this out I find myself talking the doubt out of myself, I think I may be confident they go with Demidov after all. But, I have two more reasons why the Blue Jackets may go with Demidov: he’s six feet tall, and weighs 191 pounds, and I think that’s got to be attractive to the Blue Jackets. In addition to that, apparently, he really impressed at the Gold Star Hockey pre-draft showcase in Florida. Like, really, really, impressed. So, what would the Blue Jackets be getting? Well, in my opinion, as I showed in my prospect rankings in my recent “Anna’s Thoughts” article, I listed him as the best prospect in the draft. Yes, I swear I don’t have him taken here just because I’m a Blue Jackets fan. I promise. Here’s the list of things he’s elite at: stick and puck handling, passing (probably the best passer in the draft), skating, shooting, body positioning, and hockey IQ. He’s also quite gritty and has a high compete level. Now, I’m not saying he’s perfect, he still needs to work on his defense and being more consistent in checking, but the Blue Jackets are still getting a franchise superstar to go alongside Fantilli.
If they choose to pass on Demidov, it would be to take Lindstrom.
#5: Montreal Canadiens
Player: Cayden Lindstrom | Position: Center | Height: 6’3” | Shot: Left
It feels pretty obvious who the Canadiens would take here if he’s still available. It’s Lindstrom. The Canadiens have a dire need at center for a true top-six center not named “Nick Suzuki”, and Lindstrom would be just that. He’s a power forward who’s fast, has a high hockey IQ, is a creative passer, a good defensively. The only things he needs to work on are his playmaking skills, not forcing plays, skating mechanics, off-the-puck play (often caught puck-watching), and more consistent defensive positioning.
If Lindstrom was taken by the Blue Jackets and Demidov is still available, I’d expect Demidov to be taken. If both are gone, then I’d expect Iginla.
#6: Utah
Player: Zeev Buium | Position: Defense | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Left
While the Canadiens pick would be obvious, this is where things get interesting again. What defender goes next? On my board, Parekh is the best remaining defender, but everything I’m seeing from actual NHL scouts is that they disagree. Buium seems to be who they consider to be the best available, and what’s the one thing we’ve learned about the Coyotes under current management? They always take the best player available no matter what. Assuming their scouts are among those who agree Buium is the best available, he’s the obvious choice. So, what would Utah be getting? A defender who is always moving around making something happen. He’s a good skater who only needs to work on his inefficient stride. Good puck control, shooting, passing, high hockey IQ, playing well under pressure, physical, and good defense are his other good attributes. The only thing other than his inefficient stride that needs to be worked on is not doing too much.
If Buium isn’t taken I’d expect it to be Dickinson or Parekh, but most likely Dickinson. If Demidov falls to here, he’ll get taken instead. There’s an outside shot of Iginla or Sennecke being taken instead of a defender.
#7: Ottawa Senators
Player: Sam Dickinson | Position: Defense | Height: 6’3” | Shot: Left
The reality is that we have no idea how Steve Saios will draft, he’s a wild card, but we do know two things:
The Senators need defenders.
Saios used to work in the OHL and no doubt still has a lot of connections from there.
So, I’m going to assume that they take a defender from the OHL, and since it sounds like scouts like Dickinson more than Parekh, I’ll have Dickinson going here. He’s an elite skater who’s always looking to help the rush, he’s also quite good defensively against the rush, good in transition, has a high hockey IQ, has a powerful shot, is good at finding shooting lanes, is a good passer, handles pressure well, has good hands, and is strong defensively. The only things he needs to work on are not trying to do too much and not puck-watching.
If Dickinson isn’t taken here or was taken by Utah, I’d expect Parekh to be taken.
#8: Seattle Kraken
Player: Zayne Parekh | Position: Defense | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Right
The Kraken also are in need of defenders, and they’ll take the best of the rest: Zayne Parekh, who is easily the best defender still available. He has an elite hockey IQ, elite hands, is creative and deceptive, is a great shooter and passer, and is good at using his stick defensively. Now, he does have a bit of a list of things to work on. The first is that he needs to improve his defense because frankly, he’s bad at it. He also needs to be physical, like, physical at all. His physicality level is non-existent. Another problem is that he isn’t all that fast, so speed is something he needs to work on as well. He’s a very low-floor but very high-ceiling player.
If the Kraken decide to pass on Parekh, I see it more likely that they go forward with Iginla or Sennecke. If they’re one of the teams that’s high on Yakemchuk I think there’s an outside chance they could take him instead.
#9: Calgary Flames
Player: Tij Iginla | Position: Center/Left Wing | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Left
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Yes, I started it that way. I don’t care that you groaned reading it. It put a smile on my face and that’s what matters. Anyway, I say that for an actual reason and not just because it’s the Flames. Tij Iginla has regularly been mocked to go here and for good reason. The Flames need centers, it’s their biggest need, and Iginla should be a solid center, and being the son of a Flames legend doesn’t hurt. He has a good hockey IQ and is an elite shooter, has great hands, has a high compete level, and isn’t afraid to attack the middle of the ice. That said, he does have some things to work on, namely his skating. His edgework is great, but his separation speed and stride need working on, and so could his defense.
If they don’t take Iginla, Catton would be the most likely option, with an outside chance of Sennecke. If they go defense, I’d expect Yakemchuk, but I could see Parekh if he’s still available.
#10: New Jersey Devils
Player: Beckett Sennecke | Position: Right Wing | Height: 6’2” | Shot: Right
Now that they’ve addressed their need at the goaltender position, they don’t have any pressing needs. That said, I think they’ll go with a winger, and that winger will be Sennecke mainly because it seems that many believe he could go higher. He’s a good skater, but not great. His edgework, acceleration, and agility are what I’d call “decent”, but needs to work on separation speed. Offensively he creates space and scoring opportunities for himself. His shooting is decent, but it’s playmaking and passing where he really shines. He has a high hockey IQ and it shows with his creativity which may be the hallmark of his game. In terms of things he needs to work on, he needs to be more consistent in his compete level (which, from things I’ve read is something he seems to be working on already), not doing too much, defense, and shot accuracy.
If the Devils don’t go with Sennecke, I’d expect Catton, Helenius, or Eiserman, in that order.
#11: Buffalo Sabres
Player: Berkly Catton | Position: Center | Height: 5’11” | Shot: Left
The Sabres are another team that doesn’t have a pressing need other than to get older. If they do keep this pick, I’d expect them to continue with their trend of taking the best player available, no matter who they are. At this point, it’s easily Catton. If you’ve looked at my prospect rankings, you would know I have him listed as the fifth-best in the draft. There’s a good reason for that. When I watch him on offense, he excites me. He’s a great skater, fast, mobile, and efficient. His shooting is great and his playmaking skills are even better. In addition to that you can count on a high hockey IQ, elite hands, great passing, great in transition, great work ethic, and even more so, a player who can control the pace of the game. In my view, he should be a superstar. So, you’re sitting there reading this article and going “That’s great Anna, but why isn’t he getting picked until now?” Good question and that’s because everything I listed was his offensive abilities. Notice I haven’t spoken about his defense yet. Yeah. Frankly, his defensive game is non-existent. It’s truly abysmal. When I say that I mean, I physically cringe every time I watch tape of him on defense. It’s that bad. He either stands around doing nothing or he’s moving and bumping into teammates and making life harder on them. As elite as his offense is, his defense is just as terrible. If he had any semblance of a defense game at all, he’d be a top-three pick. He also needs to be more physical and not do too much. The other big problem is that he’s undersized which is only twisting the dagger in further. That said, I don’t think his non-existent defense should be a turn-off for the Sabres. He’s a potential superstar and with how loaded the Sabres already are, you can afford to take time developing him into not being a defensive liability. I truly think it’s worth the shot. His offense is just too good.
If they don’t take Catton, I’d expect either Jiříček or Eiserman. Technically, after Jiříček, Connelly would be the next best available player, but we’ll get into why I don’t think the Sabres would consider him later.
#12: Philadelphia Flyers
Player: Konsta Helenius | Position: Center/Right Wing | Height: 5’11” | Shot: Right
Michkov needs help. The place he needs the most help is down the middle, and unfortunately, the Flyers are lacking in that department. So, I think they’ll take the best center available, Helenius. Unlike the previous center taken, Catton, he’s actually good at defense. In fact, I’d go as far as to describe it as “great.” Also unlike Catton, he’s not dominant at anything. Similarly to Catton, though, he’s also undersized. Ok, I know I’m being a bit negative to start with, but seriously, there is a lot to like about him. He has a high hockey IQ, great stickhandling, great position, is a good skater, is strong, has an accurate shot, is a good playmaker, good in transition, and has a high compete level. So, those are a lot of things to like about him. That said, he does have some things to work on, such as his release, not doing too much, and explosiveness. If he improves in those aspects, I don’t think it would be surprising for him to be a very good second-line center.
If they don’t go with Helenius, I’d expect either Hage, Eiserman, or Brandsegg-Nygård, in that order. If Catton is still available, I think they’ll go with him over Helenius.
#13: Minnesota Wild
Player: Carter Yakemchuk | Position: Defense | Height: 6’3” | Shot: Right
The Minnesota Wild have a cycle: one year they pick for need, and the next they pick for skill. If that cycle continues, this year would be a “pick for skill” year. Yakemchuk is arguably the most skilled player available. It doesn’t hurt that defense is probably their biggest need. So, why not kill two birds with one stone? He’s a big guy who’s decent at skating. He doesn’t have much acceleration but when he gets going, he goes fast. So, he’s got a good top speed. His lateral movement and edgework are also good, adding some agility to his game. When it comes to offense, his shot is powerful and deceptive, is a very good passer, and has great hands. Physicality is the name of his game. No, seriously, ask any scout the first thing they think of when they think of Yakemchuk and I guarantee they’ll say “physicality”. That’s both a blessing and a curse because frankly, he can be a bit TOO physical at times. He and the penalty box are good friends. Some other issues with his game include struggling when under pressure, being too eager to jump in on offense, defensive positioning, and puck-watching.
If Helenius or Catton is still available, I think they’ll go with whichever one is. If none are available and they skip Yakemchuk, I’d expect Eiserman, Solberg, Hage, or Brandsegg-Nygårdin that order of likelihood.
#14: San Jose Sharks
Player: Cole Eiserman | Position: Left Wing | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Left
I was going to have Solberg get taken here, and then news started coming from reliable sources that it’s expected that if Eiserman is available, the Sharks will take him. Yes, the Sharks need defenders, but frankly, it’s understandable to go with Eiserman here. First off, Eiserman has a far higher ceiling than any defender left in the draft. It’s not even close. The best defender left is Solberg, and his ceiling is second pairing. Eiserman has star potential. Second, even if both Eiserman and Smith play for the Sharks next season, they’re still going to suck. They’re going to get a shot at a high-end defender in next year’s draft because they’re going to be near the bottom of the standings again. So, I do think it’s understandable to take Eiserman here. He’s a pure goal scorer, the kind any team would love to have. So, if he’s the kind of goalscorer any team would love to have, why is he still here? Well, here’s why: his compete level is wildly inconsistent. In one game he’s consistently fighting for the puck and getting in the dirty areas. The next he hangs back, won’t chase pucks, and won’t fight for anything. In addition, he has little hockey IQ as evidenced by the fact that he doesn’t know what to do without the puck. Then there’s his shot selection, which is quite poor, the fact that he doesn’t pass much despite actually being a pretty good passer, and he can’t create space for himself in transition. Then there’s the biggest flaw in his game: defense. He’s the only player who’s about as bad at it as Catton. I’ve seen too many videos of him just skating right by players he should be defending. That said, shooting isn’t the only thing he brings to the table. He is a very good skater, has decent hands, and as mentioned earlier, is a good passer. It’s just that everything else in his is bad. Otherwise, he’d be going way higher. While all of those problems are quite glaring, I do think it’s worth taking a flier on him and trying to fix what you can. If he hits, you have a star on your hands.
If they don’t take Eiserman, though, I’d expect Solberg, but if Yakemchuk is available, I’d expect him over Solberg.
#15: Detroit Red Wings
Player: Michael Hage | Position: Center | Height: 6’1” | Shot: Right
Ok, now hear me out. I know what every single one of you is thinking: “There is no possible way the Wings pass up on Michael Brandsegg-Nygård if he’s still available, especially for Hage.” I’m here to argue that you’re wrong and that the Red Wings absolutely would do such a thing. First off much of the expectation that it would be Brandsegg-Nygård is due to the myth that Yzerman doesn’t go for high-ceiling players. The only player that he’s taken in the first round that can be considered to be “low ceiling” was Kasper. The other six first-round picks he has taken had high ceilings. Yes, even Danielson. Kasper was a one-off. Second, the other reason why everyone thinks it will be Brandsegg-Nygård is because of his 200-foot game, which Yzerman famously likes when it comes to forwards in the first round. That’s also why people think the Red Wings wouldn’t take Hage because he’s not a 200-foot player. I’m here to argue you’re (partially) wrong. I think Hage is developing into a 200-foot player. His defense is not as bad as many make it to be. Sure, he’s not Brandsegg-Nygård defensively, but he’s far from being the defensive liability he was at the beginning of the season. I would go as far as to say he’s defensively competent at this point. Yes, there are still things to work on, but he is competent. I would expect the remaining flaws in his defensive game to be worked out in college as he’s going to the University of Michigan, which is an NHL factory at this point. If anyone can improve his already rapidly improving defense, it’s Michigan. So, I’m not worried at all about his defense. Not even one bit. Another issue I’d expect to see fixed at Michigan is consistency. He does have a tendency to give up too easily at times. I don’t think that issue will last past Michigan. That, and his acceleration. I expect that will get worked on. So far I have listed only his problems and why I’m not concerned about them. What about his positives? Well, his skating is great. He’s quick and agile. In addition to his skating, he has a high hockey IQ, has great hands, and is a good playmaker. Now, this is the perfect segue into my final argument as to why the Red Wings would go Hage over Brandsegg-Nygård: Hage is a better playmaker, is more physical, and a better skater. The only thing Brandsegg-Nygård is better at is defense and being more consistent in effort. Simply, Hage has a higher ceiling. As stated before, I do believe ceiling is taken into account when they draft. Hage is quickly developing into a 200-foot player and his ceiling is undoubtedly higher than Brandsegg-Nygård’s. Plus, he’s going to Michigan, which I imagine is attractive to the Red Wings.
Now, if they don’t take Hage, it probably would be Brandsegg-Nygård with an outside chance of Beaudoin. That said, I do think it’s more likely than many think that they go defense, and in that case, it would be Solberg.
#16: St. Louis Blues
Player: Stian Solberg | Position: Defense | Height: 6’2” | Shot: Left
The Blues have a desperate need for defense and thankfully for them, a defender is left and expected to go right around in this range who is quite good at defense: Stian Solberg. He’s physical, strong, not afraid to make big hits (he’s known to be quite good at making reverse hits), a fluid and fast skater, doesn’t crack under pressure, and is a strong shooter. That said, his offensive upside is limited. He’s very much an old-school defensive defender. In terms of things he needs to improve on, they are his awareness of what’s going on around him and his shot selection.
If Yakemchuk is still available, which I highly doubt, he would be taken before Solberg. If Yakemchuk is gone and they want a defender that isn’t Solberg, it would be Jiříček. If the Blues go for offense, I’d expect Brandsegg-Nygård, Hage (if he’s still available), Luchanko, and an outside chance of Boisvert.
#17: Washington Capitals
Player: Adam Jiříček | Position: Defense | Height: 6’2” | Shot: Right
Originally, I was going to have the Capitals select a center. Then they traded for Pierre Luc-Dubois. So, I think they’re more likely to address their other major need: defense. Luckily for them, one of Adam Jiříček or Stian Solberg should still be available. In this mock draft, Jiříček is the one available. So, what does he bring to the table? Elite passing, a high hockey IQ, great edgework, acceleration, and mobility, good gap control, and is always battling for the puck (even in front of the net and corners). Now, he does have things to work on. The easiest to fix would be getting stronger so that his shots make it to the net. It’s not uncommon to see his shots fail to get there. The harder-to-fix issues are his skating mechanics and his poor decision-making under pressure.
If they don’t go with Jiříček and Solberg is unavailable, then they’ll go offense. If Hage is still available, he’d likely be their choice, but if he’s not, then Luchanko or Beaudoin would be the likely direction for them to go.
#18: Chicago Blachawks
Player: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård | Position: Right Wing | Height: 6’1” | Shot: Right
After getting a potential #1 defender, I think they’ll try to give Bedard some offensive help with the next pick. Enter Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. He’s a strong puck-handler, creates space for himself, defensively is top-tier, has a high hockey IQ, is a smooth skater, has a powerful, quick, and accurate shot, creates opportunities on the rush, and isn’t afraid of board battles and often wins them. He’s one of the most complete players in the draft. That said, there are some flaws with his game. The first being is that he’s, at best, a slightly above-average playmaker. He also needs to be more physical and work on his acceleration and separation speed.
If they don’t go with Brandsegg-Nygård, I’d expect Luchanko or Boisvert with an outside chance of Greentree. If Jiříček is available, they may double down on defense. I don’t think that’s the most likely scenario if he’s still available, but I could see it happening.
#19: Vegas Golden Knights
Player: Jett Luchanko | Position: Center | Height: 5’11” | Shot: Right
The Vegas Golden Knights have a barren prospect pool and are in need of centers for the future. So, I think they’ll go with Jett Luchanko, the most skilled center left. He’s got a 200-foot game and has few flaws. He’s a silky-smooth playmaker, has a high hockey IQ, a high compete level, great hands, is speedy and agile, has good separation, is calm (doesn’t crack under pressure), is deceptive, great in transition, and strong defensively. Like Brandsegg-Nygård, he’s one of the most complete players in the draft. That said, he does have two flaws: his shooting and shot selection. They need to be worked on. I think that Luchanko being so complete and skilled would also appeal to Vegas because that makes him more tradeable, and there’s nothing Vegas loves more than trading prospects away.
If they don’t go with Luchanko, I’d expect Greentree or Beaudoin. If Jiříček or Eiserman is still available (neither of which is unlikely) I’d expect them to be taken.
#20: New York Islanders
Player: Trevor Connelly | Position: Left Wing | Height: 6’1” | Shot: Left
Skill-wise, Connelly should’ve been taken long by now. On my board, he’s the twelfth-best prospect in the draft. That’s for good reason: he’s a great playmaker and forechecker. He’s an elite skater with a lot of speed, creates space for himself, and is a good shooter. Unfortunately, he’s inconsistent in effort levels and poor defensively. That, and his decision-making, both on and off the ice. Yeah, this is where I talk about why he will fall into the 20s. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he falls to the mid or late 20s. He’s been accused of using racial slurs, including during a game, but an investigation found no evidence of in-game slur usage. He claims he doesn’t use them at all. Most notably, though, at age 16 he made a swastika out of children’s blocks and posted a picture of it on Snapchat. Since then he has attended DEI trainings, community service, and been mentored by a rabbi. There is more to why teams would be worried about taking him, but I’m not going to go into all of it here. If you really want to know more, check out this article by The Athletic. So, why do I think the Islanders will go with him? It’s quite simple. They desperately need talent and Connelly is easily the most talented player left. It’s not close. I think they’ll decide to make a “hockey decision” and lean hard on the fact that he’s attended DEI trainings and met with a rabbi when the fanbase revolts.
If they decide to steer away from Connelly, though, I’d expect Greentree or Beaudoin to be the most likely options.
#21: Los Angeles Kings
Player: Sacha Boisvert | Position: Center | Height: 6’2” | Shot: Left
If you read my recent “Anna’s Thoughts” then you know that in my prospect rankings section of the article, I stressed that public boards differ quite a bit from NHL ones. Therefore, take every public prospect ranking, no matter who it’s by, with a grain of salt. Boisvert is a great example of why. Frankly, I don’t understand the love scouts and GMs have for him. I have him listed as the 35th best prospect in the draft. Most public rankings have him in the late 20s and 30s. But, the expectation is, according to insiders, that he’ll get taken around in this area. Well, the Kings need a center, especially with PLD gone, Kopitar nearing retirement, and questions surrounding Byfield and Turcotte. It’s best to gain some peace of mind. So, I think they’ll go with Boisvert. What would the Kings be getting? A center with a high hockey IQ, a high work ethic, a strong and accurate shot, and good hands. That said, he does need to work on inconsistent puckhandling and playmaking, along with his skating, defensive play, and faceoffs.
If they don’t go with Boisvert and Connelly is available, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take him due to reports of the Kings having done their due diligence with him. Beaudoin and Greentree are other likely options.
#22: Nashville Predators
Player: EJ Emery | Position: Defense | Height: 6’3” | Shot: Right
The Predators are loaded with talent on the wing but have a massive hole at defense which is a bit surprising considering their history. So, I expect them to go defense and try to fill that hole, and it’s likely they’ll do it with EJ Emery. He has a high hockey IQ, is a skilled passer, a great skater, and is physical. Even better for the Predators: he’s a shutdown defender. That said, he does need to work on his shot selection and being more active offensively.
While the Predators are loaded on the wing, if Connelly is available, I wouldn’t be surprised if they take him considering that they’ve taken other players with character issues in recent years. I could also see them going for Greentree. Moving away from the wing, if Boisvert is available I could see them going for him.
#23: Toronto Maple Leafs
Player: Charlie Elick | Position: Defense | Height: 6’4” | Shot: Right
Last year the Maple Leafs showed the world that they weren’t afraid to go off the board and selected Easton Cowan, a pick many didn’t have getting taken until the third round. Cowan has proved the Maple Leafs right and many like me wrong. Well, Elick is nowhere near as off the board as Cowan, even the lowest rankings have him as a late second-round pick, but generally late first-round to middle second-round. So, why do I think the Maple Leafs will do this? First off it’s no secret they’re in desperate need of defense. Second, that’s what Elick brings: defense. He’s very good defensively. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a shutdown defender, but still very good. In addition to that defense, you can expect a lot of big hits, he’s good in puck battles along the boards, is solid offensively, and is speedy. In other words: exactly what the Maple Leafs need. Now, he does have some issues. The main one is that he can be TOO eager to throw hits and this does often lead to him getting beat by opposing forwards. That and he needs to work on puck movement and shooting. That said, Elick would fix a lot of the Maple Leafs problems.
If they don’t go with Elick, I’d expect in no particular order: Sahlin Wallenius, Greentree, Beaudoin, and Surin. If Emery is available I think it’s likely they would take him.
#24: Colorado Avalanche
Player: Igor Chernyshov | Position: Left Wing | Height: 6’2” | Shot: Right
At some point, he has to get taken, and I’m going to assume it’s the Avalanche who will. Frankly, Igor probably should’ve gotten taken by now, but it’s the Russian tax he’ll fall victim to. He’s a potential power forward who’s a strong skater, has elite hockey IQ, and soft hands, is a decent shooter, and is a good defender. His issues are that his playmaking is average at best, and his compete level when without the puck is lacking.
If the Avalanche decide to go another route, I’d expect Surin or Hemming.
#25: Boston Bruins
Player: Liam Greentree | Position: Right Wing | Height: 6’2” | Shot: Left
So, it’s less than half an hour until game seven of the Stanley Cup Final, and I’m writing this article. I get to this pick, write it, and go to the living room for the game. Then I found out the Sens traded this pick, literally right after I wrote this. So, yeah, I am not the happiest, but at least it was done BEFORE I published this! I’m going to be real: This article is already 6,000 words, it’s now late at night, and I don’t feel like redoing my mock draft, even if it’s only for the last handful of picks. So, I’m going to be lazy and have them take Greentree, whom I originally had the Senators taking. Anyway, so what would the Bruins be getting if they drafted him? A hard worker and a great shooter with elite puck control. He’s tall and is rather hard to move. That said, he does commit a lot of turnovers and needs to work on his skating and defense.
If they don’t take Greentree, they’d probably take Elick or Emery if one of them is still available, maybe Kiviharju. If they go forward, then probably Surin or Letourneau.
#26: Montreal Canadiens
Player: Cole Beaudoin | Position: Center | Height: 6’2” | Shot: Left
Now we come to the second pick for the Canadiens, and I think they’ll try to double down on the center position. It helps that Beaudoin is the best player available. So, what does he bring to the table? Well, he’s an elite shooter, a great playmaker, and a strong forechecker. He uses his size to his advantage, plays in the dirty areas, and is defensively sound. That said, he needs to work on skating and being more consistent in his effort.
If they don’t select Beaudoin, Surin is the most likely alternative, then Letourneau, then Hemming.
#27: Carolina Hurricanes
Player: Yegor Surin | Position: Center/Right Wing | Height: 6’1” | Shot: Left
I think the Hurricanes will go best player available here and luckily for them, that best player available fits their need at center. So, what would the Hurricanes be getting in Surin? A physical, high compete, and deceptive player with great skating. He’s also strong defensively, has a hard and accurate shot, and has great hands. Now, there are some concerns with his game, namely that he takes too many penalties. He’s notoriously undisciplined. In addition to that, he’s a poor decision-maker with the puck, tries to do too much (and most definitely does not have the skill to even try to do so), and really needs to learn to use teammates more.
If Chernyshov or Beaudoin is still available, I’d expect them to get taken instead. I could also see them going with Hemming, Letourneau, or Eriksson.
#28: Calgary Flames
Player: Leo Sahlin Wallenius | Position: Defense | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Left
This is where I think the Flames will finally start addressing their need on the blue line. They’ll take the best player available who happens to be a defender. He’s a smooth and fast skater, creative in transition, has great hands and elite hockey IQ, and is a great playmaker. Things he needs to work on are being more consistent, his shooting, defense, and being more physical.
If they want to pick a defender that’s not Sahlin Wallenius, then they’ll go with Kiviharju. If they go forward, if Surin is available, they’ll go with him. I could also see them going with Letourneau or Miettinen.
#29: Dallas Stars
Player: Emil Hemming | Position: Right Wing | Height: 6’1” | Shot: Right
I think the Stars will simply go with the best player available and it’s Hemming. He’s a power forward who’s a very good shooter. Unfortunately, he has some massive flaws in his game. First off, he’s a poor decision-maker with and without the puck. Second, he’s wildly inconsistent from game to game (one game he looks like the best player on the ice, the next he’s absolutely horrible). Third, he’s not good at defense. Fourth, he’s not a great playmaker. Still, there’s enough there that he’ll get taken right around in this range, and I think the Stars will be the ones to try their luck with this project pick.
If Surin or Beaudoin are still available, I’d expect to see them selected. I could also see them selecting Parascak, Letourneau, or Miettinen, instead of Hemming.
#30: New York Rangers
Player: Dean Letourneau | Position: Center | Height: 6’7” | Shot: Right
We’re going to continue the trend of picking the best player available and therefore the Rangers will take Letourneau. He’s a great skater, shooter, and playmaker, and also has a high compete level. That said, he needs to work on his stick and puck handling along with being more physical.
If Surin or Sahlin Wallenius were still available, I think they’d go with one of those, in the order listed. In terms of players not yet selected in this mock draft, Parascak, Eriksson, Miettinen, and Kiviharju are likely picks here.
#31: Anaheim Ducks
Player: Terik Parascak | Position: Right Wing | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Right
I expect the Ducks will continue with their philosophy to draft the best available player to continue here, and therefore they’ll go with Parascak. He’s got a high hockey IQ, is gritty and deceptive, along with being a great shooter and average defender. The one thing he needs to work on is his skating.
If they don’t go with Parascak, I’d expect Letourneau if he’s not taken. Going off the list of those not taken yet, I’d expect Eriksson, Miettinen, or Badinka, not necessarily in that order.
#32: Philadelphia Flyers
Player: Linus Eriksson | Position: Center | Height: 6’0” | Shot: Left
I’m expecting the Flyers will want to double down on the center position, so they’ll go with Eriksson. He has a high hockey IQ, is a good playmaker and tremendous passer, is solid defensively, is speedy, and plays well in dirty areas. What he needs to work on are his game-to-game consistency and play-driving skills.
If they avoid Eriksson, I’d expect Letourneau, if he’s still available, or O’Reilly or Miettinen.
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