Welcome to my full evaluate of the 2024 NHL Draft courses of all 32 groups, together with ideas on virtually the entire 225 prospects chosen.
This annual year-end evaluation follows a season of journey and numerous viewings and conversations with coaches, managers, scouts, brokers and gamers. It’s meant to be your one-stop store evaluation of your workforce’s picks.
This work is my view of how every workforce’s scouting division fared in comparison with the alternatives they’d, fastidiously contemplating my very own evaluations of the prospects but in addition every participant’s consensus anticipated draft vary and statistical profile.
This isn’t an analysis of the full worth that every membership bought out of its picks, however fairly an examination relative to the place they picked and the variety of alternatives they’d. Groups with extra picks (or larger picks on common) usually are not assured excessive grades, simply as groups with fewer picks (or decrease picks on common) usually are not assured poor ones. Trades additionally usually are not thought-about, with the main focus solely on the picks themselves.
The objective is for this to be essentially the most thorough draft evaluate accessible wherever.
As all the time, the rating of all 32 draft courses is sorted into the next tiers for an added layer of context:
• Winners: Groups I imagine received out over their competitors with constant, sleuth, home-run-level alternatives relative to the place they picked.
• Time beyond regulation winners: Groups I imagine did nicely with the place they have been slotted, even when they won’t have picked the precise participant(s) I might have.
• Time beyond regulation losers: Groups I imagine may have performed higher however may, in time, be proud of their choose(s) regardless.
• Losers: Groups I imagine will remorse taking the participant(s) they selected.
For extra info on these gamers, right here’s my full 2024 NHL Draft bundle, which featured 143 scouting reviews this 12 months:
Winners
San Jose Sharks
I preferred what the Sharks did on Day 1 to maneuver up and seize Sam Dickinson at No. 11, after taking Macklin Celebrini at No. 1. Dickinson instantly turns into their prime defensive prospect and fills a evident want inside their pool.
They began off Day 2 by choosing my top-ranked accessible participant in Russian winger Yegor Chernyshov, who oddly sufficient fell after a mediocre end within the MHL and didn’t take part in Gold Star’s camp as a consequence of a extreme sunburn.
I liked the Leo Sahlin Wallenius choose within the second half of the second spherical. If Dickinson grew to become their prime defensive prospect, then Sahlin Wallenius, who was ranked in my first spherical, grew to become their third-ranked defensive prospect after Dickinson and Shakir Mukhamadullin. Sahlin Wallenius is among the better-skating defensemen within the draft (like Dickinson), so that they’re clearly prioritizing including mobility to their pool.
Even the Carson Wetsch choose within the third spherical was about the place I had him. Wetsch is an athlete and a employee who initiatives as a possible fourth-liner and forechecker. That’s a wonderful participant to take at No. 82.
I spent a good period of time watching Christian Kirsch this season, and whereas I’m not a goalie professional, I felt he had loads of the instruments you’d search for. He’s glorious one-on-one, his habits (sealing posts, overlaying his five-hole) are the place you need them, and he’s robust down low, with lively ft and a superb stick.
They saved making picks I preferred, together with within the fifth spherical with Colton Roberts at No. 131, considered one of solely remaining gamers on my board (No. 91). Roberts is a powerful athlete with a professional construct who performs a really aggressive, exhausting sport constructed round a chip on his shoulder and his robust skating. His reads and decision-making want buttoning up and include some errors, however he makes a superb first cross and, with extra reps, I may see him changing into organizational depth or a strong AHL defenseman.
I didn’t thoughts the Nate Misskey choose within the fifth spherical, both. Misskey didn’t make my top-10 overagers record however he was one of many closing cuts. He has some professional instruments and had a optimistic 12 months in his improvement in Victoria, even after lacking time as a consequence of damage.
Anaheim Geese
The Geese added one of the crucial expert gamers within the draft in Beckett Sennecke at No. 3, and whereas he wouldn’t have been my choose there, he additionally fills a right-shot winger gap inside their pool. I preferred the choice to maneuver up and seize Stian Solberg, who was my No. 7 defensive prospect and the top-ranked prospect exterior the massive group of six on this draft. He’s going to be a strong second-pairing defenseman and he’s a pure potential associate for somebody like Pavel Mintyukov or Olen Zellweger.
I additionally preferred their begin on Day 2, as they added one of many prime remaining facilities on the board in Lucas Pettersson, a really heady and well-rounded participant who groups universally preferred.
I used to be not in the slightest degree shocked when the Geese took Maxim Masse. They’ve gone to the Q persistently, they like well-rounded gamers, and I feel the dialog round a perceived lack of tempo in Masse’s sport took on a little bit of a lifetime of its personal and pushed his consensus rating decrease than it belonged. He was a late first-/early second-rounder for me, so to get him at first of the third spherical is sweet enterprise. I received’t be shocked if he’s among the many small variety of third-rounders to make it from this class.
The identical goes for his or her fourth-round collection of Alexandre Blais, who was very productive within the Q the final two years (he completed sixth in scoring with 84 factors and second in assists with 60) however is a small winger who doesn’t get to the within a ton.
Ethan Procyszyn was an honorable point out on my record, however I can see the enchantment of him within the third spherical as nicely, even when it wasn’t my favourite choose. He’s a employee who is likely to be a fourth-liner sometime.
I preferred the Tarin Smith choose within the third spherical as nicely. He’s nonetheless very early in his improvement, however confirmed some high quality in stretches this season as a younger defenseman with Everett (albeit inconsistently).
Minnesota Wild
The Wild killed it.
I assumed the Zeev Buium choose at No. 12 was top-of-the-line of the draft, and I preferred the Ryder Ritchie choose with their first collection of Day 2.
Buium was my No. 4-ranked prospect and No. 2-ranked defenseman, and I gave Ritchie a late-first score. Ritchie is a artful, nimble-skating winger who I feel has a possibility to put up 90 to 100 factors within the WHL subsequent season. Everyone knows the Wild dropped the ball on the Charlie Stramel choose a 12 months in the past, however their workers does a superb job by and enormous.
There wasn’t a greater participant left on the board than Aron Kiviharju after they took him at No. 122. His misplaced season to knee surgical procedure, his top (5-foot-9) and his little-slow profile resulted in his precipitous fall, however Kiviharju continues to be one of many smartest hockey gamers on this age group and there have been guys taken in entrance of him within the fourth spherical who haven’t any probability to play on the prime of their age group, not to mention within the NHL. Kiviharju, whether or not he makes it or not, is likely to be Finland’s No. 1 defenseman on the upcoming world juniors.
Even Sebastian Soini at No. 140 felt like one of many higher gamers left, and he was a child I might have thought-about there. Soini’s an fascinating one, as a youngster who performed loads of professional hockey this 12 months however surprisingly was reduce by the Finnish U18 workforce (there have been numerous of us round Finland who thought he ought to have been on that workforce, together with a few of his teammates).
Calgary Flames
I preferred the Flames’ begin to the draft. They clearly prioritized ability with their two first-rounders, Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin, who add one thing to their pool that they didn’t have. Parekh was my No. 5-ranked prospect and I imagine he has star potential.
However the Andrew Basha choose with their first of two second-rounders felt like successful to me as nicely (it was additionally an ideal second for a neighborhood Calgary child and his household). Basha is a talented, good and aggressive participant who I feel has middle-six, PP2 upside if developed correctly.
Jacob Battaglia was a little bit of a departure from these different three, late within the second spherical, however he’s bought ability and dimension, and his inventory ran sizzling within the second half of the season. The query there may be together with his ft. I do know he’s working exhausting at it with Daybreak Braid, however he’s going to have to choose up a step or two to maximise the remainder of his instruments. If he can, he’s bought bottom-six, secondary-scoring (he can shoot it) upside.
I used to be significantly keen on the collection of Henry Mews within the third spherical. He was considered as a first-rounder coming into this season and I held him within the late 20s, even after he struggled slightly bit together with his identification this season. Mews appears to be like rather a lot like Hunter Brzustewicz, Etienne Morin and others, and people guys aren’t all going to make it, however I feel one or two of them may, and in the event that they do, they’ll play the sport with a contemporary tilt.
I’m undecided what Luke Misa will probably be on the subsequent stage. He’s a small middle whose sport skews towards playmaking, however he hasn’t scored almost as a lot as folks wished him to. He’s top-of-the-line skaters within the draft and he bought to the within extra this 12 months, and I gave him a third-round grade consequently. He’s bought an opportunity, and if you will discover guys with an opportunity or a software that would carry them, focusing on these guys within the fifth spherical makes loads of sense.
I assumed Hunter Laing was one of many extra fascinating prospects left within the sixth spherical. He was an honorable point out on my record as a 6-foot-5 middle who confirmed some smooth ability in a depth position on a deep Prince George workforce at ahead. I feel there’s greater than meets the attention there and that he’s a worthwhile challenge.
Chicago Blackhawks
After making loads of picks over the past couple of drafts, the Blackhawks now clearly have moved from a amount to high quality method and I feel it paid off on Day 1. I assumed they bought the perfect defensive prospect within the draft at No. 2 with Artyom Levshunov, and so they have been the one workforce to make three first-round picks, buying and selling up twice to seize Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker, two gamers I’m excessive on and who slot in inside the identification they covet — whereas additionally wanting totally different than Frank Nazar or Oliver Moore.
They like velocity, too, eh? It got here as no shock to me, or anybody who has been being attentive to the gamers they’ve drafted over time, after they took John Mustard, AJ Spellacy and Jack Pridham, three of the perfect skaters and quickest gamers within the class, all within the third spherical. Mustard will get after it and places defensemen on their heels, and I feel he’s bought an opportunity to develop into an up-tempo NHLer who can play up and down a lineup in time. Spellacy is a bodily, imposing, large, robust, athletic child who could be very uncooked however who may make a wonderful fourth-liner sometime. And Pridham is one other nice athlete.
The Blackhawks don’t have the quickest workforce within the NHL proper now, however they’ve the quickest prospect pool in hockey by a large margin. One other robust draft for that group.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal had the perfect Day 1 on the draft, and if each Ivan Demidov (my No. 2-ranked prospect) and Michael Hage (my No. 15-ranked prospect) hit like I feel they’ll, it may change the upside of the Habs as a workforce. I feel Demidov has lead-a-team-in-scoring upside and Hage has a legit path to changing into a top-six participant.
I’m not going to criticize the Aatos Koivu choose. He impressed lots of people this 12 months, he performs the sport the appropriate approach, he’s bought some high quality (together with a superb wrister), and it’s an ideal story for him and his household. Koivu was one of many closing cuts from my prime 100 however he was going to be a third-rounder, so if the Habs preferred him at No. 70, I can get on board with it.
The Logan Sawyer choose within the third spherical is an fascinating one. He was one of many final cuts at ahead from my prime 100 however he’s 6-foot-1 with loads of ability and he scored a bunch within the AJHL and BCHL with Brooks this season. He additionally was good on the World Jr. A Problem and goes to a superb Windfall program, the place he’ll be well-coached. He’s bought some instruments within the offensive zone however an unconventional stride was typically the speaking level with him (his knees can knock and splay out).
I assumed they bought slightly cute with a few of their late picks, however overager Tyler Thorpe was price a choose the place they took him within the fifth spherical. He’s a strong participant.
Their Day 1 made them winners.
Time beyond regulation winners
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes traded their first-round choose, however they bought a first-round participant with the second choose of the second spherical in defenseman Dominik Badinka, who I imagine has top-six upside within the NHL.
The Nikita Artamonov choose later within the second spherical was extraordinarily on-brand for a Canes workforce that hasn’t shied away from taking Russians. Artamonov is a great, well-rounded ahead who doesn’t have a dynamic trait, per se, however who was a superb contributor within the KHL this season.
The Noel Fransen choose, early within the third, additionally was on-brand. Fransen ranked virtually precisely there for me and he is among the extra gifted defensemen within the class after the massive boys. I noticed him make some very high-end ability performs off the road this 12 months. The Canes all the time prioritize offense, and he’s a typical choose for them.
So too was Oskar Vuollet, who at No. 133 was fairly clearly one of many extra gifted skaters, handlers and shooters within the draft. Vuollet popped each time I watched him towards his friends the final two seasons, however didn’t get the nationwide workforce publicity of others Swedes due to his late birthday. He’s bought legit ability for a fifth-round choose.
I mocked Justin Poirier to Carolina, as nicely, solely reinforcing how predictable they’re (and the way aligned they proceed to be with my record). Poirier put the puck within the internet at an elite stage within the Q this 12 months, and whereas he’s going to should proceed to show that on the professional stage as a 5-foot-8 winger, he was a no brainer within the fifth spherical.
Russian defenseman Timur Kol at No. 168 was an equally predictable choose. Kol was simply weeks away from 2025 eligibility and performed nicely within the second-tier VHL in Russia this 12 months. Beneath-average general skating and an immature defensive sport that lacks physicality and at instances sense saved him off my record, however some imagine that with reps and maturity, there’s one thing there — and he’s 6-foot-3.
They’ve a transparent imaginative and prescient and so they persist with it on the newbie facet in Carolina. I thought of placing them within the winners class.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets clearly bought their man on Day 1 in Cayden Lindstrom, whose closest comp is likely to be … Adam Fantilli.
I preferred the Charlie Elick choose to start out Day 2. He’s a rangy, extraordinarily athletic, strong-skating, bodily defender who gives one thing totally different to guys corresponding to Denton Mateychuk.
I didn’t view goaltender Evan Gardner as a second-rounder, however there was a run on goalies there and I can perceive the need to hop on him after his robust rookie season in Saskatoon, even when the pattern dimension was small.
I’ve bought loads of time for Luca Marrelli, who many across the OHL believed was a second-rounder. He was very productive this season and did it by enjoying a wise, heady sport, by and enormous.
Tanner Henricks is an fascinating wager at No. 101. His statistical profile saved him off my record however each time I watched him with Lincoln or on the Chipotle All-American Sport, I used to be all the time struck by two issues: How balanced his skating posture is and the way he snaps his shops round. He’s bought a professional body and mobility, and that’s a place to begin.
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken have gone to the CHL a ton of their infancy, and that development continued, as they used their first 4 picks on CHLers. I assumed they need to have focused a defenseman at No. 8, however I nonetheless preferred the Berkly Catton choice (he ranked No. 8 on my record).
Julius Miettinen, Nathan Villeneuve and Alexis Bernier all have NHL deserves. Villeneuve has fourth-liner written throughout him, or AHL call-up at minimal, as soon as his sport matures. Miettinen is a strong middle with some ability who may develop into a third-liner. Bernier impressed me and others within the second half and into the mix on a Baie Comeau workforce that performed till the ultimate day of the QMJHL season. He’s a pro-sized, athletic defenseman who may develop into be a third-pairing choice with continued improvement.
Although Ollie Josephson completed as an honorable point out, simply exterior of my prime 100, choose No. 105 felt about proper for him. He won’t have the ability to get there however he’s bought some professional instruments, habits and work ethic, and he may develop into a strong AHLer who provides himself an opportunity to be a fourth-liner.
Clarke Caswell has an extended method to go to be an NHLer however he was considered one of my greatest gamers accessible on my record after they drafted him at No. 141 (he slotted No. 77 on my record). Caswell is among the higher passers within the draft and performs a slippery, artful sport constructed round his agility and finesse. I need to see him get to the within extra, however he’s fascinating.
Jakub Fibigr is a B-minus or C-plus prospect and was considered one of my honorable mentions, so I even preferred that choice within the seventh spherical. He’s a summer season birthday who performed an enormous position for the Steelheads, typically on their prime energy play and prime pairing. I’m undecided what he’ll be as a professional, however he’s a superb junior.
I’m decrease on goaltender Kim Saarinen than most, however the third-round choose wasn’t ridiculous, ether.
New York Islanders
I preferred their draft. Cole Eiserman was fairly clearly the highest-upside participant accessible at No. 20, and I feel that’s a sleuth vary to seize him in, even when he comes with some warts (his premium asset can be of a better grade there than anybody else’s).
They then took Jesse Pulkkinen, a towering overaged defenseman with shocking ability and a presence about him, and Kamil Bednarik, a multi-tool, versatile winger, mainly the place I had them, within the 50s and 60s.
Of the 2 goalies they took in Rounds 4 and 5, I’m really larger on the second of them, the towering Marcus Gidlof. He’s uncooked however he’s bought loads of the instruments you search for in an enormous goalie.
Canadian defenseman Xavier Veilleux, their sixth-rounder out of Muskegon, has some backers and is a wonderful prospect (and Harvard commit) even when I may by no means get there on rating him.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks didn’t make their first choose till the top of Spherical 3 at No. 93 however I preferred what they did on Day 2.
I had Melvin Fernstrom 40 spots larger at No. 53. He flashed loads of ability within the J20 stage this season, he’s bought good dimension and he can shoot it, and whereas his skating could be a little hurried at instances, I feel he will get across the ice nicely. He’s bought an honest shell to work with.
I used to be excessive early on Riley Patterson (they took him No. 125 and he was No. 67 on my record) and stayed excessive on him this 12 months. He’s bought professional ability, he can skate, he was owed extra on the stat sheet within the first half, after which the factors began to fall late within the 12 months. I wouldn’t be shocked if he has a 90-point season within the O subsequent 12 months.
Anthony Romani, who, they drafted at No. 162, was my top-ranked overager, slotting instantly after Patterson on my record at No. 68. He completed second within the OHL in scoring with 111 factors this 12 months and much more spectacular than that’s how a lot of his manufacturing has been at five-on-five the final two years. Common dimension and instruments gave groups pause, however he is aware of the place to be within the offensive zone and you may’t go mistaken with him the place they bought him.
I wouldn’t count on Parker Alcos or Basile Sansonnens to get professional offers in North America, even when they hit some checkpoints, however the different three picks have been strong.
Florida Panthers
The champs didn’t choose till No. 58, however I preferred what they did. That began by shifting as much as seize Linus Eriksson, a wise, athletic, well-rounded Swedish middle who ranked in entrance of the place they took him on my board. He confirmed nicely towards professional competitors and his friends this season, sporting the “C” for the nationwide workforce.
I preferred their third- and fourth-round picks. Russian defenseman Matvei Shuravin isn’t an attractive choose however he’s bought a path to a third-pairing depth position and he was No. 67 on my record (they picked him at No. 97). Simon Zether, whom they bought at No. 129, was No. 46 on my record. I feel older birthday Euros who don’t get to play at U18 worlds of their draft 12 months typically fly below the radar as a result of they aren’t scouted as closely as older CHL/USHLers. Zether must play with extra tempo however has loads of different redeeming instruments, and he’s a middle with dimension.
Washington Capitals
Between Andrew Cristall a 12 months in the past and Terik Parascak and Cole Hutson to start out their draft this 12 months, the Capitals have began to indicate that they’re unafraid to take gamers who look and play slightly bit exterior of conference. Given the shortage of ability inside their pool earlier than they made these picks, I just like the method. They every include some danger, however all three of those youngsters have hit potential relative to the place they have been chosen (extra so in Cristall and Hutson’s case).
After Parascak and Hutson, I preferred their alternatives of Swiss defenseman Leon Muggli at No. 52 and large Latvian ahead Eriks “Moose” Mateiko at No. 90. Mateiko is an superior child whom I count on to be named captain of the Saint John Sea Canines subsequent 12 months (very uncommon for an import). He’s one of the crucial improved gamers on this class over the past couple of years and has all the time performed nicely after I’ve watched him, each within the Q and for Latvia.
Ilya Protas at No. 75 was slightly wealthy for me, however the Caps clearly have a relationship with the household and like him.
Nicholas Kempf is a worthwhile choose. Goalies can have a tricky time on the NTDP, staying in video games and enjoying behind leaky defenses at instances. The defensemen on this NTDP age group didn’t do him any favors at instances, both, and I assumed he was persistently first rate this 12 months. Could be a backup.
Miroslav Devil is totally gigantic and has some query marks, however the seventh spherical is the place you say “screw it” and take a participant like that. I preferred watching sixth-rounder Petr Sikora this 12 months as nicely, even when he’s an extended shot.
Love the Hutson choose particularly, although.
Los Angeles Kings
I assumed the Kings bought good worth out of every of their first two picks, two of the highest youngsters out of the OHL in Liam Greentree (who ranked No. 18 on my board and who they bought at No. 26) and goaltender Carter George (who ranked slightly decrease on my board however was my No. 2-ranked goalie and who went as third goalie of the draft).
Jared Woolley is an fascinating one. He wasn’t on my record however he’s a large defenseman who’s the newest London Knights participant to to go the GOJHL Jr. B to OHL route with them. He grew to become a third-pairing man for them and performed into the playoffs and the Memorial Cup even when his minutes on the OHL champs have been restricted within the larger video games. He’s bought an opportunity to take an enormous step subsequent season and does have some offense.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins didn’t choose till No. 44, and Harrison Brunicke felt like a Kyle Dubas choose. He’s a wise child and a heady two-way participant who developed nicely this season after enjoying in a extra depth position on the Memorial Cup hosts a 12 months in the past. He’s a superb athlete with good dimension, and I count on him to develop into considered one of their higher, extra well-rounded defensemen within the WHL over the following two seasons.
I preferred the collection of Tanner Howe two picks later. Howe is a superb child and a fiery competitor with above-average ability. There have been some who puzzled about him as a late-birthday, average-sized winger with wonderful skating, however I feel his competitiveness will take him so far as his sport will go, and I may see him changing into an up-and-down-the-lineup sort.
Chase Pietila has loads of work to do if he desires to play professional however has some redeeming qualities and was taken exterior of the top-100, so no matter.
I assumed the Penguins’ greatest picks of the draft have been their sxith-rounder and the primary of their two seventh-rounders.
Joona Vaisanen was my No. 5-ranked overager and top-of-the-line defensemen within the USHL this season. He’s an extremely good participant who Dubuque’s workers raves about. And Mac Swanson is among the class’ most gifted and clever offensive gamers; he’s simply tiny. I received’t be shocked if he turns into a point-per-game participant in faculty and will get signed after his junior or senior 12 months.
Nashville Predators
The Preds clearly covet aggressive, hard-working, high-work price forwards, and so they doubled down on that identification with their first two picks, taking feisty and expert Russian centre Yegor Surin within the first spherical and feisty and expert NTDP winger Teddy Stiga within the second spherical. I like Stiga slightly greater than Surin however each have been late first-/early second-rounders on my board, and the consensus favored Surin.
I’ve bought loads of time for the Viggo Gustafsson choose within the third spherical. He was No. 100 on my board and he flew slightly below the radar this 12 months. He appeared higher than his statistical profile each time I watched him this season, he makes performs, and his Sept. 11 birthday made him mere days away from eligibility for 2025.
I feel Miguel Marques was overrated within the public sphere, however the third spherical was additionally an acceptable vary for the artful, elusive, and extremely expert Lethbridge winger. There are work ethic questions on him, but when he can dial it in off the ice and work on a few of his deficiencies in his sport, he’s bought an opportunity.
Kelowna’s Hiroki Gojsic (who I assumed performed nicely off of Tij Iginla early within the 12 months however didn’t take the steps I used to be on the lookout for) and Czech goaltender Jakub Milota are wonderful picks, even when the 90s was slightly wealthy for me on these guys.
Detroit Crimson Wings
I feel the Crimson Wings had an honest draft. It’s not going to vary their ceiling as a workforce, however Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Max Plante and Ondrej Becher all made sense the place they took them. Plante goes to want to play with slightly extra tempo to develop into an NHLer, however he’s a cerebral and hard-working participant who makes his linemates higher. Becher is an fascinating one as an overager who impressed domestically and internationally this 12 months, changing into an vital half (and playmaker and driver) on top-of-the-line strains within the WHL.
Landon Miller appeared to have some robust nights in internet each time I watched the Soo this 12 months, however he’s big and goalies are difficult, so who is aware of.
John Whipple, as soon as one of many prime American gamers on this age group, by no means grew to become on the program what folks thought he would, and he can battle together with his decision-making however he has some instruments and I count on him to be a greater faculty participant than a junior participant. He was No. 87 on my record and I don’t suppose they’re risking a lot by taking him at No. 144, even when he has some work to do.
I preferred the Austin Baker choice at No. 203. I’m undecided he’s bought the ability however he was an excellent fourth-liner for the NTDP this 12 months and he works and performs to his strengths.
Buffalo Sabres
Although the Konsta Helenius choose in Spherical 1 gave the Sabres extra of what they have already got of their crowded pool, I nonetheless preferred him in that vary.
The Adam Kleber choose makes loads of sense for them at No. 42. Their top-four is locked in with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Energy, Bowen Byram and Mattias Samuelson, and the thought of Kleber, a towering defenseman with another qualities, as a possible third-pairing man has enchantment.
The identical goes for Brodie Ziemer within the third spherical. They’ve bought a crowd of potential top-six forwards, however Ziemer is the kind of participant you need in your bottom-six. He’s a pacesetter and a employee who performs the sport the appropriate approach and has among the many larger odds for me among the many middle-round guys on this class to truly play and carve out a profession.
I don’t suppose they bought something with their two fourth-rounders, and that almost moved them from time beyond regulation winners to time beyond regulation losers, however I assumed they’d a wonderful draft and I preferred their last-second collection of Ryerson Leenders, who lacks supreme dimension for a goalie however who has been persistently good for a few years. Patrick Geary is a hard-nosed, aggressive, defense-first defender who was a strong top-sixer on a prime faculty workforce as an overager.
Utah Hockey Membership
Utah’s scouting workers has a transparent identification about they covet in each their forwards (hard-working, aggressive, profitable sorts) and defensemen (dimension) and so they continued to focus on that this 12 months with Tij Iginla (additionally one of many extra dynamic on-puck play-creators and scorers within the draft) and Cole Beaudoin (in all probability the strongest participant within the draft) on Day 1, and Will Skahan and Tomas Lavoie on Day 2, two large, robust defensemen who’re, by all accounts, good youngsters. I don’t suppose any of them have been reached for the place they took them, both.
I preferred the Veeti Vaisanen choose at No. 96. Vaisanen is an average-at-everything defenseman whose strong sport put him in Liiga at an early age. He’s not super-mobile and lacks a dynamic high quality, however I felt he was a third-rounder and he may develop into organizational depth sometime.
I don’t see something of their pair of fourth-rounders, however I assumed the fifth spherical was the appropriate time for Owen Allard to go. Allard, my eighth-ranked overager, shocked some folks when he made Canada’s world juniors workforce this 12 months. He lacks offense however he’s an unbelievable athlete and skater who will get after it and appears like a fourth-liner. If he turns into that, that’s a superb choose within the fifth spherical.
Overage Czech defenseman Ales Cech, large Czech ahead Vojtech Hradec and Norwegian Ludvig Lafton have been all wonderful late-round dice-rolls. I fear about Lafton’s and Cech’s ft although.
I thought of time beyond regulation losers right here, however they bought a ton of gamers and solely the 2 fourth-rounders shocked me.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets didn’t make a choose on Day 1 however they took a little bit of a swing to start out Day 2, drafting offensive defenseman Alfons Freij, a participant who mainly ranked on my board the place they took him. Freij is a really lively and concerned participant who creates rather a lot together with his mobility and has power-play instruments.
Although their subsequent choose wasn’t till a few rounds later, I preferred the choice to swap picks and seize Kevin He within the fourth spherical. He wasn’t on my record however I spent loads of time on him late within the 12 months, and he’s an ideal athlete and skater with some ability who I feel has an opportunity to play.
Kieron Walton is an fascinating gamble within the sixth spherical. Walton is a large ahead with spectacular dealing with and really feel on the puck for a participant his dimension. And whereas he’s not a pure mover, his skating has come alongside sufficient to warrant being picked.
I don’t see something in Finnish ahead Markus Loponen, however I preferred 3/4 of their picks.
Time beyond regulation losers
New York Rangers
The Rangers confirmed as much as the draft comparatively empty-handed, however I assumed they did nicely. E.J. Emery felt like an ideal match, not simply due to the similarities between him and Okay’Andre Miller or Braden Schneider — as an extended, cell, athletic defenseman — however as a result of they haven’t used a excessive choose on a defenseman since these guys.
They bought one of many higher gamers left within the again half of the draft in Raoul Boilard at No. 119. Boilard, who slotted No. 84 on my board, had a tricky 16-year-old season within the BCHL after which had a principally optimistic one within the Q this 12 months, together with a standout efficiency on the CHL High Prospects Sport. He’s bought a wise offensive thoughts. I simply need to see him be slightly extra constant.
Don’t see something of their different two picks, although.
Vegas Golden Knights
There had been some chatter about Vegas as a possible touchdown spot for Trevor Connelly, and he was one of the crucial expert gamers left there, with out query (if not essentially the most expert).
I preferred the collection of overaged Belarusian goalie Pavel Moysevich within the third spherical. He wasn’t in my prime 100 however he was among the many goalies I might have strongly thought-about taking, and he was my sixth-ranked overager within the draft. He’s bought supreme dimension, first rate mobility, and tracks and reads nicely.
I’ve bought a little bit of a smooth spot for seventh-round choose Lucas Van Vliet. He was superior on the NTDP’s fourth line at instances, and whereas he could not develop into an NHLer, he’s bought projectable dimension/skating/work ethic and a few quiet ability. I may see him being a strong faculty participant.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins have been mild on picks once more this 12 months however I assumed they hade an honest draft. Dean Letourneau’s dimension, skating, finesse, ability bundle is extraordinarily uncommon, and whereas I feel it comes with some danger within the first spherical, there have been a number of groups on him there and the upside is actual.
Fourth-round defenseman Elliot Groenewold is a participant I by no means thought a lot of in my small variety of viewings, however some across the USHL name him exhausting to play towards due to his dimension, mobility and physicality.
I fairly preferred the Jonathan Morello choose at No. 154. He would have been No. 101 or No. 102 had my record been longer, and he popped within the OJHL playoffs. He’s a powerful skater and athlete who performs the sport with leap and has a professional body and a direct, attacking method. He’s additionally a July birthday so there’s numerous time for him nonetheless (he’s a Clarkson commit).
I thought of time beyond regulation winners for them, so don’t learn an excessive amount of into the slotting right here.
New Jersey Devils
The Anton Silayev choose at No. 10 appears like a pure match for the Devils, who get one thing utterly totally different from Simon Nemec, Luke Hughes, Seamus Casey and others.
I assumed No. 49 was slightly excessive for Mikhail Yegorov, however he’s a freak athlete and spectacular child who wowed some folks on the mix, and their pool wanted goalie depth.
I preferred each of their late-thirds. Kasper Pikkarainen and Herman Traff have been taken virtually precisely the place I had them ranked (90s) and each are large, robust youngsters who get after it. Traff’s bought extra ending expertise and upside, but when Pikkarianen can get slightly faster, he may need a extra practical path to a fourth-line position.
Matyas Melovsky is a worthwhile choose as an overager. He was an enormous a part of a Baie-Comeau workforce that went to the Q closing when folks didn’t count on them to, and was glorious on the world juniors. He’s a superb participant who has some followers within the Q.
I don’t see something of their two fifth-rounders. That, plus taking Yegorov slightly early, saved them simply exterior of my time beyond regulation winners.
Colorado Avalanche
I sort of dig the Avalanche utilizing their first choose of the draft on the primary goalie of the draft. It’s an space of want inside their pool and Ilya Nabokov, a 21-year-old who was top-of-the-line goalies in Europe this 12 months and was the KHL playoffs MVP, is each nearer to the NHL than his contemporaries in internet (a bonus for a workforce just like the Avs who’re good now) and has a confirmed monitor report.
I’m an enormous Will Zellers man (he ranked No. 54 on my board and so they bought him No. 76). He’s going to be a three-to-four-year faculty participant in all probability, however he’s bought ability and skating, he performs a thorny type, and he was my favourite of the three prospects at Shattuck this 12 months.
There weren’t many gamers who may very well be described as ability guys left within the seventh spherical, both, so I preferred the Christian Humphreys choose at No. 215. He won’t be expert sufficient to discover a position on the NHL stage, however he performs with velocity and craft towards his friends.
Jake Fisher and Maximilian Curran are peripherally fascinating and are price maintaining a tally of. Goaltender Louka Cloutier was an vital a part of the Metal’s second-half turnaround within the USHL. It’s not an inspiring group as a consequence of the place they drafted, however I preferred what they did.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues clearly got down to construct their pool on protection, which I feel was the appropriate method. I assumed taking Colin Ralph at No. 48 was a smidge early for a child who’s going to should progress in some vital areas to present good worth there, however he’s an enormous participant with some redeeming qualities.
The Adam Jiricek and Lukas Fischer picks felt like the correct vary. Jiricek comes with some danger after his misplaced season however he’s bought an NHL make-up and a few room for progress regardless of having already performed on the professional stage. I heard rather a lot about Fischer within the second half. He carried out nicely in testing and interviews on the mix, he’s by all accounts an superior child, and he performed big minutes on a younger Sarnia workforce within the OHL this season. There’s a perception amongst many across the OHL that he’s going to be a top-six defenseman within the NHL. He’s bought the scale, athleticism and physicality. With slightly tidying up of the decision-making, he may very well be a strong choose with a late second-rounder.
They added some dimension at ahead with their two third-rounders, although I’ve bought much more time for the second child they picked (Adam Jecho) than the primary one (Ondrej Kos). Jecho must work on his mobility however he’s bought some instruments, and I’ve seen him make ability performs. I’ve all the time felt Kos was fairly vanilla.
I didn’t rank Tomas Mrsic, however there are folks across the WHL who imagine in him, and that’s sufficient for me to love him at No. 113. He’s additionally bought extra ability than his manufacturing thus far signifies. He could make performs.
I wouldn’t count on fifth-rounder William McIsaac or seventh-rounders Antoine Dorion or Matvei Korotky to get NHL offers. The Blues may have been time beyond regulation winners, possibly.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers’ choose provide has been, and can proceed to be, depleted of their push to win, however I assumed they did wonderful with what they’d. Sam O’Reilly with the ultimate choose of the primary spherical was slightly larger than the place I landed on him, but in addition the place he was projected to go. He’s a wise participant who may develop into a third-liner with some mind.
Eemil Vinni was one of many higher goalies in Europe on this class, and whereas I wouldn’t have used a second-round choose on him (I’ve all the time discovered him slightly leaky), it’s wonderful.
I don’t see something in Connor Clattenburg or Albin Sundin, however Dalyn Wakely was my ninth-ranked overager and had a 100-point season within the O this 12 months. He’s a participant I imagine was harm by COVID-19’s misplaced season in Ontario. He doesn’t have dynamic parts however he works, he’s a superb athlete, he can shoot it, he’s bought good instincts and he was a prime PKer and faceoff man within the league this 12 months. He’s going to be an AHL middle-fixer even when he doesn’t make it, and the sixth spherical was the appropriate vary.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning didn’t choose till fourth spherical, and whereas towering Gatineau defenseman Jan Golicic has loads of work to do if he’s ever going to make his dimension work up ranges, I preferred the collection of Hagen Burrows later within the first spherical. After I watched Minnetonka Excessive this 12 months, I really preferred Burrows higher than Javon Moore, who went in entrance of him. His skating wants some work, however the sport involves him fairly naturally contained in the offensive zone and he’s bought an NHL shot. I’d be serious about working with him.
Fifth-rounder Joona Saarelainen is a ton of enjoyable to look at and a prime participant in his age group in Finland however he seemingly could have a tricky time being that on the professional stage. And whereas I don’t see something in sixth-rounder Kaden Pitre, I sort of just like the swings they took on the three overagers they drafted in Spherical 7. Joe Connor was a prime participant within the USHL this season, Norwegian Noah Steen has appeared like an actual participant each time I’ve watched him, and goaltender Harrison Meneghin was one of many prime goalies within the WHL this season.
Dallas Stars
I assumed the Stars bought off to a superb — and predictable — begin, taking Emil Hemming, considered one of my top-ranked gamers ,at No. 29. Hemming has a legit scoring bundle and, with slightly extra consistency, he may hit as a middle-six scorer.
They clearly like their Finns in Dallas, and I didn’t thoughts them going again there but once more for Niilopekka Muhohenen within the fifth spherical. He wasn’t on my record and doesn’t have a lot offense however he’s large, he’s cell, and he defends nicely.
William Samuelsson is meh.
Ottawa Senators
I need to just like the Senators’ drafts in order that I can work my approach again into the nice graces of the residents of Ottawa, and I feel Carter Yakemchuk has a really excessive ceiling even when he wouldn’t have been my choose at No. 7, so this has little to do with that.
Gabriel Eliasson early within the second spherical each didn’t shock me and was nonetheless the primary choose of the draft by any workforce that I didn’t like. Eliasson is a mountain of a defenseman who strikes pretty nicely for his dimension and was all the time going to be a second- or third-rounder for that purpose, however I didn’t rank him on my board after watching him get in his personal far more than any defenseman I’ve scouted in 11 years of doing this. He’s essentially the most undisciplined participant I’ve ever watched and has proven no means to play with any restraint, costing his groups in vital moments and infrequently leading to benchings that don’t appear to have the appropriate influence. If he makes it, he’ll be a reasonably distinctive participant. I wouldn’t have used a second-round choose on him, given the others who have been accessible there.
Lucas Ellinas wasn’t on my record both, however there was loads of chatter about him as a mid-round choose late within the 12 months and I had two totally different sources within the closing two weeks earlier than the draft give him some love. He’s bought good velocity and there’s perception that he’s early in his improvement and will take an enormous step with Kitchener subsequent 12 months.
I preferred their collection of Javon Moore at No. 112. He wasn’t on my board however he was included in my honorable mentions and he has some professional instruments to work with. He can skate, he’s bought good dimension and whereas I don’t suppose he has a ton of offense, I see a path to a depth NHL position with the appropriate improvement.
Blake Montgomery can be an fascinating gamble. He’s lengthy and he can completely fly. He has some believers consequently, although he’s a particular lengthy shot.
In the end, I feel they took some guys too excessive and drafted loads of initiatives. I did take into consideration placing them in losers. *geese from the tomatoes*
Losers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers picked good gamers however I felt like every of their first three alternatives was slightly wealthy relative to the picks they used.
Jett Luchanko had at the least three groups throughout him within the teenagers, however No. 13 felt prefer it was leaving upside on the board. And whereas Jack Berglund (honorable point out, simply exterior of my prime 100) and Spencer Gill (No. 97 on my board) are each wonderful prospects, I didn’t like grabbing them within the 50s even when that was extra their consensus vary than my very own. Berglund goes to should work on his skating to be greater than a superb AHLer, and Gill, though he confirmed nicely for many of this season, has loads of work to do to refine his defensive play and fill out his wiry body.
Noah Powell, their fifth-round choose, is a completely superior story. For starters, he’s deaf. He additionally took off like a rocket this season as an overager in Dubuque, scoring 43 targets and searching completely dominant in stretches. He’s an OSU commit.
I by no means noticed in Heikki Ruohonen what some others did, however the fourth spherical wasn’t a horrible vary for him.
I don’t see something in both of their final two picks, Ilya Payton or Austin Malone. I simply by no means felt like they bought good worth out of their picks, aside from possibly Powell, relative to the place they drafted.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs have been (but once more) mild on picks.
I assumed No. 31 was slightly excessive for Ben Danford, however I’d been informed he was their man pre-draft, so shifting again and grabbing him made sense. He’s an ideal child who everybody across the OHL has a ton of time and respect for. They thought of naming him their captain this 12 months in Oshawa. He’s bought the defensive basis and he developed an increasing number of poise and offensive smarts in his sport this 12 months, including parts that weren’t there in minor hockey and even his 16-year-old 12 months. He’s a low-ceiling man however he may very well be an efficient NHL defenseman.
Victor Johansson, at No. 120, wasn’t in my prime 100 however I used to be informed to spend a while on him late within the 12 months. He’s a heady, two-way sort with first rate athletic instruments, even when he’s nonetheless early in his improvement and an extended shot.
Holinka is essentially the most fascinating of their three fifth-round picks. He clearly appeared to be above his friends at Czechia’s junior stage this 12 months and has some professional instruments.
There have been some peculiar picks within the fifth and seventh rounds from the Leafs, although. Sam McCue was a warrior for the Knights and he’s the considered one of their final 5 picks who I feel has an opportunity to get a professional contract. He’s in all probability a bottom-six AHLer, although.
(High picture: Dave Sandford / NHLI through Getty Photos)