NHL Draft Preview

Ah, it's that exciting time of year again - The NHL Draft, when a single prospect can profoundly impact an entire franchise. While traditionally only the top 10 picks are expected to make a significant difference, this year's draft is exceptionally deep, offering teams a plethora of talented prospects who have the potential to positively contribute to any team they join. Add to this the possibility of trades along with surprising pick selections and anything can happen. That being said, here are our NHL first-round draft projections and how we see it unfolding.

1) Chicago Blackhawks- With the first overall pick in the NHL draft, the Chicago Blackhawks will select Connor Bedard from the Regina Pats. This one is quite easy: a rare generational talent who is compared to both Connor Mcdavid and Sidney Crosby. This is not an ordinary comparison! This kid is a special player. He's got the shot, the speed, the skating and the puck protection of an NHL star ALREADY. This-Guy-is-Special. While his defensive skills might best be described as "satisfactory", they should not negate his worth, value or the potential contribution that he will make.

2) Anaheim Ducks- Adam Fantilli. If not for Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlson would be battling for who would be drafted first. Fantilli's shot is amazing, but his accuracy needs work. He won the Hobey Baker Award and put up 65 points as a freshman at Michigan. He is only the third player to win the Hobey Baker Award as a freshman, and the first since Jack Eichel won it way back in 2015.

3) Columbus Blue Jackets- Leo Carlsson. This guy went nuts playing in Sweden this year and is known for his playmaking and IQ. His defence is very good and his transition game is something to watch. While his shooting can use some work, he is still considered a great player and prospect with some things to work on.

4) San Jose Sharks- Will Smith, who put up 127 points this year in USNTDP and put up 20 points in 7 games in the U18 world championship also took home the MVP. His puck-handling skills are out of this world and will be on the highlight reels multiple times. He has great playmaking abilities and has a nice shot but nothing to freak out over. He is comparable to a Trevor Zegras-type player.

5) Montreal Canadiens- Zach Benson, can play any position up front, although he is better on the wing. He has great positioning and his transition game is amazing. He is a bit smaller in size but his puck protection is great with somewhat decent speed. He is always moving and his accuracy is very good.

6) Arizona Coyotes- Matvei Michkov, many believe that he will fall (a) due to his contract with the KHL and (b) because Montreal is trying to trade up due to not wanting to take him, so he might fall even more. Arizona drafting Michkov makes sense for their future. Michkov on a line with Logan Cooley might just be the best line they've had in a few years. His hockey ID might be the best part of his game, and his shooting and playmaking abilities are great. Do not be surprised if he drops or goes 4th, he is very unpredictable at this point.

7) Philadelphia Flyers- Ryan Leonard, some people call him the third Tkachuk Brother, his grittiest and ability to have a spark when the team needs it is his best attribute. He put up numbers on the USNTDP scoring 97 points in 57 games. He will be playing for Boston College next year so he can develop even more before coming into the NHL.

8) Washington Capitals- Dalibor Dvorsky, is a massive force to be reckoned with standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing in at 201 pounds. His skating prowess (even better with the puck on his stick) enables him to win those tough puck battles. He fell a bit in the rankings after a slow start but played well again towards the end of the year.

9) Detroit Red Wings- Oliver Moore, his speed and shot are ridiculous, his offensive game is very good and he can score from anywhere. He is also a great two-way player who can back-check very well. Believed to be the fastest player in this draft, Moore has the potential to definitely develop into an NHL star.

10) St. Louis Blues- David Reinbacher, the best defenseman in the draft and is more known for his defence. While he might not have the offence that some of the other defencemen in this draft have, he is the definition of a defenceman. He can skate very well for his size and will help on their PK.

11) Vancouver Canucks- Eduard Sale, they need a left winger and Sale is everything the Canucks need: he has a great, accurate shot and is a very good playmaker. While he has struggled this year, he can definitely get the help he needs under Elias Petterson.

12) Arizona Coyotes- Axel Sandin Pellikka, after trading Jakub Chychrun, the Coyotes are pretty thin on defensemen. Axel is the best offensive-defenseman in this draft and can help quarterback the powerplay shortly. He is quick with the puck and also consistent, he will help a team day in and day out and already has experience playing in a professional environment. Many compare him to Quinn Hughes.

13) Buffalo Sabers- Gabe Perreault, the right winger put up a record-breaking 132 points for the USNTDP. Who was the previous record holder you ask? Auston Matthews. Perreault's IQ is the best trait of his game. He knows where he wants to put the puck at all times, and pairing him up with Tage Thompson in the future would be lethal.

14) Pittsburgh Penguins- Matthew Wood, if the Penguins don’t trade this pick, Matthew Wood should be the pick. He is MASSIVE, standing at 6 foot 4 inches and 193 pounds and has a great shot and an even better net-front presence. He has solid speed but still has room to grow in that category. He will instantly help the Penguins in their depleted prospect pool and can turn into a solid top-six player in the future.

15) Nashville Predators- Colby Barlow, who captained the Owen Sound Attack has a tremendous shot, he can score from pretty much anywhere on the ice. His skating is solid and has some physicality in his game. He does the little things, he’s a very detailed player he tries to make every play perfect which could be good sometimes. The downside to this, though, is that some players can get into a slump when trying to be perfect.

16) Calgary Flames- Nate Danielson, massively improved his offensive game on a depleted Brandon Wheat Kings team. His defence is stellar, and with his improved offence, a Selke Award trophy is in sight. He can help any team in the future and will be a solid top-six forward if he continues to develop his game.

17) Detroit Red Wings- Tom Willander, if you look up the term offensive-defenseman in the dictionary, Tom Willander's name will pop up because his game is based on his vision and mobility. He has great patience and knows when to back off to defend as well. He had 25 points in 39 games on the Rögle BK J20. Tom will prove why he is the third-best defenseman in this draft when he gets his chance in the NHL.

18) Winnipeg Jets- Bryaden Yager, in such a deep draft, the Jets will get a steal by drafting Yager. His game is nasty. He has the speed, the hands and the shot. While he can do it all, his best trait is making the other players around him better. He is a bit undersized weighing in at 166 pounds, but that has not stopped him.

19) Chicago Blackhawks- Andrew Cristall, is the full package when it comes to offense. He can shoot from anywhere and score. His transition to offence is great but requires work on his speed and strength to be a great NHL league player.

20) Seattle Kraken- Mikhail Gulyayev, the defenceman from Russia whose confidence when carrying the puck up is out of this world. When "in the zone", his playmaking ability shines and Gulyayev can make any play he wants. His expertise is his skating and nasty edgework, but his size is his biggest weakness. At 5 foot 10 inches, he will have to work harder to solidify himself as an NHL defenceman.

21) Minnesota Wild- Otto Stenburg, Stenberg is a talented player with great offensive abilities combining quick hands with a lethal, accurate shot. He played seven games for Sweden at the World U-18s and recorded an impressive 7 goals and 16 points. Stenberg is very versatile, being able to play both center and wing.

22) Philadelphia Flyers- Samuel Honzek, this season was Honzek's first in the WHL since moving from his native Slovakia, where his skill set and hockey intelligence stood out. He demonstrated his ability to make plays off the rush and fight off defenders with his huge 6 foot 4 inches and 186 pounds frame. He can gain time and space for his rapid, powerful shot.

23) New York Rangers- Daniil But, is one of the larger players in the entire NHL draft class standing at 6 foot 5 inches. He has the size that all general managers love. Although his skating is sub-par, his shot is nice and has solid puck-handling skills.

24) Nashville Predators- Lukas Dragicevic, possesses a high-end offensive style. His skating, hands and vision enable him to be excellent at setting up goals off rushes and during power plays. He is in a high-risk, high-reward manner but leans more toward high-reward.

25) St. Louis Blues- Calum Ritchie, played very well this season, especially during the U-18 world championship for Canada. He has great hockey IQ and puck-handling skills. He should recover soon after having shoulder surgery.

26) San Jose Sharks- Quentin Musty, is an excellent player, a power forward who is even better on the power play and who excels at his playmaking abilities. He might be in this draft class because of his power play. While he must work on his skating, he would definitely be a steal in this draft.

27) Colorado Avalanche- Riley Heidt, his vision is out of the world. He had 72 assists this past season which tied Connor Bedard. Having only scored 25 goals in the WHL this year, he chooses to distribute the puck rather than shoot it. Pick 27 for Heidt is a steal without question; he could go higher up, but with his lack of shooter skills, the 20s should be a solid area for him.

28) Toronto Maple Leafs- Ethan Gauthier, was so dominant to start the year scoring 40 points in 35 games, but since December, his production has slowed to less than a point per game. Even though he didn’t produce, he was still a force on the ice who would be a great player for the Leafs to draft.

29) St. Louis Blues- Gavin Brindley, had 38 points in 41 games in his freshman year at Michigan. Although he stands 5 foot 8 inches, he is very strong for that size. He is a great skater and can get under any opponent's skin.

30) Carolina Hurricanes- Oliver Bonk, has a great hockey IQ and is very calm when he has the puck. This ability will allow him to grow in all areas of the game. He's an above-average skater with the potential for points who will help a team in many other ways.

31) Montreal Canadiens- Charlie Stramel, the combination of Stramel's size, skating and talent is astounding! He manoeuvres well in crowds and creates scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates. He can play physically and finish checks. He struggled with putting up points this year, due in part to teammates who did not help him.

32) Las Vegas Golden Knights- Danny Nelson, who knew that someone could go from defence to offence in a matter of only one year? Well, that is what happened to Danny Nelson. His transitioning was great, scoring 7 points in 7 games at the U-18s. The question remains: will Nelson remain a forward going forward? Either way, he can be a great utility player in the future.