A few teams out there are already staring at missing the playoffs, and those fan bases naturally turn their attention to the NHL draft. This draft class comes with a lot of promise and intrigue. A possible generational defenseman in Rasmus Dahlin is affixed at the top of the list, but there will be a lot of variation of opinions as the first round progresses.
To get a bit of a head start, we put together our first mock draft of the 2017-18 season. This is a bit different from the top-50 draft board rankings we published last week in that we are now fitting those prospects to teams.
Trying to get inside the heads of all 31 teams can be tricky, but this list reflects what I think the teams would do given the situation, draft slot and players available if the draft were held right now. Other things such as draft trends or tendencies were also reviewed, and positional need occasionally played a role in close calls.
Additionally, since there's so much of the season left, I decided not to simulate the draft lottery for this first spin, but I will in future mock drafts. This time around, the list goes by reverse order of the standings, as of Feb. 4, 2018. Traded picks are observed, as well.
It's important to note that in almost all cases, teams are simply going for the best player available on their board. Positional need is often low on the priority list, but can come in handy when there's a heavy enough debate between players. Additionally, this draft is not a very strong for centers (at least at the very top end) and goaltenders.
Let's get to it. Here's a first look at projected picks for the first round of June's draft.
1. Arizona Coyotes: Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda (SHL)
There's not much to overthink here. Adding Dahlin, perhaps the best defensive prospect since Drew Doughty, to a group of promising young forwards could make a big difference for the Coyotes. However, the big question here is whether this enhances Oliver Ekman-Larsson's long-term value to the team or if it makes trading him more palatable. I think you'd certainly rather have both guys, but the latter option seems a lot less outlandish in this scenario.
2. Buffalo Sabres: Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL)
A power winger with tremendous goal-scoring ability, Svechnikov could be a great complement to Jack Eichel on Buffalo's top line. He has 13 goals in 13 games since returning from the World Junior Championships, where he recorded five assists in five games for Russia. Eichel desperately needs help up front, and Svechnikov is likely the most ready to hop right in and contribute.
3. Ottawa Senators: Filip Zadina, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)
The Sens were wise to make the first-round pick they included in the deal to acquire Matt Duchene a conditional one. They get to keep the pick if it's in the top 10, and it's looking more and more like that's a lock. They can get a potential cornerstone forward at this spot with Zadina available. I don't think there is much of a gap between Svechnikov and Zadina at this point. Both are elite offensive talents in this draft, but I think Zadina might have a bit more two-way value and offensive creativity.
4. Montreal Canadiens: Brady Tkachuk, LW, Boston University (NCAA)
While I wouldn't be stunned to see the Habs look defense here, I have a hard time believing they'd pass up on Tkachuk in this slot. He's got great size and plays a physical brand of hockey, while also possessing high-end offensive instincts and overall hockey sense. With the NHL -- and specifically his style of play -- seemingly built into his DNA, he makes a lot of sense to bolster Montreal's lineup as early as next season.
5. Vancouver Canucks: Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas (SHL)
I think the Canucks could go with any of the top three defensemen remaining in this range. While they have a puck-mover Olli Juolevi in the pipeline, Boqvist is an elite offensive defenseman. He has struggled a bit against professionals this year, but has been dominant in the Swedish junior ranks.
6. Edmonton Oilers: Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, U.S. National Under-18 Team (USHL)
While I think Edmonton could take a long look at the defensemen still available in this range, there aren't a ton of players in this draft who score goals the way Wahlstrom does. With a pro-ready frame and good skating ability, you could see Wahlstrom being capable of lining up alongside Connor McDavid for years to come. While I think he's probably a couple of years away from being an NHL player, he is the best pure goal scorer in this draft from my perspective and makes a lot of sense here.
7. Florida Panthers: Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL)
The numbers Bouchard has put up in the OHL this year are pretty spectacular. London has traded away a lot of their star offensive players, but Bouchard continues to produce at a high level. Averaging 1.29 points per game right now, Bouchard is having one of the most productive seasons by a draft-eligible defenseman in recent memory in the OHL. As a team that has seen three of its past four first-rounders come out of that league, I could see this being a natural fit for Bouchard.
8. Detroit Red Wings: Quinn Hughes, D, University of Michigan
Having this player in their backyard should give the higher-ups a pretty good book on Hughes. I don't know if Hughes will end up lasting this long in a real draft, but if he does, it's an easy pick for the Red Wings. His numbers at Michigan aren't necessarily eye-popping, but Hughes might give GM Ken Holland some Brian Rafalski flashbacks in the best possible way.
9. New York Rangers: Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
The Rangers could probably use a bit more of a boost on the back end in their prospect pool. Dobson's draft stock has been trending way up, and he'll check a lot of boxes. Averaging a point per game, he has perhaps the best defensive abilities of the blueliners selected so far. Oddly enough, the Rangers haven't selected a QMJHL player in the first round since 1977 (Lucien DeBlois).
10. Carolina Hurricanes: Joel Farabee, LW, U.S. Under-18 Team (USHL)
To me, Farabee is the best player left on the board in this slot. A smart two-way winger with a high motor and solid skill level, Farabee plays the game fast. The Hurricanes are getting closer and closer to building a playoff team. The blue line looks plenty healthy, but adding Farabee brings a jolt of offense and a player they won't need for a few years.
11. Chicago Blackhawks: Joseph Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)
The Blackhawks are a little light on high-end center prospects, and this about the spot we could start to see centers go. Veleno's stock has yo-yoed a bit this year, but he's currently trending up, as are his numbers since being traded to Drummondville. A gifted playmaker, Veleno has good speed and plays a responsible two-way game.
12. New York Islanders: Barrett Hayton, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
The Islanders could go a lot of different ways, but Hayton would probably help solidify long-term center depth. He projects as more of a middle-six center who can contribute offensively. Hayton is versatile and seems to just keep getting better and better.
13. Philadelphia Flyers: Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL)
The Flyers currently have a really strong prospect system. They have the luxury of taking their time with whomever they end up picking in this slot. Smith is the best player left on the board at this point, and even though they already have a ton of left-shot defensemen in the system, they have another pick later that gives them options.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (Liiga)
Getting to the middle portion of the draft will be interesting because things really start to open up. That said, a player like Kupari possesses tremendous upside. A slippery and highly intelligent forward, Kupari is intriguing even though he hasn't stood out from a production standpoint against pros.
15. Anaheim Ducks: Bode Wilde, D, U.S. National Under-18 Team (USHL)
Having shed young defensemen like Sami Vatanen and Shea Theodore fairly recently, the Ducks are in good position to add a solid defenseman here. Opinions on Wilde vary, but the tools he possesses are enticing. He's a tremendous athlete with good size, strength and skating ability.
16. New York Islanders (From CGY): Mattias Samuelsson, D, U.S. National Under-18 Team (USHL)
With an extra pick in the first, the Isles can and should focus on defense. Scouts I've talked to believe Samuelsson is one of the defensemen who is closest to being pro-ready in this class (outside of Dahlin, of course). He is one of the better defenders in this draft, and his offensive tools are better than his numbers currently suggest.
17. Colorado Avalanche: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat (Liiga)
The Avlanche have done a really good job with their first-round picks over the past few years. Kotkaniemi is an intriguing option here, as his numbers in the Finnish pros have been very strong. The Avs hit a home run selecting Mikko Rantanen out of Finland three years ago and would benefit from going back to that well in this slot.
18. Pittsburgh Penguins: Grigori Denisenko, LW, Yaroslavl (MHL)
The Penguins don't have a particularly deep prospect pipeline. Depending on how pre-draft meetings go, Denisenko may have the best upside of anyone left on the board. He's supremely skilled and plays the game at an uptempo pace that suits the Pens' style. The big question is whether the Russian factor even drops him this low. If it doesn't, there should be a couple of quality centers to look at here.
19. Minnesota Wild: Akil Thomas, C, Niagara (OHL)
Should Thomas end up in this range, it should be an easy pick for the Wild. He has a solid enough two-way game with good offensive skills and skating. Although the Wild have such players as Joel Eriksson Ek and Luke Kunin already in the pipeline, you can seemingly never have enough good centers in the mix -- especially when they can always be converted to wing, which Thomas might be a good candidate for.
20. Los Angeles Kings: Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea (SHL)
As good a two-way center as there is in this draft, Lundestrom seems to be a good candidate for a middle- to bottom-six pivot. His high-end hockey sense and on-ice work ethic make him a pretty safe pick in this range. There is a lot of versatility in his game, which gives the Kings a lot of options to plug him in down the line.
21. San Jose Sharks: Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)
The Sharks have some solid center prospects in their system presently, but McLeod could potentially ascend to the top of that group. At 6-foot-2, he is an especially explosive skater. There is some debate about his overall puck skills, but McLeod is having a strong season in the production department.
22. New Jersey Devils: Jacob Olofsson, C, Timra (Allsvenskan)
The Devils have been having good luck with Swedes of late in the draft, and they'll be in a good slot to take a chance on another one. Olofsson is having a really strong season in the Allsvenskan for a 17-year-old. To provide a little further context for Devils fans, he's actually been more productive on a per-game basis than Jesper Bratt was over his past two seasons in the same league.
23. Dallas Stars: Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa (OHL)
The Stars have had some interesting drafts in recent years. They're never afraid to swing for the fences, which I like. It hasn't always paid off for them, with the jury still out on more recent picks, but they don't shy from risks. I don't think Noel is a huge risk to take here. He's another big winger with a lot of offensive talent, but still has some rounding out to do. Beyond fitting a type, Noel is probably the best player left on the board.
24. Toronto Maple Leafs: Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Sandin has plenty of good offensive tools, but he is also a pretty detailed defender. With good positioning and smarts, he has helped bolster one of the top teams in all of junior hockey. There's a bit of a logjam of defensemen in this range, but Sandin seems like the best stylistic fit for the Leafs.
25. Washington Capitals: Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax (QMJHL)
The Caps have spent a lot of draft picks on defensemen over the past few years, but if they'd be lucky enough to nab McIsaac here, they'd probably have a new No. 1 prospect on the back end. I'm a little lower on McIsaac than the industry seems to be, so I wouldn't be shocked to see him gone before this slot. He's a solid two-way player.
26. Philadelphia Flyers (From STL): Jack McBain, C, Toronto (OJHL)
Having already spent a pick on defense, McBain is a good option here. With pro size already and good overall tools, McBain's draft stock has fluctuated a bit this year. He's putting up better numbers in the OJHL after an average start. McBain is committed to Boston College, where the Flyers can allow him to develop at his own pace as he takes a big step up in competition.
27. Nashville Predators: K'Andre Miller, D, U.S. National Under-18 Team (USHL)
With an organization that has been so good at developing defensemen, it would be hard for the Preds not to be enamored with the physical tools that Miller possesses. Having only played defense for the past three seasons, Miller still needs rounding out, but his upside is sky-high. His skating is solid, and he's learning how to pick his spots.
28. Boston Bruins: Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo (SHL)
The Bruins have built up a really strong core of prospects and young NHL players. That should give them a little more freedom in the first round this year. They've been loading up on defensemen, so maybe it wouldn't hurt to go after a moderate-risk, high-reward potential forward in Bokk. The German forward has been particularly good in Sweden's junior ranks.
29. Winnipeg Jets: Ryan Merkley, D, Guelph (OHL)
The Jets have been one of the best drafting teams in the NHL in recent years. They've had an awful lot of hits, which has allowed them to build a roster highlighted by youth. With that surplus of young talent, I think the Jets are fairly well positioned to take on a project like Merkley. He is an elite offensive talent, but his defending needs a lot of work. Winnipeg has the flexibility to be patient.
30. Vegas Golden Knights: Jonny Tychonick, D, Penticton (BCHL)
The Golden Knights have a lot of building to do, and it would be wise to focus more on defense. There are several interesting options in this range, but Tychonick is a particularly intriguing option. He has some high-end offensive tools and vision, providing for a pretty impressive upside.
31. Tampa Bay Lightning: Benoit Olivier Groulx, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
The Lightning have drafted almost exclusively out of one of the three CHL leagues in the first round over the past several years. Groulx is also arguably the best forward left on the board at this point. He has good two-way skills and a high motor. Groulx's versatility provides pretty good slot value here, too.