After an eventful Round 1, NHL teams are gearing up for Day 2, which includes Rounds 2-7 in Dallas. There is plenty of talented players still on the board. Who are the best prospects still out there?
1. Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa (OHL)
Age: 17 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 205
62 GP | 28 G | 25 A
From the video I watched of Noel at the Ivan Hlinka tournament to seeing him live in the middle of the season to his performance at the World U18 Championship, I saw a player who was really figuring out how good he can be. One of the biggest forwards in the draft, Noel is a solid skater who has shown improvement in his ability to make plays. He doesn't rely solely on his size to overpower the opposition, even though he probably can. He attacks the net well and can make plays in transition. I think there are some valid concerns about his overall hockey sense and his ability to finish off plays, but he closed the season on a rather high note with Canada at the World U18 Championship, collecting six points. I think the ceiling is very high for Noel, assuming he continues on this current development trend.
2. Jonatan Berggren, RW, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
Age: 17 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 181
38 GP | 18 G | 39 A
Berggren is one of the more dynamic players still on the board in this range and a personal favorite of mine this draft season. He led Sweden's top junior league with 57 points this season, posting the fourth-best season ever by a U18 player in that league. His scoring rates compare favorably with last year's No. 7 pick Lias Andersson and exceeds those of Stanley Cup finalists Lars Eller and William Karlsson at the same age. Berggren also saw some time in the pro ranks with Skelleftea and even appeared in two playoff games. He followed that up with an especially strong performance for Sweden at the World U18 Championship, leading the team with 10 points. In pretty much all of my viewings this year, Berggren stood out as a higher-end skill player who can get by defenders and create chances for himself and his teammates.
3. Akil Thomas, C, Niagara (OHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 171
68 GP | 22 G | 59 A
Thomas clearly works very hard on his game, which includes excellent playmaking skills. Thomas describes himself as a pass-first player, and at times he can probably be a little too pass-happy. He tried to shoot more as the season wore on, even noting to me that he switched up the curve on his stick to improve his shot. He also noted that he started working with sports psychologists in the second half of the season to help work on the mental aspects of his game and maintain focus in the challenging draft season. Scouts I've talked to want to see Thomas get more aggressive and add a little more grit in his game. He has the speed and athleticism to make even more of an impact, but he's already in a pretty good place. He was a top performer for a very good Niagara team and led all U18 players in the OHL with 81 points. I think he can be a play-driving forward as he progresses. Look for him to take a big leap forward next season.
4. Bode Wilde, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195
53 GP | 11 G | 25 A
Wilde has immense physical tools, along with high-end skating and an ability to make a lot of plays from the back end. He also has a very good shot and strong distribution skills. There are concerns about his overall hockey sense, though, which I tend to agree with. While Wilde has a lot of skill in his game and can play at pretty decent speed, he too often makes poor puck decisions and can get himself into trouble. The steadiness and easiness that you'd want to see in a facilitator from the back end isn't there. I think it's going to take time and reps in games when there isn't a ton of time and space to become more comfortable in those pressure situations. If he improves that, his value skyrockets. Hockey sense can be one of the hardest things to come by, but finding defensemen with the mix of size, skill and athleticism that Wilde possesses is even harder.
5. Mattias Samuelsson, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 217
58 GP | 11 G | 20 A
A bruising, physical defenseman with NHL bloodlines -- former NHLer Kjell Samuelsson is his father -- Samuelsson had a bit of an up-and-down season. I didn't think he performed overly well at the World U18 Championship compared with his high standard of play previously, but he played a ton. Used more as a shutdown defenseman, his tools in his own end are definitely superior to his offensive abilities. That said, the maturity he displays is a reason some scouts I've talked to see him as not needing as much time before he can make the jump to the NHL. He is currently slated to attend Western Michigan University to play for former NHL head coach Andy Murray, who has developed his share of quality defenders. He's got a good shot when he uses it; he just needs to use it more. Plus, he moves the puck better than he is often given credit for. But I think there are valid concerns about his ability to produce from the back end at the next level. Regardless, he still has a lot of tools that could make him an NHL defenseman for a long, long time, and I still view him as a likely top-four defender long term.
6. Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 203
68 GP | 26 G | 44 A
One of the draft's most explosive skaters, McLeod is physically advanced among his draft peers. His strength is a big advantage because I think his puck skills are fairly average in terms of stickhandling and shiftiness. He's a good distributor, though, and he has a nice shot. When he has less time and space, he's less effective offensively, as he makes some questionable decisions with the puck. That raises some questions about his overall hockey sense. Being as fast as he is, I'd like to see some more dominance offensively at the junior level. A guy who moves as well as McLeod is certainly going to give himself a chance to make an impact, but there's still rounding out he needs to do.
7. Jonny Tychonick, D, Penticton (BCHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 173
48 GP | 9 G | 38 A
A confident puck-moving defenseman, Tychonick has a lot of tools that would help him succeed at the next level. In the BCHL, Tychonick was the kind of defenseman who could take over games. He produced nearly a point per game in the regular season in the BCHL, earned an invite to play for Canada at the World U18 championship and is slated to play for Brad Berry at the University of North Dakota, a solid training ground for defensemen of his particular skill set. Questions still remain about his skills translating in a faster-paced environment, but he's going to get a really good test next season in the college ranks. Based on his poise with the puck, it should be a smooth transition for him. I'm concerned a bit that things were a little easy for him -- we saw at the World U18s that against tougher competition it was harder for him to make plays, but I think some of his defensive skills popped a little more there, too.
8. Adam Ginning, D, Linkoping (Sweden)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 196
28 GP | 1 G | 1 A
One of the better pure defenders available this year, Ginning brings with him good size and a higher-end hockey sense. The big concern at this point is that he just doesn't produce. Six points in the Swedish junior league, two in the pros. That's a bit scary, but he did have four points in seven games at the World U18 Championship, where he captained Sweden to bronze. There are flashes of good puck-moving ability, and while he may lack speed, I think he moves well around the ice. There's an easiness about his game. His defensive instincts also trend towards the elite, with an ability to close on forwards quickly and an ability to keep oncoming forwards to the outside with good footwork. He's a mature player, and given a few more years to work on his skills, he could round out into a reliable NHL defenseman.
9. Niklas Nordgren, RW, HIFK Jr. (Finland-Jr.)
Age: 18 | Shoot: R | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 169
28 GP | 13 G | 29 A
If you like scoring, Nordgren brings a whole bunch of that. With 42 points in just 28 junior games, he was a dominant force in his native Finland. He also excelled on the international stage, scoring eight goals in seven games to lead the World Under-18 Championship and help Finland win the gold medal. He had 15 goals in 17 international games this season. Nordgren also played some pro games with HIFK, registering three assists. His play away from the puck is average, and he doesn't have great size, but he does have a terrific shot and can get to the goal-scoring areas extremely well. I think he skates fine, but would not call it a strength. He just puts himself in such great positions to score and always wants the puck on his stick.
10. Filip Hallander, C, Timra (Sweden-2)
Age: 17 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 176
40 GP | 9 G | 11 A
Hallander probably could have given his stock a little more of a boost had he not been injured for the World U18 Championship, because he performed extremely well in international duties this year. A highly skilled forward, Hallander had good enough offensive tools to put up 20 points in Sweden's second pro division. He played a middle-six role, showing an ability to play center or wing. I think he's probably better suited for the wing long term because his offensive skill set exceeds his play away from the puck in a substantial way. Like so many players his age, added strength could unlock more to his game.
11. Jake Wise, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 189
38 GP | 11 G | 32 A
After missing a good chunk of the season with an injury, Wise came back in a big way. He plays the game at an extremely high pace with quick hands and fluid skating. He's the kind of guy you want to have to bring the puck into the offensive zone because he's going to create a lot of chances with high-level playmaking abilities. That speed also puts pressure on opposing defenses in transition. Wise needs to get a bit stronger, but he's going to Boston University, which is renowned for its strength program.
12. Kirill Marchenko, RW, Khanty-Mansiysk 2 (Russia-Jr.)
Age: 17 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 187
31 GP | 8 G | 8 A
A highly-skilled player with quick hands for a bigger guy, Marchenko didn't have a particularly productive year in the Russian junior ranks until he got into the playoffs. However, he was a standout for Russia at international U18 events over the course of the season, including his six-point performance in five games at the World U18s. He has fantastic hand skills and a frame with room to tack on muscle. If he develops more of a power element to go with that skill, he has a chance to be a highly productive player at the next level.
13. Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 196
65 GP | 9 G | 38 A
I've been hot and cold on McIsaac all season. I liked the way he played at the World U18 Championship, and he really stood out to me at the beginning of the season at the Ivan Hlinka. I think other players just got better as the season wore on, though. McIsaac is a pretty good two-way player with decent offensive skills. That said, his overall decision-making with the puck, particularly under pressure, is where I grow concerned. In higher-speed games, he has a harder time completing his passes and sometimes looks indecisive. Physically, the tools are there, and I think he'll be able to get better as he gets more reps playing against top players. I just see a little more risk now than I did earlier in the season.
14. Allan McShane, C, Oshawa (OHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 185
67 GP | 20 G | 45 A
A solid play-making center, McShane definitely knows his way around the offensive zone. Yet I think he's very average defensively and perhaps not as dynamic as he needs to be to be a big point producer. McShane is an average-sized forward, but I'd like to see him be stronger on pucks and extend plays more. I think there are also valid questions about his skating at this point, but the fact that this is a weaker draft for centers probably raises McShane's value a little bit here, as he plays the position well enough. It's just harder to project out what kind of role he can play if he's not dynamic enough to be a top-six producer.
15. Calen Addison, D, Lethbridge (WHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: R | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 180
68 GP | 11 G | 54 A
Averaging nearly a point per game with Lethbridge, Addison is an exceptional passer and puck-mover with great vision and a knack for good puck decisions. He's a below-average defender, which is a big reason he's not being mentioned in the same breath as some of his puck-moving peers. As Addison gets stronger and commits more to the defensive end, he's going to have a much better chance of reaching the next level. That said, I feel like his offensive tools are at a level where the defensive concerns bother me less. He's a prospect who will require patience and a lot of time in his development.
16. Scott Perunovich, D, Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
Age: 19 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 172
42 GP | 11 G | 25 A
In his third year of draft eligibility, Perunovich has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. He led Minnesota Duluth in scoring from the blue line with 36 points in 42 games. He was not selected in his first year of eligibility because, despite being a dominant Minnesota high school player, he is undersized, and it's a lot harder to project a player like him out from the high school ranks. Then last season he was on one of the USHL's worst teams, putting up points but playing in a lot of games in which his club was completely outmatched. As one scout noted to me, he is an "elite facilitator," as he really can control his team's play from the back end. Good distribution skills and a willingness to jump into plays helped make him college hockey's Rookie of the Year and the Bulldogs national champions. The size remains a concern, and he can still stand to defend better, but Perunovich doesn't shy away from anything, engages in battles and makes a lot of high-end plays with the puck on his stick.
17. Jack McBain, C, Toronto JC (OJHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 197
48 GP | 21 G | 37 A
McBain has the frame to play more of a power game, as well as the mean streak to do so rather uncomfortably for the opposition. It's just a matter of harnessing that combination of size and aggression and channeling it to become a more effective producer. He also needs to improve his skating to be more effective, but he has good offensive instincts and showed enough flashes to suggest an ability to reach another gear as he progresses.
18. Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 195
68 GP | 28 G | 27 A
A hard-working forward who has committed to playing a tough two-way game, Groulx has a lot of pro attributes. Most of them have to do with how he defends and the energy that he plays with. Despite a lack of offensive upside, he still put up 55 points, showed some improved goal-scoring skills and can be a bit of a disrupter in the offensive zone.
19. Jacob Olofsson, C, Timra (Sweden-2)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 192
43 GP | 10 G | 11 A
Advanced hockey sense and solid playmaking skills make Olofsson an intriguing prospect. A relative lack of foot speed, however, is a reason he's probably not going to go as high as he could. In some cases, hockey sense can overcome deficiencies in other areas, but with a premium on speed, Olofsson becomes a tougher sell. He was a top performer for Timra in Sweden's second pro division, with Olofsson playing a substantial role and finishing fifth on the team in scoring. But in international tournaments within his own age group, Olofsson rarely stood out in my viewings. I still think there's more for him to unlock in his game, and I'm intrigued enough to see where he can take things.
20. Jett Woo, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Age: 17 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 205
44 GP | 9 G | 16 A
Woo is an interesting prospect in a lot of ways. Injuries hampered him over the course of the season, and Moose Jaw ended up loading up its team for a WHL championship bid that ultimately fell short. That bumped Woo down the lineup a bit. He is one of the most physical defenders in this draft. His offensive numbers are not great for a top-end WHL defenseman, but his athleticism may limit those concerns. He skates well, can make a decent pass and has a pretty good shot when he's able to get it off. The lack of offensive upside limits him as the potential top-four guy that he looked like he could be earlier in the year, though. It's more likely he ends up as a low-lineup defenseman with tough defensive matchups.
Other names still available:
Sampo Ranta, LW, Sioux City (USHL)
Stanislav Demin, D, Wenatchee (BCHL)
David Gustafsson, C, HV71 (Sweden)
Adam Mascherin, LW, Kitchener (OHL)
Sean Durzi, D, Owen Sound (OHL)
Jakub Lauko, C, Chomutov (Czech)
Philipp Kurashev, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
Alexander Khovanov, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
Jesse Ylonen, RW, Espoo (Finland-2)
Jonathan Gruden, C, USA U18 (NTDP)