The moment of truth is finally here for scouting staffs and humble prospect writers like myself. I can't recall a draft board with as many possibilities as we have in the 2018 NHL draft. Each team has finalized its list, but the draft outlook is far from settled.
In speaking with scouts over the weeks leading up to Friday's draft in Dallas, no one seems to have a great sense of what the others are doing. That makes the practice of putting a mock draft together all the more difficult. Some teams very well could go need over best player available this year because there is not a ton of separation in a very deep group. That is especially true after the top 10. Expect the unexpected is the mantra. Everything is on the table.
So let's mock the first round one last time. Here's a look at my best estimation of what Day 1 will look like.
Top 80 | Nos. 1-20 | Nos. 21-40 | Nos. 41-60 | Nos. 61-80
Notable late-rounders | Top goalies
1. Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda (Sweden)
Draft board ranking: No. 1
Well, not everything is unpredictable. The Sabres make the easy pick and bring another significant core piece into their efforts to rise from the ashes of two failed rebuilds. Adding Dahlin gives the team its cornerstone defenseman to build around. Having Jack Eichel and Dahlin as the focal points of your franchise for years to come is a pretty decent spot to be in after so many years of struggle.
2. Carolina Hurricanes: Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 2
Even after the Tom Dundon shakeup of the organization, it's hard to see the Canes straying too far from convention at No. 2. Much has been said about their desire to be tougher to play against. Svechnikov is a very difficult player to defend due to his ability to create in tight spaces, his power and strength and a devastating shot. The Russian checks a lot of boxes and should fit in very well with a forward group that gets better immediately with his arrival.
3. Montreal Canadiens: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat (Finland)
Draft board ranking: No. 8
The biggest wild card in the draft is what the Habs are going to do with this pick. Their options are numerous, but they're in desperate need of centers at both the NHL level and in their prospect system. Kotkaniemi is one of the big draft risers, thanks to a strong performance in the Finnish professional ranks and a star turn for Finland at the U18 World Championship. He has size and skill. I'd personally prefer Filip Zadina here because the Canadiens need scoring help, but Kotkaniemi is very well regarded and has moved up a lot of boards.
4. Ottawa Senators: Brady Tkachuk, LW, Boston University (Hockey East)
Draft board ranking: No. 4
This one will rely on what Montreal does at No. 3. It sounds highly likely the Sens are going with one of the top available wingers in this spot. I think it would be an excruciating decision for this group with Zadina being the higher-end offensive player and Tkachuk being more well-rounded. Both are extremely competitive and lack nothing when it comes to work ethic. With the shakiness surrounding the organization on so many fronts right now, Tkachuk comes in with the NHL pedigree, a strong personality and notable leadership qualities. I don't know if an 18-year-old can be a stabilizing force for the whole team, but he's the kind of guy you pick and not worry about how he'll fit. His hockey intelligence and work ethic are hard to match.
5. Arizona Coyotes: Filip Zadina, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 3
If Zadina were to fall to the Coyotes, general manager John Chayka should be running to the podium. Zadina is my No. 3 prospect, and I think the gap between him and Svechnikov is minimal. The Coyotes don't have much beneath the NHL level for defensemen, but passing up on a scoring talent such as Zadina would be shocking here. I could see a reasonable case for adding either Quinn Hughes or Adam Boqvist, as each would bring an element the Coyotes lack, but Zadina has major scoring potential. This also could present a trade opportunity for Chayka.
6. Detroit Red Wings: Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan (Big Ten)
Draft board ranking: No. 5
The Red Wings are expected to grab a defenseman, assuming none of the top forwards listed above drops to them. There's not a lot of separation among the top four blueliners, and opinions on them vary greatly. That said, Hughes has game-breaking potential and offers the Wings a unique blueliner to bolster their offense. Head coach Jeff Blashill spent three weeks coaching Hughes at the World Championship and let the youngster be himself. It could be a very good match, though I'd expect Detroit also will take long looks at Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard.
7. Vancouver Canucks: Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 10
General manager Jim Benning went on record with NHL.com saying he expects the Canucks will pick a defenseman and in this range -- and it's no surprise, given the plethora of young forwards that they've started stockpiling in the draft. Dobson obviously has gained the respect of the scouting community with his tremendous late-season performance in helping Acadie-Bathurst win the Memorial Cup. More importantly, he's a big righty who has a strong two-way game and a safely projectable NHL skill set.
8. Chicago Blackhawks: Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Draft board ranking: No. 6
Chicago has needs at basically every position in their prospect pool, and it'll have a chance to make a pretty significant dent in its system here. If the draft plays out as I have it here, the debate at the draft table over Boqvist and Wahlstrom, and perhaps even Bouchard, would be pretty significant. Defense is an immediate need at the NHL level for Chicago, but I don't think any of the remaining defensemen can hop into an NHL lineup next year. It's really difficult to add a goal-scoring talent like Wahlstrom in this range, but he's elite in that regard. He fits into Chicago's draft mold and probably has a short timeline to NHL readiness.
9. New York Rangers: Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
Draft board ranking: No. 7
The Rangers have been stockpiling defense prospects in trades, but they should not hesitate to add one of the most dynamic rearguards in the draft. Boqvist moves to the top of the team's defensive prospect depth chart by a substantial margin and gives the Rangers a player who shouldn't take terribly long to make the transition. Teams interested in Boqvist should do what they can to get him to North America next season, as he told me in February that he had struggled a bit with the transition to North American ice size at the U18 Five Nations. Should the Rangers come away with one of the top defensemen in this draft, it would be a huge win with the first of their three first-rounders.
10. Edmonton Oilers: Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 9
Bouchard has been all over the map in terms of what teams think of him. He's still a highly intelligent player who has tremendous offensive instincts and tools. He also has a maturity about him that I think might give him a shorter NHL timeline. Additionally, he has the potential to be a No. 1 power-play quarterback.
11. New York Islanders: Barrett Hayton, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 14
The Isles have some significant depth defensively, but they still could consider using one of these back-to-back picks on a top blueliner. Even so, I think the best value comes via forwards, and I'd assume the Isles would concur. Getting a center in this range is reasonable, and whether it's Joseph Veleno or Hayton, they're getting a good one. Hayton's versatility and his substantial role on one of junior hockey's best teams will entice the new Isles regime.
12. New York Islanders (via CGY): Joel Farabee, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Draft board ranking: No. 13
A college-bound winger with skill matched by energy and work ethic should be especially desirable to Lou Lamoriello's group. Farabee does a lot of the dirty work for his linemates, as he did playing alongside 2019 top prospect Jack Hughes and Oliver Wahlstrom for a portion of this season. When he moved away from that line, he showed he also could dictate play just as well on his own. He's not a big guy, but he's got enough skill and tenacity to carve out a substantial role for himself when he reaches his full potential.
13. Dallas Stars: Joseph Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 11
Stars GM Jim Nill often has bucked convention at the draft and bet big on upside as opposed to the "safe picks" (aside from making a rather easy choice of Miro Heiskanen last year). Frankly, the first-round picks have struggled or haven't had an opportunity in the NHL yet despite Dallas often ending up in the upper third of the draft, either by trade or by record. This is a chance to nab a quality center who has a good skill level and a commitment to a two-way game. But I would not be overly surprised to see Dallas take a shot at a guy such as Vitali Kravtsov, even though it's had lukewarm success with Russian first-rounders in the Nill era.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (via STL): Vitali Kravtsov, RW, Chelyabinsk (Russia)
Draft board ranking: No. 23
GM Ron Hextall recently said he wants either a goal scorer or a right-shot defenseman in the draft. Based on the two first-round picks he has, there's a chance to get both. However, one of the better goal-scoring talents left on the board is probably Kravtsov. He showed improved scoring touch in the KHL playoffs, and he has some shiftiness to get himself into good scoring positions. Kravtsov also has size to power his way through. I see that as a combination the Flyers would find attractive.
15. Florida Panthers: Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 16
The Panthers are becoming Little Finland in their prospect system, and I think Rasmus Kupari is a stylistic fit. However, I would not be surprised to find the Panthers thinking defense; they haven't taken a defenseman prior to the third round since selecting Aaron Ekblad at No. 1 in 2014. Smith is a good fit as a highly skilled puck mover who will need a few more years to develop and round out his game. He had a tough finish to the season, which is why his stock has fallen a bit, but he would be a nice add for the Cats in this range.
16. Colorado Avalanche: Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (Finland)
Draft board ranking: No. 15
Assuming the Panthers don't continue their annexation of Finland's prospects, Kupari makes a lot of sense here for the Avs. He has top-six skills, plays the game at a high rate of speed and is trending very positively in his development. Additionally, Kupari's numbers as a U18 player in Liiga were better than that of Mikko Rantanen at the same age, which should resonate with the scouting staff.
17. New Jersey Devils: Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea (Sweden)
Draft board ranking: No. 18
I've thought for a while that Lundestrom is a really good stylistic fit for the Devils due to his skating, an ability to play with pace, a tendency to get in on the forecheck and solid two-way skills. He does everything pretty well without any one elite trait. His numbers might not pop, but his U19 season in the SHL was statistically comparable to that of Alexander Steen and Loui Eriksson at the same age. The fact that Lundestrom played a solid middle-six role in the pros this season also should intrigue the Devils.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets: Grigori Denisenko, LW, Yaroslavl 2 (Russia-Jr.)
Draft board ranking: No. 12
I would not be surprised to see Denisenko picked by any of the four preceding teams, but I think his stock has fallen just enough that he could be a draft-day tumbler. If he does dip, the Blue Jackets shouldn't let him fall any further. Denisenko is one of the most skilled players in this draft, with excellent playmaking ability and a great shot release.
19. Philadelphia Flyers: Bode Wilde, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Draft board ranking: No. 24
If the Flyers still want to come away with a right-shot defenseman, they could consider trading back or they could go a little early on Wilde. While the young blueliner is remarkably talented in terms of his offensive skills and skating, hockey sense is a moderate concern. The Flyers don't need him any time soon, though, so they could let him marinate a bit in the system.
20. Los Angeles Kings: Akil Thomas, C, Niagara (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 22
The Kings have a ton of really strong options here, but the chance to keep bolstering the offense within their prospect system is especially attractive. Thomas was the top-scoring U18 player in the OHL last season with 81 points in 68 games. He is a pass-first center who boasts a strong offensive skill set, speed and excellent vision. There's a pretty significant organizational need for right-shot defensemen, but adding skill is always important. If Wilde drops to 20, which is a distinct possibility, he could be a fit here, as well.
21. San Jose Sharks: K'Andre Miller, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Draft board ranking: No. 17
One of the big draft risers, Miller would help fill an organizational need while also providing more of a swing on potential over current body of work. San Jose always seems to play it a little safer in the first round, but Miller is not a huge gamble. A defenseman at Miller's size and with his skating ability and upside is tough to let go by. If it's not Miller here, I'd expect Mattias Samuelsson or Rasmus Sandin.
22. Ottawa Senators (via PIT): Mattias Samuelsson, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Draft board ranking: No. 27
I think the Sens would be tempted to pick local product Serron Noel here, but I also think they'd have to come out of this first round with a defenseman as they've really loaded up on forwards in recent years. Samuelsson is big and physical and an excellent defender. His offensive upside is a bit limited as compared to a few others still on the board, but he projects very favorably as an everyday NHL defenseman due to the detail in his game.
23. Anaheim Ducks: Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 20
The Ducks have skewed heavily toward forwards in recent drafts. With offensive standouts such as Sam Steel and Troy Terry inching closer to making an NHL impact, I would not be surprised to see the Ducks lean to defense with this pick. Sandin was a top-four blueliner for the strong Soo Greyhounds this season in the OHL. He's stable at both ends with solid puck-moving skills and a bit of an edge.
24. Minnesota Wild: Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 19
If things play out like this, the Wild have a chance to replace big Alex Tuch, whom they relinquished to the Vegas Golden Knights last season. Noel is a strong skater with room to fill out his huge frame, which could make him a high-end power forward. He scored 28 goals in juniors this season and simply got better as the year went on. He's also a better skater than Tuch was at the same age.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs: Jonatan Berggren, RW, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
Draft board ranking: No. 21
The Maple Leafs are big on high-end skill, and there's no doubt that Berggren checks that box in a significant way. He dominated the Swedish junior ranks, leading the league in scoring. He also led Sweden in scoring at the World U18 Championship to shoot up draft boards this year. Based on how it goes, I also could see Dominik Bokk getting major consideration here.
26. New York Rangers (via BOS): Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
Draft board ranking: No. 28
If the Rangers don't package their picks to move up -- something I view as a distinct possibility -- they can take some swings here. Bokk isn't a terribly bold swing in this range, but he is one of the bigger wild cards in the draft. There's no question he's incredibly skilled, but we haven't seen a lot of him against higher-end competition, making his projection a little wonky. He did have 15 games in the SHL this season for that league's top club, Vaxjo. There's no question he's intriguing.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (via NSH): Nils Lundkvist, D, Lulea (Sweden)
Draft board ranking: No. 29
If the Blackhawks don't manage to get a defenseman at No. 8, they still have a chance to get a good one here. Lundkvist was a late riser this season, really popping on the radar thanks to his strong performance against pros and standing out with Sweden's U18 team. A right-shot defenseman with good two-way skills, he would be a great complement to Chicago's first-rounder last year, Henri Jokiharju.
28. New York Rangers (via TB): Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 26
Another big late-season riser, Dellandrea played through a very tough situation in Flint, Michigan. He still took over some games despite playing on a very poor team, and when he was with Canada at the U18s, he showed how much better he can be when surrounded by higher-end talent. His point total doesn't jump out at you, but his on-ice performance was pretty special.
29. St. Louis Blues (via WPG): Liam Foudy, C, London (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 32
The Blues have been building a solid foundation of forward prospects. I think they would take a long look at defensemen here, but Foudy seems too good a match for the Blues in this range. If they let him pass by, they won't get him with their second-round pick. He is one of the faster players in this draft class and possesses high-end skill. He would give them more value here than any defenseman remaining on the board.
30. Detroit Red Wings (via VGS): Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)
Draft board ranking: No. 30
An explosive skater with size, McLeod would be a nice selection in this range for the Red Wings. I also could see him fitting with any of the three preceding teams. He had 70 points this season with Mississauga, and he should have an even bigger role with the club next year. I think there's some debate about McLeod's overall upside, but he has great size, and that skating should carry him a long way.
31. Washington Capitals: Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice (Czech)
Draft board ranking: No. 25
Kaut's draft stock is in flux a bit after a correctable heart issue was reportedly discovered at the NHL scouting combine. But Kaut has an impressive body of work on the ice, and he would add a needed boost to the forward prospect pool for the Stanley Cup champions. It sounds like the health issue is not going to affect Kaut, and the Caps have had a lot of success dipping into the European leagues for their first-rounders in recent years. Kaut had a tremendous year in the Czech league, played a leading role for the Czech Republic at the World Juniors and nearly landed a spot on the Czech World Championship team this spring.