For the first time since 2010 the draft lottery did nothing to change the order of the top end of the first round, with the San Jose Sharks hanging on to the first pick, Chicago second, and Anaheim third.
With the first 16 picks of the NHL Draft set, we now know which teams are in position to draft which players. Celebrini surely will go to San Jose first overall, and from there it opens up.
The draft itself will go ahead on June 28-29 this year, at The Sphere in Las Vegas. But before we get there, here’s a look at our early mock draft, which takes into consideration player skill, team needs and drafting tendencies.
1. San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C
Seems too good to be true that he would end up in a place where he once played minor hockey and so close to dad’s work.
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2. Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov, D
This player provides a two-way game with some bite. He skates well, shoots it well and can handle PP responsibilities.
3. Anaheim Ducks: Anton Silayev, D
Pat Verbeek came from a Tampa organization that had solid ties to Russia.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Sam Dickinson, D
There’s ties to the London organization by way of AGM Basil McRae and director of player development Rick Nash, where the Jackets would know the player best.
5. Montreal Canadiens: Cayden Lindstrom, C
There’s no longer a need for defencemen and this power forward is exactly what the Canadiens are missing in their pipeline.
6. Utah: Tij Iginla, C
Between his performance in the second half and the U18s, Iginla’s rise up the rankings ends up landing him on the newest team.
7. Ottawa Senators: Zayne Parekh, D
There are a number of high-end defencemen in this class, but none of them can create offence the way Parekh can.Â
8. Seattle Kraken: Ivan Demidov, RWÂ
There is risk with this pick in the process of getting him to North America, but he remains the second-most talented forward in this draft.
9. Calgary Flames: Carter Yakemchuk, D
The Flames have had the chance to see him up close and personal for the past two seasons he’s played with the WHL’s Hitmen. Nobody knows him better.Â
10. New Jersey Devils: Zeev Buium, D
Another multi-faceted defenceman who leans offence. He can take the puck end-to-end, he can manipulate defenders and he can create offence without being a defensive liability.Â
11. Buffalo Sabres: Berkly Catton, C
This is going to look a lot like last year’s first rounder, Zach Benson, in that he’s a player from the Western League who fell despite putting up huge numbers.Â
12. Philadelphia Flyers: Konsta Helenius, C
Always around the puck, handles it with confidence, and will do what it takes to win it back. He’s proven he belongs after two years in Finland’s Liiga.
13. Minnesota Wild: Cole Eiserman, LW
The most pure goal-scorer in this group. He now owns the USNTDP record for most goals in a career, having surpassed Cole Caufield.Â
14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh): Michael Hage, C
A skilled player who moves around the ice well, with the added bonus of having a solid frame.
15. Detroit Red Wings: Beckett Sennecke, RW
Eludes defenders one-on-one with speed to the outside, cuts to the off-side well, and has quick hands to excel in a small-area game.Â
16.. St. Louis Blues: Jett Luchanko, C
Similar to Robert Thomas in his draft year, Luchanko has made a steady rise through the rankings because of his elite skating ability, hockey sense, and tireless work ethic.Â