We are here and ready as the NHL draft is just about to get under way and I can’t wait to see who the teams select and some names to keep a eye on are Miller, Dach, Chychrun, Gibson and maybe some first round picks like the Islanders 13th, the Devils 2nd, the Flyers 5th and the Jackets 12th overall pick. Stay tuned for the latest.
The Canadiens Made two trades I will discuss later.
#1) Montreal Canadiens
Player: Juraj Slafkovsky
Age: 18
Position: Left Winger
Stats: (5G-5A-10P) 31GP
Junior League: TPS, Liiga
Analysis: this pick surprised me but he is going to do amazing in Montreal, he will be a great power forward in the top 6 for Montreal possibly playing with Suzuki and will definitely fit in well with this Canadiens team.
#2) New Jersey Devils
Player: Simon Nemec
Age: 18
Position: right side defensemen
Stats: (1G-25A-26P) 39GP
Junior League: HK Nitra, Slovak Extraliga
Analysis: absolutely shocker in my opinion as the Devils take the best defensemen in the draft in Simon Nemec. Nemec is going to be a lethal offensive defensemen in New Jersey and I think that he will fit well in their top 4 and could be a great 2nd pair D-Men behind Hamilton.
#3) Arizona Coyotes
Player: Logan Cooley
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (13G-23A-36P) 24GP
Junior League: USNTDP, USHL
Analysis: the Coyotes go with who most expected as they take Cooley 3rd overall. Cooley will play in the USHL for the next year or two but when he makes it to the NHL he will be a impactful top line forward who could even play with Guenther on the top line.
#4) Seattle Kraken
Player: Shane Wright
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (32G-62A-94P) 63GP
Junior League: Kingston Frontenacs, OHL
Analysis: the Kraken are the ones to stop the fall of Wright as they take him 4th overall. The skilled 2-way Center will play in Seattle either this upcoming year or next year and can play as the 2nd line Center for Seattle and make a lethal 1-2 punch with Marty Beniers for years to come.
#5) Philadelphia Flyers
Player: Cutter Gauthier
Age: 18
Position: Left Winger, Center
Stats: (19G-9A-28P) 22GP
Junior League: USNTDP, USHL
Analysis: the one guy who I said could shake up the guys who I predicted top 8 Goes fifth as the Flyers wind up taking Cutter Gauthier 5th overall. Gauthier will play in the USHL over the next year or two but when he finishes he will be a force to be reckon with as he can play maybe 2nd line Center behind Couturier.
#6) Columbus Blue Jackets (VIA CHI)
Player: David Jiricek
Age: 18
Position: Right side defensemen
Stats: (5G-6A-11P) 29GP
Junior League: HC Plzen, Czechia
Analysis: just like I predicted the Jackets go D and take David Jiricek with the 6th overall pick, Jiricek will be able to come into the NHL in a year and I think he can be a very good offensive defensemen and fill the hole on the right side that was left by Jones and I could see him playing with Werenski at some point.
#7) Chicago Blackhawks (VIA OTT)
Player: Kevin Korchinski
Age: 18
Position: Left side defensemen
Stats: (4G-61A-65P) 67GP
Junior League: Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL
Analysis: after trading DeBrincat the Hawks got back into the draft and take the 3rd best D-Men in this draft in Kevin Korchinski at 7th overall, Korchinski has the potential to be a good defensemen for Chicago on the left side probably behind Seth Jones and will make a good 2nd pair defensemen.
#8) Detroit Red Wings
Player: Marco Kasper
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (7G-4A-11P) 46GP
Junior League: Rogle BK, SHL
Analysis: the Red Wings get a physical 200 foot Center in Marco Kasper, Kasper is a Yzerman type of pick and is versatile as he can play on the wing if he needs too and I think he will be a amazingly gifted top 6 forward in Detroit and I think has the potential to be the 2nd line Center for them maybe behind Larkin.
#9) Buffalo Sabres
Player: Matthew Savoie
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (35G-55A-90P) 65GP
Junior League: Winnipeg Ice, WHL
Analysis: The Sabres could get a steal in their 9th overall pick as they take Matthew Savoie with this pick. Savoie is a really dynamic forward with one hell of a shot and I think that in a year or two he could be a very skillful top 6 forward and I think has the potential to be the future top line Center for this Buffalo Sabres team.
#10) Anaheim Ducks
Player: Pavel Mintyukov
Age: 18
Position: Left side defensemen
Stats: (17G-45A-62P) 67GP
Junior League: Saginaw Spirt, OHL
Analysis: the Ducks take a defensemen just like I said but with Korchinski off the board the Ducks take Pavel Mintyukov 10th. Mintyukov is a great defensemen and I think has showed his offensive skill and I think that in time he can play on the 2nd pair behind Fowler and while he might not be the best offensively I think this is a great selection for Anaheim.
#11) Arizona (VIA SJ)
Player: Connor Geekie
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (24G-46A-70P) 63GP
Junior League: Winnipeg Ice, WHL
Analysis: the Coyotes trade up to the 11th overall pick and take Connor Geekie as they get their 2nd Center of the draft, Geekie is a big and physical Center and is a type of Power Forward but is very creative and could play Wing if he need too but I think he will be the 2nd line Center for Arizona of their future behind Cooley.
#12) Columbus Blue Jackets
Player: Denton Mateychuk
Age: 17
Position: Left side defensemen
Stats: (13G-51A-64P) 65GP
Junior League: Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
Analysis: the Jackets use their second first round pick on yet another defensemen as they take Mateychuk with the 12th overall pick, after taking Jiricek the Jackets are making a outstanding defensive core right now as I think Mateychuk could be one of the best offensive defensemen in this draft and should be a 2nd pair player behind Wereinski in Columbus.
#13) Chicago (VIA NYI through MON)
Player: Frank Nazar
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (15G-20A-35P) 24GP
Junior League: USNTDP, USHL
Analysis: the Blackhawks were able to get the 13th overall pick for Kirby Dach and with that pick they get another USHL player in Nazar, Nazar is definitely a future top 6 winger in Chicago especially after moving DeBrincat and he is a guy who can win pick battles well and get’s to the net to score goals and I think he can play on line 1 or 2 in a couple years for the Blackhawks team.
#14) Winnipeg Jets
Player: Rutger McGroarty
Age: 18
Position: Left Winger, Center
Stats: (15G-18A-33P) 25GP
Junior League: USNTDP, USHL
Analysis: the Jets use their pick to take a good forward again from the USHL Rutger McGroarty, he is a fantastic forward who is versatile and can play both Center and Left Wing and is definitely a possible second line player and has fantastic hands and can get into the scoring area and will be a great offensive player for the Jets.
#15) Vancouver Canucks
Player: Jonathan Lekkerimaki
Age: 17
Position: Right Winger, Center
Stats: (7G-2A-9P) 26GP
Junior League: Djurgårdens IF, SHL
Analysis: falling into their laps at number 15, the Canucks draft Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Lekkerimaki is definitely a goal scorer and a asset on the power play as he has one wicked shot and with the questions around the Canucks forwards he can fit right in on the 2nd line with either on the wing or at Center and will definitely be a scorer in Vancouver.
#16) Buffalo Sabres (VIA VGK)
Player: Noah Ostlund
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (0G-0A-0P) 11GP
Junior League: Djurgårdens IF, SHL
Analysis: the Sabres use their 2nd pick of the 1RD to take Center Noah Ostlund 16th overall, Ostlund has exceptional hand eye ability and is good both offensively and defensively and is always on the hunt for a loose puck and has a great potential to be the Sabres 2nd or 3rd line Center of the future after the took Savoie.
#17) Nashville Predators
Player: Joakim Kemell
Age: 18
Position: Right Winger
Stats: (15G-8A-23P) 39GP
Junior League: JYP, Liiga
Analysis: the Predators just like the Canucks get a player who falls in their laps as the Preds get Kemell with the 17th overall pick, and with him the Predators are getting a lethal scorer who can find the back of the net from pretty much anywhere and with Forsberg’s status unknown he can come in and play a top six role in a few years and be a elite goal scorer for the Predators.
#18) Dallas Stars
Player: Lian Bichsel
Age: 18
Position: Left side defensemen
Stats: (1G-2A-3P) 29GP
Junior League: Leksands IF, SHL
Analysis: the Stars once again fill a need as they get monster defensemen Lian Bichsel with the 18th overall pick. Bichsel is a big bodied defensemen who can probably play sort of like Oleksiak in Dallas as he can play a top 4 role and chip in offensively but is also really good defensively and should have a bright NHL future in Dallas.
#19 Minnesota Wild (VIA LA)
Player: Liam Ohgren
Age: 18
Position: Left Winger
Stats: (1G-1A-2P) in 25GP
Junior League: Djurgårdens IF, SHL
Analysis: just as I have predicted the Minnesota Wild have taken a great Swedish winger Liam Ohgren with the 19th overall pick. He is a great winger who is very physical on the puck and has some pretty good hands as he is a great tipper and should play on the second or third line for Minnesota and maybe fill the hole in a few year that will be left by Fiala.
#20) Washington Capitals
Player: Ivan Miroshnichenko
Age: 18
Position: Left Winger
Stats: (10G-6A-16P) 31GP
Junior League: Team Omsk, VHL
Analysis: the Capitals take a chance with the risk and are end up selecting Russian forward Ivan Miroshnichenko with the 20th overall pick. Miroshnichenko is coming off of recovering from Cancer and there is a lot of risk in taking a Russian but the upside with this kid is amazing as he has one heck of a great shot and can produce offensively and in a few years if he is able to come over I think that he should have no problem being a top 6 forward in Washington maybe even playing on the wing of the top line with fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin.
#21) Pittsburgh Penguins
Player: Owen Pickering
Age: 18
Position: Left side defensemen
Stats: (9G-24A-33P) 62GP
Junior League: Swift Current Broncos, WHL
Analysis: the Penguins were able to add to their defensive core as they take a very good defender in Owen Pickering. Pickering has the potential to be a really good defensemen as he is good in both the offensive and defensive sides of the game and I think his ceiling is maybe playing with Kris Letang on the top pair for the Penguins.
#22) Anaheim Ducks (VIA BOS)
Player: Nathan Gaucher
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (31G-26A-57P) 66GP
Junior League: Quebec Remparts, QMJHL
Analysis: the Ducks get another 1RD pick as they take Center Nathan Gaucher with the 22nd pick in the draft, Gaucher is a really good Center who plays outstanding in the defensive zone and can contribute with goals offensively and I think he could definitely be the 3rd line Center in Anaheim eventually.
#23) St.Louis Blues
Player: Jimmy Snuggerud
Age: 18
Position: Right Winger, Center
Stats: (6G-20A-26P) 26GP
Junior League: USNTDP, USHL
Analysis: the St.Louis Blues have gotten themselves a really good goal scorer for the future as they select Jimmy Snuggerud with the 23rd overall pick. Snuggerud has major stick handling abilities and a elite level shot and with him falling to 23 the Blues are able to get a great future top 6 forward as I think he is able to be a 2nd line player in the future.
#24) Minnesota Wild
Player: Danila Yurov
Age: 18
Position: Right Winger
Stats: (0G-0A-0P) 21GP
Junior League: Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL
Analysis: after taking Ohgren with their first 1RD pick they were able to take a chance on a riskier player and drafted Russian forward Danila Yurov, Yurov is a outstanding offensive player with some great defensive abilities and I think that if they can get him to their team in a few years that he will have a huge chance to play on the 2nd line and use his offensive abilities well to help Minnesota.
#25) Chicago (VIA TOR)
Player: Sam Rinzel
Age: 18
Position: right side defensemen
Stats: (2G-8A-10P) 21GP
Junior League: Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL
Analysis: another trade up as the Blackhawks trade up to get their second defensemen of the draft in Sam Rinzel. After taking lefty Korchinski earlier they take big defensemen and maybe a bit of a surprise Sam Rinzel at 25. Rinzel is a big body defensemen who could play in the top 4 in a few years and Rinzel has some great abilities that I think Chicago highly valued and he will be a great player in a few years.
#26) Montreal Canadiens (VIA CAL)
Player: Filip Mesar
Age: 18
Position: Right Winger
Stats: (8G-8A-16P) 37GP
Junior League: HK Poprad, Slovak Extraliga
Analysis: the Canadiens add yet another good Slovakian forward as they take Filip Mesar with their second pick of the draft at 26th overall. Mesar has a huge NHL future as he is a bigger forward who has outstanding hands and can do it all especially put pucks in the net on the backhand and he should eventually by a middle six forward for the Canadiens.
#27) San Jose Sharks (VIA CAR through ARI)
Player: Filip Bystedt
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (1G-1A-2P) 15GP
Junior League: Linkoping HC, SHL
Analysis: the Sharks go a bit of the board here and after trading down they select Filip Bystedt with the 27th pick. Bystedt is a big forward and does a lot of little things well and I think that he could eventually become the 3rd line Center of this team and maybe be a penalty kill expert.
#28) Buffalo Sabres (VIA FLO)
Player: Jiri Kulich
Age: 18
Position: Center
Stats: (9G-5A-14P) 49GP
Junior League: HC Karlovy Vary, Czechia
Analysis: the Sabres get yet another Center as they take Kulich with the 28th overall pick in this years draft. Kulich is another great Center who is a elite level goal scorer and finds those open spots to get shots off and I think he could maybe play a wing or Center in the top 9 and help this Sabres team put pucks in the net.
#29) Arizona Coyotes (VIA EDM)
Player: Maveric Lamoureux
Age: 18
Position: Right side defensemen
Stats: (4G-20A-24P) 54GP
Junior League: Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL
Analysis: the Coyotes are able to take on a bad contract and trade up to select Maveric Lamoureux with the 29th overall pick. Lamoureux has outstanding size at 6’7” and is quite mobile for a guy of his size and can contribute offensively and I think in the long run he can be very good top 4 defensemen on the right side for the Arizona team.
#30) Winnipeg Jets (VIA NYR)
Player: Brad Lambert
Age: 18
Position: Center, Right Winger
Stats: (2G-4A-6P) 24GP
Junior League: JYP, Liiga
Analysis: the Jets use another first round pick on a versatile forward as they take Brad Lambert 30th overall. Lambert is a pretty decent forward who had a couple years ago been predicted to go in the top 10 but the Jets are getting a very skilled forward in Lambert as he can play Center which is a possible hole for this Jets team and I think he would be a good middle six forward with McGroarty in a few years for this Jets team.
#31) Tampa Bay
Player: Isaac Howard
Age: 18
Position: Left Winger
Stats: (11G-26A-37P) 27GP
Junior League: USNTDP, USHL
Analysis: The Bolts are able to finally draft in the first round and take a really good forward and maybe one of the steals of the draft as they take Isaac Howard 31st overall. Howard is a dynamic player who finishes off scoring chances and after he finishes his time in the USHL I think he will be a huge playmaker in the Bolts top six maybe even on a line with Stamkos.
#32) Edmonton Oilers (VIA COL through ARI)
Player: Reid Schaefer
Age: 18
Position: Left Winger
Stats: (32G-26A-58P) 66GP
Junior League: Seattle Thunderbirds
Analysis: after trading down to get the Kassian contract off of their hands they close out the first round of the draft by taking Reid Schaefer 32nd overall. Schaefer has a lot of the attributes of a power forward at the NHL level and with his size and ability to add offense I believe he could be a future top 9 forward for Edmonton and could maybe even play with a guy like Draisaitl on the 2nd line.
Seems like things are heating up for the Hawks and more on that in a minute.
And earlier today we had 2 signings and a pretty significant trade.
Matt Marton USA Today Sports
Major Blockbuster trade alert
Ottawa Chicago
Alex DeBrincat 2022 1RD (OTT 7)
2022 2RD (OTT 39)
2024 3RD (OTT)
Analysis: let the fleecing rumours begin as the Chicago Blackhawks have acquired the 7th and 39th overall picks in this years draft as well as a 3RD pick in the 2024 draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for amazingly talented 40 goal scorer Alex DeBrincat. DeBrincat was surprisingly on the block as the Hawks entered full tank mode and they are really willing to trade just about anyone right now but for the Senators this is a major win in not only this trade but also for their team. They are at the stage where they need to start making strides and DeBrincat can definitely help with that as he is a top 6 forward in Ottawa who can maybe play on the top line with Tkachuk and Norris, and be a huge contributor offensively in Ottawa and while he is two years away from being UFA eligible and is needed a $9 Million dollar qualifying offer next year I think Ottawa can get that done and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they were able to work out a long term extension but this is a absolutely fantastic add by the Ottawa Senators. As for the Blackhawks this is not at all what I was expecting in a return as I though they would’ve had 4 assets and three be first round quality but instead they get a 1st and 2nd round pick this year which is 7th and 39th overall and a 3RD pick in 2024. Now with the seventh overall pick I think they could draft a great young player like Kemell, Savoie, Jiricek, Lekkerimaki or Gauthier are some of the players I think could be availableto Chicago and they can probably get a player who could turn out two be decent in the NHL with the 39th pick but I think they wanted a bigger package and they just couldn’t get it, so at least for the time being I say Ottawa wins the trade but depending on how the Hawks draft picks develop and how long DeBrincat stays in Ottawa I do think in the long run the Hawks could win this deal and neither team is done as the Sens are taking to teams about taking Matt Murray and the Hawks May want another 1RD pick and have been rumoured to be shopping Dach to get it.
Major trade alert
Colorado New York R
Alex Georgiev 2022 3RD (COL 97)
2022 5RD (COL 161)
2023 3RD (COL)
Analysis: this is a very important and smart trade by both sides the Rangers deal backup goalie Alex Georgiev to the Colorado Avalanche for a 3RD and 5RD pick in tomorrow’s draft or (97 and 161) and a 3RD pick in next years draft. Now for the Avalanche this is a great move as they only give up a few Picks and get a goalie who I think is poised for a bigger role in Colorado. Georgiev is going to be a good tandem goalie with Francouz after he was stuck behind Shesterkin for a few years now. Georgiev’s numbers have been declining the past two years but with not too many starts I think that his numbers will improve with being in a tandem and he is a RFA so the Avalanche will have to work out the details with him but I think they will come to terms fairly quickly but with this move it is almost certain that Kuemper won’t be back with them next year as the Avalanches duo for next year is basically set with with Georgiev and Francouz. For the Rangers they were never going to bring him back as he would’ve certainly cost too much in a backup role and while there was a lot of talk about them getting a 1RD pick out of a Georgiev trade I don’t think that would’ve ever happened and I thought they could probably get a 2RD pick and another decent asset but getting a 3RD and 5RD pick this year as well as a 3RD pick in 2023 is a pretty good haul for the net minder and I think that this is probably a win for Colorado right now as they get a good tandem goalie but depending on his play and the Rangers picks it might end up being the other way and I have no doubt either teams are done yet.
Right side defensemen Kris Letang and the Pittsburgh Penguins have come to terms on a long term 6 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $6.1 Million and the deal will kick in next year. This was assumed to be the case for a while now and the Letang extension finally got down I am a little surprised that the Penguins were able to get Letang’s AAV down to only $6.1 Million per year but I am also surprised that they went 6 years as the contract will take him till he’s 41 years old so I am not to fond of what the contract will be in 4 or 5 years but for now he can continue being the top defender in Pittsburgh playing on the top pair for the next few years.
Left side defensemen Dillion Heatherington and the Ottawa Senators have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.763 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Heatherington made his return to North America this year and played mostly in the AHL but also got into 9 NHL games and while he was a 7th D in Ottawa this past year I think he will be a AHL player this year and be a very possible call up option if the Sens need a defensemen.
So to start here are 2 signings that happened last night.
Right side defensemen Adam Boqvist and the Columbus Blue Jackets have come to terms on a 3 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $2.6 Million dollars per year and the deal will kick in next year. Boqvist had problems staying healthy in his first season in Columbus as he only played 52 games but showed how good of a offensive defensemen he could be as he hit double digit goals and 22 points last season. I think that he will continue to be a top 4 defensemen for Columbus and if he can stay healthy should be a really good impact player.
Left Side defensemen Jacob Middleton and the Minnesota Wild have come to terms on a 3 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $2.45 Million per year and the contract will begin next season. Middleton came over from San Jose at the trade deadline and put up a respectable 5 points in 21 games and 1 point in 6 playoff games but was a plus 6 in the playoffs which is quite amazing and he had really good chemistry with Spurgeon after coming over in the trade so I think he remains on the top pairing for the next few years.
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