[CanuckJohnny]

Round 1 Mock Draft




BUF C Connor McDavid (OHL, 66gp, 30-66-96) - The electrifying center is the de facto number one selection this year. A high flying generational talent, nobody in their right mind would pass on him.
CAR RW Mitch Marner (OHL, 67gp, 34-60-94) - Eichel is a consideration here and has been the second to McDavid in rankings all year long, but the dynamic speed and two way potential lead some scouts to believe Marner has the second highest ceiling of the draft.
TOR C Jack Eichel (HS, 67gp, 37-51-88) - One of a handful of players at the top of the draft who scouts believe could step into an NHL lineup immediately without being out of place, he is an all around offensive talent at the most valuable forward position, and the second ranked forward in the draft all year.
FLA RW Mikko Rantanen (FIN, 56gp, 39-45-84) - After tearing up the Finnish league this season, many consider him to be the most NHL ready prospect besides McDavid in this draft. He also has arguably the best shot in the draft.
CBJ C Sebastian Aho (FIN, 56gp, 27-32-59) - A well rounded center who projects as an NHL 1C, Aho can do it all in both ends of the rink. His ceiling may be lower than the three talents above him in this mock, but his floor is probably the highest.
MTL LW Kyle Connor (HS, 68gp, 37-46-83) - He can fly, maybe the fastest skater in the draft after McDavid, and he can score. If he hits he could be a top line scoring winger at an elite level for a long time.
OTT LD Zack Werenski (HS, 65gp, 6-45-51) - A two way defender with size and physicality but also offensive flair and high end skating, perhaps the most complete defenseman in the draft and probably projects as a first pairing guy if all goes right with his development.
CGY C Mat Barzal (WHL, 66gp, 24-55-79) - A tremendous skater who uses his edges as well as anybody in this draft class, he has high end vision and playmaking ability. Could be a 1C if he can round out his game as he develops.
DAL LD Thomas Chabot (QMJHL, 68gp, 15-45-60) - Probably the best offensive defenseman this year, even if his stats are potentially inflated by playing the Q. He has the size, the skating and the skill to play on a team's first pairing someday, and the offensive acumen to run a PP1.
WPG LD Noah Hanifin (HS, 67gp, 14-29-43) - Hanifin has a big frame that he uses to his advantage at both ends of the ice. He plays physical, potentially costing his team in the box occasionally, but with added maturity and discipline he should develop into a two way top four defender who can help shut down a top line.
WPG (from LAK) C Pavel Zacha (WHL, 67gp, 23-50-73) - Some see potential in Zacha to become a well rounded, defensively responsible, physical playmaking 2C. Even if he can't reach his ceiling he has a high floor as a solid middle six NHLer.
NYR C Dylan Strome (OHL, 65gp, 28-53-81) - Strome has the reach and the skill offensively. Questions about whether he can use his frame to his advantage as a power forward and about whether he will develop a two way game hold him back from being ranked higher, but he has a lot of the tools scouts look for in a potential top of the lineup center.
ARI RW Timo Meier (QMJHL, 68gp, 40-36-76) - The Swiss sniper scores goals, and NHL teams will always covet a winger with 30+ goal potential, especially in skater with Meier's solid build. He should become a force as a top six goal scoring winger in the NHL.
EDM LD Ivan Provorov (QMJHL, 68gp, 12-30-42) - Provorov can skate very well, has offensive potential and plays a well rounded game. The perfect blend of physicality, skill, skating and defensive chops for an NHL top four defenseman.
ANA C Roope Hintz (FIN, 55gp, 22-29-51) - A solid blend of speed, power, two way acumen and offensive ability, whoever drafts Hintz should be reasonably confident he can develop into a top six center in the NHL
CBJ (from WSH) RW Brock Boeser (HS, 67gp, 29-27-56) - A pure sniper, Brock's lethal wrist shot is his calling card. He can get open and when he gets the puck he can sling. He has 30 goal upside at the NHL level.
SJS LD Jakub Zboril (CZE, 56gp, 5-28-33) - A defensive blueliner with a solid frame and decent skating ability, Zboril could become a legit top four defenseman in the NHL if his development goes right.
NJD LW Kirill Kaprizov (RUS, 56gp, 27-24-51) - An offensive star, Kaprizov has top ten upside for sure, but the "Russian factor" could see him slide as comparable talent goes ahead of him and lesser players are taken first simply be virtue of being a safer pick. He should come over eventually and when he does he will be an impact player and somebody will have a steal.
VAN C Henrik Borgstrom (FIN, 55gp, 23-23-46) - A lower ceiling, higher floor type, Borgstrom is capable if not exciting offensively and has a 6-3 frame that he should be able to use effectively at the pro level when he fills out.
PHI C Joel Eriksson Ek (SWE, 56gp, 26-27-53) - A two way center with decent size, Eriksson Ek should become an effective middle six NHLer with the right development.
TBL LW Lawson Crouse (OHL, 68gp, 34-33-67) - A big, heavy winger with range and aggression, he could become a middle six power forward or his offense could top out and he could still turn out to be a solid, defensively responsible bottom sixer who can hold his own physically and be a menace on the forecheck.
COL LD Jacob Larsson (SWE, 56gp, 6-24-30) - A defensively inclined blueliner, Larsson doesn't have the shine or dynamism of most of the defenders above him in this list, but he is reliable and steady in his own end, and teams will hope he can become a shutdown second pairing guy like compatriot Nicklas Hjalmarsson on the Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks.
MIN G Mackenzie Blackwood (OHL, 25gp, 9w, 3.76gaa, .875sv%) - Blackwood is probably the highest potential goalie in the draft, with the size and tools that scouts search for in a future number one. He had struggles in the OHL in his draft eligible season and his statline doesn't shine, but his talent should overcome those results for most evaluators.
TOR (from NYI) LW Anthony Beauvillier (QMJHL, 68gp, 24-33-57) - A speedy playmaker with some scoring touch, he may never crack an NHL top six but could be very effective as a bottom six energy forward with offensive punch who could play on a PP2 unit if necessary.
BOS RW Travis Konecny (OHL, 68gp, 32-36-68) - He oozes offensive skill and potential, but his size will be a question mark. With his feisty style will his smaller frame survive the pounding of the pro game? If everything translates he could be a top six option who plays PP1, but if he misses he might not even crack a lineup.
STL LW Jake DeBrusk (OHL, 66gp, 33-32-65) - A physical winger who can finish, if he translates well DeBrusk could blossom into an effective middle six energy winger who can score for you.
WPG (from PIT) C Colin White (HS, 67gp, 36-32-68) - A decently well rounded, versatile forward with a good shot, White could hit 20 goals as a pro if he is developed properly.
BUF (from NSH) G Ilya Samsonov (RUS, 36gp, 23w, 3.28gaa, .895sv%) - Samsonov has skill and the right measurables to become an NHL starter. If he can put everything together and if he comes over to North America he should at least play NHL games and he could well become somebody's number one.
ARI (from DET) C Anthony Cirelli (OHL, 68gp, 24-38-62) - A scrappy two way forward, Cirelli has playmaking skill but is mostly known for his aggressiveness and his effectiveness in his own zone. He plays an incredibly mature and responsible game for a 17 year old and if his offense translates to the next level he could become a Selke candidate one day.
CHI RD Noah Juulsen (WHL, 68gp, 4-28-32) - A defensive defenseman with size and physicality and a heavy shot, Juulsen's skating will have to continue to improve if he is going to make it as an NHL regular. Whoever drafts him will have confidence they can develop his offensive game beyond what it currently is. He does have a lot of tools.