NHL Entry Draft Preview
June 23rd, 2017 -
Top prospects from all over the world are congregating in Chicago, along with 31 NHL general managers and their scouting teams. Some high end prospects have flown up draft boards recently and at least one has seen his stock plummet.
Our most recent mock has Cale Makar of the AJHL going first overall. The offensive defenseman has silky smooth skating and dominated at his level but there are some who question if his skills will translate to higher level competition because he played his draft year at the Junior A level. Most scouts think his talent is so unique that he will have no problem one day being an NHL number one defenseman or running an NHL powerplay with aplomb. Challenging him for first overall will be at least four others, as this year has no clear cut number one. Miro Heiskanen is also an incredible skater from the blueline. He plays more of a two way game and is more defensively responsible than Makar but probably doesn't have the offensive ceiling Makar does. Elias Pettersson has wowed scouts in Sweden with his intelligence and skill, and though his slight frame is a knock against him he could still fill out a fair bit. Nolan Patrick was the consensus number one at the beginning of the season and though he has slipped down the rankings of some it is likely he will still be in that conversation with his size and skill and playing the center position. Swiss forward Nico Hischier has seen his stock rise over the year with crafty two way play that should translate very well to the NHL.
The next tier of prospects include the top goalie in the draft, American Jake Oettinger. The only thing holding Oettinger back will be the hesitation with drafting a goalie with a high pick. He has all the tools scouts look for in a number one goalie. A pair of Swedish defensemen, Timothy Liljegren and Erik Brannstrom, could both go in the top ten. Brannstrom is considered to have the higher ceiling of the two. Both are considered offensive defensemen though, and for those general managers that prefer the old school, physical stay at home type of blueliner there's 6-4 Cal Foote. Rounding out our projected top ten is American center Josh Norris, a sniper with top six upside.
Goalie Jeremy Swayman is probably the second best netminder in the draft after Oettinger. Will his number be called in the first round or will managers continue to be reticent to spend high end draft capital on his position? Nick Suzuki could be that all around top six center everybody needs in their lineup, capable of putting up points while playing a 200 foot game. If he was a couple inches taller he would be in the top ten conversation for sure. Jason Robertson is a speedy winger who oozes offensive potential. If he can round out his game he will prove to be a savvy pick for someone in the middle of the first round. Owen Tippett is a sniper with pedigree who finds openings in the defense and beats goalies cleanly on a regular basis. Robert Thomas is a playmaker who can play in the middle or on the wing. His offensive potential has some scouts excited to take him high in the first round. Morgan Frost is an undersized center who put up good but not great numbers in his draft year. He's a first rounder for sure but how high he'll go is anyone's guess. Finn Kristian Vesalainen has the size of a power winger at 6-4 but doesn't play with the physicality NHL teams would like. Still his intelligence and two way play should get him drafted in the first round. Fellow Finn Eeli Tolvanen may also be selected near the end of the first round but the undersized sniper could drop into the second despite his high ceiling.
Two way center Cody Glass was a first round prospect, possibly a top ten pick at some points this year but it sounds like his name won't come off the board until sometime in the second round now after a down year productivity wise. He is a solid two way pivot with a high floor and a low ceiling. Czech winger Martin Necas could be a steal if he falls to the second round. He has offensive skill but also plays a good all around game. Fellow Czech Filip Chytil would also be a savvy pick if he lasts to round two. The 6-2 center has a ways to go development wise but has a lot of potential if developed well. Offensive defenseman Sean Durzi had a productive draft year in the OHL, scoring fifty points while also rounding out his defensive game. He should be a second round pick after moving up draft boards all year.
A darkhorse who will go later in the draft to keep an eye on is diminutive Trey Fix-Wolansky. He has NHL potential if he can find a niche, though not many 5-7 forwards can. He has loads of offensive skill but needs to round out his game and will have plenty of opportunity in the WHL to do just that. Another later round gem could be center Mason Shaw, also a smaller skater at 5-9, who put up an impressive 77 points in the WHL in his draft year.