OVERALL |
TEAM |
TEAM NEEDS |
PLAYER |
31 |
BUFFALO |
T6C/T6LW/PPQB |
LHD JAKUB ZBORIL: Mr. Cool, Calm and Collected who is positionally strong and very intelligent. Zboril can pitch in offensively, but his best attribute is the way he picks apart a forecheck. |
32 |
ARIZONA |
T3C/T4D/G |
C FILIP CHLAPIK: Arizona needs a center, so they take the best one available. Not fast but an excellent playmaker, especially on the rush. |
33 |
EDMONTON |
G/T2D/T6C |
LW JAKE DeBRUSK: DeBrusk could easily go in the first round, but to the Jackets’ benefit, they grab one of the top skilled players available. He’s an offensive dynamo with NHL bloodlines. |
34 |
COLUMBUS via TOR/LAK |
T3LW/T2D/G |
RW JACK ROSLOVIC: Jackets go local and gain one of the best passing/shooting combinations available. Played on Team USA’s top line with Auston Matthews and Matt Tkachuk at 2015 U18’s. |
35 |
CAROLINA |
T6RW/T6LW/T2D |
RW ZACH SENYSHYN: Probably going to go higher but suits Canes’ need for a two-way physical presence in the mold of Adam Deadmarsh. He’s a fearless roadrunner who plays with his foot on the gas at all times. |
36 |
NEW JERSEY |
T3C/G/T3RW |
LW FILIP AHL: New Jersey could use a size/skill combo on the flank, so a power forward with good hands and speed will help. Ahl is a very tough out in the offensive zone, something the Devils lack. |
37 |
BOSTON via PHI/NYI |
T6LW/T6C/T2D |
LHD GABRIEL CARLSSON: One of the few eligible defensemen who held his own against both the best of the SEL and the powerhouse Americans at the U18’s. Could go higher but he’s BPA at 33. |
38 |
COLUMBUS |
T3LW/T2D/G |
LW DENNIS YAN: Talented offensive machine who is no-nonsense when he’s in a position to shoot. Born in the States but raised in Russia, Yan has the size and shot to help him develop into an NHL contributor. |
39 |
SAN JOSE |
T6C/T4D/T6LW |
RHD NOAH JUULSEN: Another Steady Eddie who controls the pace of the game and uses his smarts to win board battles and effortlessly advance the puck through all kinds of congestion. |
40 |
COLORADO |
T6RW/T6 LW/T4D |
RHD JONAS SIEGENTHALER: Big, mean, tough and a leader. Avs could go for a more offensive-minded option like Vince Dunn but opt for the guy who is better at defending his position, intimidating and clearing the crease. |
41 |
NEW JERSEY via FLORIDA |
T3C/G/T3RW |
LHD MITCHELL VANDE SOMPEL: Smooth-skating playmaker who has even been used up front. Devils never replaced puck moving abilities of Rafalski/Niedermayer. Here’s a start. |
42 |
OTTAWA via DALLAS |
T4D/2WF/G |
LHD VINCE DUNN: Fits nicely into the “Most Underrated” category. Tremendous offensive top-pairing blueliner who scored four goals in a playoff game this year. |
43 |
LOS ANGELES via BUF/LAK |
T4D/T6LW/T6C |
LHD PARKER WOTHERSPOON: Kings go off the board a tad but Tri-City rearguard held his own on a struggling team. Lots of offensive upside because of the way he can read plays. |
44 |
TAMPA via BOSTON |
T4D/2WC/T6F |
C ALEXANDER DERGACHYOV: Tampa has assembled a collection of Russians, only none are as big or intimidating as Dergachyov. KHL not an issue since the Bolts can be patient with him. |
45 |
CALGARY |
T4D/T6LW/T6RW |
LW ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER: Elite vision and playmaker who plays a big game and worked on his two-way play. Can be really feisty and emotional which in his case is a good thing. |
46 |
PITTSBURGH |
T3LW/T3RW/G |
RW NIKITA KOROSTELEV: He’ll be another gamble much like Beau Bennett, but Zacha’s linemate has size and an elite shot the Pens have been begging for. |
47 |
WINNIPEG |
G/T4D/2WC |
LHD TRAVIS DERMOTT: Quick skater who put up points playing with McDavid and Strome. Actually underrated and will likely produce regardless of who his teammates are. |
48 |
OTTAWA |
T4D/2WF/G |
RW CHRISTIAN FISCHER: If the NTDP wasn’t so deep, he’d get top-line minutes and top-line stats. A very gifted and clever two-way player who had excellent U18 despite playing on 3rd line. |
49 |
DALLAS via DETROIT |
T4D/G/2WF |
G ILYA SAMSONOV: The best available goalie at this point in the draft, Samsonov fits the bill of a prototypical upright goaltender. He stymied Team USA with a 49-save performance in the U18 opener. |
50 |
MINNESOTA |
T3C/T6RW/T6LW |
C JAKOB FORSBACKA-KARLSSON: Excellent season for Omaha (USHL) with a team-best 38 assists and 53 points. He’s a skilled two-way center with size who’s headed to Boston University in the fall. |
51 |
BUFFALO via NEW YORK ISLANDERS |
T6C/T6LW/PPQB |
RW CONOR GARLAND: Eichel’s former teammate with the Junior Bruins who led the QMJHL in scoring with 129 points and the CHL with 94 assists en route to an MVP award. |
52 |
CALGARY via WASHINGTON |
T4D/T6LW/T6RW |
LW JORDAN GREENWAY: One of the draft’s biggest bodies (6’5/220) also possesses a soft set of hands and playmaking ability. The Boston University-bound winger is a tough matchup for anybody. |
53 |
CALGARY via VANCOUVER |
T4D/T6LW/T6RW |
RW MICHAEL SPACEK: Unselfish Czech puck distributor who rarely makes mistakes when he’s creating in the offensive end. Had 12 points in 40 games as youngest player on Pardubice. |
54 |
CHICAGO (COMP PICK) |
T6C/T6LW/T6RW |
C THOMAS NOVAK: The void created by Kevin Hayes’ departure to the NYR allows the Hawks to use the compensatory pick on another playmaking pivot, this time for the future Minnesota Gopher. |
55 |
NASHVILLE |
T3C/T6LW/T6RW |
C BLAKE SPEERS: Speers is a sleeper who should be closer to the first round. He played on a very deep SSM team, so his contributions were at times overlooked. Should have a chip on his shoulder for being this low. |
56 |
ST. LOUIS |
T6LW/T6RW/2WF |
RW DAVID KASE: You might not have seen it at the WJC, but Kase is an dynamic playmaker who is one of the best in the draft at threading the needle. |
57 |
EDMONTON via MONTREAL |
G/T2D/T6C |
RHD JESPER LINDGREN: There’s nothing wrong with grabbing another defensemen because the Oilers need them. Could go for a goalie here but Lindgren’s the safer pick. |
58 |
COLUMBUS via ANAHEIM |
T3LW/T2D/G |
LW GRAHAM KNOTT: Slick winger with nifty moves and ability to play a power game at a fast pace. Knott is one of the better two-way players available but he has put up points in an offensive role. |
59 |
NEW YORK RANGERS |
T4D/T6LW/T6RW |
RW JENS LOOKE: Perfect addition to a team with a quick and hard-working identity. Loves to cause havoc on the forecheck but can make an accurate pass as a result of it. |
60 |
ARIZONA via NYR/TB |
T3C/T4D/G |
G DANIEL VLADNAR: Towering netminder is a bit of a gamble since he’s got some technical issues to work out but if there’a guy who can fix them, it’s Coyotes goaltending guru Sean Burke, who previously mentored Devan Dubnyk |
61 |
PHILADELPHIA via CHICAGO |
T6LW/G/T4D |
G CALLUM BOOTH: He’s got NHL size (6’3, 200) but has been stuck behind Zach Fucale at Quebec. Was sixth in the offense-friendly QMJHL in both GAA (3.00) and SVPCT (.900) |