2017 NHL Mock Draft
On June 23, 2017, the 2017 NHL Draft will begin and the next group of young stars will be joining the NHL. Getting drafted by an NHL team or by any team in a sport is a feeling second to none. The 2017 Draft has been known as the Nolan Patrick draft. Patrick is a young center with immense talent and has the potential to be a franchise center. One feature that stands out in this draft is the new addition of an NHL team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights. In my mock draft, the Golden Knights will hold the third overall pick. All 31 teams have their first round picks which is the first time since 2005. If the season ended today, this is how I believe the draft will play out:
1. Colorado Avalanche: Nolan Patrick-Brandon (WHL) The Avalanche land the top player in this draft class. Patrick is 6-foot-3 and has excellent passing skills backed with an excellent shot and good defensive skills. A complete player like Patrick can turn the fortunes for a team as bad as Colorado.
2. Arizona Coyotes: Nico Hischier, C, Halifax (QMJHL) Unanimously regarded as the second best player in the draft, Hischier is a Pavel Datsyuk clone. He has elite offensive ability while a responsible defensive game. In the World Junior Championship, Hischier was a one man wrecking crew as he posted 4 goals and 3 assists in 5 games.
3. Las Vegas Golden Knights: Gabe Vilardi, C, Windsor (OHL) A new team in the NHL would like to start its franchise with a player with elite talent like Vilardi. Vilardi has excellent hockey sense and an even stronger puck handling ability. He is very composed in all zones but lacks the "wow" factor like Patrick and Hischier.
4. Dallas Stars: Casey Mittelstadt, C, Eden Prairie (HIGH-MN) It's rare to see a team as good as the Stars drafting this high. The Stars need another offensive playmaker with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. A perfect complement is Mittelstadt who has had a very good season so far. Mittelstadt does everything at an elite level offensively and has an NHL ready offensive game. His defensive game needs to improve but will be on the Stars after one or two years of development.
5. Vancouver Canucks: Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle (SWE) After missing two months due to mono, Liljegren has continued his excellent play. He is regarded as the best defenseman and it's not even close. He has rare puck handling skills for a defenseman. His demeanor as calm, cool player will go a long way in the NHL. Pairing him with last year's pick, Olli Juolevi, will give the Canucks a strong top pair for the next 10-15 years.
6. Detroit Red Wings: Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga (OHL) The Red Wings can use about everything for their rebuild. A goal scorer like Tippett can improve one of the worst scoring teams in the NHL. Tippett can be the Canadian version of Phil Kessel with a heavy shot and underrated passing skills.
7. New Jersey Devils: Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City (WHL) The Devils desperately needs a big center and a player like Rasmussen fits the bill. Rasmussen is 6-foot 6 power forward who likes to do his work in the dirty areas. His biggest improvement is his shot as he has scored 30 goals in 46 games.
8. Carolina Hurricanes: Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Sioux City (USHL) The Hurricanes are a very young team looking for goal scorers. Tolvanen can really shoot the puck. He has plenty of speed, hockey sense and intensity to complement a solid skill set and NHL-caliber release.
9. Winnipeg Jets: Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City (WHL) Another young and upcoming team that needs defenseman. The Jets would love if a player like Valimaki dropped to them. Valiamki is two-way defenseman who has brought more assertiveness to his game. Valimaki (6-1, 204) has 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 38 games and has shown more offensive drive and confidence in his game.
10. Los Angeles Kings: Klim Kostin, C/LW, Dynamo Moscow (RUS) Before the year, Kostin was expected to challenge Patrick for the number one pick, but he has disappointed. However, he has played solid enough to go in the top 10. Kostin is a big (6-3, 196), strong left-shot forward with good puck control and good skating ability. He knows how to use his size and strength in front of the net.
11. Tampa Bay Lightning: Cody Glass, C, Portland (WHL) Injuries have costed the Lightning from being a Stanley Cup contender. If the Lightning can't afford to keep Tyler Johnson, it would be wise to pick a center like Glass. He has good hands and good playmaking ability with a style of play that has been compared to Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron.
12. Buffalo Sabres: Cale Makar, D, Brooks (AJHL) Buffalo needs a young defenseman with high offensive upside. Maker has been improving by the game. Maker is a dynamic skater with quickness and elusiveness with or without the puck.
13. Philadelphia Flyers: Lias Andersson, C, HV 71 (SWE) The Flyer started out red hot but have fell off and now are looking outside of the playoffs. The Flyers have tons of young defenseman coming up in the next two years so a forward should be the pick. Anderson's strengths are his skating ability and his first-step quickness. He can create scoring chances with his mobility, good hands and grit.
14. Boston Bruins: Elias Pettersson, C, Timra (SWE-2) Just like the Flyers, the Bruins need forwards. Pettersson has good vision and hands and is considered more of a playmaker. He is versatile enough to play both center and wing.
15. Florida Panthers: Martin Necas, C, Brno (CZREP) The Panthers need scoring and Necas provides that. As captain for the Czech Republic at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in August, he two goals and four assists in four games. He's fast, has great balance and has confidence in his ability to score and create opportunities. One weakness for Necas is his size at 6 foot and 167 pounds.
16. Calgary Flames: Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW, Frolunda (SWE) Flames need players with size and grit. Vesalainen (6-3, 207) is a power forward with strong offensive skills. He's a mobile skater, has a good IQ for the game and is a hard working two-way player.
17. New York Islanders: Callan Foote, D, Kelowna (WHL) New York has been on fire lately but still need defenseman to become a major threat. Foote plays all situations and uses his smarts, reach and strength to contain his opponent and gain position.
18. Nashville Predators: Maxime Comtois, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL) Nashville needs wingers who can score. Comtois has been the most disappointing player in this draft given his talent. Projected to be a top 5 pick, Comtois is 6 foot 2 and is highly skilled. His goal production has declined this year but still has the tools to be a top scorer in the league.
19. New York Rangers: Nicolas Hague, D, Mississauga (OHL) The Rangers are very old on defense and need to start a youth movement. Picking the towering Hague (6-5, 206) is a start. Hague is a fluid skater and can move the puck extremely well, enabling his team to create a lot of offense. He also has five power-play goals, second on Mississauga. The left-shot defenseman also is tough in the defensive end.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets: Miro Heiskanen, D, HIFK U20 (Fin Jr.) Players like Jack Johnson and David Savard with expensive contracts could force Columbus to select a defenseman. Heiskanen lacks size but has a strong two way game.
21. St. Louis Blues: Henri Jokiharju, D, Portland (WHL) Losing a player like Kevin Shattenkirk could be very problematic. Like Shattenkirk, Jokiharju is a dynamic skater and can really pass or shoot the puck. His defensive game is raw and he needs to put on size to be in the NHL.
22. Toronto Maple Leafs: Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP (FIN) What a year for the young Maple Leafs. Toronto looks like a very promising team for the next decade. However, they still lack bottom pair defensemen. Vaakanainen is an intelligent, two-way defender (6-0, 185) who can read the play well, has good vision and a strong skill set that includes skating, passing and an accurate shot.
23. Montreal Canadians: Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (NCHC) The potential collapse of the Montreal Canadians is in the process. The Canadians have been one of the worst teams in the past month and even fired their head coach. They desperately lack offensive weapons. Poehling brings speed and smarts and seems to create offense at the right time.
24. Ottawa Senators: Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound (OHL) Suzuki (5-11, 187) has 56 points (23 goals, 33 assists) and a plus-28 rating in 43 games, all improvements from the 20 goals, 38 points and minus-15 he had in 63 games last season as an OHL rookie. He's versatile, has high-end hockey sense and vision and is a gifted passer and underrated finisher.
25. Edmonton Oilers: Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane (WHL) Led by young phenom, Connor McDavid, the Oilers have surprised people with their play. Yamamoto (5-7, 153) will create excitement. He's hockey-strong, can make contact and knock people off the puck, can protect it and win battles. Oilers will love the fact that he brings a game-breaker element to each shift.
26. Anaheim Ducks: Matthew Strome, LW, Hamilton (OHL) Strome is strong down low and is skilled at using his body to protect the puck. He's very hard to check, has excellent hockey IQ and is a good finisher.
27. San Jose Sharks: Filip Westerlund, D, Frolunda (SWE) Westerlund hockey IQ, puck control and intelligence stand out the most to scouts.
28. Minnesota Wild: Jesper Boqvist, C, Timra (SWE-2) The left-shot forward has great speed with offensive skill. He had 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 19 games with Timra on loan from Brynas in the Swedish Hockey League, where he returned earlier this month. Boqvist (6-0, 179) is a very good skater with good first-step quickness and balance. He's a skilled puck carrier, and effective in traffic.
29. Washington Capitals: Erik Brannstrom, D, HV71 (SWE) Brannstrom is an offensive weapon from the blueline. He can really help Washington who lacks offensive playmakers in their defense.
30. Chicago Blackhawks Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, HPK Jr. (FIN) The Blackhawks could look for a goalie for the future. Luukkonen plays an effective butterfly style, is strong in the crease and can control rebounds. He won a gold medal with Finland at the 2016 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, winning the final three games with a 2.00 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
31. Pittsburgh Penguins Nikita Popugaev, LW, Prince George (WHL) When you have the two best players in the world, adding a sniper like Popugaev is a major win. Popugaev (6-5, 204) has developed his game well in his second WHL season, with 57 points (24 goals, 33 assists) in 48 games. He has an excellent combination of size and skill, and uses his reach very well.
