1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews, C, Zurich (Switzerland)
As expected, the Leafs picked up their number one center that they've lacked since Mats Sundin last put on their sweater. He held up well against older competition in Europe, and also played well in the World Juniors, and he will bring both offensive and defensive skills to a team in need of both.
My pick: Matthews
2. Winnipeg Jets: Patrik Laine, RW, Tappara (Finland)
No surprise that Laine goes to the Jets, as he provides them a goal scorer that will inevitably draw comparisons to former Jet Teemu Selanne. A big body, if he learns how to use it, this pick could be even better.
My pick: Laine
3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
The first curve ball of the draft, the Blue Jackets pass on Jesse Puljujarvi, who was widely viewed as the more complete player of the two, and go for versatility in Dubois, who can also play center, a sore spot for the Blue Jackets. A head-scratcher, for sure, but that was hardly the only issue that left the Blue Jackets fans screaming in anger. However, 42 goals last season is a cause for optimism here.
My pick: Jesse Puljujarvi
4. Edmonton Oilers: Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat (Finland)
The Blue Jackets' loss is Edmonton's gain, as Puljujarvi falls to an Edmonton team that will welcome him as a possible linemate of Connor McDavid. Like Dubois, Puljujarvi is a power forward with few issues. The Oilers needed a defender, but they would hit a potential jackpot later in the draft.
My pick: Olli Juolevi
5. Vancouver Canucks: Olli Juolevi, D, London (OHL)
The Canucks needed offense, and probably should have gone with Matthew Tkachuk. However, they also needed a top-defender that can move the puck out of the zone, as Ben Hutton isn't quite top-defender material. Juolevi provides the Canucks with that answer, and what was a weakness all season now looks a little better.
My pick: Pierre-Luc Dubois
6. Calgary Flames: Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London (OHL)
Knights players go back-to-back, as Tkachuk heads to a Calgary team that sees him as the potential muscle to go along with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. He has work to do on his skating, but everything else points to him replicating the success of his father Keith.
My pick: Tkachuk
7. Arizona Coyotes: Clayton Keller, C, USNTDP
A surprise pick, the Coyotes went with an offensive dynamo that is a little on the small side. Keller's numbers are comparable to Patrick Kane's when he was drafted, and he will be given time to develop in college or in Windsor.
My pick: Mikhail Sergachev
8. Buffalo Sabres: Alexander Nylander, LW, Mississauga (OHL)
Speed, quickness, and playmaking ability are what the younger Nylander brings to a Sabres team that already has Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. Another solid pick by a Sabres team that looks ready to make a playoff push next season.
My pick: Tyson Jost
9. Montreal Canadiens: Mikhail Sergachev, D, Windsor (OHL)
The best offensive defender in the draft, Sergachev provided points on a Windsor squad that overachieved last season. His defense is coming around, but he also has some bite to his game. An eventual replacement for Andrei Markov.
My pick: Alexander Nylander
10. Colorado Avalanche: Tyson Jost, C, Penticton (BCHL)
This was a pick that I was critical of when I first heard it, largely because most of Colorado's problems had to do with letting too many shots get to the goalie. Of course, it doesn't help if the forwards can't hold on to the puck or have little interest in playing defense, either. Jost models his game after Jonathan Toews, and while he is likely going to be a year or two away at North Dakota, he may also end up just as good in the long run.
My pick: Jakob Chychrun
11. Ottawa Senators: Logan Brown, C, Windsor (OHL)
The Senators swapped picks with New Jersey, meaning the Senators got the opportunity to pick here. Brown provides size down the middle, and at this point, he is just learning how to utilize his size better. The finished product promises to be a top-line center with Joe Thornton qualities.
My pick: Clayton Keller (New Jersey), Logan Brown (Ottawa)
12. New Jersey: Michael McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)
The Devils moved down a spot while picking up an extra draft pick. The result was them taking possibly the fastest skater in the draft in McLeod, who put up good numbers next to Alexander Nylander in juniors.
My pick: Logan Brown (Ottawa), Clayton Keller (New Jersey)
13. Carolina Hurricanes: Jake Bean, D, Calgary (WHL)
The Hurricanes went with another defender in their quest to build an actual NHL-caliber blue line. Bean is more of an offensive player at this point in his development, and needs to add weight, but the Hurricanes are envisioning him as another puck mover to go along with Noah Hanifin.
My pick: Michael McLeod
14. Boston Bruins: Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston University
Another offensive defender, McAvoy is a right-handed defender, which appears to be in short supply these days. Solidly built at 6', 200 lbs., if he learns to utilize it to his advantage, he can be a puck mover that would be hard to move off the puck.
My pick: McAvoy
15. Minnesota Wild: Luke Kunin, C, Wisconsin
The Wild picked up Kunin, who put up good numbers despite playing on a terrible Wisconsin team. Kunin produced in all situations and has considerable upside as a top two line player.
My pick: Kiefer Bellows
16. Arizona Coyotes: Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia (OHL)
The Coyotes swapped picks with Detroit in a move that also saw the Coyotes take on the recently NHL-retired Pavel Datsyuk's contract. Chychrun was widely though to be the one that took a tumble down the draft board, and Arizona was the one to stop the fall and take the defender that they needed. Solid player all-around, he's comfortable being in the spotlight, which translate into a top four spot.
My pick: Jake Bean
17. Nashville Predators: Dante Fabbro, D, Penticton (BCHL)
It's never too early to think about life after Shea Weber, and the Preds take Fabbro, who has considerable skills that will be put to the test in college. Expected to join Charlie McAvoy at Boston University, he will get a chance to add to an already impressive offensive arsenal.
My pick: Fabbro
18. Winnipeg Jets: Logan Stanley, D, Windsor (OHL)
The Jets swapped picks with the Flyers to pick up a shutdown defender in Stanley. History suggests that picking a tall defender in the first round hasn't always panned out (see: Valabik, Boris in 2004 by the Jets' former incarnation the Atlanta Thrashers and Cowen, Jared in 2009 by Ottawa). However, the Jets do need to think about an eventual replacement for Mark Stuart, and with time, Stanley figures to be the guy.
My pick: Max Jones
19. New York Islanders: Kiefer Bellows, LW, USNTDP
Bellows is the son of former NHL prolific scorer Brian, and it's obvious that the scoring touch passed down to Kiefer. While he has work to do in every other aspect of his game, the Islanders should be thrilled that a 50-goal scorer, as the younger Bellows did with the U.S. Development team did, slid down to them.
My pick: Riley Tufte
20. Detroit Red Wings: Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack (BCHL)
A raw talent on the blue line, his offense is way ahead of his defense at this point. He will have time to develop in college, and the expectation is that Detroit will finally have a number one defender that they've been missing since Nicklas Lidstrom retired.
My pick: Logan Stanley
21. Carolina Hurricanes: Julien Gauthier, RW, Val D'Or (QMJHL)
With the recent run of defensemen in the first round, the Hurricanes decide to address their front line and pick another prolific goal scorer in Gauthier. Like most goal scorers of his body type, he is learning to use it to his advantage, and when he figures it out, the Canes should be getting the power forward they've lacked since Andrew Ladd left town.
My pick: Gauthier
22. Philadelphia Flyers: German Rubstov, C, Russia
A two-way player from Russia is generally regarded as an anomaly, but that is what Rubstov brings to the Flyers. He does need to gain some weight, he figures to be a player that can be considered Selke material.
My pick: Libor Hajek
23. Florida Panthers: Henrik Borgstrom, C, HIFK Jr. (Finland Jr.)
A Finnish player committed to Denver University, Borgstrom will have time to put on some weight, but his playmaking skills were a big draw, as was his upside.
My pick: Alex DeBrincat
24. Anaheim Ducks: Max Jones, LW, London (OHL)
The Ducks needed to get back to the things that won them a Stanley Cup in 2007, and that meant getting a mean customer. This is where Max Jones steps in, and along with Nick Ritchie, he figures to make the Ducks harder to play against in the future, particularly if he finds the right balance of toughness and discipline.
My pick: Markus Niemelainen
25. Dallas Stars: Riley Tufte, LW, Fargo (USHL)
The future power forward actually played high school hockey for much of last season, but finished the season in Fargo, where he draws comparisons to Nick Bjugstad. A little more weight, something that can be accomplished in his time at Minnesota-Duluth, and he can be the power forward the Stars need to go along with Jamie Benn.
My pick: German Rubstov
26. St. Louis Blues: Tage Thompson, C, Connecticut
The first player taken in the first round from Connecticut University, Thompson has all of the makings of a power forward that can someday replace David Backes.
My pick: Dennis Cholowski
27. Tampa Bay Lightning: Brett Howden, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)
A big center that can play a two-way game, he figures to get more prominent ice time next season with current Moose Jaw and future Lightning teammate Brayden Point moving on. That should help him refine his game.
My pick: Howden
28. Washington Capitals: Lucas Johansen, D, Kelowna (WHL)
A better offensive defender at this point in his development, he does need to gain more strength and seemingly thrives with more ice time, something that he will see more of next season.
My pick: Pascal Laberge
29. Boston Bruins: Trent Frederic, C, USNTDP
A reach by the Bruins, they project him to be a third-liner. What he does offer is future power forward material, but the Bruins could have had Nathan Bastian at this point in the draft. If there is a worst pick of the first round, this would be it for me.
My pick: Nathan Bastian
30. Anaheim Ducks: Sam Steel, C, Regina (WHL)
The Ducks got size and power with their first pick, and now, they have speed and skill to go along with it. Steel didn't put up the numbers expected of him this season, but his skill set is too good to ignore here.
My pick: Lucas Johansen
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