2018 NHL mock Draft: Picks 1-8

With the NHL Draft just a little over a week now, the mock drafts are coming together...except for mine. That changes today, as I begin my sixth year doing this, with the actual results hopefully resembling mine a little. Like every year, the mock draft will be broken down into parts. Today, picks 1-8.

1. Buffalo Sabres-Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda (Sweden)

Never has a defenseman received as much hype as Dahlin, who is viewed as a generational talent. His year included a roster spot on the Swedish Olympic team. He has the size and ability to step in right away, something that Buffalo will happily take, as their defense is rather thin after Rasmus Ristolainen.

2. Carolina Hurricanes-Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL)

Carolina picked a bad time to have the second overall pick, as their needs are where this year's Draft is weak. However, given that everyone except Sebastian Aho is considered tradeable, a pure goal scorer is exactly what the Hurricanes need. Svechnikov is the best player in this regard.

3. Montreal Canadiens-Filip Zadina, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

Like Carolina, the Canadiens' needs are not highly ranked in this Draft. However, if there is a team that is a prime target to trade down to get more picks, it's Montreal. Should they stay at three, Zadina would be just as good of an option as a scorer, especially if Max Pacioretty gets moved. Zadina is also a little better defensively, which should help the Canadiens, who need to play 2-1 games consistently.

4. Ottawa Senators-Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan (Big 10)

With recent increased rumors of Erik Karlsson maybe on the move, the Senators need a defender that can come close to his talent level down the line. Hughes is the safer pick between him and Adam Boqvist, as Hughes appears to be closer to NHL ready if he leaves Michigan right away.

5. Arizona Coyotes-Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

Though they picked Pierre Olivier-Joseph last year and Jakob Chychrun the year before, the Coyotes still need to stockpile the blue line, particularly if they let Niklas Hjalmarsson walk and/or buy out either Alex Goligoski or Jason Demers in the next year or so. Dobson may need another year or so before he's ready, but he's got high potential and is already a winner, as he was on the Acadie-Bathurst team that won both the QMJHL title and the Memorial Cup this year.

6. Detroit Red Wings-Adam Boqvist, D, Byrnas Jr. (Sweden)

Detroit hasn't had a great offensive option from the blue line since Nicklas Lidstrom retired. Mike Green is likely gone in free agency, and there's no guarantee Dennis Cholowski will develop. Boqvist has the best offensive potential from the blue line out of all the defensemen in the Draft not named Rasmus Dahlin.

7. Vancouver Canucks-Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL)

Although depth on the blue line is good, the Canucks lack a true number one defender. Olli Juolevi recently underwent surgery, so the Canucks may want to consider a fall-back option. Bouchard is more well-rounded than many of the defenders in the Draft, and he has the size most don't.

8. Chicago Blackhawks-Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, US NTDP

Though they need defensemen more, the Blackhawks do have the luxury of waiting until the end of the first round thanks to having Nashville's first round pick and the Draft being pretty good on defensemen. Wahlstrom would give the Blackhawks another scorer that could potentially go along with Alex DeBrincat in the future.