2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 2

 

A quarter of the way through, and this time around, I look at the other teams to not make the playoffs. Keep in mind this is done in order of draft position before factoring in trades and in Arizona's case, forfeiture of pick.

9. Vancouver Canucks 

The year did not go as planned, and a suspect blue line and regression from key players were to blame. Through the draft, they should aim to get another defenseman, as Olli Juolevi is still no sure thing, and Quinn Hughes is a liability in his own end. As for free agency, if Jim Benning can refrain from signing anyone on the first day, that would be great. 

Projected pick: Carson Lambos, D, JYP Jr.

A top 10 potential pick prior to this season, his stock took a bit of a hit thanks to a rough adjustment to Finnish league hockey and a surgical procedure just two games into his WHL season. Before that, he was a willing defender who can jump into the play.

10. Ottawa Senators

Youth is the order of the day, and in both the pipeline and on the parent team, that is in spades for Ottawa. Goalie is still an issue, but there is no obvious prospect available here, so they could go for best available regardless of position. 

Projected pick: Kent Johnson, C, Michigan

Offensive talent who is likely to spend another year in college, the Senators can afford to let Johnson develop other aspects of his game, as well as get rid of some bad habits. 

NS. Arizona Coyotes 

This is where things get dicey, as the Coyotes do not own a first round pick this year, as they forfeited it due to pre-draft violations. They do not draft until pick 37, which they got in a trade with Columbus, and is one of two picks in the round for them. As for what they need, higher end talent is the simplest answer, as there's no one truly ready to make a jump. Long answer is defense, as they are one of the older teams in that regard and have holes to fill in terms of depth for next season. Losing out on the first four rounds last year hurts, as it further hampers their development. 

First projected pick: Logan Mailloux, D, Lejon

11. Chicago Blackhawks 

Lack of blue line depth and scoring undid the Blackhawks last season. They do figure to get Jonathan Toews back next season, which helps up front, but they desperately need to continue to think about keeping the blue line prospect pool filled, especially with Duncan Keith now traded away. Getting another scoring winger would be nice, as well.

Projected pick: Brennan Othman, LW, Olten

12. Calgary Flames 

A team that should consider overhauling its core, one of the first areas to address is blue line. There's no sure thing in the line, and their current group is either up there in age or not ready for top minutes. Factor in the team's poor first round record since their Stanley Cup win in 1989, and you get why the Flames need to reconfigure their system.

Projected pick: Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks

13. Philadelphia Flyers 

On paper, this is a team with everything now and in the future. However, consistency is something that cannot be figured on paper, and that is where the Flyers fail. Their main issue last season? Goaltending. It took a major step back, and now, we wonder if Carter Hart is the answer next season. One thing is certain, and that he will likely have a new backup goalie. If there is a spot where they truly lack, it's down the middle.

Projected pick: Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls (USHL)

14. Dallas Stars 

A team with a middling prospect pool, this year is where they could get some solid players through the draft without needing to rush anyone. Scoring depth could be a possibility, with Chaz Lucius still here. They could address blue line depth in the later rounds.

Projected pick: Chaz Lucius, C, US NTDP

15. New York Rangers

The Rangers are loaded everywhere but down the middle and need someone to be hard to play against. The most logical pick at this point would be Zach L'Heureux, who is difficult to get the puck from once he has it and is competitive. 

Projected pick: Zach L'Heureux, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

2019 NHL mock draft: picks 9-15

Picks 9-15 are up, and like everything after pick three, it's anyone's guess where the teams will go.

9. Anaheim Ducks-Matthew Boldy, LW, US NTDP (USHL)

Skill is not the problem with Boldy, but the consistency in which he shows it is, which is why he is not mentioned among the top five. The Ducks will still need to replace their aging stars up front, particularly since prospects such as Sam Steel, Max Jones, and Isac Lundestrom don't appear to be ready for big roles right away and once they do crack the NHL roster, will need to replenish their pipeline.

10. Vancouver Canucks-Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay (WHL)

Krebs has played well on an Ice team that has largely struggled in the standings, and given that he has the prerequisite tools and work ethic, it is likely he could be drafted earlier than the tenth spot. As it is, the Canucks need more help up front, especially down the middle, and Krebs fits the bill here as a Bo Horvat clone.

11. Philadelphia Flyers-Raphael Lavoie, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)

The Flyers have built themselves a nice pipeline, but not many of them have had an impact on the NHL thus far. Eventually, some of that talent is going to stick, and when it does, it will need to be refilled. Lavoie helped himself in the QMJHL playoffs and Memorial Cup tournament with Halifax after an okay regular season, and projects to be a power forward.

12. Minnesota Wild-Spencer Knight, G, US NTDP (USHL)

The Wild have little in the way of talent in the pipeline, as they were the only team without a representative in the WJC tournament in January. The other problem is that they need reinforcements everywhere and will likely need to trade out a player to pick up more draft picks. Where the Wild hurt the most in the system is in goal, where there is nothing behind Devan Dubnyk. Knight is the consensus top goalie in the draft, and it is possible that the Wild panic and draft a goalie earlier than they should.

13. Florida Panthers-Trevor Zegras, C, US NTDP (USHL)

If the Wild don't panic and take Knight, it is likely the Panthers will take him here, since their goalie situation is just as big of a mess, with Sam Montembeault not ready for the starting role and Roberto Luongo likely headed to long term IR. Forward depth was tested this season, and it was not good. Zegras is a few years away, but with Henrik Borgstrom ready for the NHL, he will be allowed to develop.

14. Arizona Coyotes-Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)

Depth is still an issue on the blueline for the Coyotes, who will eventually see guys like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Alex Goligoski, and Jason Demers fall off a cliff, if they haven't already, from a skill set point of view. Harley is the most well-rounded defensive prospect of the class, and he could be a fringe top defender with definite second defender potential.

15. Montreal Canadiens-Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton (OHL)

Kaliyev excels at scoring goals, and the Canadiens were the second-worst team on the power play. The rest of his game isn't great, but that should come with experience. As it is, he would give the Canadiens the thing they sorely need: goal scoring.

I Watched This Game: Cathartic Roasting

The new season of I Watched This Game is here, and though it's a little late, it is a nice way for me to continue to talk hockey. Today's edition: the Vancouver Canucks finish up a road trip in Winnipeg. The Canucks are still smarting from losing Elias Pettersson to injury on Saturday despite a win against Pittsburgh a few days later while Winnipeg is getting Dustin Byfuglien back from injury after blowing a 4-1 lead against Edmonton last game. What will happen? Will Vancouver actually show backbone after not responding to Pettersson's body slamming at the hands of Mike Matheson? Does Byfuglien prevent another blown lead for Winnipeg? Why is there talk of handegg in this segment? All these things will be answered in time. For now, I Watched This Game.

• Before puck drop, the Armed Forces of Canada are honored, as it is their night at the Bell MTS Place. 
• For the first half of the first period, the Canucks come out on all cylinders, leading in shots taken. However, their lack of toughness, as in they continue to fail at going to the net to score the dirty goals, means the game is still 0-0.
• Included in this barrage of nothing is Jake Virtanen, of all people, turning Joe Morrow into a pylon. Folks, this is what happens when you are out of position, and Morrow was out of position on that attempted shot by Virtanen. 
• A rather questionable hooking call goes against Blake Wheeler towards the end of the period. On the ensuing power play for the Canucks, the Jets have a breakaway, and after the shot was taken, Alex Edler trips up the Jets player and it is 4-on-4 for about a minute. 
• Despite having just a minute of their own power play, the Jets are able to capitalize, as a pass finds Patrik Laine in his office, otherwise known as the left faceoff circle, and he puts one past Anders Nilsson to make it 1-0 after one period.
• Have I mentioned that Vancouver is so soft that they could be mistaken for homemade biscuits? No? There it is, again.
• Not even that softness could stop a beautiful Derrick Pouliot stretch pass to Bo Horvat, who gets it in stride. He splits two defenders on his way to tying up the game at one. Plays like this are why hockey is a beautiful game.
• Edler finds himself in the box again, as he shoves Matthieu Perreault into the boards. Tyler Myers doesn't take too kindly to that, and he too, sits for two minutes. Perreault was able to skate off under his own power, and the Jets responded the way the Canucks should have against Florida last Saturday.
• Shortly after the coincidental minors end, Myers finds himself between a rock and a hard place, as he brushes Nilsson as he passes by. Two minutes for goalie interference, which carries over into the third period with the score tied at 1.
• The Canucks can't convert, and once again, Edler heads to the box, this time, for another tripping penalty.
• Bryan Little makes the Canucks pay, as he puts a backhander past Nilsson for another power play goal.
• Why does Vancouver continue to float around the zone and not go towards the net? No wonder they blew the Stanley Cup opportunity in 2011.
• Nilsson is actually doing a good job in net. We've seen this story before with him, and we're just waiting for the inevitable implosion.
• Just as I typed that, a scrum ensues in front of the net, and Andrew Copp puts a loose puck in the back of the net to make it 3-1 Jets.
• There's also the visual roofie known as Thursday Night Football on, as well. Can we delete the Arizona Cardinals franchise? At the very least, can they forcibly trade Larry Fitzgerald to a real team? Maybe give him to the Packers so Aaron Rodgers can stop carrying the team by himself.
• Back on topic, the Winnipeg Jets put the exclamation point on the game, as Dustin Byfuglien scores to make it a 4-1 final for the Jets.

This was a game the Winnipeg Jets needed after blowing a lead last game. Of course, having Byfuglien back was beneficial, as he had a goal and two assists in the game. Connor Hellebuyck didn't exactly have to do much after the first period, but he was solid here. Vancouver clearly missed Pettersson out there, but they will need both Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel back, too, as Beagle could have helped their penalty kill this game, and Roussel could have at least, antagonized the Jets a little. Beyond that, the Canucks just simply didn't show much of a fight in this game. 

A New Era Begins

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

2017-18 record: 31-40-11 (73 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

The rebuild for the Vancouver Canucks has been slow, often painful, and now, it appears to be at a point where it finally gets to turn a corner. Yes, the Sedin twins have decided to skate off into the sunset, and the new blood will be given a shot at leading the team closer to playoff contention. Being they are in the Western Conference and have a lot of work to do, it may be a few years.

While Henrik and Daniel Sedin have officially retired, the reality was that the torch had been passed to the likes of Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. The team was terrible on both ends of the ice, but Horvat and Boeser represent what the team could be offensively. The natural thought here is that both must stay healthy, and injuries decimated the team throughout the season. To that end, Antoine Roussel was brought in to be a bit of a deterrent to opposing players who attempt to take liberties with Horvat and Boeser. Defensively, the team was terrible, too. They believe some of the issues could be solved up front, hence the signings of both Tim Schaller and Jay Beagle, guys who won't solve the offensive problems, but ones who could help out defensively. The offensive improvement is likely coming from either Elias Pettersson and/or Jonathan Dahlen, both who would be in their first year with the Canucks if they make it to opening night. There is no gamebreaker on the blue line, but depth is surprisingly decent. In goal, Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson are still keeping the seat warm for Thatcher Demko, who could be an NHL regular soon.

Prediction: 8th in the Pacific Division

The Canucks will be in for another long year, but the pieces are falling into place, however slowly it may be. The old era is now gone with the Sedins, and in earnest, the team can build around Horvat, Boeser, and Sven Baertschi up front and pray that the investment in Erik Gudbranson will finally pay off somehow.

NHL Free Agency: Burning Money Edition

July 1 is known as a money burning day, as the first day of both NBA and NHL free-agency begins, as well as the New York Mets' tradition of giving long-gone Bobby Bonilla a million plus interest a year until 2035. So, how will the NHL make me laugh this time?

• The big shoe that needed to drop, did, as John Tavares announced that he would be taking the Toronto Maple Leafs' offer of seven years, and an annual amount of 11 million. It's a steep price for Toronto, and it still doesn't solve their defensive woes, but Tavares potentially shoves both Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri down a slot, which improves their offensive output. The big concern would be what happens next offseason, when both Matthews and Mitch Marner are coming off their ELCs.
• The Maple Leafs' 11 million dollar gamble wasn't actually the worst move made. No, the worst happened this morning, as the Calgary Flames decided to throw five years and an annual cap hit of 5.75 million at James Neal. You might say that's better than what Washington threw at TJ Oshie, but even four years is excessive for a 30-goal scorer that is on the wrong side of 30, has major streaks of production and non-production, and may be headed for a steep decline ala Dany Heatley. The Flames also threw over 3 million to some guy named Derek Grant. Have fun with the RFA contracts of Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin.
• Los Angeles did the expected, and signed Ilya Kovalchuk to a three year deal. The hit carries a 6 million dollar price tag a year, and it had been announced that the Kings intended to make him the focal point of their offense. If you're paying him that much, he better be, and if he can still score 30 goals per year, it's not bad. So, where are the Kings screwed? The eight year extension that will be carrying an 11 million dollar hit that is going to Drew Doughty. The Kings learned nothing from the Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik sagas. The Kings will be in Cap Hell even after Kovalchuk is gone thanks to the ridiculous contracts being handed out.
• Detroit likes to kick the can down the road, and signing both Jonathan Bernier and Thomas Vanek to deals, as well as re-signing Mike Green to a new two year deal is proof. On a contending team, these signings would actually be praised. However, Detroit is not even close to contending. I know there's the albatross contracts of Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm, and Jonathan Ericsson, but there is no way they are a Jonathan Bernier away from playoff contention.
• Chicago actually didn't do badly with signing Cam Ward to one year, as he proved that he had something left, although that wasn't necessarily by choice in Carolina, as Scott Darling self-immolated. Brandon Manning is just a warm body on defense while I absolutely don't understand how Chris Kunitz will fit with the team.
• Vegas made moves, as they slightly overpaid for four years Paul Stastny and inexplicably threw 2.75 million a year for two years at Ryan Reaves.
• Pittsburgh signed Jack Johnson. The issue with Johnson isn't money, as about 3 million a year is sensible, but term, as five years is a little long. They also brought back Matt Cullen because I don't know.
• Boston signed Jaroslav Halak for two years and a 2.75 million annual deal. Halak had a bad year, but he should rebound somewhat, since Boston is a stronger defensive team and he won't have to be overextended, as he backs up Tuukka Rask. The Bruins also signed John Moore to the same 2.75 million a year hit, but for five years. I don't know if Moore is worth that much money-wise, but he's still relatively young, and you can do worse than him if you're a Boston team that figures to be led by Charlie MacAvoy and Brandon Carlo in the future.
• Buffalo moved on from the volatile Robin Lehner in favor of an older, but calmer Carter Hutton. Hutton is getting three years, and 2.75 million per year. The bigger news is that they traded Ryan O'Reilly to St. Louis and are getting back Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, and two draft picks. The change was needed for both Buffalo and O'Reilly, which showed cracks late season. O'Reilly instantly gives St. Louis a second line center and takes the albatross contracts of both Berglund and Sobotka off the books.
• Speaking of the Blues, they gave David Perron four years and four million per year to make his return for a third time. Inconsistent as he is, it isn't a bad number, and he showed that he has something left. They also gave Tyler Bozak a three year, 5 million a year contract because I don't know. The money is too high for what will amount to a third line center, especially now that Brayden Schenn and O'Reilly will be in front of him. They also picked up a year rental of Chad Johnson for 1.75 million. Again, too high of a price, given his lack of production lately.
• Vancouver continues to want to tread water, as they handed out identical four year, 3 million per year contracts to Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel. Two years and just under 2 million a year for Tim Schaller and three years and 3.36 million a year to Sven Baertschi were also handed out. None of those are Loui Eriksson bad, which is good, but only the Baertschi signing makes sense, as he can still deliver on some of his offensive upside. Roussel, Beagle, and Schaller do provide a defensive presence up front that had been sorely lacking since Ryan Kesler bolted town.
• If I began with the Maple Leafs, I have to end with the New York Islanders, the team Tavares is leaving behind. I don't think Tavares leaving is a death blow, as Mat Barzal looks like he will be the best player on the Islanders by this time next year, but it certainly hurts. Saying that, the Islanders signed Leo Komarov to four years and 3 million per year. The term may be a little long, and Komarov isn't going to provide major offense, but he will provide leadership and at a reasonable price, the Islanders will have room to move. They also re-signed Thomas Hickey for four years and 2.5 million. Thought to have been a bust after failing to crack the Kings roster in the time after he was drafted in 2007, he's turned out to be a respectable defender with the Islanders, and he was one of the few bright spots on a blue line that was awful last year. The big problem was signing Valtteri Filppula for 2.75 million. It's only one year, but the Islanders did not need Filppula, who clearly has nothing left at this stage of his career.

If I didn't mention your team, it's because there weren't any good or bad moves made. 

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.

Taking Your Puck and Going Home

This holiday weekend has been rather odd in the hockey world, as two players were unhappy with their current situations and decided to walk away. It's safe to say that neither will be seeing anymore time on the NHL or AHL level, as both are repeat offenders.

First up, Alexander Burmistrov. You may remember him as a former first round pick of the then-Atlanta Thrashers in 2010 that left for Russia after the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season due to butting heads with then Winnipeg Jets coach Claude Noel. He returned in 2015 to the Jets, only for him to eventually butt heads with current Jets coach Paul Maurice. Last season, it came to a head, and he was sent down to Manitoba of the AHL, only for the Arizona Coyotes to claim him off waivers. He did not sign with Arizona after the season, opting to sign with the Vancouver Canucks prior to this season. Now, this bit of news from Pass it to Bulis, as Burmistrov was once again, unhappy with his playing time, and after getting scratched from the team's last game for a seventh defenseman, he has decided to retire from the NHL. Yes, at the age of 26, Burmistrov has decided to pack his bags and head back home.

Next up, Steve Moses. Undrafted after spending four years at the University of New Hampshire, he would begin his professional career in 2012-13 with Jokerit, and would play with them for three seasons, including their first year as a member of the KHL. In the off-season of 2015, he would sign a one-year deal with Nashville with the expectation that he would be on the NHL roster. However, prior to the start of the 2015-16 season, he was sent down to Milwaukee of the AHL, and was unable to get noticed enough to even crack the Predators' roster. That December, his contract with the team was terminated so he could return to the KHL, this time as a member of SKA-St. Petersburg. He would spend the rest of the 2015-16 season, as well as all of 2016-17, with the team until signing with Rochester of the AHL prior to this season. His time with Rochester would be short lived however, as he was suspended by the team recently for breach of contract, and as of right now, he is now signed with Jokerit again.

As odd as the two instances of walking away have been, it was hardly the first, as Vadim Shipyachov had been signed with the Vegas Golden Knights prior to the season, but was sent down to Chicago of the AHL. His complaining about not being in the NHL was fairly well-documented, and his NHL contract would be terminated soon after so he too, could return to the KHL.

I don't know what to make of this, but it is clear that the level of play between North American hockey and European hockey can be too much for certain players to take, and while it is notable that the players gave it a shot, leaving in the middle of a season does them no favors when it comes to future North American opportunities.

Filleted

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

2016-17 record: 30-43-9 (69 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Henrik Sedin

2011 seems forever ago for the Vancouver Canucks, as last season was one long trek through the muck of one of their worst seasons in recent history. Now, they begin again with a new head coach, several stopgaps, and with any luck whatsoever, some youth that will finally inject much needed energy into the team. Of course, it's not going to lead to the playoffs, but marked improvement is priority one.

The offense was once again a black hole, as no one scored more than 20 goals, and the Sedin twins are going to be 37 when the season starts. It begins with Bo Horvat, who is the future of the team and looked like he was going to be great until he tailed off late in the season like the rest of the team. Sam Gagner and Alexander Burmistrov were signed to offer veteran presence for the young players. However, it will be Brock Boeser and Loui Eriksson that hold the key to improving the offense, as Boeser showed what he could do in a nine game trial after signing with the team out of college late in the season while Eriksson bombed out after signing a 6-year deal prior to last season. The defense was not much better, as injuries and generally ineffective play hindered this unit. Losing Nikita Tryamkin will set the unit back in its development, but overall health is key, especially with Chris Tanev and Alex Edler. Michael Del Zotto was signed to add depth, though the biggest question is whether Olli Juolevi can make the team to start the season. In goal, Ryan Miller was often under siege and underappreciated, as it could have been a lot worse for Vancouver the last two seasons. Now, it's Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson who man the nets, and both will likely be in a time share until someone claims the job. Special teams were just like the 5-on-5, as in it wasn't pretty.

Prediction: 8th in the Pacific Division

The Canucks are in for another long season, and it's not going to be better for another few years. Even with improved health and career seasons from a few players, this is a team that is most likely headed to the top of the Draft Lottery.

2017 NHL Mock Draft: Picks 1-8

With the NHL Draft being next week, it's that time again for me to come up with a mock draft. Today, it will be picks 1-8, and given that there's not as much depth as in years past, it will also be predictions sure to go wrong.

1. New Jersey Devils- Nolan Patrick, C, Brandon (WHL)

New Jersey needs major help down the middle, and they have their pick of Patrick and Nico Hischier. Despite an injury-riddled season, Patrick is the most ready to step into the NHL right now. If the worst he can be is another Jonathan Toews, the Devils will gladly take it.

2. Philadelphia Flyers- Nico Hischier, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

The more dynamic of the two, Hischier would be at worst, a year away because of his need to put on a little more weight. He would add to an already good offense that can always use another center to slot behind Claude Giroux.

3. Dallas Stars- Gabe Vilardi, C, Windsor (OHL)

Skating concerns aside, Vilardi checks off every other box, and with Jason Spezza nearing 35, it would be a good idea to start thinking about getting a center to slot behind Tyler Seguin. At worst, he's a year away, at best, he could step in right away.

4. Colorado Avalanche- Cale Makar, D, Brooks (AJHL)

Colorado needs defensemen...badly. Getting a puck possession player up front in Tyson Jost was a start, but now, they need help on a long neglected blue line. Miro Heiskanen is the safer pick, but Colorado may wish to swing for the fences, and that is what Makar's potential is right now.Smaller player, but plays bigger than his size.

5. Vancouver Canucks- Casey Mittlestadt, C, Eden Prairie (USHS)

Split time between Eden Prairie High and Green Bay of the USHL, Mittlestadt carries great offensive potential. A year away, since he's a Minnesota commit, he could down the line, form a dynamic duo with Brock Boeser once he makes the NHL.

6. Vegas Golden Knights- Cody Glass, C, Portland (WHL)

Because nothing will be known about the Golden Knights' roster until Wednesday, they can go in any direction. Glass could at his best, be the face of a franchise that provides offense in spades.

7. Arizona Coyotes- Elias Pettersson, C, Timra (Sweden 2)

The Coyotes really need more of a veteran presence, especially if Shane Doan decides to retire. However, looking further into the future, Pettersson would be a dynamic center that has top line potential...if he can put on some weight. A couple seasons in Sweden's top league will help.

8. Buffalo Sabres- Miro Heiskanen, D, HIFK (Finland)

The last time the Sabres drafted a defenseman in the first round, they did pretty well, as Rasmus Ristolainen is their top guy now. The problem is that there's virtually little else on the blue line, and the pipeline in that section is not too great. Heiskanen at worst, would be a solid two-way player with better offensive upside than Ristolainen.

Black Monday in the NHL

The day after the NHL regular season ended, a few coaches and General Managers found themselves out of a job, making the term "Black Monday" an appropriate one. Let's look at where the axe fell, where some coaches and front office people managed a short reprieve, and which teams may be in trouble down the line.

First, the casualties:

• The Dallas Stars announced that Lindy Ruff would not return next season as head coach. In four seasons, Ruff led the team to the playoffs, but it was clear that in the just completed season, he could never solve their defensive woes and his message wasn't getting through. Gerard Gallant is rumored to be a name on the Stars' list for the next head coach.
• Tom Rowe was relieved of both head coaching and General Manager duties, and Dale Tallon was reinstated as General Manager, effectively meaning that owner Vincent Viola admitted the error of his ways after the previous season. Bad trades, an ill-timed firing of coach Gerard Gallant mid-season, and Rowe being in over his head in both roles now have the Panthers back at square one.
• Vancouver ended the Willie Desjardins experiment after three seasons, and in the process, canned assistants Doug Lidster and Perry Pearn. Desjardins led the team to the playoffs in his first season, but manipulating lines with little success and the second-worst record this season led to his ouster.
• The big bomb of the day belongs to the Los Angeles Kings, who fired head coach Daryl Sutter and General Manager Dean Lombardi. Luc Robitaiile and Rob Blake were moved up in the front office, with Blake assuming the General Manager role. Three years after the Kings won their last Stanley Cup, poor trades, salary cap mismanagement, and the inability to adapt to play in the NHL the last three seasons mean that the Kings' opportunity to win is now closed.

Now, let's look at who avoided the axe for now:

• Colorado was dead last in many categories, yet as of this writing, they have not announced whether coach Jared Bednar or VP of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic will be let go. Given that the Avs were in a bind about two months before the season, thanks to Patrick Roy leaving the head coaching job prior to this season, it would not be surprising if both were given one more year.
• Arizona still employs Dave Tippett as head coach despite a fifth straight season of playoff-free hockey. The Coyotes took a major step back this season, and one would think that it's time to look into a new head coach.
• The Buffalo Sabres were another team that took a step back. However, one could point to injuries as a reason for their decline, though one does have to wonder if Dan Bylsma should look over his shoulder soon. 
• The Winnipeg Jets were a streaky team this season, often on the wrong kind, though a strong finish to the season should render Paul Maurice safe for now.

Teams that will possibly look for permanent replacements:

• The Boston Bruins made the playoffs, and depending on how far they go could determine if Bruce Cassidy gets the interim label taken off.
• The New York Islanders missed out, but under Doug Weight's watch, they played markedly better than under Jack Capuano. Whether or not Garth Snow remains as General Manager is most likely going to determine the coaching job's fate.

ELC Madness

As the college hockey season comes to its conclusion with the Frozen Four, there are more players who will likely be signed to entry level contracts (or ELCs) in the coming days and weeks. Four players who were taken in the first round the last two years have already done so, and either have or will make their NHL debuts soon.

Brock Boeser was the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, and was widely regarded as a pure goal scorer. He played in North Dakota for two seasons before signing with the Canucks at the conclusion of North Dakota's season last week. He made his debut in his home state of Minnesota, where he scored on a tap-in that proved to be the game winner against the Wild on Sautrday.

Boeser's teammate at North Dakota Tyson Jost was taken 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2016 NHL Draft. He won silver with the Canadian Junior National team and was one of the bright spots on a North Dakota team that didn't quite fare as well as the previous season, when they won it all. Jost was signed yesterday to an ELC by Colorado and will likely make his debut soon.

Clayton Keller was a former US-NTDP taken 7th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2016. He went on to college at Boston University and shined during the WJC tournament, where he helped lead the United States to gold. The Coyotes need more skill up front, which was why they were willing to sign Keller to an ELC earlier this week. Keller made his debut on Monday in St. Louis, an area where he played his youth hockey.

Charlie McAvoy was the 14th overall pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2016 NHL Draft. He had already played a season with Boston University when he was drafted, and was also on the U.S. squad that won gold at the WJC tournament. He actually signed an ATO with Boston and will begin play with their AHL affiliate in Providence. It is likely that he will sign an ELC before next season.

The Waiting Game

The NHL Trade deadline, much like its free-agency period cousin, is largely a waiting game that sees some teams that need to make moves wait it out, sometimes too long. With the trade deadline two days away, the dominoes are falling rather slowly, but there are a couple of major ones that fell yesterday and many more that have yet to fall, with the possibility of them not falling at all.

Let's look at the two that did fall, as the Tampa Bay Lightning traded impending free agent Ben Bishop to Los Angeles for Peter Budaj, Erik Cernak, and a swap of draft picks. For Los Angeles, they can ease a recently returning Jonathan Quick back into the starting role with Bishop providing more than capable goaltending and possibly providing a two-headed monster in goal as they push for the playoffs. Budaj will be backing up Andrei Vasilevsky, who proved to be ready for the starting role while Bishop had his own injury issues. Budaj can also step in as needed, as he proved this season while Quick was out with injury. The Lightning also get a defensive prospect in Cernak, as well as some cap space that could be used to re-sign Jonathan Drouin or another of their own players that are set for free-agency after the season.

Later in the day, the Minnesota Wild once again rolled the dice on a mid-season acquisition, as they picked up Martin Hanzal and Ryan White, as well as a fourth round pick this year, from Arizona. A lower end prospect (Grayson Downing), a first round pick this year, next year's second round pick, and a conditional pick in 2019 go the other way. Given that Hanzal is a free agent after this season, this is a gamble, but this year's draft isn't particularly deep, and the Wild are suddenly strong down the middle, as Hanzal joins Eric Staal and Mikko Koivu as their centers. White provides an agitating presence for a team that can use it. The Coyotes get more draft picks, and given that they need a lot of things, it works here, especially since their arena issues remain unsolved at this point in time.

As for the moves yet to be made, there are at least two teams that haven't made trades that probably should, and both are sellers. First, the Colorado Avalanche. They are clearly not going anywhere anytime soon, and there hasn't been much in the way of talk for any of their players, with Jarome Iginla and Matt Duchene being the primary targets. Gabriel Landeskog is a dark horse option, at this point, but until they do something, that rebuild isn't going anywhere and they will be stuck in the basement. The other team that needs to make a move? The Vancouver Canucks. While they aren't out of it yet, they do need to figure out a contingency plan soon, as they aren't getting any younger, and it appears that Jake Virtanen is playing his way out of top young player status, if he hasn't already. Jannik Hansen and Alex Burrows appear to be likely targets, but it is possible that Ryan Miller would be given a look at, given that Jacob Markstrom has proven that he can handle the starting duties at the very least until Thatcher Demko is ready for full-time NHL duty.

Round and Round We Go

The waiver wire resembled a merry go round yesterday, as two former major junior stars were picked up by other teams through waivers, and in one case, it marked the third time he went on the waiver merry go round.

Ty Rattie and Reid Boucher had storied careers in major junior, with Rattie setting the all-time record for most playoff goals in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks, Originally a second round pick of the St. Louis Blues, he was unable to crack the Blues lineup largely because of the depth in front of him, and his time in the Blues' system came to an end when the Carolina Hurricanes claimed him off waivers yesterday. Boucher was a 2011 fourth round pick of the New Jersey Devils who scored 62 goals in his final year with the Sarnia Sting. Like Rattie, he was unable to crack the lineup of the Devils. However, Boucher was also unable to rediscover that scoring touch, something that the Devils have been in need of since Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise last played for the Devils. Earlier in the season, Boucher was claimed on waivers by the Nashville Predators. However, his stay there didn't last long, as a month later, he was reclaimed by the Devils a day after the Predators sent him down. Of course, the Devils tried to send him down a day later, only for Vancouver to claim him off waivers.

The waiver wire has proven to be a place of considerable activity, albeit a strange one, as Jaroslav Halak was also placed on waivers a few weeks ago, only for no one to claim him and he has since played for Bridgeport of the AHL.

Catching Up

It's been some time since I last put something on this blog, and predictably, there's items that should be addressed, so let's get to it.

• First, the picture you see is Wayne Gretzky in Simpsons form, as he will be lending his voice and likeness to a December 11 episode of the Simpsons. Where I really give the animators props is the fact that they even got the right side of the sweater being tucked in, a long-time Gretzky trademark in his playing days.
• Connor McDavid scored his first NHL hat-trick in Saturday's 5-2 win over Dallas that also saw the Oilers get off the losing streak. While it took McDavid a little longer to get his hat-trick compared to Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, there is the matter of him missing half the season last year.
• Evander Kane is still a Buffalo Sabre. The long-rumored Kane to Vancouver deal fell through, according to sources, when the Canucks balked at the Sabres' asking price. It was thought that the Sabres were going to try and recoup some of what they lost, value-wise, in the deal they made with Winnipeg to get Kane.
• Dylan Strome got returned to Erie from Arizona. The move came a day after the Otters named Kyle Pettit the captain for this season, a role Strome held last season. It will be interesting to see what happens with Strome and the Otters and whether the Otters decide to move Strome, as the Otters are actually doing well and they may be looking to try and sustain their current run of success for a little while longer. Hamilton may be an option, since Dylan's younger brother Matthew currently plays there.
• It's the Trans-Canada Highway bottleneck in the East Division of the WHL, as Regina leads the way with Swift Current, Moose Jaw, and Brandon all just behind them, and Saskatoon and Prince Albert are bringing up the rear. Prince Albert likely conceded the season, as they traded Brendan Guhle to Prince George for three players and draft picks.
• SKA recently had a 15-game winning streak snapped against Avtomobilist.

The hockey season is still young, and there is still more to happen. For now, I get to rest a little.

Bottom of the Ocean

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

2015-16 record: 31-38-13 (75 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Henrik Sedin

From an unexpected playoff push two seasons ago, things almost immediately fell apart for the Vancouver Canucks since then, as in most categories, they managed to hover near the bottom, including the standings. Yet, they opt to seek for a band-aid approach in a last-ditch effort to get the Sedins another playoff berth before they retire despite the need to eventually identify some young talent. It's going to be a wild ride in Vancouver, one way or another.

A team that features the Sedin twins should not be second to last on offense, yet thanks to various injuries, underperformers, and young players not quite reaching their potential, that's what happened. Their solution? Sign Loui Eriksson to a six-year deal, and while it may solve the revolving door that was the third forward spot on the Sedin line, it is still a chasm to fill, as only Daniel Sedin and Jannik Hansen scored more than 20 goals last season. Getting improved numbers from the likes of Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi, and Emerson Etem are a must. They were only marginally better defensively, though a top pairing of Ben Hutton and Chris Tanev isn't going to scare anyone. To that end, the Canucks traded for Erik Gudbranson, which will add physicality to the blue line in need of it, though it came at the cost of Jared McCann. A healthy Alex Edler should help, as will improved depth that could see as many as two rookies on the blue line. In goal, things get murky, as Ryan Miller is in the final year of his contract, and despite posting mediocre numbers, enters the season as the starter. Jacob Markstrom earned an extension and should be cutting into the number of Miller's starts. The power play, predictably, was awful, and the hope is that Eriksson, as well as new assistant coach Doug Jarvis, can boost that unit. The penalty kill was middle of the pack, though it did miss Brandon Sutter for half the season.

Prediction: 7th in the Pacific Division

No one is quite sure what the Canucks are doing to ensure future success after the Sedins, as the rebuild has hit some snags. Truthfully, it would be no surprise if the Canucks are closer to the Nolan Patrick sweepstakes, otherwise known as the 2017 NHL Draft. The Canucks want the playoffs this season, but at what cost will it be to their future?

Building a Bonfire?

With NHL free-agency hitting its annual dead period, plus very little going on for the Vancouver Canucks other than signing Loui Eriksson and losing Dan Hamhuis, someone (namely Canucks Army) decided to explore the possibility that the Canucks may be thinking about trading for an impact player. Canucks fans, brace yourselves because the names being floated around are Evander Kane and Gabriel Landeskog. Let's look at what both bring and what the Canucks may have to think about surrendering to get them.

First, to get this elephant in the room out of the way, Evander Kane. The former first round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers has 30-goal potential, something he accomplished in the Thrashers' first year as the now Winnipeg Jets. However, injuries, inconsistency, and problems in the locker room and off-the ice led to the Jets sending him off to Buffalo in 2015. While he managed 20 goals last season, he again missed time to injuries and attitude problems, and to top it off, he was investigated by the Erie County Police Department for alleged sexual assault, charges that were ultimately never filed. That's before his most recent run-in with the law and an incident in a Buffalo nightclub last month. Granted, much of his run-ins with the law have happened SINCE leaving Winnipeg, but let's look at why he was shipped out of Winnipeg in the first place. Problems with getting along with the people of Winnipeg, plus his disrespect for coaches and players in the Jets locker room, which was capped off by the tracksuit incident. Yes, these are reasons to say no to Kane, no matter the cost, but there's other reasons to say no, as in that 30-goal a season potential? To put it with reality, he only had one 30-goal season, which was the 2011-12 season, and just cracked the 20-goal barrier last season with Buffalo. There's also the relability factor, as he has never played more than 74 games in a given NHL season, which surprise, was also the only time he scored 30 goals in a season AND played over 70 games in a season. As a Canucks fan, this should tell you all you need to know about what problems lie ahead if Kane does indeed come back to Vancouver, as was born and raised there and played for the Giants of the WHL prior to being drafted. They don't need Mark Messier 2.0 all over again.

The other player being considered? Gabriel Landeskog. He's been rumored to be on the move for a few months now, and given the Avs' desire to try and become better at possessing the puck, it is possible that he would come at a hefty price. The second overall pick in 2011, he has produced 20-goal seasons in all but the 2012-13 season, a season shortened by both a lockout and Landeskog's own injuries. The fact that he was named captain in just his second year indicates that he may very well be worth looking into, particularly with the Swedish factor coming into play with both Sedins and the newly acquired Loui Eriksson. If you're looking for warts in the trade, consider that Landeskog was prone to taking penalties at the wrong times in the last two seasons, with some of the blame going towards the lack of overall snarl on the Avs' front lines, as only Cody McLeod has any, and he's nothing more than a fourth line player. There's no rap sheet on Landeskog to speak of, and for the Canucks to get him, a three-team deal may have to be worked out. There is potential there, but seemingly not enough prospects or NHL-ready players for the Avs to think about sending him the Canucks' way.

Those are the two options that are being floated around concerning the Canucks. On one hand, you have a severely high-risk, possibly high-reward player in Kane. On the other, you have a safer option in Landeskog. I don't pretend to know what will be the move Canucks' management will make, but if I were there, I'd drop the Kane idea immediately and go straight towards Landeskog. After all, it will still be a long season, but do they really need an additional headache off the ice?

Free Agency Clean-Up from Day 1

With the biggest name in free agency signed days before the actual period began, it was expected that some of the biggest names remaining would be going on the first day. Though there are still some useful players still available at this point, many of them either found new homes or re-signed with their team from last season. To that end, let's look at who signed and what it means for the team that they signed with:

Loui Eriksson: Signed with Vancouver for six years, and an average of $6 million per year. He provides offense, usually to the tune of 25-30 goals per year, and though the years may be a little high, given that the Sedins will likely retire by the time Eriksson finishes year four of the contract, they could always do worse. I'm okay with this signing, but it will be up to Willie Desjardins to keep a level of consistency that maximizes the talent available (that means not putting Derek Dorsett with the Sedins ever again).

Milan Lucic: Edmonton claims him to the tune of seven years, $6 million per year. Obviously, his familiarity with General Manager Peter Chiarelli was an influence, but it will be the idea that he is likely getting slotted with Connor McDavid and Jordan Eberle that should have Oilers fans excited. It also adds another big, physical presence to a team that is finally figuring out what they really want to do.

Kyle Okposo: Same contract configuration as Lucic, but with the Buffalo Sabres. On the minus side, he may experience a drop off in numbers now that he won't be alongside John Tavares. However, it's not so bad when you realize that Okposo could be on a line with Jack Eichel at best, and Ryan O'Reilly, at worst. Given the uncertainty of Evander Kane's future after another run-in with the law, Okposo is a welcome addition to a maturing Sabres team (minus Kane).

David Backes: Five years, $6 million per year to play in Boston. This wasn't such a great signing, but not because Backes can't play. However, it's a far different thing to play on a team with a superstar in Vladimir Tarasenko than it is to play with unproven talents such as David Pastrnak. Boston needed an NHL body on the blue line worse, and though they may find that player yet, Backes doesn't fill a need in any way, shape, or form for them.

Eric Staal: Three years, $3.5 million is what Minnesota is giving him to center the second line. The days of putting up boffo offensive numbers is long past, but he is still useful. The contract, as a whole, is friendly to both him and the team, so at worst, it beats the deal they (regrettably) handed Thomas Vanek two years ago.

Thomas Vanek: Speaking of Vanek, the recently bought out player didn't have to wait long to find a new home, as Detroit signed him to a $2.6 million deal for one year. 18 goals last season wasn't cutting it for Minnesota, and it's questionable if it cuts it for Detroit. However, one year is not a bad deal, and the Red Wings could still get something out of him.

James Reimer and Jason Demers: Reimer is heading to Florida for five years, and $3.4 million to presumably be the full-time starter when Roberto Luongo finally hangs it up. In the meantime, he will serve as a backup with the possibility of splitting time to start. Also, in recent news, the  Panthers also signed Jason Demers to a five year, $4.5 million deal. He won't put up the numbers recently departed Brian Campbell has, but he's younger and should make up a fair amount of that offensive production. Plus, he's likely first in line to get paired with Aaron Ekblad, who signed an eight-year extension recently.

There's more, but there is one that I will address that caught my eye, and that is...

Alexander Radulov: One year, $5.75 million to play in Montreal. If you remember his first NHL stints with Nashville, it was pretty headache inducing, right down to Radulov being benched for a game due to missing curfew in the 2012 playoffs. From 2012 until now, he had played in the KHL, falling short with CSKA in the last two seasons. Montreal needs offense, but this may be too much of a gamble, as Radulov was never a proven player in the NHL, and few players who spent the majority of their careers in the KHL ever see that success translate to the NHL level.

Meet the 2016 Hockey Hall of Fame Class

This year's Hockey Hall of Fame class didn't have an obvious player entering their first year of eligibility, which meant that many of the players who have waited their turn to enter as one of the best to ever play had as good of a shot as anyone. Yesterday, three players and a head coach got the call to join the Hall of Fame in November.

Eric Lindros headlines the foursome, and while it has been wildly debated as to whether or not he deserves the nod, what is certain is that he dominated the game for a time in the mid to late 90's. Winning the Hart Trophy in the lockout shortened 1995 season, he also barely lost out on the Art Ross Trophy by tie-breaker and led the Flyers to a Stanley Cup Final in 1997. Injuries, namely concussions, curtailed what could have been a great career, but he still managed over a point a game.

Sergei Makarov spent the majority of his hockey career with the Red Army team in the old USSR, where he put up dynamic numbers alongside linemates Vladimir Krutov and fellow Hall of Famer Igor Larionov. He joined the NHL in the 1989-90 season, where he won the Calder Trophy at the age of 32, which forced the NHL to change the eligibility rules to cap at 26 years old for rookies. He amassed 384 points in 424 NHL games, and was on the winning teams for eight World Championships, two Olympics, and two World Juniors.

Rogie Vachon spent time with Montreal, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Boston, winning the Stanley Cup with Montreal twice. However, it was in Los Angeles that he earned his greatest recognition, setting many of the team's goalie records along the way. Only Jonathan Quick and Kelly Hrudey have put up great seasons in a Kings uniform alongside Vachon.

Pat Quinn will be posthumously honored. A player for nine seasons, he gained great recognition as coach of the Flyers, Kings, Canucks, Maple Leafs, and Oilers, making the Finals with the Flyers and Canucks one time each. He also held a managing position with Team Canada, and was Chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame at the time of his death in November 2014.

The induction ceremony will take place in November.

All Eyes on Las Vegas

Yesterday, the city of Las Vegas was the location for the NHL Awards ceremony. However, it was also the location that the NHL announced in a unanimous vote for the 31st team to play in the NHL starting in the 2017-18 season. Because this post will be all about Vegas, the expansion and Awards will be covered in one shot.

First, the expansion, and what it all means. Because of the unanimous vote, Las Vegas will have a team, and Bill Foley will be principal owner once that team gets rolling. As for arena, the T-Mobile Arena was opened two months ago with a team in mind, be it NHL or NBA, so arena is not an issue. The NHL paved the way for this expansion with a fair amount of preparation, right down to how they were going to plan the expansion draft, which will be explained at a later date. For now, the NHL doesn't plan on making immediate expansion to 32 teams, but will have Quebec City in mind. The hang-ups there? A weak Canadian Dollar, which was last seen at 78 cents to the American dollar, and geographic imbalance, as Quebec would have to kick an existing Eastern Conference team to the West, something that Las Vegas doesn't have to worry about, since they will play in the Pacific Division. The NHL did their homework before handing an expansion franchise to Las Vegas, but we'll see how it works long-term, as their nearest future rival Arizona has had a history of trouble bringing in fans.

The other business in Las Vegas? The annual Awards ceremony, which saw Patrick Kane take home the Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Art Ross trophies as the MVP as voted by the media, MVP as voted by the players, and most points, respectively. Blackhawks teammate Artemi Panarin took home the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year while Washington won big with Braden Holtby winning the Vezina as the goaltender of the year and Barry Trotz winning the Jack Adams as coach of the year. Los Angeles took home some hardware, too, as Anze Kopitar took home the Selke as the defensive forward of the year and the Lady Byng as the most gentlemanly player while Drew Doughty finally got his due recognition as defenseman of the year, winning his first Norris Trophy. The Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance went to Jaromir Jagr, the General Manager of the Year was awarded to Jim Rutherford, the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award went to Shea Weber, the King Clancy Trophy went to Henrik Sedin, and the NHL Foundation Player Award went to Mark Giordano.

NHL Mock Draft Picks 1-10

With the Stanley Cup awarded last night, and with the NHL Draft around the corner, it's time to start thinking about the future of your team. It also means I get to take another crack at figuring out who will go where. For this time around, I will divide it into three sections as opposed to five, so there will be much more to cover in each section. Today, it's picks 1-10.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs-Auston Matthews, C, Zurich (Switzerland)

Much was made of what Auston Matthews was going to do prior to last season, as he had three teams in three leagues vying for his services. While Everett of the WHL is going to forever play the "What if?" game like they did with Seth Jones a few years, back, Zurich was the beneficiary of Matthews' decision, and it worked out well for both the team and for Matthews. The Maple Leafs need a number one center badly, and they will have it with Matthews, who comes NHL-ready after playing with men in Switzerland. Offensive dynamo, he is not, but neither is Jonathan Toews, who would be a better comparison for Matthews, and that's not a bad thing.

2. Winnipeg Jets-Patrik Laine, RW, Tappara (Finland)

In a race to see who would be taken second, Laine and fellow Finn Jesse Puljujarvi are as close as it gets. If you're wanting an offensive dynamo, Laine is it, and the Jets would welcome his scoring touch wherever they decide to put him, whether it is on a line with Mark Scheifele, Bryan Little, or someone else.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets-Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat (Finland)

The more well-rounded player of the two Finns, Puljujarvi would provide an immediate player that can step in wherever the Blue Jackets need him. Though not as dynamic offensively, he does everything well despite just being draft-eligible.

4. Edmonton Oilers-Olli-Juolevi, D, London (OHL)

I bounced back and forth between Juolevi and Jakob Chychrun as the options defensively for the Oilers. In the end, Juolevi won out, as I see him as the more ready player to step in should the Oilers decide to rush the pick to the NHL next season. The Oilers still need defenders, and of the ones available in the draft, Juolevi is viewed as one that can step in right away regardless of where he goes.

5. Vancouver Canucks-Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)

The Canucks filled a need for an NHL-ready defender when they traded for Erik Gudbranson a few weeks back. However, it came at the cost of Jared McCann, a forward capable of offense. Dubois not only would fill the need for offense, but also a power forward that can put people in their place (not to mention, a cheaper alternative to Milan Lucic). Should Dubois be taken by Edmonton (they could always use more physicality up front), look for Matthew Tkachuk to be taken here.

6. Calgary Flames-Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London (OHL)

The Flames need goaltending badly, but it would be a folly to draft one this high, as there isn't a Carey Price-type of player available. So, their next big need would be scoring on the wing, and Tkachuk provides that and more. A slightly less edgy version of his dad on the ice, it would be a mistake to think the younger Tkachuk is soft, as the 107 penalty minutes this season does speak for itself. And yes, he can score, too.

7. Arizona Coyotes-Mikhail Sergachev, D, Windsor (OHL)

Of the defenders available, Sergachev rates as the best offensive defender in the draft. He does have to refine his play in his own end a little, but it's easy to see why scouts are loving this guy, as he has everything you could want, from size to skill, to a high ceiling. The Coyotes need a top defender in the pipeline, and getting a possible clone of Oliver Ekman-Larsson would be a good idea here.

8. Buffalo Sabres-Tyson Jost-C, Penticton (BCHL)

With all of the young talent already on the roster, Jost represents a chance for the Sabres to take it a little slower, allowing him to further develop in North Dakota. Despite playing against lesser competition in the BCHL, the Sabres can take a flier on a player that could pay off handsomely, as he's the highest potential of all the forwards not in the top three.

9. Montreal Canadiens-Alexander Nylander, RW, Mississauga (OHL)

Losing Carey Price for much of the season exposed a long-standing problem for the Canadiens, as in they couldn't score to save their own lives. Though Nylander is marked as more of a playmaker, it is possible that he could unlock the full offensive potential of the likes of Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk. Anything will help in Montreal, and Nylander could see time in the AHL next season, at least, thanks to the same loophole that saw Dallas rush Julius Honka to the AHL after drafting him.

10. Colorado Avalanche-Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia (OHL)

The Avs would have loved to have seen Mikhail Sergachev drop to them, but they will happily settle for Chychrun, who figures to be a solid NHLer, at worst, and a franchise defender, at best. The Avs need it badly, as they were one of the worst blue lines in the NHL, forcing their goaltending to face far too many shots. Chychrun would be one step towards fixing that problem.