2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 3

 The third installment of the needs and mock draft continues, and this is where trades figure into the equation. Every team is still getting covered, in order of original draft position, but the mock draft will go as planned, as well as the first picks of teams without a first round pick. 

16. St. Louis Blues

A team that may not go into free agency much this offseason, the Blues now have to consider moving on from Vladimir Tarasenko, who requested a trade. Depth pieces up front and blue line help are possible needs.

Projected pick: Mason McTavish, C, Olten

A team short on high end talent if Tarasenko does get traded, McTavish can provide goal scoring and a big body down the middle for a team that needs to harder to play against, something that has been missing since 2019.

17. Winnipeg Jets 

Offense up front is a major need, especially since Pierre-Luc Dubois is not a guy that can replicate the goal scoring totals Patrik Laine had. That is where replenishing the wings can be a factor. Having fewer worries about free agents in their own end should help the Jets zero in on getting scoring help there, either through draft or free agency. 

Projected pick: Oskar Olausson, LW, HV71

The Jets can afford to develop another player if Cole Perfetti and Kristian Vesalainen both make the leap next season. Olausson has upside that can be worked with for a couple more seasons, as he's signed with HV71 until 2023.

18. Nashville Predators 

The search for a top center continues, and there isn't a top guy available in the draft, much less where the Predators are drafting. As for free agency, it's going to be about shedding either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene's contract through the expansion draft.

Projected pick: Fyodor Svechkov, C, Togliatti Jr.

Probably the safest pick if you take away the Russian Factor, Svechkov projects as a middle six player, at worst, thanks to the overall balance in his game.

19. Edmonton Oilers 

The search for wing men that can play alongside either McDavid or Draisaitl continues, as depth once again, became an issue. Blue line help is also a problem, but acquiring Duncan Keith should help the younger players mentally, even if Keith is no longer the player he was even a few years ago. Goalie help is also needed, as there's no sure fire starter now, nor is there a guarantee the prospects will develop as promised. 

Projected pick: Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton (WHL)

Goalie is the thinnest spot in the Oilers prospect pool, as they drafted all forwards last season, and they're expecting Evan Bouchard to try for a spot next season. Keeping Cossa in Edmonton would be a boon, as they can keep an eye on him as he looks to continue to post great numbers for a strong Oil Kings squad.

20. Boston Bruins

An aging core will need much more than just David Pastrnak up front and Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo on the blue line. Depth continues to be a major problem, even as Patrice Bergeron continues to play at a high level and Taylor Hall is a possibility to resign with the team. Down the middle is a worry that could be solved in free agency while the blue line needs a more sure thing.

Projected pick: Aatu Raty, C, Karpat

A top 10 projected pick prior to this season, his confidence was rattled at times and he missed the cut for the 2021 WJC tournament, due to no practice for the Finnish squad prior to the start. He still has the tools, and could be an eventual replacement for David Krejci.

21. Minnesota Wild 

Even as they move on from the Parise/Suter era, the Wild need to continue to fill holes in their prospect pool, especially defensively, where only Calen Addison is a top 10 prospect. Their most important thing on the to-do list is getting Kirill Kaprizov signed. 

Projected pick: Sean Behrens, D, US NTDP

A mobile defenseman that got overshadowed by teammate Luke Hughes, Behrens has upside to an already good all-around game and projects to more of a sure thing than 2018 pick Filip Johansson.

22. Washington Capitals

The Capitals first round pick was traded to Detroit in the Anthony Mantha deal, and while Mantha had his moments, not having that first round pick means they don't draft until late in the second round. Their biggest concern is what to do with Alex Ovechkin, who is a UFA. Whether they think they can win one more Cup is going to be a factor in the decision making for at least a couple seasons. Beyond that, they could use another above average prospect in the system, especially up front, as Ovechkin won't easily be replaced by one player.

Projected pick (Detroit): Nikita Chibrikov, RW, CKA

His game is bent more towards offense, and with both size concerns and the Russian Factor, it's easy to see Chibrikov fall. Still, his offense is better than most players in the draft.

Projected pick (Washington): Brett Harrison, C, Koovee Jr.

An offensive threat with consistency issues that were exposed when he had to head to Europe when the OHL season was ultimately canned, Harrison should benefit by returning to Oshawa this coming season, where he performed well. If he can use his size more to his advantage, his potential is higher.

23. Florida Panthers 

Defense is a sore point depth-wise, as evidenced by Aaron Ekblad's injury. Cutting ties with Keith Yandle further reinforces this idea, and with a decent amount of cap space, they can add another player there, if needed, although they did commit 3 million per year for three years to Anthony Duclair.

Projected pick: Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck-St. Mary's 

Far better offensive starter than in his own end at this point, Morrow has the desire to improve upon his weaknesses. It helps that he is a bigger player than the trendy smaller, yet mobile defender some teams take a chance on.

2019 NHL mock draft: picks 1-8

The NHL entry draft is less than two weeks away, and the draft order is almost set, as the final game that will be played on Wednesday will determine the last two spots. As is the tradition of this blog, I will take a shot at who will be taking who. Today, it is picks 1-8.

1. New Jersey Devils-Jack Hughes, C, US-NTDP (USHL)

The Devils need offense in a bad way, and that fact was further exposed when Taylor Hall missed significant amount of time this season. The middle Hughes brother (Quinn is a defenseman in the Vancouver Canucks system and Luke is eligible in 2021) reminds many of Patrick Kane when he came out in his draft year, and if Hughes is anything close to his potential, the Devils will be happy to take it.

2. New York Rangers-Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Finland)

The other top candidate to go first overall, Kakko is a great consolation prize for a Rangers team that needs a flagship player that the team can sell their fans on in their rebuilding phase. While he's purely a winger, Kakko does just about everything well and has come up big in the clutch, scoring the gold-medal winner at the WJCs this year.

3. Chicago Blackhawks-Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge (WHL)

The Blackhawks would prefer a winger, but Cozens would be a great pickup here, as he has the size to be a power forward and the skill to eventually be a top line talent. It's uncertain where Dylan Strome's ceiling truly is, so picking Cozens makes sense in hedging their bets here.

4. Colorado Avalanche-Vasili Podkolzin, RW, SKA-Neva (Russia)

The Avalanche missed out on elite talent thanks to a few bounces of the ping pong balls, but they still get to draft a great talent here. Between Kirby Dach and Podkolzin, the Avs are getting a great talent to fill their forward depth. Given their depth in the pipeline that needs to come through, the Avs can afford to let Podkolzin develop, and when he is ready, they can be getting a Brad Marchand clone that plays more in control of his emotions.

5. Los Angeles Kings-Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver (WHL)

Without any real room for anything other than an immediate game changer, the Kings will need to play a little bit of a long game, and where the team has needs in the long-term is on the blue line. Byram is more of an offensive defenseman at this point in his development, but that is a spot where the Kings will need help down the line on the back end, especially since Jarret Anderson-Dolan and possibly Rasmus Kupari could crack the lineup up front within a year or two and there just simply isn't any cap room with eight players in their 30's on big deals and only Ilya Kovalchuk and Dion Phaneuf will have their deals expire in two years, which is the earliest that cap relief can come outside of a buyout.

6. Detroit Red Wings-Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)

The Red Wings still need an elite defender, but that isn't available in the draft this year. The good news is that the Wings still need help up front, and Dach will help out here. He may need a year or two in Saskatoon, but with Filip Zadina and possibly Joe Veleno being favorites to make the NHL next season, the wait may be a blessing for a team that simply needs all the help they can get, especially since they can be rid of Jonathan Ericsson's contract after next season.

7. Buffalo Sabres-Cole Caufield, RW, US NTDP (USHL)

Depth on the wings is terrible with the Sabres, and that has a trickle down effect on an offense that if it ever matched the potential of the unit on hand, would have not had this problem. As it is, potential still must turn into actual production, and only Jack Eichel has shown that of the forwards developed by the team. Caufield would be helpful as a second line winger with either Casey Mittelstadt or Sam Reinhart right now.

8. Edmonton Oilers-Victor Soderstom, D, Brynas (Sweden)

There's so many things the Oilers need, but with Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse needing pay raises and so little cap room, the Oilers desperately need to fill that hole in case they lose either or both. Soderstom would be a year away, but he would provide a puck moving defender that the team lacks in the system.

Cutting Room

The past month has seen some changes in the NHL, as four teams as of this writing have changed head coaches in the middle of the season...and it's not December, yet. Let's run them down, and look at who may be next to go.

• The Chicago Blackhawks parted ways with Joel Quennville and replaced him with Jeremy Colliton, who was the head coach of the team's AHL affiliate in Rockford. The Quennville firing comes as a shock, but the reality was there was a major butting of heads lately between Quennville and General Manager Stan Bowman. Someone had to go, and soon, the other half may be gone by the end of the season, so this change is definitely a referendum on Bowman, who has put the Blackhawks on the verge of salary cap hell and hasn't adequately addressed the team's depth problem lately.
• The Los Angeles Kings were also in the mood to fire their head coach, as John Stevens was given his walking papers. Willie Desjardins was named interim coach. Stevens had a decent regular season last year, but his inability to get any offense out of the team come playoff time was exposed, and it has been further exposed this season despite adding Ilya Kovalchuk in the off-season. While Desjardins is an interim coach, was it really the best decision? Marco Sturm is the likely head coach in waiting, and skipping the middle man would have made more sense, although the Kings haven't been able to field a healthy goaltending unit lately, since Cal Petersen, he of a handful of games thus far, is now on the NHL roster until the likes of Peter Budaj and Jonathan Quick can get healthy again.
• Speaking of the Kings, they were the last team that Mike Yeo would be facing as the head coach of the St. Louis Blues. The Blues were shut out last night by that team, and an offensive dry spell that topped a team struggling to meet expectations meant the Mike Yeo experiment it over. Before I get to who is replacing him, it should be noted that the Blues hand-picked Yeo to replace Ken Hitchcock after the 2016-17 season, only to speed up that process by a few months, as Hitchcock was fired for Yeo. Just over two years later, Yeo is now looking for a new job. His replacement is...Craig Berube? This may be an interim move, but given that Berube was terrible as head coach in Philadelphia, it almost seems like the Blues WANT to fail.
• Spekaing of Hitchcock, he was lured out of retirement...again, as the Edmonton Oilers fired Todd MacClellan this morning. Hitchcock will be behind the bench for at least the rest of the season. One has to wonder if General Manager Peter Chiarrelli should be answering the phone because his job is now on the line. A team that has underachieved despite Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and is also on the verge of salary cap hell, the Oilers may need to do more than just fire the head coach.

So, who could be the next coach to go? Randy Carlyle in Anaheim seems like a safe bet, as does Jeff Blashill in Detroit and Guy Boucher in Ottawa. 

Clogged Pipeline

EDMONTON OILERS

2017-18 record: 36-40-6 (78 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Connor McDavid

Last year, many pundits picked the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, if not the Western Conference. A funny thing happened, as the team got off to a slow start and players not named Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl regressed. The result was a team that missed the playoffs by a fair margin and now, they have to find a way to maneuver around the salary cap. Little was done other than what amounted to window dressing.

To explain how a team with McDavid and Draisaitl finished 20th in scoring, it is quite simple: depth, or the lack thereof. Five years remain on Milan Lucic's contract, and thus far, he hasn't produced nearly enough to justify half of it. He is obviously a player that needs to find some semblance of offense, and fast. Other players up front need to step up, too, as Zack Kassian, Drake Caggiula, and Ryan Strome need to put in some offense. In short, the wingers need to close the deal, as the center is far better are for the team, as they can go three-deep minimum. Defensively, it's no surprise that the team finished 25th, as Kris Russell gets circles skated around him, Andrej Sekera has three years left and is coming off an ACL tear, Oscar Klefbom was injured, and Darnell Nurse hasn't been the game changer the team has hoped for when they drafted him in 2013. Cam Talbot's work load from the 2016-17 season took its toll on him in 2018, as he couldn't stop a beach ball. Worse, Laurent Brossoit and Al Montoya weren't the answer when he needed rest. Enter former KHL goalie Mikko Koskinen, who is coming off a successful run there with SKA.

Prediction: 5th in the Pacific Division

If the Oilers get off to a slow start again this season, it will almost certainly spell their doom as far as playoff chances. The team will go as McDavid and Draisaitl can take them, but the supporting cast needs to pitch in, too if they wish to see the playoffs.

NHL mock Draft: Picks 9-15

Continuing on to the NHL mock Draft, and picks 9-15, I'll try to get in the selections with the World Cup going on.

9. New York Rangers-Brady Tkachuk, C/RW, Boston University (Hockey East)

The Rangers have three picks in the first round, and they can afford to wait until later to pick a defenseman. They can also trade up if they need to. Should they think Tkachuk could come off the board earlier and they want him, a trade up is possible. Then again, a defenseman heavy draft could very lead to Tkachuk falling if the Rangers decide to stay put. Tkachuk is almost like his dad and older brother. In other words, a power forward that can make life miserable for the opposing players.

10. Edmonton Oilers-Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

The Oilers are in a precarious spot with the salary cap, and there is word that they may be moving the pick along with a hefty contract. Should they stay, Sandin provides the most offensive upside of the defenders remaining. He also happens to be fairly proficient in his own end, something that was evident when paired with fellow Draft-eligible defenseman Adam Boqvist.

11. New York Islanders-Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

A playmaker who has immense talent, Veleno showed most of what he can do after a mid-season trade to Drummondville. Already a champion with Saint John in 2017, his talent level can be even higher, and with John Tavares likely a goner, he can step in as a top center once he makes the NHL.

12. New York Islanders (from Calgary)-Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL)

The Islanders were terrible in their own end last year, and Smith is the best defensive defenseman available in the Draft after Dahlin. He may not provide much offense, but the Islanders aren't exactly hurting in that category.

13. Dallas Stars-Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea (Sweden)

The Stars may wish to address their center depth soon, as Martin Hanzal is better suited for third line duty and Jason Spezza is seeing a pretty steep decline in skill. Lundestrom may not be flashy, but he does a lot of things well and his skill set reminds some of current Nashville center Calle Jarnkrok, who can play a complete 200-foot game.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis)-Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat (Finland)

The Flyers may need to force feed a few of their current prospects into the NHL roster soon, which of course means that it's a good idea to stock up on prospects with a high ceiling. Kotkaniemi may be seen as a late bloomer, but he has great potential offensively and is continuing to work on being better in the areas he needs to improve upon (i.e. skating).

15. Florida Panthers-Bode Wilde, D, US NTDP

Hockey sense is a question mark for Wilde, but everything else checks out. Florida needs defensemen badly, and Wilde has potential if he can improve his hockey sense.

Striking it Rich

EDMONTON OILERS

2016-17 record: 47-26-9 (103 points)
Lost to Anaheim in Conference semi-finals
Captain: Connor McDavid

A decade of failure and lottery picks that have mostly not panned out put the Oilers in the bottom leading up to last season. What a difference one year makes, as now, they are a team truly on the rise. Of course, it helps that one of the lottery picks that has panned out is Connor McDavid. There's no question that the team will go as he goes, but the other problems that the Oilers had in the past were also solved along the way. The question now is whether they can keep the momentum going.

McDavid gets all the headlines, and rightfully so, but Leon Draisaitl also deserves some press, and the Oilers agree, as both players were given extensions heading into this season. McDavid made a goal scorer out of Patrick Maroon, who scored 27 goals, but can the effect carry over to newcomer Ryan Strome? He was picked up in a trade for Jordan Eberle and can bring a solid two-way game, but will his offensive game benefit in the same way? Offensive scoring depth may be an issue, as there just simply isn't enough spots to play on the same lines as McDavid and Draisaitl, but there are now enough big physical players to keep teams honest about taking liberties with both players. If Jesse Puljujarvi can get past his growing pains of last year, the Oilers will be even better. On the blue line, it was often a black hole, as the Oilers looked lost often in the dark years. Last year, it was a strength thanks to General Manager Peter Chiarelli committing to fixing the unit. From an offensive standpoint, Oscar Klefbom was finally able to stay healthy, and his offensive output was welcomed by a team that had lacked a playmaker from that end. Signing Kris Russell prior to last season paid off, as his play helped the likes of Adam Larsson and Darnell Nurse realize more of their potential, and while Larsson will never be half the player Nicklas Lidstrom was (see the scouting report from Larsson's draft year), he at least provides smart, calm play in his own end that may never be an offensive force. In goal, Cam Talbot was a workhorse, as he solidified another major problem spot for the Oilers since the lockout. One potential problem is that there still isn't a reliable backup, and if the workload causes problems, look out below. Special teams were about what you thought, as the power play was great, but the penalty kill could use a little work.

Prediction: 2nd in the Pacific Division

The Oilers are built to win now, and certainly, they can make a deep run as soon as this season. One thing to watch for is health, as the Oilers were largely unscathed last season, and everyone say what the Oilers were without McDavid the season before. This is McDavid's team, and the Oilers will need the stars to align once again to keep everything in order.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 16-31

With Adidas revealing all 31 teams' new (sort of, for some teams) uniforms, I'm expediting the mock draft.

16-Calgary Flames: Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane (WHL)

The Flames have had success with players like Yamamoto, as they have his contemporary height-wise in Johnny Gaudreau. Super skilled offensively, and Sam Bennett still needs wingers that can score.

17-Toronto Maple Leafs: Cal Foote, D, Kelowna (WHL)

Toronto could always use another defensive prospect, as they remain thin at that unit, a fact exposed by their third pairing of Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak getting repeatedly torched. Foote isn't a game-breaker, but he is reliable in his own end and has a little more offensive than his dad Adam, a former Colorado defender.

18-Boston Bruins: Nic Hague, D, Mississauga (OHL)

The Bruins have tried preparing for the eventuality of Zdeno Chara finally hanging it up, and though Charlie McAvoy, last year's first round pick, looks like a sure thing, the first round pick from 2015 Jakub Zboril is not as certain to be great. Hague has the size and may provide solid two-way play to go along with McAvoy's offensive prowess and Brandon Carlo's stay-at-home abilities.

19-San Jose Sharks: Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

The Sharks need young defenders in the pipeline, especially since they just gave up on Mirco Mueller living up to his potential. Joseph is a puck mover that needs to gain weight, but is checking off the boxes in most other areas.

20-St. Louis Blues: Klim Kostin, RW, Dynamo Moscow (KHL)

St, Louis got pushed around a lot last year, and despite an off-year thanks to injuries and a lack of playing time in the KHL, Kostin showed what he could do when given the time to show. Provides a physical element that was missing last year.

21-New York Rangers: Erik Brannstrom, D, HV71 (Sweden)

The Rangers are getting old on the blue line, and though they just parted ways with Dan Girardi, they still have decent ability there. The future doesn't look too bright beyond that, and Brannstrom would not only be a body on the blue line, but also a puck mover that they haven't had in a while.

22-Edmonton Oilers: Robert Thomas, C, London (OHL)

Though listed as a center Thomas can play anywhere up front, and he's likely the safest pick in the first round. The Oilers would like to have better depth up front, especially when it comes to the third and fourth lines, and Thomas can bring a two-way game to those areas right away if needed.

23-Arizona Coyotes (from Minnesota): Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, HPK Jr. (Finland)

I fully expect the Coyotes to take a goaltender either here or with their second round pick. Presuming they do like what they see in that category, it's down to Luukkonen or Jake Oettinger. Luukkonen has the higher upside, and I think he's a little closer to NHL ready.

24-Columbus Blue Jackets: Kole Lind, RW, Kelowna (WHL)

The Blue Jackets are sound defensively, but they didn't have nearly enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with Pittsburgh in the first round. Sadly, this year's draft doesn't have much in the way of offensive talent, but Lind is one of the better options available. Plus, going down the wing, the Blue Jackets could use another guy there.

25-Montreal Canadiens: Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP (Finland)

The Canadiens just traded away Mikhail Sergachev, leaving their defensive pipeline a little less stocked. Reliability is what he will provide, but he may require a few years to develop his hockey sense a little more.

26-Chicago Blackhawks: Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph (OHL)

A project, Ratcliffe has the size that Chicago desperately needs, as they've been lacking in that lately and were pushed around by St. Louis and Nashville in recent playoff tilts, teams with at least one physical presence. He can provide a little offense, but once he gets a little more weight, his size will be his greatest asset.

27-St. Louis Blues (from Washington): Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C, Spokane (WHL)

Anderson-Dolan rose up the draft board thanks to his tournament play in the World Under-18s, and he is just now scratching the surface of his potential. With Dan Lambert now coaching Spokane, it will be interesting to see how much offense he can really provide.

28-Ottawa Senators: Jason Robertson, RW, Kingston (OHL)

Robertson could afford to improve his skating, which seems to be a theme with most draft picks this year, but if any team knows about offensive talent that needs improved skating, it's Ottawa, as Robertson draws comparisons to Mark Stone, who's done pretty well in Ottawa. Work ethic is something to watch, but the offensive skill is there.

29-Dallas Stars (from Anaheim): Kristian Vesalainen, LW, Frolunda (Sweden)

The offensive upside is there with Vesalainen, but he also had an up and down season, as he moved quite a bit. Size suggests power forward, but he may be a few years away.

30-Nashville Predators: Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (NCHC)

Assuming the Predators don't trade this pick in pursuit of a center like Matt Duchene or Tyler Johnson, the Predators go with the draft route, taking Poehling, who could end up a Mike Fisher clone, as in not great offensively, but very good in many areas, and can play a shutdown role if needed.

31-Pittsburgh Penguins: Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle (Sweden)

Liljegren's stock took a tumble, and with Pittsburgh needing to figure out a plan in case they don't keep Justin Schultz and/or Derrick Pouliot doesn't pan out, Liljegren would fit the Penguins system perfectly, as his offense is way ahead of his defensive game.

NHL Conference Semi-Finals Preview

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Pittsburgh Penguins

The Capitals had all they could handle in a six-game series with Toronto, but in the end, they did manage to pull through. They did so despite Alex Ovechkin providing just three points (all goals). Having a balanced attack that includes TJ Oshie, Niklas Backstrom, and Justin Williams should help offset Ovechkin's struggles, particularly as he is shaking off an injury scare in the last game of the Leafs series. Braden Holtby continues to hold down the for the Capitals.

Pittsburgh had a relatively easy time with the Blue Jackets en route to a five-game series win. In spite of having to go to Marc-Andre Fleury thanks to Matt Murray being injured, the Penguins have shown some resilience, particularly since Kris Letang is out for the playoffs. It helps that their big guns (Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Sidney Crosby) all produced in the series.

Prediction: Penguins in 7

(2) Ottawa Senators vs. (4) New York Rangers

The Senators went to overtime in virtually every game of their series against Boston. Like Pittsburgh, they had their share of adversity, and like Pittsburgh, their big name players came up big when it counted the most. Erik Karlsson is still the engine that gets the offense going, and having Bobby Ryan finally show why the Senators traded for him a few years ago have been big factors. Craig Anderson has played well, but it's been Clarke MacArthur that has truly come up clutch after missing most of the season because of concussions.

The Rangers have ridden their defense to a six-game victory over Montreal. Henrik Lundqvist still has a few great games left in him, and the defense in front of him tightened up when it counted the most. Offensively, they may wish to ramp things up a little, as Mika Zibanejad led the team with four points. That means the likes of Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello need to pick things up a little.

Prediction: Senators in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (2) Edmonton Oilers

The Ducks had little difficulty in disposing of the Flames in a sweep. Their offense was well-balanced, with Shea Theodore emerging as a new option on the blue line. Getting Corey Perry to produce a little more would help, but with everyone bunched into the 3-5 point range, it could also be beneficial in keeping the pressure off of Perry to perform. In goal, John Gibson was healthy, but also rather shaky, as he was pulled from a start in the series. Goaltending bears watching here.

The Oilers are going to go as far as Connor McDavid and Cam Talbot will take them. Other than a game four clunker, Talbot has been as good as he's been in the regular season. McDavid is undoubtedly the man on the Oilers, but it's been the big boys (Patrick Maroon, Zack Kassian, and Darnell Nurse) that have come up big offensively and defensively.

Prediction: Oilers in 7

(3) St. Louis Blues vs. (4) Nashville Predators

The Blues took care of the Wild in five games thanks to Jake Allen righting his game in time. Despite Vladimir Tarasenko not being much of a factor in the series, the Blues got some production from other players, most notably Alex Steen and Jaden Schwartz. Vladimir Sobotka's presence has really helped defensively.

The Predators had their way with the Blackhawks in a sweep, giving up less than a goal per game. Pekka Rinne was on top of his game, and will most likely need to be again this series. Offensively, everything goes through the JOFA line (Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen), but it's been PK Subban that has been a game-changer with his puck-moving skills from the blue line that have made it harder to key in on Roman Josi.

Prediction: Predators in 6

Western Conference preview

With the playoffs beginning soon, it's time to look at the Western Conference.

(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (4) Calgary Flames

The Ducks rode a hot streak to win the Pacific Division crown. However, recent playoff history hasn't been particularly kind, and certainly, the pressure will be on for a deep run. Goal remains as big of a question as it ever was, as John Gibson is still a question mark thanks to injuries while Jonathan Bernier is still prone to giving up the occasional soft goal, though he did play well this season. Cam Fowler has been the leader on defense, a good thing since Hamphus Lindholm has played catch-up since ending his early season holdout. Up front, the usual suspects need to show up, as Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Ryan Kesler will need to carry the day again. One player to watch is Nick Ritchie, who needs to provide a physical presence to offset Calgary's group.

Goal is also a question in Calgary, as both Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson have been streaky. The good news is that when one fails, the other is ready to pick up. Defensively, Dougie Hamilton will need to take his game to another level while up front, the emergence of Mikael Backlund as an offensive threat is welcome. Backlund's defensive prowess is also unquestioned, though it does help that the Flames can take it to a team physically with Micheal Ferland, Troy Brouwer, and Matthew Tkachuk.

Prediction: Calgary in 7

(2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3) San Jose Sharks

Edmonton is back after an 11 year absence from the playoffs, and while everything begins with Connor McDavid, a big reason for their success is in goal. Cam Talbot set a team record for most wins in a season, and he doesn't mind being in net often. The Oilers will need him, as Laurent Brossoit is unproven if Talbot goes down. Defensively is still a work in progress, but for the first time since 2006, there is a certifiable number one pairing, as Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson came on late to provide a top pairing. Offensively, it all begins with McDavid, who took home the Art Ross Trophy, and some of the beneficiaries include Leon Draisaitl, Patrick Maroon, and Jordan Eberle. The Oilers were built to be physical, too, and that is where Maroon, Milan Lucic, and Zack Kassian will need to show up.

San Jose had a bit of a tailspin to end the season, but they are still the reigning Western Conference champions. Martin Jones has proven to be a top option in goal, and the pieces are still in place defensively. Brent Burns leads the group, and they may need to compensate for an offense that could use a pick-me-up besides Joe Pavelski.

Prediction: Edmonton in 6

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (4) Nashville Predators

For the lack of respect that Corey Crawford has gotten, there is a reason why he has two Stanley Cup rings: he comes through when it counts the most. It helps that other proven playoff veterans such as Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Seabrook are in front of him. Up front, the offense is more balanced now that Artemi Panarin has firmly established himself as an option along with Patrick Kane. If there is pressure on one player, it's Jonathan Toews, who had a slightly disappointing season,, but it is the playoffs now, and you know what he can do when the lights are on brightest.

Nashville has been a streaky team. Goaltending is more of a certainty than in recent playoff runs, thanks to Pekka Rinne and Jusse Saros holding down the fort there. Defensively, they've had a few injuries, but now it's time to find out just how much the trade for PK Subban will pay off, as chances need to be taken, and Subban is one of the best at taking chances. Up front, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson were the best options, with Ryan Johansen being a frequent collaborator. They will need James Neal to show up, as he had a below average season. A player to watch is Miika Salomaki, who missed most of the season, but provides a physical element to the Predators squad that needs it.

Prediction: Nashville in 7

(2) Minnesota Wild vs. (3) St. Louis Blues

Minnesota had a hot start to the season, but were tailing off by season's end. Devan Dubnyk held down the fort once again, and defensively, things were together for the most part, though there isn't a big name player in the bunch. Offensively, the Wild were balanced, though Martin Hanzal has been a disappointment since coming over at the trade deadline.

St. Louis looked like they were going to miss the playoffs as the calendar turned to February. Goal is still a question mark, as neither Jake Allen nor Carter Hutton are proven commodities in the playoffs. Defensively, they have actually gotten better despite trading away Kevin Shattenkirk at the deadline. Up front, it's always going to be Vladimir Tarasenko that gets things started, but they Blues could be getting a boost from returning Vladimir Sobotka, who provides a solid defensive presence up front.

Prediction: St. Louis in 5

I Watched This Game: Live from Nashville

Today's big news centers around the Boston Bruins and their firing of Claude Julien as head coach. However, rather than concentrate on the impending dumpster fire that the Bruins are becoming, I will take a small trip back to the Thursday night tilt between the Edmonton Oilers and the Nashville Predators. Yes, I watched this game...a couple rows behind the visitors' penalty box.

• The seats, as pricey as they are, provide a superb view of the action and the people at the games are nice with some developing traditions that are similar to a footy match.
• Other than the second period, there was no scoring, and both goals were provided by the home team. Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Johansen scored for the Preds and Pekka Rinne was on his game tonight in goal en route to the shutout win.
• A fight broke out between Patrick Maroon and Cody McLeod, with McLeod eventually getting the better of the fight. That trade, however small it may look, has had a sizable impact on the team, and the win ignited the team moving forward in the game.

Overall, the game went well for the home fans, and the experience at Bridgestone Arena was really good. I would go back to another Preds game if given the chance.

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.

Bigger and Tougher

EDMONTON OILERS

2015-16 record: 31-43-8 (70 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

The same story of the Edmonton Oilers missing the playoffs yet again keeps going, but this time, it feels different, as the current regime are actually sticking to a plan. Yes, these are not the Oilers of recent years, as they've made an effort to not only build from the back out, something that was started prior to last season, but also get bigger. Let's not forget that there is that McDavid kid up front that is expected to be the one to lead them into the playoffs.

It's Connor McDavid's team for better or for worse, as the off-season trade of Taylor Hall almost officially makes him the face of the franchise. Despite missing half the season, he did manage just over a point a game to finish third on the team in scoring. He makes everyone better, and the latest player that may get the opportunity will be Milan Lucic, a big, physical player that fits the vision of General Manager Peter Chiarelli and head coach Todd McClellan. He joins fellow bigs Patrick Maroon and Zack Kassian as guys you'd have to get through if you're going after McDavid and Co. That should afford the latest first round pick Jesse Puljujarvi the luxury of not having to face the best players off the bat. On the blue line, it's still a work in progress, and the return for Hall was Adam Larsson, who may very well be finding his stride. Still, like the rest of the group, he does come with questions, as he doesn't provide great offensive numbers, a sore spot that saw only Andrej Sekera provide anything from the blue line. In time, Oscar Klefbom and Brandon Davidson could help, but both had injury issues last season. Darnell Nurse provides a physical presence while the sixth spot will be a rotating group amongst Griffin Reinhart, Mark Fayne, and Mark Fraser. In goal, Cam Talbot struggled for the first month of the season, losing the starting goaltending spot for a time to then-backup Anders Nilsson. However, between Nilsson's struggles and Talbot finding his game, it seems that Talbot is now comfortable as starter and will look to have a more consistent season. Jonas Gustavsson will back him up this season. Special teams were middle of the pack, as the power play only needs a quarterback from the point on that unit. Penalty killing wise, having everyone healthy will go a long way to determining what is needed for improvement.

Prediction: 5th in the Pacific Division

The Oilers are inching closer to making the playoffs for the first time since 2006, but they may be a year away before that streak finally ends. They're building around Connor McDavid, and it is unquestionably his team now, but more consistency from the back end will be needed if they want to be more than just on the cusp of a playoff spot team.

Leaders Wanted

The NHL season is less than two months away, and there are vacancies as far as who the captains will be, as well as potential changes with a couple of teams and one team already pulling the trigger on the change. Let's look at the teams that are or could be entering the season with a new captain:

Buffalo Sabres: Currently, Brian Gionta is the captain, but with just one year left on his current deal and the fact that his skills have been in decline for some time, it may be wise for the Sabres to think about a new captain. Ryan O'Reilly is the favorite to be the next captain, the only question is when he will inherit that role.

Carolina Hurricanes: The mid-season trade of Eric Staal means the Hurricanes will have a new captain. However, there is no clear cut leader in the clubhouse, as Jordan Staal is the closest they have, and he hasn't put up the numbers the elder Staal did when he was at the top of his game. Going with four alternate captains would be the best way to go, though if Justin Faulk shows something, he could swoop in and take the captaincy.

Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog is currently the captain, but there have been rumors of him being on the move to acquire an NHL-ready defender. However, with Patrick Roy's unexpected resignation, that could mean Landeskog isn't going anywhere in the near future.

Edmonton Oilers: They went without a captain last year, as Andrew Ference was stripped of the C, and it is likely that the Oilers will once again, go with four alternate captains. The favored bet here is that they're going to wait until Connor McDavid is ready to inherit the role.

Florida Panthers: With Willie Mitchell likely to retire, the Panthers will need a new captain. However, picking from Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, and Jonathan Huberdeau will not be an easy task. Expect the Panthers to go with four alternate captains, with Jaromir Jagr likely occupying one of those A's in a mentor role.

Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Brown had the captaincy handed to Anze Kopitar, and it was the right time to make this move, as Brown hasn't produced to his current deal, and perhaps not being burdened with added responsibility means an uptick in on-ice production. As for Kopitar, he's proven as a productive player and as one of the leaders of the Kings.

Nashville Predators: The Shea Weber-PK Subban trade sent shockwaves through the NHL, and in the process, left Nashville looking for a new captain. If they're looking to fill the gap in the interim, Mike Fisher would be the logical choice. Roman Josi doesn't appear to be ready for the role yet, but he was also the better defender last year. Subban has embraced the trade to Nashville, and it is not out of the question that he could be the guy that replaces Weber, both on the ice and with the captain's C.

St. Louis Blues: David Backes changed addresses in the off-season, and while Vladimir Tarasenko may appear to be the logical choice to be captain, it would be a folly to do so if it causes a decrease in goal scoring. Alex Pietrangelo would be the safer, and more likely pick.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Morgan Rielly has been a name kicked around as the next Maple Leafs captain. The front office appears to be leaning towards a player with more experience, which means Leo Komarov may be the guy they pick until Rielly is ready.

Winnipeg Jets: Andrew Ladd's trade mid-season left the Jets without a captain for part of last season. There are at least two options the Jets can go towards, as Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler are favorites to inherit the role. If they want to go bold, Mark Scheifele would be the answer.

Going Back in Time

With the NHL Heritage Classic just under three months away, it was time for both the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets to reveal what they would be wearing when they clash at Investors Group Field in late October. The alumni rosters for both teams were also announced, and in accordance to that announcement, their uniforms were unveiled.

First, the alumni: and while the Oilers will be wearing their familiar blue sweaters with orange shoulders and traditional striping, the Jets will be bringing back the sweaters from their first incarnation as an NHL team. No problems there. Now, for the current NHL teams: the Oilers are just basically carrying over their special sweaters from last season into this game. Good call, as they have grown in popularity since they were announced prior to last season. The Jets will be employing the same template as the Oilers, only the design will incorporate much of their first season in the WHA. Again, it's a winning look, as it's fairly simple in design. The only hangup will be that the home team will be wearing white, something that generally goes against the (silly) rule of home teams wearing their colored uniforms, but since the Oilers were already locked in with their orange sweaters, putting the Jets in white made sense, particularly since the National Football League has gone with the rather ill-advised idea of trying both teams in their special colored uniforms for Thursday night games.

In all, the entire Heritage Classic promises to be not only a matchup of two teams with loads of promise, but also two teams that will definitely look good while gliding across the ice on a football field in Winnipeg.

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.

...And We're Off!

For those that were waiting for the NHL Free Agency period to begin Friday, in earnest, the frenzy began today, as three big pieces came falling off the off-season house.

The first order of business: Steven Stamkos. The big fish in the free agency pool was officially taken out today by the Tampa Bay Lightning, as the Lightning signed him to an 8-year, $68 million dollar deal. That is an $8.5 million cap hit on average for the Lightning, and ends any speculation that the Lightning were going to lose their captain and leading goal scorer to another team. A two-time 50 goal scorer, he missed most of the playoffs this season, but the signing is an indication that the Lightning and Stamkos are both in it for the long run. Ultimately, the Lightning and Stamkos kept their respective words when it came to what the future would hold for the other, even if it took up to the 11th hour to do so.

Second order of business: the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators decided that it would be a good idea to swap their respective top defensemen. That's right, Shea Weber and PK Subban are changing places in a move reminiscient of Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy doing the same thing in the 1983 movie "Trading Places." What does it mean for both teams? For Nashville, they get younger and though they do take on a little more of a cap hit with Subban, they also have five fewer years than with Weber. Translation: by the time Subban's contract is up, which will be in six years, he will be 33 while Weber will be 41 by the time his contract ends in 10 years. That is important for a Nashville team that generally never likes to operate to the salary cap ceiling. Meanwhile, the Canadiens get a leader who still has a menacing shot. The trade should benefit both players, as they're heading to the systems that will benefit each one more.

Third order of business: the Edmonton Oilers were known to be in the market for an NHL-ready defender. You can cross that off the list, as they acquired Adam Larsson from the New Jersey Devils. The cost? Taylor Hall. Like the Predators-Canadiens trade, this was a straight up trade that should, in theory, benefit both teams. The Devils need any and all defense that they can get, and getting Hall, who scored 26 times last season, will help in that regard. As for the Oilers, they unclog the logjam of forwards a little while trading for a defender that is just now beginning to figure it out in Larsson, as evidenced by his increasing ice time the last two seasons while also playing on the top pair last season. For both, who are also former first round picks (Hall in 2010, Larsson in 2011), it's a chance improve their new squads.

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.

Restocking Needs

With the NHL Draft less than three weeks away, it's time for teams to figure out how to replenish their systems with the best possible players. This week, I will take the time to look at what each team needs to do and how they can best address those needs with the picks they do have. The needs section will be divided into three, which means ten teams get a look each day this week, and the list will go according to order in which they are supposed to draft.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Number of picks: 12
Picks in first round: 1st and 29th/30th overall (from PIT)

The Maple Leafs are almost certain to draft Auston Matthews with the first overall pick. That will fill a major need down the middle, as Nazem Kadri is the only center that will be on the roster next season that scares anyone on the opposing team. With the pick they got from the Phil Kessel trade, they can address the back end, be it on the blue line or in the blue paint. While the blue line options are plenty, it only seems that the Leafs would have to go with Carter Hart if they decide on a goalie. Either way, the Leafs can take their time in developing the other first round pick.

Winnipeg Jets

Number of picks: 7
Picks in first round: 2nd and 22nd overall

The Jets will take one of the highly regarded Finns, whether it is Patrik Laine or Jesse Puljujarvi. Whoever they get will add size and offensive flair. With the 22nd overall pick, picking up a center or a defender would be a sound strategy for the Jets, as they don't have the depth down the middle that they would like nor do they have a sure thing on the blue line. Given the Jets' prospect pool, they don't necessarily have to rush either pick.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Number of picks: 5
Picks in first round: 3rd overall

The Blue Jackets are most likely taking whoever the Jets don't pick between Laine or Puljujarvi. Adding size and scoring up front is paramount for a team that now needs it badly. However, they do need to be accurate with the rest of their picks, as they only pick four other times in the draft, and none in the middle rounds. Forwards that can handle the puck are a need, with a goaltender being a possible need late in the draft, given Sergei Bobrovsky's annual injury issues.

Edmonton Oilers

Number of picks: 9
Picks in first round: 4th overall

The Oilers have a lot of picks to make, and possibly more if they decide to move any of their prized forwards not named Connor McDavid. As for the first round pick, picking a defenseman would be a wise move, as they are still lacking. Olli Juolevi is regarded as the safest and best pick of the bunch, but don't be surprised if the Oilers decide on size, whether it is Jakob Chychrun on defense or Pierre Luc-Dubois up front. An important thing for the Oilers to do is develop whoever they pick,as that's been a problem the last few years.

Vancouver Canucks

Number of picks: 6
Picks in first round: 5th overall

The Canucks just lost their second and fourth round picks, but gained a fifth rounder in the recent Erik Gudbranson deal. Having picked up a blue liner that can step in right away, the Canucks can focus on size and offensive ability up front. Dubois or Matthew Tkachuk would go a long way in answering that question. However, given their only other higher round pick is in the third round, they would need to hit on that, as the last four picks are sure to be developmental projects. Scoring could be addressed again, but so could goaltending depth.

Calgary Flames

Number of picks: 8 or 9
Picks in the first round: 6th overall

Getting a winger that can score is a must for Calgary, as is a goalie that can stop the puck. Since the latter is a major reach this early in the draft, the Flames could pick either Tkachuk or Dubois if either or both fall to them. It would not be surprising if they simply take the best player available at the sixth overall spot. As for goalie, Zach Sawchenko in the middle rounds makes sense.

Arizona Coyotes

Number of picks: 7
Picks in the first round: 7th and 20th overall

The Keith Yandle deal is the gift that keeps on giving for the Coyotes, as they have another first round pick from the Rangers. The Coyotes will most likely look to defenseman with the first of their two first round picks, which means Mikhail Sergachev, Olli Juolevi, and Jakob Chychrun will be looked at by the Coyotes. With the other first round pick, it is possible that they could either continue to build up the blue line or pick up scoring. Looking to goal late in the draft would be wise.

Buffalo Sabres

Number of picks: 10 or 11
Picks in the first round: 8th overall

The Sabres' climb to respectability enters another year, and it is possible they could take the best player available with the first rounder they have. It is also an ideal spot to take a player with a high ceiling but not as proven competition wise such as Tyson Jost. Continuing to address depth everywhere, particularly in goal, will be the Sabres' goal this off-season.

Montreal Canadiens

Number of picks: 7
Picks in the first round: 9th overall

Offense suddenly became a problem when Carey Price went out because he covered so many of the holes that plagued Montreal the previous two seasons. Scoring, any scoring would be welcome, particularly if they can step in within a year or two. Getting their big bodied players to stick with the NHL club wouldn't hurt, either, but they could always draft another one just in case.

Colorado Avalanche

Number of picks: 6
Picks in the first round: 10th overall

Defensemen, defensemen, defensemen. The Avalanche need it badly, as they continue to get torched there, and no amount of offensive talent up front is going to mask that fact. They cannot afford to whiff like they did with Duncan Siemens in 2011, but they also cannot continue to ignore the need. If they decide to go up front again, getting a winger with size would be a place to go.

Mavericks Report: Falling at the Wrong Time

There was some good news and some bad news for the Mavericks last week. The bad news: they encountered consecutive losses for the first time this season, as well as losing to their rival Wichita in regulation for the first time. The good: they are the Central Division champions earlier in the week and got back on the winning track before the week ended. You could say the bad was sandwiched in-between the good.

The week began on the right note, as they trounced the Allen Americans on Wednesday 6-3 and claimed the Central Division title. However, the weekend didn't start off kind, as the Tulsa Oilers gave a rude awakening in a 3-2 loss Friday. In back-to-back games with Wichita, they lost the first game 4-2 on Saturday before exacting a little payback Sunday in a 3-2 win. That win pushed the Mavs over the 100-point mark with nine games to go.

The Mavericks return home for a Wednesday tilt with Evansville before heading back to Allen, TX for Saturday and Sunday games with the Americans.

Mavericks Report: Down a Man

The road to the Kelly Cup will not be an easy one for the Missouri Mavericks, as they learned this week that they will be without leading scorer Jesse Root for the remainder of the season. However, the season does not end for the Mavericks, as they continue their quest for the top seed in the ECHL playoffs.

Wednesday, the Mavericks traveled to Allen, TX to take on the Americans. The result was a 4-2 loss. Friday, the Mavericks returned home for a game with the Tulsa Oilers. This time, they were able to add to their lead thanks to a 3-1 win.

This week, the Mavs will hit the road for games on Wednesday with Allen, Friday at Tulsa, and a back-to-back with Wichita on Saturday and Sunday.