Hey everybody, I’m back with a quick look at the upcoming 2018 NHL draft being held in Dallas Texas. This will be the first draft run by the Leafs new management team and while the 2014 draft gives us a bit of an idea what to expect, to me it is still very unexpected what the Leafs will do. The team is now at a different stage of it’s development.
The Leafs could easily use assets to move up in the draft to get a player they really want, they could stand pat and pick at 25, they could trade that pick down to get two picks in the second round or they could trade that pick with a more assets to get a high end defenceman. The options aren’t endless but there are definitely several possibilities here.
What this piece will focus on is what I, and several other members of Leafs Nation (plus Evil Bergy picking for the Habs), think will happen in terms of picks at the draft. We won’t try to predict any trades or player movement. Just who each team will draft either based on who it the best player available in their opinion or what their needs are. It is my opinion that anyone who thinks each team only drafts the best player available and doesn’t consider need is a bit naive. If you listened to GMs last year, they mentioned need over and over again.
The members of Leafs nation that participated:
- @Sandy11611 2,13 and 23
- @leafknowitall64 4,15 and 26
- @EvilBergy #3 of course.
- @danielroyyyy 5, 16 and 27
- @6_8_5_13 6,17 and 28
- @JillianMcLeod05 7,18 and 29
- @OFFSIDETALK 8,19 and 30
- @FarmerRob17 9,20 and 31
- @ingy56 10, 21 and 25 (Leafs pick)
- @inmateMack 11, 14 and 22
- me with picks 1, 12 and 23.
The descriptions provided are pretty much verbatim from those making the picks.
I’ll just use this Rickyism instead of explaining the rest.
#1 Sabres Rasmus Dahlin. Buffalo will absolutely be selecting Dahlin. He might be the best prospect at the defense position in over a decade. This will set up the Sabres to have elite players at 1C and 1D. He’s big at 6’2.75, has terrific puck skills, and great skating ability.
#2 Hurricanes Andrei Svechnikov – RW scoring for Staal. He has good size, a lightning quick release, and had 72 points in 44 games with Barrie this season.
#3 Habs Noah Dobson. He’s a big puck moving defender who can carry a team to a championship. We don’t need to buy a dog for loyalty because Noah has more than enough.
#4 Senators I’m going to go with Brady Tkachuk. He is a a lot like his dad Keith, but has the puck hound ability of Zack Hyman
#5 Coyotes At #5 I am pleased to select from the University of Michigan of the NCAA: Quinn Hughes. Hughes is arguably the best skater in the draft. Watched him play a couple full games in the NCAA this year and he absolutely dominated as an 18 year old playing against older guys in a great league. He’s going to be a zone exit/entry wizard at the next level and has higher offensive upside than all of Werenski, McAvoy and Hanifin.
#6 Red Wings With the 6th pick of the 2018 NHL draft Detroit Red Wings select from the Halifax Mooseheads Filip Zadina. An excellent skater who possesses a lethal release of a shot that will be punishing goalies for years to come. With Detroit needing an elite winger to compliment a fast centre like Larkin, Filip will blend right in and become the sniper they’re missing.
#7 Canucks Happy to select out of Boston College & the US Development program Oliver Wahlstrom At 6’2″ 207 lbs. He is a fierce competitor that has natural instincts, is a lethal scoring threat & has great hockey sense…if you want a guy that can create plays this is him he isn’t afraid of the corners.
#8 Blackhawks Jared McIssac. Jared is a solid top potential defender with physical upside and a boom of a shot from the point and given time to grow he will become a top 4.
#9 Rangers With the 9th pick out of London in the OHL Evan Bouchard. Evan is an elite passer with high hockey IQ. Had the ability to step in 2 the NHL next season.
#10 Oilers Serron Noel. Power winger, 6 points in 5 games at the U18’s 6’4″, 205 lbs. Comes from an athletic family, seen him play a couple of games here in town.
#11 Islanders OK fuckers and fuckettes At #11 I’ m going with Jakub Skarek. Quick agility and crease control and has a great glove hand.
#12 Islanders (from CGY) Adam Boqvist He’s a great puck rusher with a great shot . He’ll need to add a few lbs before playing in the NHL but he should be a great asset to complement either Tavares or Barzal .
#13 Stars Joe Veleneo – High risk pick to complement Dallas’ firepower of Seguin and Benn.
#14 Flyers (from Blues) Joel Farabee. Great play maker, mature and just fits the flyers type of player.
#15 Panthers Ty Smith – Two way defender, great skater, great poise.
#16 Avalanche Jesperi Kotkaniemi Quick, play making center with great skating, play making, hard worker and good size.
#17 Devils With the 17th pick in the 2018 nhl entry draft New Jersey Devils select from the USA U18 NTDP Bode Wilde. An excellent skater with a love for hitting. Bode is a offensive defenseman who has really good breakout and puck carrying ability made effortless with his smooth skating. Wilde can also run a 1st unit power play and has a bomb of a shot from the point.
#18 Blue Jackets Proud to select from the University of Wisconsin NCAA Program…. K’andre Miller 18 yr old left shooting beast of a defenseman that is the whole package. Has diversity coming from playing forward & moves well for being 6’4″ & 205 lbs He sees the ice well & is calm & poised under pressure. He will be one of the surprises that will be a top 2 Dman in the NHL one day. Other players won’t be thrilled to play against him a la Big Buff!
#19 Flyers Benoit-Olivier Groulx. Groulx is a project but has skill and has the ability to put it all together and make other players miss. His hockey IQ is very high.
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