1. Toronto Maple Leafs — Gavin McKenna
McKenna is one of the best playmakers to enter the draft in years and continues to solidify himself as the premier talent in this class. His offensive IQ is ridiculous and his ability to manipulate defenders feels very similar stylistically to Nikita Kucherov.
I asked Gavin who he modeled his game after, Gavin said Nikita Kucherov and here is why:
“We both see the ice pretty similarly, we have the ability to slow the game down and speed it up.”
What makes him even more dangerous is how complete his game has become. His stick detail defensively is underrated and his “B game” has improved dramatically over the last year.
Toronto would immediately gain another superstar level offensive creator. Auston Matthews gives Toronto elite scoring. Gavin McKenna gives them an offensive engine.
2. San Jose Sharks — Ivar Stenberg
People are going to debate defense here, but San Jose should simply take the elite winger.
Stenberg projects as a dynamic top six forward with incredible puck skill and creativity. The Sharks already possess additional assets and flexibility to address defense later. They own the Oilers pick 20th overall and could target Ryan Lin, Juho Piiparenen or LHD Malte Gustafsson.
The Sharks don’t need to add another elite offensive talent, but you take best player available and figure it out later.
3. Vancouver Canucks — Caleb Malhotra
This feels like a perfect fit.
The Manny Malhotra connection matters, but beyond that, Caleb Malhotra simply plays the style Vancouver covets. He projects as a complete two way center with top six upside and one of the safest floors in the class.
He competes relentlessly, impacts every shift and continues to improve offensively. He has a great motor paired with the hands, pro level shot, passing ability, vision and high hockey IQ.
Caleb Malhotra told me that he models his game after Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron. He also worked on his shot to take it to the next level.
4. Chicago Blackhawks — Chase Reid
Chicago could move this pick, but if they stay put, Chase Reid makes a ton of sense.
He’s an offensive defenseman with top pairing upside, power play potential and much better defensive detail than people realize. Reid has size, mobility and offensive instincts that NHL teams covet.
The Blackhawks continue adding skill to their blue line.
Chase Reid models his game after Zach Werenski here is why:
“Very good on the blueline, very good defensively, good stick. Move very good on the offensive blueline and shuts players down and transitions fast.”
Chase Reid on an underrated aspect of his game:
“The defensive side of my game. I think its come a long way.”
5. New York Rangers — Keaton Verhoeff
Verhoeff is 6’4” with offensive upside and good physical tools. His NCAA transition exposed some decision making inconsistencies, but he’s still incredibly young and teams will bet on the upside.
The Rangers add another high ceiling defenseman to their system which will be a necessity if and when they move on from Adam Fox. They could restock their organization in a massive way if they decided their rebuild would be a little longer than expected.
Keaton Verhoeff models his game after:
“Drew Doughty…Thomas Harley. Big Canadian defenseman. Two way player, reliable in the d zone. Can create offense. Coaches obviously trust him in all situations.”
Keaton Verhoeff on an underrated aspect of his game that goes overlooked:
“My skating… A spot a lot of people criticize on me… My ability to have that smooth skating up and down the ice, being able to retrieve pucks and kind of transition plays quickly.”
6. Calgary Flames — Carson Carels
Carels feels like a player Calgary would absolutely love.
He’s smooth, intelligent and projects as a modern transition defenseman. Calgary continues building around high end young talent and Carels would fit perfectly into that long term core.
Carson Carels models his game after Jake Sanderson & Miro Heiskanen because “they are great skaters and two way players.”
Carels is a 6’2 two way defenseman with strong mobility & sound overall game. He is a great skater, efficient and able to recover quickly. He has the ability to be a minutes muncher in the NHL for a long time.
7. Seattle Kraken — Alberts Smits
Seattle hasn’t prioritized defense enough in recent years and this is where the defensive run really starts. Albert Smits has been playing pro in Finland and Germany this year and looked good at the World Junior Championship and Olympics for Latvia.
Smits continues climbing boards and NHL teams love his long term projection. The Kraken add another foundational piece on the backend. Great physicality, athletic, heavy shot, good passer and has a lot of NHL ready traits.
Alberts Smits said he doesn’t model his game after anyone. Love the kind of personality he has.
8. Winnipeg Jets — Tynan Lawrence
Winnipeg Jets can go in a multitude of different directions here. In this Mock Draft they bring in Tynan Lawrence who brings potential top six center upside with strong defensive detail and positional intelligence. Winnipeg values complete players and Lawrence fits that mold extremely well.
On my interview with Tynan Lawrence alongside my guest star co host Nathan Grav, Tynan said he could be a:
“Very reliable center on both ends of the ice, not a guy who is all just there for points, that’s one of the main reasons I have had success in the past is because I don’t cheat and take pride in the little details.”
Both Tynan and his head coach Colten St. Claire at Muskegon when Tynan played there said that Tynan plays like Macklin Celebrini and can shutdown top opposing forwards.
9. Florida Panthers — Viggo Björck
Florida doesn’t need to force organizational fit here. They can simply swing for upside.
Björck arguably possesses the highest offensive ceiling at this spot and Florida is talented enough organizationally to take that type of gamble.
Viggo Bjorck modeled his game after Sidney Crosby. I talked to his Sweden teammate Victor Eklund and he said Viggo is like a Celebrini out there. Victor Eklund later mentioned:
“I feel safe when he is out there. So strong and tough.”
Viggo Bjorck is 5’9” but he is tough to push off pucks and is not afraid to get into the dirty areas. He also has an incredible high hockey IQ, a great shot, natural playmaker, elite vision and is good defensively.
10. Nashville Predators — Ethan Belchetz
Nashville continues prioritizing heavier, harder to play against hockey.
Belchetz is 6’5”, physical and creates chaos offensively. He brings a playoff style identity while still maintaining offensive upside. Good playmaker that will elevate his linemates and work in the dirty areas.
He modeled his game after the Tkachuk brothers and Jamie Benn. Steven Ellis said Belchetz creates “havoc in front of the net.”
11. St. Louis Blues — Daxon Rudolph
6’2” Daxon Rudolph is one of the more exciting offensive right handed defensemen in the class.
He sees the ice exceptionally well, processes quickly and consistently creates offense from the backend. St. Louis adds another puck moving defenseman with top four upside.
Daxon Rudolph models his game after Drew Doughty and wants to be a two way defenseman. He doesn’t cheat the game, does not do anything that will harm his team. Smart player with good discipline and the skill to be a great defenseman for a long time.
The question on his draft slot is whether he will become a top pair defenseman if he reaches his full potential or a top four defenseman with upside. Either way, great underrated RHD in this class.
12. New Jersey Devils — Oscar Hemming
The Devils continue looking for size up front and Hemming gives them exactly that.
He projects as a bigger forward with scoring touch and fits well within New Jersey’s long term offensive structure.
Oscar Hemming was the youngest player in the NCAA this year and has underrated creativity when he has the puck on his stick. This is a player that has the 6’4” size, creates chaos in front of the net and will compete hard.
13. New York Islanders — Ryan Lin
Ryan Lin would fit beautifully beside the defensive core the Islanders are building.
A right shot defenseman with offensive instincts and mobility, Lin gives New York another high end backend piece.
Ryan Lin’s knock is that he is sub 6 foot, but he is built especially in his quads and lower half. He is a good skater, has great balance and is tough to get pushed off by bigger players.
His skill set is so enticing because he is a great playmaker, has offensive ability and the playmaking to run a power play unit.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets — Wyatt Cullen
Columbus continues betting on upside.
Wyatt Cullen has continued climbing and feels like exactly the type of projection swing the Blue Jackets would take. Their drafting philosophy has consistently leaned aggressive in recent years.
The 6’2” versatile forward is still growing and his game exploded at the right time. He has a ton of upside, and if he develops correctly he can be a top 10 pick in a redraft in a few years.
15. St. Louis Blues — Maddox Dagenais
If St. Louis walked away with Daxon Rudolph and Maddox Dagenais, they would be thrilled.
Dagenais plays a heavy game and throws some of the best reverse hits in the class. He fits the Blues identity perfectly.
Maddox Dagenais is a big forward who competes well and is extremely hard to push off pucks because he will reverse hit anyone. He has the offensive skillset and the all around game to be a really good player in the NHL.
His father Pierre Dagenais played 142 games in the NHL with the Canadiens, Devils and Panthers.
16. Washington Capitals — Nikita Klepov
Washington has never been afraid to draft Russian players and they continue prioritizing offensive upside.
The Capitals have quietly drafted extremely well recently and Klepov would give them another high skill offensive piece to build around long term.
Nikita Klepov played defense growing up but his offensive skillset is his best asset. He has become an offensive dynamo and once he is on, he is hard to stop.
He grew up watching Nikita Kucherov.