EARLY MOCK DRAFT ’18
A year after five of the seven Canadian teams made the playoffs, it appears as though four will miss the playoffs. But based on their draft position, they could all be in for quick turnarounds. International Scouting Services released their latest draft rankings on Wednesday. While the order will depend on the draft lottery, here is a look at the top-7 prospects and the order they would be picked.
Arizona
Rasmus Dahlin, D, Vastra Frolunda The Coyotes, who drafted Clayton Keller and Dylan Strome, in the last two drafts, are deep with forward prospects. But Dahlin, who scouts compare to Nicklas Lidstrom, gives them someone to ride shotgun with Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Buffalo
Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie Colts Svechnikov, who has 27 goals and 43 points in 29 games as an OHL rookie, is a Marian Hossa-type forward who is just as good without the puck as he is with it. He’d pair perfectly on a line with Jack Eichel and 2017 draft pick Casey Mittelstadt.
Ottawa
Brady Tkachuk, LW, Boston University
The younger Tkachuk has exploded on the college scene as a freshman with 22 points in 26 games. Mean and nasty like his older brother, he would add fuel to the Battle of Ontario and help the Senators get back to respectability sooner than later.
Vancouver
Filip Zadina, RW, Halifax Mooseheads
With Brock Boeser already established as one of the league’s top snipers — and with top prospects Elias Pettersson and Olli Juolevi inching closer to the NHL — don’t be surprised if the Canucks make some serious noise next year. Zadina, who has 33 goals and 59 points in 41 games this season, further adds to that.
Montreal
Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas IF, Jr. The Canadiens, who traded away P.K. Subban and Mikhail Sergachev in consecutive years, need to rebuild their backend. Boqvist would definitely help in that regard. Though he is smallish at just 5-foot10 — or 5-foot-9, depending on the source — he would be an upgrade over Karl Alzner.
Detroit
Evan Bouchard, D, London Knights
The highest-ranked Canadian-born prospect is not the second-coming of Nicklas Lidstrom. But he might be thenextMike Green. He tied the record for most points in the CHL Top Prospects Game in January with four assists.
Edmonton
Oliver Wahlstrom, C, NTDP
The Oilers might not need another centre, but Wahlstrom would be tough to pass up. Aside from the points, the 6-foot-1 and 205-pound pivot is a bit of a throwback who prides himself on finishing hits and getting under opponents’ skin.