THE TRAIKOS TOP 10 MOCK
1. Buffalo: Rasmus Dahlin
Defence, 6-foot-2, 181 pounds
Frolunda (Swe) 41GP 7G 13A 20PTS
The Sabres, who finished last but didn’t win the lottery in 2014 and 2015, are finally picking first overall. And they really couldn’t have picked a better year to do it. The team already has a star centre in Jack Eichel and one of the best forward prospects in Casey Mittelstadt. Now, they’re adding what could be a future Norris Trophy winner.
2. Carolina: Andrei Svechnikov
Right wing, 6-foot-2, 186 pounds
Barrie (OHL) 44GP 40G 32A 72PTS Svechknikov cannot play centre, but that’s about all he cannot do. The Colts winger has been compared to Marian Hossa because of his responsible, two-way game, but don’t classify him as a defensive checker. He scored nearly a goal per game with the Colts and finished in the Top 25 in scoring despite missing 24 games.
3. Montreal: Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Centre, 6-foot-2, 188 pounds
Assat (Fin) 57GP 10G 19A 29PTS
The Canadiens need a centre — a legitimate one, that is. And the Finnish-born Kotkaniemi, who has been shooting up the draft rankings, is the best one available in this year’s draft. Scouts compare him to Anze Kopitar, because he can score but also because he’s noticeable even when he’s not factoring the scoresheet. Either way, he’s a better option up the middle than Jonathan Drouin.
4. Ottawa: Filip Zadina
Right wing, 6-feet, 196 pounds
Halifax (QMJHL) 57GP 44G 38A 82PTS
With Mike Hoffman likely gone in a trade this summer, the Senators are going to need someone to replace his offence. Zadina can do that — and more. A pure sniper who led Quebec league rookies in goals and points, his stock took off at this year’s world juniors, where he scored seven goals in seven games for the Czech Republic.
5. Arizona: Brady Tkachuk
Left wing, 6-foot-3, 196 pounds
Boston University (NCAA) 40GP 8G 23A 31PTS Arizona missed out on drafting Auston Matthews. But in Tkachuk, who was born in St. Louis but lived in Phoenix when his dad was playing for the Coyotes, is the next-closest thing. Big, mean and skilled, he should free up space for Clayton Keller and Alex Galchenyuk, and at the very least make the Coyotes tougher to play against.
6. Detroit: Evan Bouchard
Defence, 6-foot-2, 193 pounds
London (OHL) 67GP 25G 62A 87PTS
Since Nicklas Lidstrom retired, the Red Wings have been searching for the Next One on defence. Bouchard won’t fill those skates, but he will fill the net after leading OHL defencemen in points last season. As a late birthday — he missed out on last year’s draft by a month — he could also be NHL ready for next season.
7. Vancouver: Adam Boqvist
Defence, 5-foot-9, 154 pounds
Brynas IF Gavle (Swe) 15GP 0G 1A 1PTS
The Canucks went the safe route by selecting two-way defenceman Olli Juolevi with the fifth-overall pick in 2016. Boqvist is the opposite. Highly skilled and with a nose for the net, the offensiveminded defenceman won’t be playing on your penalty kill. But pair him with Juolevi and Vancouver could have a tandem that does it all.
8. Chicago: Noah Dobson
Defence, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) 67GP 17G 52A 69PTS Dobson finished second among defencemen in scoring, but he really put his name on the map in the playoffs, by leading Acadie-Bathurst to a league championship and then winning a Memorial Cup. In a pressure-filled atmosphere, he stood out for his poise on the back end. In other words, he could be the next Duncan Keith.
9. N.Y. Rangers: Oliver Wahlstrom
Right wing, 6-foot-1, 198 pounds USNDTP 26GP 22G 23A 45PTS
The top scorer in the under-18 program, where he was often paired with future No. 1 pick Jack Hughes, Wahstrom patterns his game after Patrik Laine and plays a hybrid game that is the result of having a father who played professionally in Sweden. He’s committed to Harvard next season.
10. Edmonton: Quinn Hughes
Defence, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds
Michigan (NCAA) 37GP 5G 24A 2PTS
The Oilers hired Paul Coffey last year to help coach the defence into being more offensive. But at the end of the day, you need the horses to pull it off. Hughes can be that guy. He skates and thinks the game like Coffey, meaning Connor McDavid might finally have someone who can pass him the puck.