Devils in position to make history if they pick Hischier
Over to you Ray.
After two months of speculation, of educated guessing, of back-room deliberations, New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero will step to the podium Friday night at the United Center and reveal to the hockey world whether the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft is Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier.
In an informal poll of 10 NHL scouts conducted by Postmedia, the results ended up 8-2 in favour of Hischier being the Devils’ selection. If so, he would be the first Swiss-born player to be taken No. 1 in NHL history.
Without further ado, here is our mock draft for the first round.
1.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Nico Hischier, C, Halifax (QMJHL) HT: 6-1 WT: 176
GP: 57 G: 38 A: 48 P: 86
Patrick might be the steadier pick, but Hischier is flashier and GM Ray Shero needs that.
2.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Nolan Patrick, C, Brandon (WHL) HT: 6-2 WT: 198
GP: 33 G: 20 A: 26 P: 46
Flyers GM Ron Hextall is in the perfect spot. Whoever Shero doesn’t take, he will.
3.
DALLAS STARS
Miro Heiskanen, D, HIFK (SM Liiga) HT: 6-0 WT: 170
GP: 37 G:5 A: 5 P: 10
Stars need a D-man and many feel he’s the best. Could pick Cale Makar here, too.
4.
COLORADO AVALANCHE Cale Makar, D, Brooks (AJHL) HT: 5-11 WT: 180
GP: 54 G: 24 A: 51 P: 75 Whichever of the top two blueliners are available, defensively needing Avs would be wise to take him.
5.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS Cody Glass, C, Portland (WHL) HT: 6-2 WT: 178
GP: 69 G: 32 A: 62 P: 94
If top two defencemen are gone, he’d certainly fill a need at centre.
6.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS Gabe Vilardi, C, Windsor (OHL) HT: 6-3 WT: 201
GP: 49 G: 29 A: 32 P: 61 Strength up the middle key to any team, and this kid will help.
7.
ARIZONA COYOTES Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle (SWE) HT: 6-0 WT: 191
GP: 19 G:1 A: 4 P: 5
This is a team full of holes and he addresses one of them.
8.
BUFFALO SABRES
Casey Mittelstadt, C, Green Bay (USHL)
HT: 6-1 WT: 201
GP: 25 G: 21 A: 43 P: 64 Imagine a one-two punch of centres Jack Eichel and Mittelstadt down the road.
9.
DETROIT RED WINGS Elias Pettersson, C, Timra (SWEAls)
HT: 6-2 WT: 161
GP: 43 G: 19 A: 22 P: 41
Pavel Datsyuk is gone, Henrik Zetterberg is getting long in the tooth and the Wings need help up the middle.
10.
FLORIDA PANTHERS Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga (OHL)
HT: 6-0 WT: 200
GP: 60 G: 44 A: 31 P: 75
Some scouts feel he’s the most natural goal scorer in the draft. Remember, Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault are gone.
11.
LOS ANGELES KINGS Nick Suzuki, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)
HT: 5-11 WT: 183
GP: 65 G: 45 A: 51 P: 96
The Kings lack both youth and scoring, two characteristics Suzuki brings to the table.
12.
CAROLINA HURRICANES Martin Necas, C, Brno (CZE) HT: 6-0 WT: 167 GP: 41 G: 7 A:8 P: 15
After addressing the blue-line by acquiring Trevor van Riemsdyk from Vegas, it’s time to add depth up front.
13.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City (WHL)
HT: 6-6 WT: 215
GP: 50 G: 32 A: 23 P: 55
Adding big skilled centres in Vilardi and Rasmussen certainly provides Knights with a bright future up the middle.
14.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City (WHL) HT: 6-2 WT: 204
GP: 60 G: 19 A: 42 P: 61
GM Steve Yzerman continues to bolster his blue-line with another offensive threat from the back end.
15.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Nicolas Hague, D, Mississauga (OHL)
HT: 6-6 WT: 215
GP: 64 G: 18 A: 26 P: 44
With their third pick in the top 15, it’s time to address the blueline after picking two forwards.
16.
CALGARY FLAMES Lias Andersson, C, HV71 (SHL) HT: 5-11 WT: 198
GP: 42 G: 9 A: 10 P: 19
17.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS Cal Foote, D, Kelowna (WHL) HT: 6-4 WT: 210
GP: 71 G: 6 A: 51 P: 57
18.
BOSTON BRUINS
Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (NCAA)
HT: 6-2 WT: 183
GP: 35 G:7 A: 6 P: 13
19.
SAN JOSE SHARKS Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
HT: 6-2 WT: 160
GP: 62 G: 6 A: 33 P: 39
20.
ST. LOUIS BLUES Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Sioux City (USHL)
HT: 5-10 WT: 170
GP: 52 G: 30 A: 24 P: 54
21.
NEW YORK RANGERS Kristian Vesalainen, LW, HPK (SM Liiga)
HT: 6-3 WT: 207
GP: 26 G:1 A: 5 P: 6
22.
EDMONTON OILERS Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane (WHL)
HT: 5-8 WT: 153
GP: 65 G: 42 A: 57 P: 99
23.
ARIZONA COYOTES Klim Kostin, RW, Moscow (KHL) HT: 6-3 WT: 196
GP: 9 G:1 A: 0 P: 1
24.
WINNIPEG JETS Erik Brannstrom, D, HV71 Jr. (SWE-J20)
HT: 5-10 WT: 173
GP: 19 G: 9 A:14 P: 23
25.
MONTREAL CANADIENS Urho Vaakanainen, D, Jyvaskala (SM Liiga)
HT: 6-0 WT: 185
GP: 41 G: 2 A:4 P: 6
26.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS Josh Norris, C, USA NTDP (USHL) HT: 6-1 WT: 192
GP: 52 G: 23 A: 28 P: 51
27.
ST. LOUIS BLUES Conor Timmins, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
HT: 6-1 WT: 185
GP: 67 G: 7 A: 54 P: 61
28.
OTTAWA SENATORS Rob Thomas, C, London (OHL) HT: 6-0 WT: 185
GP: 66 G: 16 A: 50 P: 66
29.
DALLAS STARS Jake Oettinger, G, Boston U (NCAA)
HT: 6-4 WT: 212
GP: 35 GAA: 2.11 SV%: .927
30.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS Filip Chytil, LW, Zlin (CZE Jr.) HT: 6-0 WT: 178
GP: 38 G:4 A: 4 P: 8
31.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo (USHL)
HT: 6-1 WT: 178
GP: 60 G: 22 A: 29 P: 51