Unless the Detroit Red Wings trade that 13th pick, they’ll have a plethora of ultra-talented prospects to spend it on come the end of the month. But who will hear their names called before general manager Steve Yzerman turns in the draft card, and who could fall right to them?
Let’s break down this 16-team mock, featuring every single lottery pick. And yes, you will find a few surprises early on.
1 - New York Islanders: Michael Misa, C/LW/Saginaw
I’ll let everyone else go with Matthew Schaefer for now, and a few hopefuls roll with James Hagens. But if the Islanders want a versatile player to build around, and one who can put up a plethora of points, Michael Misa can be a 50-60-point player in Year 1.
2 - San Jose Sharks - James Hagens, C/Boston College
Naturally, Matthew Scahefer goes No. 2, right? Nope, we’re deepening center depth for a big club that will have two playmakers in Macklin Celebrini and James Hagens. I’m getting the West Coast version of Sid and Geno vibes.
3 - Chicago Blackhawks - Matthew Schaefer, D/Erie
Okay, so Matthew Schaefer’s free-fall stops at No. 3 in this scenario, and wow, wouldn’t this be an ideal situation for the Blackhawks? Alex Vlasic, Artyom Levshunov, and Matthew Schaefer in the same rotation should add excitement for a fanbase that’s watched a dormant hockey team struggle for half a decade.
4 - Utah Mammoth - Porter Martone, RW/Mississauga
The Utah Mammoth are no longer the Arizona Coyotes, but they’re still picking as high as the Yotes did, more from sheer luck than anything else. As Utah’s big club takes the next step, they’ll add a prospect with NHL-ready size and elite potential.
5 - Nashville Predators - Caleb Desnoyers, C/Moncton
Caleb Desnoyers’ draft stock has risen, and a team that needs to reinvent itself could snag a player with build-around potential. While the Preds should try to salvage what’s left of that now-aging core, someone like Desnoyers could join the big club right when that inevitable retool arrives - if the Preds are interested in adding vets to their team this summer.
6 - Philadelphia Flyers - Anton Frondell, C/Djurgardens
In so many international leagues, teens playing against grown men means they don’t produce much and are often left watching and learning. Not Anton Frondell, who put up 25 points and 11 goals in 29 games for Djurgardens in Sweden’s second-tier pro hockey league.
7 - Boston Bruins - Jackson Smith, D/Tri-City
The Bruins need to change their identity following a season that saw them surprisingly tank. Adding a defenseman with NHL-ready size and one with two-way potential is a great place to start.
8 - Seattle Kraken - Jake O’Brien, C/Brantford
I contemplated slotting Jake O’Brien in for the Bruins, but his “fall” stops at No. 8. The Seattle Kraken have been quietly developing high-potential youngsters at both the AHL and NHL level, and adding someone like O’Brien to the pipeline gives their prospects pool a surefire playmaker once he’s old enough to land at the minor league level.
9 - Buffalo Sabres - Roger McQueen, F/Brandon
If an injury didn’t ravage Roger McQueen’s season, he could be in the conversation as a top-five pick. Unfortunately for him, that wasn’t the case, and he could fall out of the top 10. But, with his size and excellent blend of goal-scoring and playmaking, someone will make a bold move.
10 - Anaheim Ducks - Victor Eklund, LW/Djurgardens
Victor Eklund lacks size, and that could cause him to slide down the draft boards. But he held up well for Djurgardens, with 31 points and 19 goals in 42 games. He already boasts an NHL-caliber shot, and that could cause him to go earlier than No. 10.
11 - Pittsburgh Penguins - Radim Mrtka, D/Seattle
He’s built like a player who will bring in the intimidation factor and land body checks. But Radim Mrtka also had 32 assists in 43 games, showing off playmaking potential. Somebody’s going to make a sneaky-good pick on draft day.
12 - New York Rangers - Lynden Lakovic, F/Moose Jaw
Like Radim Mrtka, Lynden Lakovic brings a good deal of size, but as a forward. He’s also one to bring that blend of goal-scoring and playmaking, plus versatility. Don’t be surprised if he goes a little higher than No. 12.
13 - Detroit Red Wings - Kashawn Aitcheson, D/Barrie
I’m having visions right now, of a blue line that boasts Moritz Seider, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Simon Edvinsson, and, eventually, Kashawn Aitcheson. And wow, 26 goals as a defenseman, plus 59 points in 64 games? Add in his 6’1, 198-lb frame, and you got a player who could make his NHL debut sooner than you think. Not this year, but you know what I mean.
14 - Columbus Blue Jackets - Carter Bear, C/LW/Everett
I nearly had the Red Wings taking Bear, but Aitcheson’s upside was too good to pass up. Still, if he falls to the Blue Jackets, they have a future scorer on their hands and one who’s also capable of passing the puck around.
15 - Vancouver Canucks - Justin Carbonneau, RW/Blainville-Boisbriand
But then again, it will be tempting for anyone picking between No. 10 and 15 to take Justin Carbonneau, whose 46 goals imply he can be an even better selection than Bear. Either way, you won’t see him freefall past the first half of the round.
16 - Montreal Canadiens - Brady Martin, C/Soo
And, finally, we got Brady Martin going to Montreal, an organization that’s done one heck of a job at developing prospects. Martin doesn’t carry the same kind of flash as the other prospects listed above, so he could benefit from landing in a place like Montreal.
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