BRHL 2018 Entry Draft early Look

 

With the season now well underway and some teams in a sell out mode already, we look to the interesting 2018 draft. While some view as “weak”, others contend are always decent players in every draft. With so many sellers, many will be extremely interested to watch the development of last years NHL top picks. I am not including UDFA that always throw a wrench into the draft, yet, nor LV as no idea where will be drafting in our draft.

 

Draft order determined by reverse standings as of 15/11/17

 

1 – Ducks (Sharks) – Nico Hischier – consensus #1 now that season underway and continues to thrive and develop at the pro level. Likely a solid 1C but not a franchise type like Matthews, McDavid.

2 – Oilers – Miro Heiskanen – first change from NHL draft. Oil have a few decent players up front but lack any quality on back end. Patrick is a consideration, but injury has long been the concern for his long term durability.

3 – Wild – Nolan Patrick – Will be looking for the BPA and need a stud up front. While Not a Finn, I can’t see Miika not taking him if chance is there as upside if can stay healthy, is there. Can easily see Miika move up to make sure he gets his Miro!

4 – BlueJackets – Elias Petterson – Returned to Sweden after strong camp with NHL Canucks and is putting up highlight real goals, and is scoring at a solid rate for a teenager.

5 – Panthers – Casey Mittelstadt – lit up with Ivan Hlinka and has had solid start to NCAA career. Might be the steal of the draft if continues to improve game.

6 – Kings (Hurricanes) – Kale Makar – game is improving at NCAA level with higher competition than the AJHL. Though most of us had major reservations at the NHL draft, he continues to show that perhaps his high billing is deserved.

7 – Lightning – Cody Glass – excellent NHL camp with LV with some saying might stick around. Sent back to Junior to flourish and is doing exactly that. Should be a top 6 forward for team Canada at the WJC and a strong showing might see his stock climb to top 5 in BRHL too.

8 – Oilers (Kings) – Lias Andersson – Went def with first top 10 pick so forward with this pick. Big debate as to who next best is between Andersson, Tolvanen, Yamamoto but will go with the center for the higher pick.

9 – Flyers – Elli Tolvanen – the drafts big climber, he has been an offensive dynamo after being ruled NCAA ineligible and taking game to KHL. In a league where young scorers tend to be pushed down the depth chart and limited game time, he is scoring like the goalies are using 1980s equipment and training!

10 – MapleLeafs – Tim Liljegren – Building for the future, Garrett will take BPA. Many might argue that he will go higher, and may, but cannot see Liljegren with strong start in AHL and all of the Leafers in the BRHL making it out of the top 10.

11 – Canucks – Kailer Yamamoto – can’t look past 9 game cup of NHL coffee and chance will be playing with Connor/Drai in future

12 – Sharks (Penguins) – Gabe Vilardi – though hurt this year in NHL training camp, up until that point had played very well in NHL Kings jersey. The sharks need lots of help and take a flier on the kid who might end up being a steal in this draft.

13 – Canucks (Capitals) – Michael Rasmussen – a huge man with hands, I was impressed with him in the NHL preseason as skated better than I thought he would. With 7 goals and 10 assists in 14 games in junior thus far, he continues to show the strong offensive game that got him drafted  high in June.

14 – Sabres – Owen Tippett – Jared always seems to draft BPA and Tippett remains in the NHL at the time of writing. He has elite sniper skills and is developing a two way game in limited minutes in FLA thus far.

15 – Flames – Juuso Valimaki – Kevin knows his youth (or gets so many picks he eventually hits on them ala Kirk! [kidding!....Not for you Kirk!]). I think this pick really depends on the development of several players in the WJC and the year. I don’t expect the flames to be picking this high, but cannot see Valimaki falling out of the top 15.

16 – Jets – Nick Suzuki – this pick may be markedly higher by seasons end as team has overachieved some, despite an 8 game loss streak. Will be BPA at this point and Suzuki will likely be in the NHL in the next year with the VGK needing more offense.

17 – Jets (Bruins) – Jake Oettinger – I don’t normally take a tender this high, but can’t pass on Oettinger. Since Samsonov, first goaltender taken in first. With two first round picks can take a chance and let develop with Price in nets for next 4 years.

18 – Coyotes – Erik Brannstrom – Joel taking his build slow and steady. Decent forward depth so can see going with a dman there, especially with preseason acquisition of Strome. Smooth skating skating Scandinavian dmen au-fait these days so will take above the higher rated NHL drafted dman Foote.

19 – Islanders – Martin Necas – Ryan inherits a stocked team ready to compete so would not be surprised to see this pick moved to acquire assets to compete now rather than develop. Necas surprised many by making NHL Canes and playing ok in transition to NA game.

20 – Predators – Cal Foote – skating been the concern for Adam’s eldest kid. But a gritty dman with size and decent skating ability sounds ok to me. Playing very well in WHL and with a strong WJC could see moving up draft markedly.

21 – Ducks – Josh Norris – workout warrior was near the top of the draft combine rankings in nearly every category. But will that translate to a solid NHL career. Last player I remember being a beast in all categories was Colin Wilson who is nothing more than decent.

22 – Flames (Senators) – Ryan Poehling – guy confused the Habs for Leafs when drafted and raised some eye brows but remains skilled. With a strong year, might move way up the draft board.

23 – Flames (Avalanche) – Filip Chytil - Kevin again with another pick! Of course will be BPA and given cup of coffee in NHL, Chytil would be a great pick here, and could be taken earlier with strong season in minors or Pros if called up post WJC.

24 – Devils – Urho Vaakanainen – like the last 15 or so picks of this round, a lot will depend on the performance this season leading up to the NHL draft. But with a few Bruins hounds in the league, any player drafted by the NHL bruins has value and suspect Vaakanainen will not drop.

25 – Senators (Blues) – Kim Klostin – debated at 22 with Flames pick. Dropped a lot due to injury in draft year and “russian” factor but made move to North America this year and from all reports playing well. Could move up to top 15.

 

 

The final 5 picks of the round will be complete crap shoots based on the success of guys this year in other leagues.

 

26 – Rangers – Shane Bowers – Now Avs property in NHL, will need a strong year to keep first round value I suspect.

27 – Flames (Stars) – Conor Timmins – many had as first round value. Avalanche asset like Oliers, Leafs, Bruins seems to carry bit more value and can see moving up.

28 – Ducks (Blackhawks) – Robert Thomas – Pt per game player for London last year has only picked up the pace. With strong year and possible WJC selection may also jump up the rankings.

29 – Canadiens – Nicolas Hague – beast of a player many felt was a top 20 asset in the NHL draft but fell to the early 2^nd round. Skating will be the issue and will be interesting to see at the WJC.

30 - Red Wings -  Alex Formenton – cup of coffee with NHL Sens this year after very strong camp. Returned to Jr and playing well so far.

 

 

 

Love the debate of players one year post the NHL draft as we ramp up to our entry draft. So let it begin.