Post lottery Mock draft
Hischier stays at 1 despite strong pushes from several
Post Lottery Mock Draft 2018
Now that we know who is picking where and how players have performed this season, I thought we should re-examine the upcoming BRHL entry draft.
- Vancouver - Nico Hischier – as an 18 year old performed admirably. Beyond Hall, Hischier was arguably the Devils most dangerous offensive threat. While not McDavid or Matthews slam dunk of first overall, Hischier looks to be trending positively and will be taken first overall
- Edmonton - Elias Petersson – picks 2-4 are a coin flip and will depend on who is picking. I have all three interchangeable. Petersson broke every U20 record in the SHL with guys like Forsberg and Sundin before him. Why wouldn’t he move up to 2?
- Montreal - Casey Mittelstadt – outstanding junior performances on the world stage and good in NCAA. With Dahlin now going to NHL Sabres and Eichel already in place, the Sabres are starting to look up.
- Ducks - Nolan Patrick – good first season in the NHL. Injuries have some worried about his long term durability.
- Capitals - Miro Heiskanen – top three pick in NHL and done nothing to slide. Outstanding season playing vs men may see him still go higher. But the remarkable season by Petterson and the outstanding WJC showing for Mittelstadt moves them above him in the BRHL. I suspect Larry trades down a few picks to take Andersson, but may take here if cannot find a deal that works.
- Stoners - Cale Makar – Many including Avs fans cringed at taking this guy top 4 in the NHL draft last year. But he was a revelation in international play and appears to be a solid puck moving offensive dman. Is he elite? He will have to show his diminuitive size does not matter at the pro level but sure looks like a top ten talent.
- Flyers - Cody Glass – Apparently nearly made Knights out of training camp. Returned to Junior where he has played elite hockey. 102 pts in 67 games and strong playoffs. A team is going to fall in love with him and could see a team jumping up to get him if available here.
- Sabres - Eeli Tolvanen – The drafts big climber with an outstanding KHL season as a teenage. All this kid does is score. Played three games this season in the NHL with no points and has not played in the playoffs but will still move up the draft dramatically.
- Blue Jackets - LIas Anderson – The kid who threw the medal, came to North America and thrived. 25 AHL games and 7 NHL, the kid will be playing immediately. You know that Larry will be aiming to get this kid. Would he take him very early at 5, or trade down and consolidate with more picks?
- Coyotes - Robert Thomas – Another apparent homerun pick by the NHL Blues. He erupted this season with 75 pts in 49 games and an outstanding WJC helping Canada to gold with 6 pts in 7 games
- Wild - Owen Tippett – cup of coffee early with the Panthers and was surprise omission from the WJC. Kid is a sniper though with an excellent shot and release and 36 goals in 51 gp. Could slide, but would be a solid pick anywhere from this point. 7 gp NHL, 5 AHL, I would suggest whoever takes buries on prospect list and does not activate.
- Maple Leafs - Tim Liljegren – Leafs with homer pick. Liljegren was touted as a top 3 picks prior to 2017 but a bout a mono saw him drop to Leafs of NHL. Solid AHL season this year, Garrett will take the homer pick.
- Flames - Kailer Yamamoto – might not fall this far with Oiler nation in league and possibility of playing with Connor in the future. Played well in 9 game NHL stint to start the year but the Oilers wisely, for the first time in a long time, sent their top pick back to junior. 64 pts in 40 gp was a modest season for player who started well in NHL.
- Sharks - Morgan Frost – Big jumper of the draft also without outstanding development year leading the top rated Sault Greyhounds in scoring. With 67gp and 112 pts and taking Sault on run for Mem cup, he might even go higher. NHL Flyers did well picking late in first to get this kid.
- Ducks - Nick Suzuki – Slick, slick, slick. 100 pts in 64 games. Vegas really did have an outstanding first year draft with their haul of picks! Ducks are loaded with picks and I bet take BPA on their list. On mine, it is Suzuki.
- Golden Knights - Cal Foote – when the Lightning acquired McDonagh in the NHL one of their non-touchables was Foote. Yzerman and team has an eye for talent and people took notice of this. Solid year, Foote added some offense to his game this year with 70 pts. Big man like his Dad has now graduated to the AHL.
The remaining picks will just be a mock draft without teams as not sure exactly where all will pick pending the playoffs.
- Martin Necas – May climb in draft. Solid WJC had the Czech team in surprising contention with 11 pts in 7 games. Played in Czech league for most of season with 17 pts in 24 games. Not bad for teenager. Could go anywhere from 10-17 and with the outlook of playing with Svechnikov or Zadina as mnay suspect for NHL Canes, may indeed go higher.
- Filip Chytil – Another Rag that Larry will do his best to get. Can he move down from 5 to get both Anderson and Chytil? I am not sure. 9 game NHL cup of coffee didn’t go unnoticed with 3 pts. 31 pts in 46 AHL games, I suspect he could to is another 10-18 player that if someone gets a hard on for, will move up the draft.
- Michael Rasmussen – huge man skates better than I thought when viewed in preseason NHL action. Ho hum season but erupted in playoffs with 33 pts in 14 games including 16 goals! Reminds of Mantha, big man who took some time, I think this kid could develop nicely.
- Gabriel Vilardi – injured for much of the season so unsure what year would have been like. Many like his upside and given importance of the center ice position could easily move up. In 32 games he managed 58 pts and in playoffs more than a pt per game still with 22 pts in 16 gp.
- Erik Brannstrom – 15 pts in 44 SHL games pretty solid for a teenage deman in the SHL. Could see him move up to top 15 too!
- Kristian Vesalainen – man child fell in draft year as he shuffled in and out of multiple teams lineups. The NHL Jets always seem to have an eye for talent and appear to have another goal scoring winger. With 22 goals in 49 games and 43 pts as a teenager, he stamped his elite winger status! Could move up to top 20.
- Juuso Valimaki – falls for no other reason than solid seasons from others. Did not improve on WHL numbers from season before with a pt per game pace. Underperforming Finnish side at WJC did not bolster his stock.
- Conor Timmins – one of the players outside the NHL first round is not going to get out of the first in the BRHL. Outstanding junior season in Sault and WJC. Kid is a two way talent with 5 pts in the WJC was real eye opener to some. Colorado of the NHL is loving having Makar and him for years to come!
- Urho Vaakanainen – Another teenager playing in Euro Pro leagues with Elite league. Is a project, but if teams patient may pay off very well as had 11 pts in 43 gp in Elite league. Given Bruins love in the league, could go higher.
- Josh Norris – NHL combine beast was solid this year with 23 pts in 37 games as freshman at Mich. 3 pts in 7 WJC games will be a 20-30 pick likely.
- Ryan Poehling – When interviewed post draft last year, confused Habs with Leafs. Not so sure how bright this lightbulb is but had 31 pts in 36 games as a freshman. I hate the habs so keeping him down the list!
- Jake Oettinger – highest drafted goalie since Samsonov, a BRHL team will take in first round despite disappointing season. Disappointment as freshman season was so strong but was still good with 2.45 gaa and .915 save pct.
- Nic Hague – break out offensive year for NHL Knight. Guy is a horse at over 6’6” and with an offensive touch, could be an animal if puts it all together. Will not fall to the 2ndround. 35 goals, 78 pts and 105 pims gets teams excited about his upside. Will his skating transfer to the NHL game?
- Kole Lind – another draft riser. 95 pts including 39 goals in 58 gp. Canucks have actually been drafting well last few years and can’t see getting out of the first round in the BRHL.
- Isaac Ratcliffe – is a beast. 41 goals in 67 gp with 68 pts. But at 6’5” and over 200 lbs someone will take a chance in first round. Played two AHL games and scored in 1. Sleeper pick!
- Klim Kostin – draft enigma was taken at end of NHL draft will be same in BRHL. St Lou drafts well and they took chance on him. Someone will do the same. 28 pts in 67 gp as AHL rookie solid.
Well there is my post lottery mock. Flame away!

Islanders (Rangers) own the Flyers pick! I would love Cody Glass