This article will summarize some of the drafts biggest surprises, best picks, worst picks, etc.

 

I mean no offense to anyone mentioned in this article, seriously.

 

4. Nolan Patrick (Oilers) - I like Leon, and he obviously had a plan that he wanted to stick to. I can't argue with that. With that said, as Bryce mentioned on the pre-draft podcast, the smartest pick here in Leon's case would have been Heiskanen. I am by no means knocking the pick, but considering Heiskanen's great year, Patrick's injury history, Leon's other 1st round picks to use, and the lack of top defensemen available - the smartest pick here would have been Heiskanen. With all of that said, Leon did get a very good player at 4.

 

5/6. Tolvanen/Heiskanen (Capitals/Stoners) - Talk about being set up nicely with a great young player to build around. Wow. Both the Capitals and Stoners had future stars fall right on their laps at 5 & 6. Even though they didn't win the lottery, these teams did extremely well here.

 

7. Robert Thomas (Golden Knights) - Joe surprised many (or not many) here. Thomas is a very good player and is in a great spot with the Blues. I personally like the player, and I know many others do as well, so I can't knock Joe for taking his guy at 7 at all. Value wise, it may not look the greatest down the line, but should turn out well for Joe regardless. Thomas is only on this list because of how much he jumped up the draft board.

 

9. Conor Timmins (Ducks) - I will try not to justify my own work too much. Value wise, I guess this is a little high. With that said, I love the player, I know many others do as well, and my entire draft was planned around getting him. With this draft being so wide open, I didn't know if he'd even make it to 9. I'll take the heat for drafting him early, though I think he could be the best defensemen in the draft. He's in a great spot with the Avs.

 

11. Owen Tippett (Sharks) - This wouldn't be that surprising if it wasn't Mika picking here, but it was. There were two very good Fins available at this slot, one at each position. It's nice to see Mika considering options other than Fins, but in my opinion, this wasn't the time to do it, especially to snub them for Owen Tippett. Tippett should score some goals, but isn't anything spectacular.

 

15. Cale Makar (Oilers) - The first team to appear on this list twice - Leon's Oilers. There has been a ton of talk about where Makar should go, and I think this is a pretty decent spot for him. I, like many others, have question about many parts of his game, skating aside, but considering his talent, you can't really knock this pick too much. Makar is only on this list because of the buzz that surrounded him, and how much the top 5 pick slid.

 

18. Lias Andersson (Ducks) - This is the biggest surprise of the draft so far, to me. When he was left for me at 18, it was a case of me quickly re-shuffling my draft plans, because there was no way I could pass on him. I can understand why he didn't go top 10, but holy smokes is he ever a steal at 18 in my eyes. Absolutely thrilled with this pick. Still can't believe it.

 

32. Isaac Ratcliffe (Senators) - It took until the last pick of the first round, but Kirk managed to stun us all yet again.  Truly a case of Kirk throwing his darts at the paper in front of him. Ratcliffe is a pretty smooth skater for his size, but his upside is extremely limited. You never really know how these guys will ultimately pan out, but Ratcliffe did nothing to justify rising in the BRHL draft. He should have gone about 20 spots later at least. Value wise, this is brutal.

 

43. Zachary Lauzon (Canucks) - Yikes. Rob would have been better off not to send a list in this case. I have no idea why Lauzon was drafted last night (in the first 3 rounds), never mind at 43. His 2017 season sucked (no idea why Pens drafted him at 51), and his 2018 season was even worse. He had 4 points in an injury plagued season where he played in only 30 games, playoffs included, as a 19 year old. This pick is just horrendous.

 

53. Ivan Lodnia (Oilers) - I don't hate Lodnia, but he did nothing to justify rising 32 picks and being selected at 53 in the BRHL. He didn't have a great year, and there were much better players on the board at 53. This is a very questionable pick by Leon.

 

54. Alexei Lipanov (Senators) - If you go back 6 months, I'm probably anticipating writing about how I'm thrilled to have selected Lipanov in the late 2nd/early 3rd. I don't absolutely hate this pick, don't get me wrong. There was talk that he almost made the Lightning out of camp last year. With that said, he had an absolutely horrendous second half with Sudbury. The Wolves are definitely a team known for their players becoming disinterested later in the year, but his production as a top gun there is a little worrisome. This pick could go either way for Kirk, but after his brutal 2nd half of 2018, you have to wonder if this was a bit early.

 

56. Eetu Luostarinen (Avalanche) - I have absolutely no idea why Luostarinen fell at all. Never mind to 56. This is a case of a player falling on a guy's lap. Unforunately for the rest of us, he fell to Bryce. You all let him get there, and now we're gonna have to hear about it. All jokes aside, this is a great value pick for the Avs at 56.

 

58. Lucas Elvenes (Ducks) - Elvenes is simply on this list because he went at 58 in the BRHL after going 127 to Vegas in NHL. A lot of guys in the league don't even know who he is. I'm obviously hoping he pans out.

 

59. Jonathan Davidsson (Flyers) - It was very predictable that Davidsson would go way higher than he did in the NHL last year (170th), but wow did he ever rise. I like the player, and this pick should provide solid value to Anthony despite going 111 slots higher in BRHL than he did in the NHL.