2023 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 2

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: June 28, 2023.

33. Anaheim Ducks: Nick Lardis, LW, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
    
    
    Anaheim has satbility at center with Trevor Zegras, Adam Fantilli, Mason McTavish, and Isac Lundstrom as a fourth line center. Nathan Gaucher is also a center prospect.
    
    
    
    Anaheim drafted the 2022-2023 OHL Defenseman of the Year Pavel Mintyukov tenth overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the 2022-2023 QMJHL Defenseman of the Year Tristan Luneau with one of their 2022 second round picks, and the 2022-2023 WHL Defenseman of the year Owen Zellweger was Anaheim's 2021 second round pick who ranked second in the WHL in shots behind Connor Bedard. The only other team in the last few NHL Drafts to get a trifecta of players from the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL is the Dallas Stars.
    
    
    
    The trifecta Dallas had in junior hockey last year featured Wyatt Johnston the Dallas Stars 2021 first round pick from the Winston Spitfires in the OHL, Mavrik Bourque the Dallas Stars 2020 first round pick from the Shawinigan Cataractes in the QMJHL, and Logan Stankoven the Dallas Stars 2021 second round pick whose currently wrapping up his final season in the WHL with the Kamploops Blazers. The scary thing is Dallas only has one of those three centers in the NHL at the moment.
    
    
    
    Anaheim's trifecta on the blue line of Pavel Mintyukov, Tristan Luneau, and Owen Zellweger could be deadly on Anaheim's defense with Jamie Drysdale and Cam Fowler down the road. Anaheim also has Noah Warren the teammate of Tristan Luneau on the Gatineau Olympiques. Anaheim drafted Warren ahead of Luneau despite the fact that Luneau was the first overall pick in the 2020 QMJHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Anaheim has their core of centers. Anaheim has defensemen that are future Anaheim Ducks currently developing. The Anaheim Ducks will have John Gibson as their starting goalie, Lukas Dostal as their backup goalie, and Calle Clang as their starting goalie on the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. Dostal got compared to Tuukka Rask back in 2019 and Clang was my second best goalie in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. I was going to mock a goalie here, but after careful consideration, those plans have now changed.
    
    
    
    The Anaheim Ducks take the best winger on their board confident in how their prospects at center, defense, and goalie will develop. Nick Lardis is the top winger on the board, and he's now versatile enough to play left wing and right wing.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 168 lb Nick Lardis had 37 goals, 28 assists, and 65 points in 2022-2023. Nick Lardis had 5 goals, 5 assists, and 10 points in the 2023 OHL Playoffs. Nick Lardis was a first round pick in the 2021 OHL Draft..
    
    
    
    Anaheim spent a 2020 first round pick on Jacob Perrault. Jacob Perreault hasn't developed as quickly as many expected. He's regressed with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. Nick Lardis has a chance to be what Jacob Perreault was supposed to be. There's also rumors that Carolina may take Nick Lardis at 30, so getting Lardis this early in the second round is a bargain.
    
    
    
    Nick Lardis has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, versatility, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, and offensive awareness to succeed in the NHL. He's got improve his defensive play and hockey IQ. The talent to be effective in the NHL is there.
    
    
    
    Nick Lardis will watch his OHL team the Hamilton Bulldogs play in Brampton for the next three years. The Hamilton Bulldogs OHL team will undergo stadium renovations during this time and return to Hamilton once the stadium renovations are complete.
    
    
    
34. Columbus Blue Jackets: Jacob Fowler, G, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
    
    
    Columbus takes the best goalie in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Both of the goalies on Columbus had a goals against average of over 4.00 because of Zach Werenski's season ending injury.
    
    
    
    This gives Columbus a five year window to develop Jacob Fowler if they draft him in the first round. Jacob Fowler can go to Boston College for 2 or 3 years. Start on the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL for a year. Be a backup goalie in the NHL for a year. Then he will be ready to start for the Columbus Blue Jackets by 2027 or 2028 in the NHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 201 lb Jacob Fowler went undrafted in the 2021 USHL Draft. Instead he got an invite to the Youngstown Phantoms mini-camp, which was his foot in the door. He was so impressive during the mini-camp that he got invited to an exit meeting with the team before the Youngstown Phantoms signed Jacob Fowler to a team contract with the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL at the age of 15.
    
    
    
    Jacob Fowler redshirted in 2020-2021 during his first year with the team since he wasn't eligible to play until he turned 16 in the USHL. Jacob Fowler went 11-4-1 with a 2.18 goals against avrage, .927 save percentage, 35 goals allowed, and posted 2 shutouts in his 16 starts while also playing two additional games giving him 18 games played and 16 total starts during his rookie USHL season in 2021-2022. Jacob Fowler also came in for one game during the 2022 USHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Jacob Fowler started 40 games for the Youngstown Phantoms going 27-9-4 with a 2.28 goals against average, a .921 save percentage, 88 goals allowed surrendering under 90 goals in those 40 starts, and 5 shutouts in the 2022-2023 USHL Season winning the 2022-2023 USHL Goalie Of The Year award after leading the USHL in wins, goals against average, and save percentage while tying the league lead with 5 shutouts on the year during the regular season. Jacob Fowler went 8-1-0 in his 9 starts during the 2023 USHL Playoffs with a 1.36 goals against average, a .952 save percentage, and recorded 1 shutout in game 3 of the 2023 Clark Cup to help the Youngstown Phantoms secure their first Clark Cup in team history.
    
    
    
    Jacob Fowler went 3-0-0 in the 2023 Clark Cup against the Fargo Force with a 0.64 goals against average, a .976 save percentage, and 1 shutout in game 3 after going 58 and half minutes without giving up a goal in game 1 of the 2023 Clark Cup. Jacob Fowler's goaltending led to him winning 2023 USHL Most Outstanding Player Award and 2023 Clark Cup MVP this year. Jacob Fowler was the first goalie in USHL history to win USHL Goalie Of The Year, 2023 USHL MMost Outstanding player Award, and the 2023 Clark Cup MVP in the same year. That's like Patrick Mahomes winning regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season and it's freaking insane.
    
    
    
    This guy had a 30 save shutout against the Chicago Steel back in October. The Chicago Steel had Macklin Celebrini, the 2022-2023 USHL Player Of The Year with 40 goals, 46 assists, and 86 points. Celebrini is also the early favorite to go first overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Watching this young man Jacob Fowler go into Chicago in a road contest where Youngstown traveled to Chicago. He also had a 33 save shutout later in the season. Fowler impressed me so much in that game against the Chicago Steel when watching the tape that I moved him up into the first round prior to the start of the 2023 USHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Style, Post Integration, Glove, Blocker Pad, Reading The Puck By Tracking, Rebound Control, Post Save Recovery, Quickness, Footwork, and Puckhandling. Those are ten different categories that NHL Draft Scouts use to evaluate goalies. Back in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Sebastian Cossa and Jesper Wallstedt were the only two goalies to check off these boxes and both went in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Jacob Fowler and Trey Augustine were the only two goalies in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft to check off all ten boxes for me in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft with other goalies like Adam Gajan, Michael Hrabel, and Carson Bjarnason impressing me at times, but failing to check off all ten boxes you want from an NHL goalie despite some of these guys being ranked ahead of Jacob Fowler and Trey Augustine.
    
    
    
    Jacob Fowler and Trey Austine played each other once in a head-to-head game where Augustine defeated Fowler 3-2 in overtime. Fowler faced Gabe Perreault, Will Smith, and Ryan Leonard the trio of United States National Team Developmental Program players in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft that are all projected to go in the top 20 overall facing much tougher skaters compared to Trey Augustine. Jacob Fowler will be joining Perreault, Smith, and Leonard at Boston College this Fall.
    
    
    
    Two of Boston College's top three goalies are graduating. The one goalie returning is a third string junior goalie who gave up more than 5 goals per game in his two starts. Jacob Fowler should be able to win the starting goalie job as a true freshman at Boston College. Over the next two to three seasons he can develop at Boston College before signing his entry level contract with Columbus where he can start in Cleveland for a year with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL, gain some experience as the backup goalie on Columbus that second year of his entry level contract, before taking over as the starting goalie for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2027-2028 or 2028-2029. This is the same developmental path that the Tampa Bay Lightning took with Andrei Vasilevskiy when drafting him in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft before developing Vasilevskiy behind Ben Bishop. This is also the same development path that Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger took with the Dallas Stars when drafting Jake Oettinger following his freshman year at Boston University in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft after Jim Nill traded up to select Jake Oettinger in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    If NHL teams want to find a starting goalie in the NHL Entry Draft you have to be patient and take the same developmental path that Tampa Bay and Dallas took with their first round goalies if you take Jacob Fowler in the first round. St. Louis waited seven years for Jordan Binnington after picking him in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft. Connor Hellebuyck was drafted by Winnipeg in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and didn't crack the NHL until 2015 before earning the Winnipeg Jets starting goalie job a year later in 2016. The New York Rangers waited six years for their 2014 fourth round pick Igor Shestyorkin to blossom and that patience paid off for the Rangers since he was drafted two rounds after the Vancouver Canucks took Thatcher Demko, who was the top goalie in most mock drafts during the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Demko didn't earn Vancouver's starting job until he stepped up in the Covid Bubble against the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020 despite splitting starts with Jacob Markstrom for a few years in Vancouver. Toronto waited six years for their 2016 third round pick Joseph Woll to finally get an opportunity to start in the NHL this past season. Boston waited four years for their 2017 fourth round pick Jeremy Swayman to develop as Tuukka Rask played out his career with the Boston Bruins. Edmonton waited five years for their 2017 third round pick Stuart Skinner before he became a finalist for the Calder Award as a rookie of the year finalist in the NHL this past season. There have been enough case studies in the past ten NHL Drafts to show you how to develop a goalie through the NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Columbus developed Elvis Merzlikins for five years after being the Blue Jackets 2014 third round pick before turning things over to Elvis after letting Sergei Bobrovsky walk in Free Agency to sign with the Florida Panthers after his contract expired in 2019. Coincidentally, you can develop Jacob Fowler for 4-6 years and position him to be your future starting goalie. Would you rather have a 33-year-old ELvis Merzlikins or a 23-year-old Jacob Fowler once he's finished developing on an entry-level deal for a year assuming he pans out? I'd rather have Fowler since Merzlikins has been up and down throughout his NHL career.
    
    
    
    My final argument for Jacob Fowler is this. Lines had him going in the third round a few weeks ago. They finally moved him into the second round at pick 56 after Elite Prospects had a second round grade on him in March. He was twenty second on my final big board for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and the best player avaiable for Columbus. Not only can Columbus draft their goalie of the future, there's a plan in place to track his progress from his time in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms, to Boston College in the NCAA, to AHL with the Cleveland Monsters, to the NHL with Columbus Blue Jackets. It's also worth pointing out that NHL.com already uploaded his draft profile to the league website. You usually don't see goalie profiles for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft get uploaded to NHL's league website before June, so that tells me he might go a lot earlier than most are projecting him in mock drafts. Essentially, NHL scouts might be higher on him than the mainstream media currently is.
    
    
    
    
    
35. Chicago Blackhawks: Bradly Nadeau, C, Penticon Vees (BCHL)
    
    
    The 5-10 160 lb Bradly Nadeau gives the Chicago Blackhawks someone who can push Colton Dach to be the second line center behind Connor Bedard down the road making him a very good third line center in the NHL at the very worst. The Penticon Vees top line featured Aydar Suniev as their first line left winger, Bradly Nadeau as their first line center, and Josh Nadeau the older brother of Bradly Nadeau as a first line right winger. The Penticon Vees also have Joshua Neidermayer the son of Scott Neidermayer as their first line defenseman.
    
    
    
    Bradly Nadeau had 20 goals, 26 assists, and 46 points in 49 games in 2021-2022. Bradly Nadeau had 11 goals, 13 assists, and 24 points in 17 games during the 2022 BCHL Playoffs. Bradly Nadeau had 45 goals, 68 assists, and 113 points in 54 games in 2022-2023. Bradly Nadeau also had 17 goals, 18 assists, and 35 points in the 2023 BCHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Bradly Nadeau was the Elliott Row Player Of The Month for the month of October to begin the season. Bradly Nadeau also accepted a hockey scholarship to play at the Maine Black Bears with his brother this Fall. Bradly Nadeau is versatile enough to play center and left winger, but I see Bradly Nadeau as an NHL center.
    
    
    
    Bradly Nadeau has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. You can make the argument that Bradly Nadeau was more impressive on film than Callum Ritchie or Nate Danielson, but the level of competition he faced was weaker which is a big reason Bradly Nadeau fell to the second round.
    
    
    
36. San Jose Sharks: Josh Nadeau, RW, Penticon Vees (BCHL)
    
    
    The 5-10 158 lb Josh Nadeau gives San Jose another right wing prospect for the future. Josh Nadeau may be 19-years-old, but he's my best player on the board this early in the second round.
    
    
    
    Josh Nadeau had 40 goals, 32 assists, and 72 points in 54 games in 2021-2022. Bradly Nadeau had 12 goals, 12 assists, and 24 points in 17 games during the 2022 BCHL Playoffs. Josh Nadeau had 44 goals, 66 assists, and 110 points in 54 games in 2022-2023. Josh Nadeau also had 16 goals, 19 assists, and 35 points in the 2023 BCHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Josh Nadeau was the Elliott Row Player Of The Month for the month of November to begin the season. Josh Nadeau also accepted a hockey scholarship to play at the Maine Black Bears with his brother this Fall. The Nadeau brothers were a big reason why the Penticon Vees repeated in the BCHL as league champions the last two years.
    
    
    
    Josh Nadeau has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Josh Nadeau is a year older than Bradly Nadeau, but he had just as big of an impact on the Penticon Vees as his younger brother.
    
    
    
    
    
37. Tampa Bay Lightning: Theo Lindstein, D, Brynas IF (Elitserien)
    
    
    The Tampa Bay Lightning have Steven Stamkos as their first line left winger whose in a contract year, Brayden Point as their first line center, and Nikita Kutcherov as their first line right winger. Tampa Bay has Brandon Hagel as their second line left winger, Anthony Cirelli as their second line center, and Tanner Jeannot their 2023 trade deadline acquisition as their second line right winger with Jeannot replacing Alex Killorn whose an unrestricted Free Agent.
    
    
    
    Tampa Bay has Patrick Maroon as their third line left winger whose in a contract year, Nick Paul as their third line center, and Michael Eyssmimont a 2016 fifth round pick as their third line right winger. Cole Koepke the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2018 sixth round pick that played college hockey at Minnesota Duluth is going to be the fourth line left winger, Alex Barre-Boulet is the fourth line center for the Tampa Bay Lightning after going undrafted in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft at the age of 20 with the 26-year-old Alex Barre-Boulet in a contract year. Rudolfs Balcers who is set to take over as the fourth line right winger was the Tampa Bay Lightning's fifth round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Tampa Bay has a good center prospect in Jack Finley their 2020 second round pick who was on on the Spokane Chiefs and the Winnipeg Ice in the WHL. Jack Finley had 12 goals, 9 assists, and 21 points in his first AHL season with the Syracuse Crunch. Jack Finley is capable of taking over for Alex Barre-Boulet as the fourth line center next season, but he needs to develop on the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL for one more season.
    
    
    
    Tampa Bay also has Isaac Howard a 2022 first round pick drafted thirty first overall last year struggled at Minnesota-Duluth and entered the transfer portal to go to Michigan State. Tampa Bay will probably re-sign Stamkos after next season and will assess where Howard is in his development before deciding to pursue a veteran or give Howard a shot on the back 6 after next season. I'm leaning towards the former, but it depends on how much cap space Tampa Bay has.
    
    
    
    Tampa Bay has Victor Hedman anchoring the blue line and Mikhail Sergachev complimenting Victor Hedmman on the first line of defense for the Tampa Bay Lightning with the top two points producers for Tampa Bay's defense on the top line. Erik Cernak will anchor the second line of this defense with Nick Perbix the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2017 fifth round pick who finished third in points among defenseman expected to challenge both Sergachev and Cernak for the right to be a top line defenseman with Hedman. Zach Bogosian will continue to anchor the third line of the Tampa Bay Lightning's blue line despite decling with 2014 first round pick Haydn Fleury who was once drafted seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes complimenting Zach Bogosian.
    
    
    
    Andrei Vasilevskiy will remain the starting goalie for the Tampa Bay Lightning as he's won two Stanley Cups at goalie after being the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2012 first round pick. Brian Elliott the backup goalie on Tampa Bay is a UFA with two goalies competing to replace him. Hugo Alnefelt a 2019 third round pick on HV71 and Matt Tompkins a Free Agent goalie who signed with the Lightning after starting for Farjestads BK in the SHL are competing for the backup goalie job on the Tampa Bay Lightning with the loser of that competition most likely being the starting goalie for the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL.
    
    
    
    Looking at Tampa Bay. the Lightning definitely have enough talent to be a wild card at the very worst and a top 3 team in the Metropolitan Division once again if this roster can stay healthy. I'm not ruling out a top 2 finish in the Atlantic Division if Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour are out until January for the Florida Panthers as Florida and Buffalo are my top two teams for the Atlantic next season with Tampa Bay and Ottawa competing for that third spot in the Atlantic division.
    
    
    
    Looking at Tampa Bay, it's clear they need to improve the blue line. While Nick Perbix showed promise in the regular season, he struggled during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Outside of Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak, I don't see a quality defenseman which is the biggest reason Toronto knocked out Tampa Bay in five games last year.
    
    
    
    I initially mocked Theo Lindstein to Dallas at 61 since many believe he can develop into a star defenseman I've seen some NHL mock drafts put Lindstein in the first round, so if he gets to the Tampa Bay Lightning at 37, I cannot see the Lightning passing on him unless someone better falls to their second round pick.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 185 lb Theo Lindstein had 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 14 games on the Brynas IF Under 20 Team in 2022-2023. He got promoted to the Brynas IF main roster in the SHL where he had 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, and a -3 +/- ratio in 32 games with Brynas IF in the SHL once known as Elitserien in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Theo Lindstein has the floor of a number six defenseman on an AHL team, but he also has the ceiling to be a first line defenseman who anchors the blue line on a really bad NHL team. Theo Lindstein would just have to develop enough to push Nick Perbix for the number four defenseman spot on Tampa Bay and that's a much better situation for Lindstein compared to most teams.
    
    
    
    Theo Lindstein has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Theo Lindstein just needs to increase his pace of play and display better production in the SHL moving forward since his contract with Brynas IF expires in 2024 meaning Tampa Bay could get Theo Lindstein to develop in the AHL on the Syracuse Crunch as early as a year from now.
    
    
    
    I would also argue there's an outside shot Lindstein could be on the NHL in Tampa Bay next season despite being a second round pick simply because both of the Tampa Bay Lightning's third line defensemen enter contract years. Both Zach Bogosian and Haydn Fleury are UFA's in 2024 after next season.
    
    
    
38. Arizona Coyotes: Trey Augustine, G, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    Arizona drafts the second goalie in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. There's only two goalies in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft that check off all ten boxes you want from an NHL goalie. Those goaltenders are Jacob Fowler and Trey Augustine. I gave Columbus Fowler at 22, so Arizona gets Trey Augustine here as someone the team can groom for the future. Arizona can either bring Augustine up as early as 2024 with how dire their goalie situation is or develop him at Michigan State until the Arizona Coyotes either gets a new stadium or relocate to another city.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 190 lb Trey Augustine started 33 games with a 2.13 goals against average and a .926 save percentage on the US-Under 18 Team. Trey Augustine started 14 games on the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL with a 2.34 goals against average, a .928 save percentage, 28 goals allowed, and 1 shutout going 10-1-2 in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Style, Post Integration, Glove, Blocker Pad, Reading The Puck By Tracking, Rebound Control, Post Save Recovery, Quickness, Footwork, and Puckhandling. Those are ten different categories that NHL Draft Scouts use to evaluate goalies. Back in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Sebastian Cossa and Jesper Wallstedt were the only two goalies to check off these boxes and both went in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Jacob Fowler and Trey Augustine were the only two goalies in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft to check off all ten boxes for me in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft with other goalies like Adam Gajan, Michael Hrabel, and Carson Bjarnason impressing me at times, but failing to check off all ten boxes you want from an NHL goalie despite some of these guys being ranked ahead of Jacob Fowler and Trey Augustine.
    
    
    
    Jacob Fowler and Trey Augustine played each other once in a head-to-head game where Augustine defeated Fowler 3-2 in overtime. Jacob Fowler is gonna start right away at Boston College. Trey Augustine is also going to start right away at Michigan State.
    
    
    
    Trey Augustine will be Michigan State's goalie for the next three years. Montreal may end up starting Augustine as early as 2026 with Carey Price having an expiring contract then. Jacob Fowler has a 4-6 year window to develop in Columbus. Trey Augustine would have a 4-6 year window as well unless Arizona signed Augustine and started him straight out of college.
    
    
    
    Arizona doesn't have a goalie worth a damn. Honestly, Arizona's goalie situation is so dire that Trey Augustine would be the Coyotes starting goalie if Bill Armstrong gave him an entry level contract following his freshman year at Michigan State. I don't believe Bill Armstrong will do this, but I'm that confident in Trey Augustine as far as being a franchise goalie goes since he's my only other goalie outside of Jacob Fowler to check off all ten boxes.
    
    
    
    
    
39. Buffalo Sabres: Cameron Allen, D, Guelph Storm (OHL)
    
    
    Buffalo gambles on Cameron Allen. Cameron Allen, also known as Cam Allen by some could be a good third line defenseman on the Buffalo Sabres.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 192 lb Cameron Allen was the Guelph Storm's first round pick in the 2021 OHL Draft. Cameron Allen had 13 goals, 24 assists, 37 points, and a +13 +/- ratio while winning OHL Rookie Of The Year in 2021-2022. Cameron Allen had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point during gthe 2022 OHL Playoffs. Cameron Allen regressed in his draft year with 5 goals, 20 assists, 25 points, and a -22 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Cameron Allen had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point during the 2023 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Cameron Allen has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, and passing to in the NHL. Cameron Allen needs to improve his shot and defense. Cameron Allen is a major project, but as a former OHL Rookie Of The Year, he could have the potential to be a first line defenseman in the NHL even if he's got the floor of a third line defenseman in the AHL. He entered the year as a top 10 pick, but is now a second round prospect.
    
    
    
40. Washington Capitals: Etienne Morin, D, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
    
    
    Washington drafts a defenseman here. Washington doesn't really have anyone besides John Carlsson and Rasmus Sandin that can defend effectively.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 180 lb Etienne Morin had 21 goals, 51 assists, 72 points, and a +29 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Etienne Morin had 2 goals, 15 assists, and 17 points in 12 games during the 2023 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Etienne Morin has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Etienne Morin checks off most boxes. He's a great skater who knows how to distribute the puck while transitioning from offense to defense.
    
    
    
    Etienne Morin needs to develop his shot in terms of shooting power and shooting accuracy on both his wrist shot and slap shot. The rest of his game is pretty complete.
    
    
    
    
    
41. Detroit Red Wings: Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda Indians (Elitserien)
    
    
    Detroit drafts a center in the second round after loading up at left wing and right wing with their first two picks. Otto Stenberg was the team captain for Team Sweden at this years World Junior Championships. Otto Stenberg might have a higher ceiling than last years first round pick Marco Kasper.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 185 lb Otto Stenberg is a versatile enough to play left wing, center, and right wing. Otto Stenberg is effective as far as offense, defense, and skating goes.
    
    
    
    Otto Stenberg has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Otto Stenberg has the versatility, offense, defense, skating, and leadership traits you want as a captain of Sweden's team at the World Junior Championship this past season.
    
    
    
    Otto Stenberg had 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points with Frolunda's Under 20 Team. Otto Stenberg had 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, and a -1 +/- ratio with the Frolunda Indians now known as Frolunda HC in the SHL in 23 games in 2022-2023 in the league once known as Elitserien.
    
    
    
42. Detroit Red Wings: Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin
    
    
    Detroit drafts another center here. Charlie Stramel can develop for a few years at Wisconsin. He can either to go to the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL or the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL after his NCAA career is over.
    
    
    
    Charlie Stramel entered the year as a preseason top 10 pick. Charlie Stramel needed a big season at Wisconsin in the NCAA.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 222 lb Charlie Stramel only had 5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points, and a -10 +/- ratio during his freshman season at Wisconsin in 2022-2023. Charlie Stramel's underwhelming season at Wisconsin ended up costing him a spot in the first round.
    
    
    
    Charlie Stramel, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Charlie Stramel is raw he needs to develop as a passer, shooter, and skater. He's intelligent enough to process plays in the heat of the moment.
    
    
    
    
    
43. Detroit Red Wings: Beau Akey, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)
    
    
    Detroit drafts another defenseman to add to their prospect pool. Beau Akey could be in Detroit as early as 2025 once Olli Maata's contract is up.
    
    
    
    Beau Akey was drafted in the first round of the 2021 OHL Draft. The Barrie Colts drafted Aaron Ekblad and Brandt Clarke with first round picks in previous OHL drafts on the blue line before drafting Beau Akey.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 175 lb Beau Akey had 5 goals, 11 assists, and 16 points in 2021-2022. Beau Akey posted 0 goals, 0 assists and 0 points during the 2022 OHL Playoffs. Beau Akey had 11 goals, 36 assists, and 47 points in 2022-2023. Beau Akey had 2 goals, 3 assists, and 5 points in 13 games during the 2023 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Beau Akey has the skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, slap shot power, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Beau Akey needs to develop more touch and accuracy on his wrist shot and slap shot. He's also got to get his +/- ratio out of the negative if he wants a shot to compete on an NHL roster.
    
    
    
44. Chicago Blackhawks: Kasper Halttunen, RW, Helsingfors IFK (SM Liiga)
    
    
    Chicago gets a player that could develop into a second line right winger down the road with this pick. Kasper Halttunen is the top prospect from Finland in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Kasper Halttunen's contract expires in Finland, but there is a player option in his contract that can keep him in Finland to develop for one more season before coming to North America.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 215 lb Kasper Halttunen had 18 goals, 6 assists, and 24 points in 18 games with the Helsingfors IFK Under 20 Team. Kasper Halttunen 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, and a -3 +/- ratio in 27 games Liiga once known as SM Liiga in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Kasper Halttunen has the playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Kasper Halttunen has potential to be a deadly power forward in 3 to 4 years down the road on a first or second line as a top six forward in the NHL once he fixes his skating.
    
    
    
    
    
45. Buffalo Sabres: Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
    
    
    Buffalo drafts a second left winger here. Quentin Musty will replace Olafsson on the second line while Samuel Honzek replaces Jordan Greenway as the third line left winger on the Buffalo Sabres.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 195 lb Samuel Honzek had 23 goals, 33 assists, 56 points, and a +17 +/- ratio in 43 WHL games in 2022-2023. Samuel Honzek had 1 goal, 3 assists, and 4 points in 4 games during the 2023 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Samuel Honzek has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Samuel Honzek checks off nearly every box as far as traits go, but he still needs to do a better job attacking the corners of the net and the five hole. I have Honzek getting picked in the second round, but there a ton of mock drafts slotting him in the first round.
    
    
    
46. Nashville Predators: Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
    
    
    Nashville loses Zach Sanford. Their third line left winger also enters a contract year. This is why reloading at left wing makes a lot of sense. Daniil But's contract in the KHL runs through next season, so Nashville could bring him to the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL or the Nashville Predators in the NHL by 2024.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 203 lb Daniil But had 15 goals, 11 assists, and 26 points in the MHL. Daniil But had 2 goals, 0 assists, 2 points, and a -1 +/- ratio in 15 KHL games.
    
    
    
    Daniil But has the playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Daniil But has to improve his skating and athletic traits, but everything else you want in a future left winger is there.
    
    
    
    
    
47. Nashville Predators: Oskar Fisker Molgaard, C, HV71 (Elitserien)
    
    
    Nashville goes for value and drafts another center that can be groomed for the future. Oskar Fisker Molgaard is versatile enough to play center or left wing in the NHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 163 lb Oskar Fisker Molgaard had 6 goals, 17 assists, and 23 points with HV71's Under 20 Team. Oskar Fisker Molgaard had 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 41 games with HV71 in the SHL once known as Elitserien in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Oskar Fisker Molgaard has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Oskar Fisker Molgaard has one year left on his contract in Sweden before Nashville can bring him to the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL for development.
    
    
    
48. Calgary Flames: Zeb Forsfjall, C, Skelleftea AIK (Elitserien)
    
    
    Calgary gets their center here. Zeb Forsfjall is the best center on the board at this point in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 168 lb Zeb Forsfjall had 8 goals, 14 assists, and 22 points in 34 games with Skellefttea AIK's Under 20 Team as team captain in 2022-2023. Zeb Forsfjall had 1 goal, 0 assists, and 1 points in 17 SHL games against men on Skelleftea AIK in the league once known as Elitserien.
    
    
    
    Zeb Forsfjall has the skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Zeb Forsfjall will need to improve his stride and explosiveness. He also needs to get stronger and play more aggressive. Zeb Forsfjall could be in the NHL by 2026 with the right development.
    
    
    
    
    
49. New York Islanders: Lenni Hameenaho, LW, Assat (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The New York Islanders have Anders Lee as their first line left winger, Bo Horvat as their first line center, and Matthew Barzal as their first line right winger with all of their top line forwards under contract for the next three years. The New York Islanders have Josh Bailey as their second line left winger, Brock Nelson as their second line center, and Kyle Palmieri as their second line right winger. The New York Islanders have Oliver Walstrom as their third line left winger, Jean-Gabriel Pageau as their third line center, and Hudson Fasching as their third line right winger. The New York Islanders have Matt Martin as their fourth line left winger, Casey Cizikas as their fourth line center, and Cal Clutterbuck as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    New York loses Pierre Engvall who filled in for an injured Josh Bailey as the second line left winger during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. New York also loses third line left winger Zach Parise to Free Agency. Josh Bailey, Hudson Fasching, Matt Martin, and Cal Clutterbuck enter contract years at left wing and right wing next season.
    
    
    
    The New York Islanders will have Ryan Pulock anchoring the first line of New York's defense on the blue line with Adam Pelech complimenting Pulock on that top line. Noah Dobson and Sebatian Aho will play defense for New York on the Islanders second line of defense. This means that Alexander Romanov and Samuel Bolduc, the New York Islanders 2019 second round pick who has limited experience in the NHL will play third line next season.
    
    
    
    New York has just over $6-million in cap space. Oliver Wahlstrom, New York's 2018 first round pick and Samuel Bolduc New York's 2019 second round pick are both RFA's. I think New York will try to bring back both guys while trying to stay under the cap. I won't be surprised if New York trades someone to create more cap space to extend both players.
    
    
    
    New York Islanders starting goalie Ilya Sorokin enters a contract year next season. New York Islanders backup goalie Semyon Varlamov is an unrestricted Free Agent. The New York Islanders had Jakub Skarek as their starting goalie on the Bridgeport Islanders in the AHL and Ken Appleby as their backup goalie on the Bridgeport Islanders in the AHL.
    
    
    
    I believe Ilya Sorokin will remain the starting goalie with Jakub Skarek getting promoted to the NHL as the backup goalie. Ken Appleby and Tristan Lennox, New York's 2021 third round pick at goalie will compete for the starting goalie job on the Bridgeport Islanders in 2023.
    
    
    
    New York needs to reload at left winger. Lenni Hameenaho is versatile enough to play left winger and right winger in the NHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 174 lb Lenni Hameenaho had 21 goals, 16 assists, and 37 points in 42 games with Assat's Under 20 Team. Lenni Hameenaho had 9 goals, 12 assists, 21 points, and a -11 +/- ratio in 51 games with Assat in Liiga once known as SM Liiga.
    
    
    
    Lenni Hameenaho has the skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, and vision to succeed in the NHL. Lenni Hameenaho needs to improve his offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ. His floor is a fourth line winger in the NHL and his ceiling is a second line winger in the NHL. Right now he's projected as a third line winger in the NHL as a bottom six forward once he finishes developing.
    
    
    
50. Seattle Kraken: Koehn Ziemmer, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
    
    
    Seattle just continues to reload their roster with wingers to an already stacked prospect pool that features future NHL players at center, defenseman, and goalie. Koehn Ziemmer was drafted fourth overall by the Prince George Cougars in the 2019 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 210 lb Koehn Ziemmer had 30 goals, 27 assists, 57 points, and a -15 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. Koehn Ziemmer had 0 goals, 2 assists, and 2 points in 4 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs. Koehn Ziemmer had 41 goals, 48 assists, 89 points, and a 0 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Koehn Ziemmer had 3 goals, 4 assists, and 7 points in 10 games during the 2023 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Koehn Ziemmer has the skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Koehn Ziemmer doesn't have that first step you want in a skater. He also needs to develop his shot blocking ability in order to perfect his game on defense.
    
    
    
    
    
51. Chicago Blackhawks: Mathieu Cataford, RW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
    
    
    Chicago gets their future third line right winger with this pick. Mathieu Cataford was drafted sixth overall in the first round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft. Mathieu Cataford is versatile enough to play both right winger and left winger even though his main position is at right wing.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 190 lb Mathieu Cataford had 17 goals, 29 assists, 46 points, and a +5 +/- ratio in 62 QMJHL games during his rookie season in 2021-2022. Mathieu Cataford had 4 goals, 1 assist, and 5 points in 5 games during the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs. Mathieu Cataford had 31 goals, 44 assists, 75 points, and a +33 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Mathieu Cataford had 5 goals, 8 assists, and 13 points in 21 games during the 2023 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Mathieu Cataford has the skating, versatility, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Mathieu Cataford just needs to improve his slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, and shot release. Once he tweaks that part of his game he will be ready for a bigger role whether that's with the Rockford Icehogs in the AHL or the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL.
    
    
    
52. Seattle Kraken: Easton Cowan, LW, London Knights (OHL)
    
    
    The Seattle Kraken get another winger to add to their prospect pool here. Easton Cowan is versatile enough to play left winger or right winger even though his main position is at left wing as a first line left winger on the London Knights in the OHL. After taking a right winger at 50, Seattle selects a left wing prospect at 52.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 170 lb Easton Cowan took off in his draft year after being limited to 7 games during his rookie season. Easton Cowan had 20 goals, 33 assists, 53 points, and a +10 +/- ratio in 68 OHL games in 2022-2023. Easton Cowan had 9 goals, 12 assists, and 21 points in 20 games during the 2023 OHL Playoffs helping the London Knights get to the 2023 OHL Cup.
    
    
    
    Easton Cowan has the skating, versatility, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Easton Cowan isn't always as accurate with his passes as he could be, but Seattle will not need him until 2026 or 2027, so he will have plenty of time to develop with the London Knights for two more seasons before going to the AHL for a year or two. Easton Cowan also has to get stronger, but the talent is there if Seattle remains patient.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Minnesota Wild: Kalan Lind, C, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
    
    
    The Minnesota Wild have Kirill Kaprizov as their first line left winger, Joel Erkisson Ek as their first line center, and Mats Zuccarello in a contract year as their first line right winger. Minnesota has Matthew Boldy as their second line left winger, Frederick Gaudreau as their second line center, and Marcus Foligno as a second line right winger in a contract year. Minnesota has Gustav Nyquist as a third line left winger, but he's going to be an unrestricted Free Agent with Adam Beckman their 2019 third round pick likely taking over for Nyquist after having 24 goals, 12 assists, and 36 points in the AHL with the Iowa Wild, Ryan Hartman as their third line center in a contract year, and Sam Steel an RFA as their third line right winger. Minnesota has Brandon Duhaime as their fourth line left winger as he's currently an RFA, Connor Dwar as their fourth line center, and Nick Swaney an RFA who will likely get promoted from the Iowa Wild in the AHL to a fourth line right winger role in the NHL on a team friendly extension.
    
    
    
    The Minnesota Wild have defenseman and team captain Jared Spurgeon anchoring their blue line on the first line of the Minnesota Wild's defense with Jacob Middleton complimenting him. Jonas Brodin will anchor Minnesota's second line on defense with Matthew Dumba heading for Free Agency with Calen Addison Minnesota's 2018 second round pick complimenting Jonas Brodin. Brock Faber, the Los Angeles Kings 2020 second round pick got traded to Minnesota in the Kevin Fiala trade that sent Fiala to the Kings made the NHL before Los Angeles Kings 2021 first round pick Brandt Clarke. Brock Faber was the number five defenseman on the Minnesota Wild's roster last year down the stretch and I expect him to maintain that role with Jon Merrill complimenting him.
    
    
    
    Minnesota also has Carson Lambos, Ryan O'Rourke, Filip Johansson, Simon Johansson, Daemon Hunt, Kyle Masters, and David Spacek in their prospect pool. Minnesota has six defensemen that are good enough to play in the NHL. Alex Goligoski for inusurance, and seven other quality defensemen in their prospect pool. I don't think Minnesota needs to draft a defenseman. Simply loading up with offensive talent should be good enough.
    
    
    
    Minnesota has starting goalie Filip Gustavsson as an RFA. Marc Andre-Fleury is the backup goalie and has one year left on his contract. Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota's 2021 first round pick could see the NHL in 2024 when Marc Andre-Fleury's contract is up. Minnesota is set at defense and goalie, but needs to reload on offense.
    
    
    
    Minnesota drafts another center. I mocked William Whitelaw in the first round. I'm giving Minnesota Red Deer Rebels center Kalan Lind the younger brother of Kole Lind with this second round pick.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 155 lb Kalan Lind was the sixth pick in the 2020 WHL Draft. Kalan Lind is versatile enough to play center, left wing, and right wing.
    
    
    
    Kalan Lind had 20 goals, 18 assists, 38 points, and a +17 +/- ratio in 61 WHL regular season games in 2021-2022. Kalan Lind had 1 goal, 5 assists, and 6 points in 10 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs. Kalan Lind had 16 goals, 28 assists, 44 points, and a +14 +/- ratio in 43 WHL regular season games in 2022-2023. Kalan Lind had 2 goals, 3 assists, and 5 points in 10 games during the 2023 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Kalan Lind has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Kalan Lind is great at winning face offs too. He can forecheck quite effectively as well.
    
    
    
54. Los Angeles Kings: Luca Cagnoni, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
    
    
    The Los Angeles Kings have Kevin Fiala as a first line left winger, Anze Kopitar as a first line center in a contract year, and Adrian Kempe as a first line right winger. Los Angeles has Viktor Arvidsson as a second line left winger in a contract year, Phillip Danault as a second line center, and Alex Iofallo as a second line right winger. Los Angeles has Trevor Moore as a third line left winger, Quinton Byfield as a third line center, and Alex Turcotte as a third line right winger. Los Angeles has Carl Grundstrom as a fourth line left winger, Blake Lizotte as a fourth line center, and Akil Thomas as a fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    Los Angeles still has Drew Doughty anchoring their blue line on the first line with Vladislav Gavrikov complimenting him after agreeing to a two year extension. Brandt Clarke, the Los Angeles Kings 2021 first round pick will finally make his NHL debut on the second line with Mikey Anderson complimenting him on the second line. Matt Roy will anchor the Los Angeles Kings third defensive line. Sean Walker will compliment Matt Roy now that Sean Durzi has been traded to Arizona for a 2024 second round pick. Tobias Bjornfot, the Los Angeles Kings 2019 first round pick pick is an RFA, but is now considered the eighth best defender on a Los Angeles Kings team that will only keep six or seven defenseman. The Kings may let him walk if he doesn't agree to a two-way contract like he had during his entry level contract.
    
    
    
    Los Angeles Kings starting goalie Joonas Korpiaslo is an unrestricted Free Agent and Cal Petersen has been traded to Philadelphia. This means Pheonix Copley will be the Los Angeles Kings starting goalie unless the Kings go out and get a goalie in a trade or Free Agency.
    
    
    
    The Los Angeles Kings have three goalies that are RFA's with Matt Villalta who has the most experience starting with the Ontario Reign in the AHL, David Hrenak the Los Angeles Kings starting goalie on their ECHL team, and Jacob Ingham their backup goalie on their ECHL team. Erik Portillo the Buffalo Sabres 2019 third round pick just finished all four years at Michigan and never signed with the Buffalo Sabres, so the Kings gave Michigan's starting goalie Erik Portillo a two year entry level contract.
    
    
    
    I considered mocking a goalie here. However, I think Matt Villalta, David Hrenak, or Erik Portillo could be the future starting goalie on the Los Angeles Kings. Cal Petersen was a good backup to Jonathan Quick, but couldn't permanently cease the goalie job after Quick was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. That's why I am mocking a defenseman here.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 182 lb Luca Cagnoni had 9 goals, 27 assists, 36 points, and a +32 +/- ratio in 63 games in 2021-2022. Luca Cagnoni had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 11 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs. Luca Cagnoni had 17 goals, 47 assists, 64 points, and a +11 +/- ratio in 67 games in 2022-2023. Luca Cagnoni had 1 goal, 6 assists, and 7 points in the 2023 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Luca Cagnoni has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Luca Cagnoni an excellent skater with elite offensive traits. Luca Cagnoni played over twenty minutes of ice time in a game of film I watched where the Portland Winterhawks faced the Victoria Royals in the WHL.
    
    
    
    
    
55. Chicago Blackhawks: Emil Jarventie, LW, Ilves (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The Chicago Blackhawks take the top left winger on the board as a future third line left winger. Emil Jarventie of Ilves is the top player on the board. Emil Jarventie is the younger brother of Ottawa Senators 2020 second round pick Roby Jarventie. Emil Jarventie is versatile enough to play left wing or right wing which is one thing that may separate him from his older brother.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 168 lb Emil Jarventie had 13 goals, 8 assists, and 21 points on the Ilves Under 20 Team in 2021-2022. Emil Jarventie had 8 goals, 11 assists, and 19 points on the Ilves Under 20 Team in 2022-2023. Emil Jarventie's contract with Ilves runs through next season with a one year option to keep him on Ilves meaning the NHL team that drafts Emil Jarventie can wait until he's 20 to sign him to an entry level contract rather than signing him at the age of 19.
    
    
    
    Emil Jarventie has the skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Emil Jarventie needs to simplify his game, but the potential to be a top 9 forward is there.
    
    
    
56. Edmonton Oilers: Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
    
    
    The Edmonton Oilers have Evander Kane as their first line left winger, Connor McDavid as their first line center, and Zach Hyman as their first line right winger. Edmonton has Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as their second line left winger, Leon Draisaitl as their second line center in a contrat year, and Kailer Yamamoto, Edmonton's 2017 first round pick will be an RFA after next season when Draisaitl becomes a UFA when McDavid enters his contract year.
    
    
    
    Edmonton has third line left winger Warren Foegele in a contract year, Ryan McLeod, Edmonton's 2018 second round pick is now an RFA after establishing himself as Edmonton's third line center. Edmonton's third line right winger is a UFA. Klim Kostin, Edmonton's fourth line left winger might get promoted to the third line right winger role. Tyler Benson, Edmonton's 2016 second round pick could be Edmonton's fourth line left winger if Kostin gets promoted to the third line. Dylan Holloway, Edmonton's 2020 first round pick can be Edmonton's fourth line center or fourth line left winger. Hollaway would probably be Edmonton's fourth line center with someone like Seth Griffith who had 60 points on the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL taking over as the fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    Edmonton has Darnell Nurse anchoring the blue line on Edmonton's first line of defense as Edmonton's 2013 first round pick with Cody Ceci complimenting him. Evan Bouchard anchors Edmonton's second line, but the Edmonton Oilers 2018 first round pick is an RFA with Matias Ekholm complimenting Evan Bouchard on Edmonton's second line of defense. Vincent Desharnais and Brett Kulak are the third line defensemen on Edmonton. Phillip Broberg, Edmonton's 2019 first round pick could push Desharnais and Kulak for NHL minutes on the third line.
    
    
    
    Edmonton has Stuart Skinner a 2017 third round pick as a Calder finalist for rookie of the year as their starting goalie with Jack Campbell as their backup goalie. Edmonton looks like a pretty complete team in all three phases at forward, defense, and goalie meaning that the Edmonton Oilers can use this 2023 second round pick to take the best player available.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 181 lb Tanner Molendyk was drafted fifth overall in the 2020 WHL Draft. Tanner Molendyk had 9 goals, 28 assists, 37 points, and a +31 +/- ratio for the Saskatoon Blades in 2022-2023. Tanner Molendyk also had 3 goals, 5 assists, and 8 points in 18 games during the 2023 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Tanner Molendyk was a first line defenseman for the Saskatoon Blades in the 2023 WHL Playoffs. I'm not sure Tanner Molendyk will be a first line defenseman in the NHL though since he didn't have an answer when defending against Regina Pats center Connor Bedard.
    
    
    
    Tanner Molendyk has the skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tanner Molendyk is raw to the point where he has the floor of a third line defenseman in the AHL, but he's also got the ceiling of a first line defenseman that can anchor the blue line down the road. If Tanner Molendyk plays like he did against Bedard he won't reach that ceiling, but the fact that Molendyk's ceiling is that high is why he gets picked in the second round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
57. Seattle Kraken: Luca Pinelli, RW, Ottawa 67's (OHL)
    
    
    Seattle drafts another winger here. Luca Pinelli would be a great addition to the Seattle Kraken here. Luca Pinelli is versatile enough to play right winger, center, and left wing despite right wing being his main position. Luca Pinelli is also the younger brother of Los Angeles Kings 2021 second round pick Francesco Pinelli who plays for the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL. Francesco will probably be on the Ontario Reign next season.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 165 lb Luca Pinelli had 29 goals, 34 assists, 63 points, and a +30 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Luca Pinelli had 7 goals, 11 assists, and 18 points in 11 games during the 2023 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Luca Pinelli has the skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Luca Pinelli has to develop his first step and explosiveness when skating, but he's more versatile than his older brother Francesco Pinelli.
    
    
    
58. New Jersey Devils: Michael Hrabel, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL)
    
    
    The New Jersey Devils have Ondrej Palat as their first line left winger, Nico Hischier their number one pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and team captain as a first line center, and Jesper Bratt who got an eight year extension. New Jersey has Timo Meier as a second line left winger who accepted an 8 year extension worth $8.8-million, Jack Hughes the first pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft who can also rotate with Nico Hischier as the first line center playing second line center, and Dawson Mercer one of their three 2020 first round picks as their second line right winger.
    
    
    
    Alexander Holtz, New Jersey's seventh overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft will most likely replace Erik Haula as the third line left winger with Haula an unrestricted Free Agent. Michael McLeod, New Jersey's 2016 first round pick is the New Jersey Devils third line center with McLeod being a restricted Free Agent. New Jersey will have Tyler Toffoli a first line right winger on Calgary somewhere in their top 9 at the very worst Toffoli is a third line right winger even though you can make an argument for him on the first or second line.
    
    
    
    Nolan Foote, Tampa Bay's 2019 first round pick that was traded to New Jersey could be New Jersey's fourth line left winger if they don't pursue anyone in Free Agency. Curtis Lazar will remain New Jersey's fourth line center. New Jersey will have Nathan Bastian as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    New Jersey will have Dougie Hamilton anchoring New Jersey's first line on the blue line with Luke Hughes complimenting Hamilton on New Jersey's first line of defense. John Marino will continue to anchor the second line of New Jersey's blue line, and I see Simon Nemec the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft complimenting Marino if both Damon Severson and Ryan Graves leave in Free Agency. Kevin Bahl and Jonas Siegenthaler will be the third line defensemen on the New Jersey Devils next season.
    
    
    
    New Jersey has Vitek Vanecek as their starting goalie and Akira Schmid as their backup goalie. Zachary Emond is an RFA and I expect him to get tendered with a two-way contract. New Jersey also has Nico Daws and 2022 fourth round pick Tyler Brennan who was my top goalie in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft as Brennan was my only second round goalie in a much weaker goalie draft in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. New Jersey was the first team since Dallas in 2017 to get the top defenseman Simon Nemec and top goalie Tyler Brennan on my board in the same NHL Draft after Dallas got Miro Heiskanen and Jake Oettinger in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Common sense says not to draft a goalie here. However, the best player on my board at this point in the second round is Michael Hrabel and it's not like the New Jersey Devils have an established goalie, so the Devils can keep draft another goalie until they have an established goalie. Some have Michael Hrabel as the top goalie in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft mainly due to his size.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 215 lb Michael Hrabel has the best size of any goalie in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. If you value size in goalies, it's understandable why you would think some of Hrabel's traits are unteachable.
    
    
    
    Michael Hrabel was the backup goalie on the Omaha Lancers. He played in 31 games and had a 2.68 goals against average, a .908 save percentage, 80 goals allowed, and 3 shutouts despite having a losing record of 9-13-7 in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Style, Post Integration, Glove, Blocker Pad, Reading The Puck By Tracking, Rebound Control, Post Save Recovery, Quickness, Footwork, and Puckhandling. Those are ten different categories that NHL Draft Scouts use to evaluate goalies. Michael Hrabel checks nine of these ten boxes. He needs to get better at reading the puck by tracking. His reaction time is slow. The big question is it eye hand coordination issue or are his instincts something you cannot correct since instincts are something you cannot teach. You either have instincts or you don't.
    
    
    
    Michael Hrabel will go back to the Omaha Lancers in 2023. He will enroll into University of Massachusetts after next season for up to three years. New Jersey can patiently develop Michael Hrabel in the NCAA until 2027 when signing him to an entry level contract. New Jersey doesn't need to rush Michael Hrabel since the New Jersey Devils have an abundance of goalie prospects in their prospect pool.
    
    
    
    Jake Oettinger modeled his game after Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Michael Hrabel models his game after Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger. Lisa also pointed out that he can anticipate the puck with his toes and it's one of the traits that makes Michael Hrabel a special prospect at goalie.
    
    
    
    
    
59. Anaheim Ducks: Denver Barkey, RW, London Knights (OHL)
    
    
    Anaheim drafts another winger here. Denver Barkey was drafted sixteenth overall by the London Knights in the first round of the 2021 OHL Draft. Denver Barkey is versatile enough to play right wing and center. His traits make him a better fit for right wing in the NHL and he was the first line right winger on the London Knights in the OHL.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 155 lb Denver Barkey had 7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points, and a -6 +/- ratio in 53 OHL games in 2021-2022. Denver Barkey had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 5 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs. Denver Barkey had 22 goals, 37 assists, 59 points, and a +18 +/- ratio in 61 games in 2022-2023. Denver Barkey had 11 goals, 13 assists, and 24 points in 20 games during the 2023 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Denver Barkey has the skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Denver Barkey has to develop his first step and explosiveness to play center in the NHL. He's good enough to play right winger in the NHL though once he develops.
    
    
    
60. Anaheim Ducks: Aydar Suniev, LW, Penticon Vees (BCHL)
    
    
    Anaheim drafts another winger to compliment their core of centers. Aydar Suniev was a first line left winger on the Penticon Vees. He's also the final winger with a second round grade in my 2023 NHL Mock Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 192 lb Aydar Suniev had 45 goals, 45 assists, and 90 points with the Penticon Vees in 2022-2023. Aydar Suniev had 9 goals, 14 assists, and 23 points in 15 games during the 2023 BCHL Playoffs. Aydar Suniev has a hockey scholarship to University of Massachusetts this Fall.
    
    
    
    Aydar Suniev has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Aydar Suniev has the offensive traits you want, but needs to develop his defenisve awareness at University of Massachusetts with the Massachusetts Minutemen before making the jump to the AHL with the San Diego Gulls or the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks.
    
    
    
    
    
61. Dallas Stars: Tristan Bertucci, D, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
    
    
    The Dallas Stars will have Jason Robertson as their first line left winger, Roope Hintz as their first line center, and Joe Pavelski as their first line right winger. Dallas will have team captain Jamie Benn as their second line left winger even though he can also play second line center, Wyatt Johnston as their second line center, and Tyler Seguin as their second line right winger. Dallas will have Ty Dellandrea as their 2018 first round pick as their third line left winger whose an RFA, Logan Stankoven their 2021 second round pick who drafted right after Wyatt Johnston in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft potentially replacing Max Domi as their third line center as Domi has a market value of $4.7-million, and Evgeni Dadonov back as their third line right winger who signed an extension worth $2.25 million. Dallas has Mason Marchement as a fourth line left winger, Radek Faksa as a fourth line center, and Dallas will need a fourth line right winger. You could also try Logan Stankoven at the wing if you think your 2020 first round pick Mavrik Bourque is ready for the NHL too, but I think Stankoven is more of a center than a winger. Dallas can put Mavrik Bourque or Logan Stankoven as the third line center with the other guy being the fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The Dallas Stars will have Miro Heiskanen back to anchor the blue line on the Dallas Stars first line of defense with Ryan Suter complimenting him since Ryan Suter's contract has a no movement clause meaning Dallas cannot trade him. However, buying out Ryan Suter would only cost $783,333 in cap space for next season which is why I'm not ruling out a Suter buyout since Dallas currently has $7.767 million in cap space for 2023 at the moment. Buying out Suter also saves Dallas $2.866 million which would increase their cap space short-term, but hurt Dallas long-term giving Dallas less cap space when Jamie Benn becomes a UFA and when Jake Oettinger is an RFA again in 2025. Dallas would also have less cap space in 2026 when Jason Robertson is an RFA again. Jani Hakanpaa and Esa Lindell are the two second line defensemen on the Dallas Stars blue line. Dallas also has Thomas Harley their 2019 first round pick anchoring the third line with either Colin Miller or Nils Lundqvist complimenting Harley on that third line.
    
    
    
    Dallas has Jake Oettinger back as their starting goalie. Scott Wedgewood is also back as the backup goalie next season. Dylan Wells, Matt Murray, and Adam Scheel are all RFA's. Matt Murray is the only one of those three that played well for the Texas Stars in the AHL, but he was awful in his three NHL appearances this past season.
    
    
    
    I think Dallas has a griphold on the Central Division next year with the Edmonton Oilers and Seattle Kraken as the only two potential challengers in the Western Conference next season as long as Dallas stays healthy and avoids injuries since Vegas loses a lot of players to the 2023 NHL Free Agency period while there will be some uncertainty at goalie for the Los Angeles Kings. Colorado doesn't have Landeskog and loses three of their five centers to Free Agency with Nate MacKinnon and Alex Newhook their 2019 first round pick as the only returning centers. Minnesota is in the best long-term position to challenge Dallas, but the Stars top four centers are all better than Minnesota's top four centers at the moment. That will continue to be the case if Logan Stankoven pans out and makes the NHL next season. Winnipeg put their core guys on the trade block and I don't trust Rick Bowness with this group. The Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues could be teams to watch in the later part of this decade, but both are in rebuilds right now. Chicago will have Connor Bedard, but needs their other first round draft picks to develop before they can contend. Gettng Bedard turns Chicago's five year rebuild into a two to three year rebuild. Arizona is just a mess right now and not getting a stadium in Tempe is a big reason why Logan Cooley, Arizona's 2022 first round pick returned to Minnesota for his sophomore season.
    
    
    
    As long as Dallas and Edmonton avoid injuries, I think both of the last two teams to lose the Western Conference Finals could be on a collision course to meet in the 2024 Western Conference Finals. I said that the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars were the two most complete teams in the Western Conference prior to 2019-2020 after the St. Louis Blues won the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. Then I said, the Colorado Avalanche had a two year window to win the Western Conference in 2021 and 2022 heading into the 2021-2022 NHL Season. Dallas and Vegas were my top two teams heading into this years 2023 Western Conference Finals, and even though I picked Dallas to win in 7, I said Vegas can win this series if the goaltending shows up for Vegas. Right now, I feel like Dallas and Edmonton have the two best Western Conference rosters heading into next season.
    
    
    
    I wanted to give Dallas a winger at 61, but I'll have to wait until the fourth round to give the Dallas Stars a winger. However, no second round wingers were on the board. I had to decide between a center and a defenseman. I went with a defenseman because there were two first line defensemen in Tristan Bertucci and Andrew Strahmann who both warrant being selected here.
    
    
    
    Tristan Bertucci has the better floor along with being the bigger of the two defensemen and will arrive in the NHL quicker than Strahmann. Andrew Strahmann has the better upside despite taking the NCAA route and taking longer to develop, but the benefit with Strahmann is you don't have to sign him to an entry level contract until 2027.
    
    
    
    Deciding between Tristan Bertucci and Andrew Strahmann was tough for Dallas. Looking at what the Dallas Stars have done philosophically under Jim Nill, the Dallas Stars have gone for players from the CHL, NCAA, SHL, Liiga, and KHL in the first or second round of the NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    In fact, Jim Nill has never drafted a USHL player in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft which is why I think Dallas would prefer a bigger defenseman that is around 6-1 170 that could be in the AHL or NHL by 2025 compared to a guy that is 5-10 185 that will be in the NCAA until 2027. The one beneift to taking Strahmann is you can stash him in your prospect pool and use your remaining cap space on veterans for a cup run.
    
    
    
    I see Dallas taking Tristan Bertucci over Andrew Strahmann partially because the Dallas Stars history with OHL players drafted by Jim Nill in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft is pretty deep. Dallas has drafted 8 OHL players in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft under Jim Nill dating back to 2013 with Jason Dickinson, Remi Elie, Jason Robertson, Ty Dellandrea, Thomas Harley, Wyatt Johnston, Artem Grushnikov, and Christian Kyrou being those 8 OHL players that Nill has drafted with four of those players actually doing enough to get to the NHL meaning Nill has a 50% success rating when drafting OHL players in the first two rounds as a General Manager.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 175 lb Tristan Bertucci was drafted seventh overall as a first round pick in the 2021 OHL Draft. Tristan Bertucci had 1 goal, 12 assists, 13 points, and a +26 +/- ratio in 62 games in 2021-2022. Tristan Bertucci had 0 points in 11 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs. Tristan Bertucci had 11 goals, 39 assists, 50 points, and a +12 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Tristan Bertucci had 1 goal, 4 assists, and 5 points in 7 games during the 2023 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Tristan Bertucci has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tristan Bertucci had an impact as he played on both the first and second lines with the Flint Firebirds in the OHL. Bertucci will be ready for the Texas Stars the AHL by 2025 and possibly the Dallas Stars in the NHL in 2026 once he finishes developing on the Flint Firebirds in the OHL.
    
    
    
    With Tristan Bertucci, Dallas would have up to six defensemen as prospects in their prospect pool. That prospect pool of defensemen includes Tristan Bertucci who I already mentioned and mocked to Dallas at 61 in this mock draft with Lindstein's SHL contract running through next season making him eligible for the Texas Stars in the AHL as early as 2024, Artem Grushnikov drafted forty eighth overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft who will be on the Texas Stars after finishing up his OHL career this past season, Lian Bichsel drafted eighteenth overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft who signed his entry level contract with the Dallas Stars meaning Lian Bichsel will be on the Texas Stars in the AHL in 2023, Christian Kyrou the younger brother of Jordan Kyrou who was drafted fiftieth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft in the second round of that draft, George Fegaras, the Dallas Stars 2022 third round pick saw his point total decrease when transitioning from the OJHL to the USHL and he begins his freshman season at Cornell next season. The final player I'll mention Gavin White the Dallas Stars 2022 fourth round pick that was drafted by Dallas at the age of 19. White signed his entry level contract and since he's 20, he's going straight to the Texas Stars in the AHL next season.
    
    
    
    Dallas will potentially have Lian Bischel, Artem Grushnikov, and Gavin White on the Texas Stars in 2023. Christian Kyrou should be on the Texas Stars in 2024. Tristan Bertucci would be on the Texas Stars in 2025, but would have an opportunity to earn NHL minutes by 2026 if one of the other players drafted ahead of him struggles. Dallas will only promote one of them if they let both Hakanpaa and Colin Miller walk when their 2024 Free Agents. If Dallas can bring one of those two back to a cheap team friendly deal, then Dallas can give those two a second year in the AHL before having to promote one of those two in 2025 when Esa Lindell and Ryan Suter's contracts expire. I think Bischel or Kyrou will be on Dallas in 2024 with the other player and Tristan Bertucci potentially on Dallas in 2025 if Suter isn't bought out this year and the rest of the players drafted ahead of Bertucci struggle to develop which is a big if right now. It's too early to project this far ahead, but Dallas is a team that can reload on the blue line in the later part of the decade if their top draft picks develop correctly and pan out.
    
    
    
    Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley the Dallas Stars 2017 and 2019 first round picks were the only defensemen to get an A+ grade from the Athletic's Dallas Stars insider. Colin Miller got a C+ grade. Ryan Suter got a C- Grade. Esa Lindell and Jani Hakanpaa both got D grades. I look at Lian Bischel, Christian Kyrou, and Theo Lindstein as potential replacements to the other defensemen outside of Heiskanen and Harley.
    
    
    
    I think Dallas will remain a playoff team for this decade, but their window of opportunity to win a Stanley Cup may expire once Pavelski's contract is up after next season unless Jim Nill actually uses the remaining cap space to extend Pavelski. All of this talk about my Dallas Stars is giving me a headache and we need to move on to the next team in this 2023 NHL Mock Draft.
    
    
    
62. Carolina Hurricanes: Adam Gajan, G, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
    
    
    Common sense says not to draft a goalie here. However, the best player on my board at this point in the second round is Adam Gajan and it's not like the Carolina Hurricanes have an established goalie outside of Pyotr Kochetkov with starting goalie Frederik Andersen set to be an unrestricted Free Agent.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 180 lb Adam Gajan is from Poprad, Slovakia where HK Poprad the team that Simon Nemec played hockey for plays their hockey. He was the goalie for Slovakia's national hockey team that defeated Team USA in the Under 20 World Junior Championships. Adam Gajan went 33/36 in that game saving pucks that Logan Cooley and Luke Hughes fired his way rallying Slovakia after Team USA took a 2-1 lead in a 6-3 victory.
    
    
    
    Adam Gajan was the starting goalie on the Chippewa Steel in the North American Hockey League for most of the season, but also started six games for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL. Adam Gajan started 34 games on the Chippewa Steel and had a 2.57 goals against average, a .917 save percentage, 87 goals allowed, and 1 shutout with a 19-12-3 record on the Chippewa Steel in 2022-2023. The Chippewa Steel got swept out of the 2023 NAHL Playoffs. Adam Gajan had a 2.48 goals against average, a .906 save percentage, 15 goals allowed, and 1 shutout while posting a 5-1 record in 6 USHL starts with the Green Bay Gamblers.
    
    
    
    Style, Post Integration, Glove, Blocker Pad, Reading The Puck By Tracking, Rebound Control, Post Save Recovery, Quickness, Footwork, and Puckhandling. Those are ten different categories that NHL Draft Scouts use to evaluate goalies. Adam Gajan like Michael Hrabel checks nine of these ten boxes. He needs to get better at using his blocker pad when making saves because if Adam Gajan can improve his ability to make saves with his blocker pad, he's a guy who can check off all ten boxes despite being older than every goalie projected to go in the top 5 of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 19-year-old Adam Gajan could be heading to Minnesota-Duluth this Fall. Adam Gajan will probably start at Minnesota Duluth unless Zach Stejskal returns for his senior season at Minnesota Duluth which means Gajan wouldn't start until 2024 if Stejskal returns for his senior season. There's also speculation that Adam Gajan will return to the Green Bay Gamblers and begin his NCAA journey at Minnesota Duluth in 2024 starting right away as a true freshman in that scenario. Regardless, the Carolina Hurricanes take Adam Gajan here since he's too good to pass on from a value standpoint.
    
    
    
    
    
63. Florida Panthers: Andrew Strathmann, D, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
    
    
    The Florida Panthers will have Carter Verhaeghe as their first line left winger in a contract year, Aleksander Barkov the secod overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft as your team captain and first line center, and Anthony Duclair as your first line right winger in a contract year. Florida has Nick Cousins their second line left winger in a contract year, Sam Bennett as their second line center, and Matthew Tkachuk as their second line right winger. Florida has Eetu Luostarinen as their third line left winger, Anton Lundell, Florida's 2020 first round pick as third line center, and Sam Reinhart as their third line right winger. Florida has Ryan Lomberg as their fourth line left winger in a contract year, Eric Staal is a UFA as their fourth line center, and Colin White is an RFA as a fourth line right winger. Florida could pay Colin White what he wants on his RFA Tender and bringing back Eric Staal would only cost $800,000 if he doesn't retire. There's four to five different centers on the Florida Panthers that are RFA's that could be brought up if Staal retires, but I see the Panthers getting a veteran in Free Agency with $9.5-million in cap space.
    
    
    
    The Florida Panthers have Aaron Ekblad their first overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft as their first line defenseman anchoring the blue line on their first line. Gustav Forsling enters a contract year next season and compliments Aaron Ekblad on Florida's first line. Brandon Montour anchors the Florida Panthers second line on the blue line with Marc Staal a UFA complimenting him as Staal will only cost $800,000. Radko Gudas anchors your third line and he has a market value of $3.3-million as a UFA, so Florida can bring back Gudas too with Josh Mahura complimenting Radko Gudas on the third line.
    
    
    
    Florida also has Sergei Bobrovsky as their starting goalie locked up until 2026 with Bobrovsky and Barkov both making $10-million a year. Spencer Knight the Florida Panthers 2019 first round pick selected thirteenth overall should be back on Florida next season as their backup goalie to Bobrovsky. Alex Lyon who stepped in for Spencer Knight as the backup goalie on the Florida Panthers will be a UFA and Lyon will sign elsewhere.
    
    
    
    Florida needs to reload on the blue line here with the best player on the board being a defenseman. Andrew Strahmann was a first line defenseman on the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL on a team that won the 2023 Clark Cup.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 185 lb Andrew Strathmann had 3 goals, 35 assists, 38 points, and a +11 +/- ratio in his season with Youngstown Phantoms in 56 games as the Youngstown Phantoms quarterback on the power play in 2022-2023. Andrew Strahmann had 3 goals, 4 assists, and 7 points in the 2023 USHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Andrew Strathmann has one more season on the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL and will likely be the Youngstown Phantoms team captain next season after being their alternate captain this year. Andrew Strathmann will head to North Dakota in 2024 meaning the earliest Andrew Strathmann will be in the NHL is 2027 and that's if he doesn't end up on the AHL.
    
    
    
    Andrew Strathmann has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Andrew Strathmann has potential to compliment Aaron Ekblad on Florida's first line down the road, but he won't be on an NHL roster until 2027 at the very earliest assuming he goes to the USHL for one more season and North Dakota in the NCAA for three more seasons.
    
    
    
64. Minnesota Wild: Anton Wahlberg, C, Malmo Redhawks (Elitserien)
    
    
    Minnesota drafts a center who has just enough upside to be the third line center on the Minnesota Wild down the road. At the very worst, you get a high end center that can contribute on the Iowa Wild in the AHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 192 lb Anton Wahlberg had 14 goals, 13 assists, 27 points, and a +4 +/- ratio on the Malmo Redhawks Under 20 Team in 32 games in 2022-2023. Anton Wahlberg had 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, and a +3 +/- ratio in 17 SHL games in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Anton Wahlberg has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Anton Wahlberg has one more year on the Malmo Redhawks in the SHL in the league once known as Elitserien, then Minnesota can sign him to an entry level contract and begin developing him.