2024 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 3

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: June 28, 2024.

66. Anaheim Ducks: Colton Roberts, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
    
    
    Anaheim could use a number six defenseman on the back line. Anaheim could also end up drafting a goalie, but with John Gibson under contract until 2027, Lukas Dostal as the backup goalie, and Calle Clang the goalie they got from Pittsburgh in the Rickard Rackell trade, Anaheim can wait for their goalie if they like a goalie in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft which is deeper than this draft more.
    
    
    
    Colton Roberts was a first round pick in the 2021 WHL Draft. He feels like a player that could push Anaheim's 2022 second round pick Noah Warren for the number six and final defenseman spot on the Anaheim Ducks roster.
    
    
    
    Colton Roberts was a natural at knocking opposing players on their ass heading into the WHL. The expectation was that he would become a first line defenseman when he was drafted with people saying he's the next Bowen Byram, but he ended up being the second line defenseman on the Vancouver Giants.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 198 lb Colton Roberts has gained 17 lbs of muscle since the 2021 WHL Draft. His +/- ratio is in the negative and he plays a sloppy game which features a lot of highs and lows. He may have to be a defensive first guy. He's a little above average in a lot of areas of his game, but lacks a defining trait that stands out. He's not a bad skater, but does get beaten by speed.
    
    
    
    Colton Roberts 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 WHL. Colton Roberts had 7 goals, 20 assists, 27 points, 49 penalty minutes, and a -30 +/- ratio after having a -20 +/- ratio as a rookie in 2023-2024. Colton Roberts had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 5 games during the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Colton Roberts has the skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. His speed and defensive awareness wasn't as good as advertised in the WHL after dominating in Bantam hockey prior to entering the WHL. This is a big reason Roberts fell from being a potential first round pick to being a second to third round pick. I don't believe Colton Roberts will be on the board for very long if he falls to the third round and I can see the Anaheim Ducks drafting him to push Noah Warren at 66.
    
    
    
67. Chicago Blackhawks: John Mustard, LW, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL)
    
    
    Chicago could have Igor Chernyshov if the Blackhawks draft him at 18 in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Connor Bedard, and Ivan Demidov if they draft him at 2 in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on the top line with Nick Foligno, Frank Nazar their second 2022 first round pick, and Phillipp Kurashev on the second line in 2025. Lukas Reichel, Chicago's 2020 first round pick would remain the third line left winger with Oliver Moore, Chicago's 2023 first round pick who was a top 10 prospect would be a third line center behind Frank Nazar or a second line center with Nazar moving to right winger which is his natural position. Chicago uses this third round pick to get their final third line forward here and would also have the flexibility to move Mustard down to the fourth line if they get another forward in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Chicago still needs a fourth line left left winger, a fourth line center, and a couple of third and fourth line right wingers for the back 6 at forward. The best player on the board for the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round is Waterloo Blackhawks third line left winger John Mustard. John Mustard has the floor of a fourth line left winger and the ceiling of a second line left winger.
    
    
    
    This makes John Mustard an ideal player for Chicago to draft since he's got the versatility to play left winger, center, or right winger. Mustard could be Chicago's third line right winger, but it is more likely he is Chicago's fourth line left winger given his familiarity with the left winger role. Also if Chicago gets a top 7 pick next year in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, then James Hagans, Porter Martone, Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, Logan Hensler, Malcolm Spence, and Jake O'Brien seven different players with first line potential could get drafted by Chicago with Hensler being the only defenseman in that group. I'd say Hagans, Martone, an Misa are all locks to go to the NHL in 2025. Malcolm Spence and Jake O'Brien will be pushing for roster spots. Anton Frondell will probably continue to develop in Sweden while Logan Hensler will enroll at Wisconsin this fall. Hensler could be up to the NHL right out of the gate in 2025, but he could also end up staying at Wisconsin until 2025 or 2026 since he's willing to stay at Wisconsin and get his degree in three years before signing with an NHL team if the team that drafts him doesn't want to sign him right away.
    
    
    
    There's a good chance Chicago has a top 7 pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Chicago's 2025 first round pick could end up taking a first line spot from their 18th overall pick if the Blackhawks end up drafting a left winger like Michael Misa or Malcolm Spence. If Chicago drafts one of the centers whether it be James Hagans or Jake O'Brien that guy could end up going straight to the NHL in 2025 as a back 6 forward or get a trial on the bottom six competing with guys like Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar. That's why I'm leaving John Mustard as a fourth line left winger and assuming that the Chicago Blackhawk's 2025 first round pick will be the final forward on Chicago's top 9 for now.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 184 lb John Mustard had 29 goals, 27 assists, 56 points, 71 penalty minutes, and a +15 +/- ratio as a rookie on the Waterloo Blackhawks in 2023-2024 after being the Waterloo Blackhawks eighth round pick in the 2022 USHL Draft. John Mustard also had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 2 games during the 2024 USHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    John Mustard has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy to succeed in the NHL. John Mustard plays kind or reckless at times with scouts describing him as a bull in a china shop, but he led the Waterloo Blackhawks in goals as a rookie and nearly won the MVP as the USHL All American Prospects Game losing out to James Hagans with many beleiving Mustard got snubbed of that award before winning the 2023-2024 USHL Rookie Of The Year Award. John Mustard had a signature game where he scored 4 goals in one game and is the best skater I've seen when it comes to deking and making defenders miss with the puck.
    
    
    
    Some have John Mustard in the first round, some have him in the second round, and some have him in the third round. I have him in the third round because he's a third line left winger. He probably will get picked in the second round, but his decision making will have to improve at Providence. We also don't know if John Mustard is going to Providence this Fall or spending one more year in the USHL before beginning his hockey scholarship at Providence. That question with Mustard and the fact that he mainly played left winger on the third line is why I have him in the early third round. He does have the ability to be a first line forward on the power play and that power play ability will attract NHL teams. If Mustard falls to the third round, he should be one of the first two names off the board. Here Chicago gets him as their fourth line left winger of the future.
    
    
    
    
    
68. Anaheim Ducks: Sam O'Reilly, RW, London Knights (OHL)
    
    
    Anaheim will need a couple of right wingers on the back six. London Knights right winger Sam O'Reilly is an ideal third line right winger on Anaheim that could be in the NHL as early as 2025 and as late as 2027.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 176 lb Sam O'Reilly had 20 goals, 36 assists, 56 points, 34 penalty minutes, and a +32 +/- ratio 2023-2024. Sam O'Reilly had 5 goals, 7 assists, and 12 points in the 2024 OHL Playoffs. Sam O'Reilly received some traction as a guy who could get picked between picks 24 and 32 during the 2024 Memorial Cup. Sam O'Reilly has been mocked anywhere between the late first and early third round on different scouting services. Sam O'Reilly, like Colton Roberts and John Mustard will be one of the first three names to come off the board if he reaches the third round.
    
    
    
    Sam O'Reilly 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. Sam O'Reilly was named player of the game in the London Knights Memorial Cup win against the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Round Robin in the 2024 Memorial Cup.
    
    
    
    He was 40 in the midseason rankings and 24 in the final rankings despite playing on his teams third line. Sam O'Reilly may be raw, but the ability to develop a 200 foot game that you see from a lot of star forwards in the NHL is there in spades. This is a guy who could end up going a lot higher than where I have him projected and you cannot really fault an NHL team for drafting him. Sam O'Reilly's nickname on the London Knights according to his head coach Dale Hunter is Cowboy.
    
    
    
69. Columbus Blue Jackets: Kevin He, LW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
    
    
    Columbus drafts a fourth line left winger for the future in case Patrik Laine and Alexandre Texier don't work out. Kevin He of the Niagara IceDogs is the top left winger left on the board at this point in the third round.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 182 lb Kevin He had 21 goals, 13 assists, 34 points, and 31 penalty minutes as a rookie in 2022-2023. Kevin He had 31 goals, 22 assists, 53 points, and 66 penalty minutes in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Kevin He 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. Kevin He, nicknamed He-Man by his teammates on Niagara due to his forechecking has to get his +/- ratio in the positive while also cutting back on penalty minutes, but if he does those two things he will be on an NHL roster at some point in the next five years before the end of the decade.
    
    
    
    He can get up to full speed in one or two strides. He will use his body to create hits. He's in good shape and works hard. He came back from an injury stronger than before in his Bantam year leading up to the 2022 OHL Draft. His feet are always moving and he's so dynamic with his feet.
    
    
    
    Kevin He is a player with the floor of a fourth line left winger in the NHL and the ceiling of a second line left winger. With all the depth Columbus has right now, Kevin He would be a fourth line left winger on an NHL team at best and may start out on the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL after his OHL career ends if Alexandre Texier is tendered for a few years until he becomes a UFA since Texier is young and could be an RFA soon. Kevin He models his game after former NHL player Pavel Bure.
    
    
    
    Kevin He would be the first Chinese player drafted since Andong Song was drafted by the New York Islanders in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Kevin He's other hobbies when he's not on the ice include inspecting cars, playing shogi a japanese version of chess, playing chess, and walking dogs. Unlike Andong Song, Kevin He is a consensus top 100 player in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has a very good chance to be the first Chinese born player to be drafted in the top 100 of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
70. Montreal Canadiens: Kieron Walton, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
    
    
    Montreal drafted a left winger in the second round that could be your second line left winger by 2027. Now Montreal drafts a fourth line left winger with Montreal's current fourth line left winger set to be a UFA in 2025.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 211 lb Kieron Walton wore 8 grewing up because his favorite player was Alexander Ovechkin. Kieron Walton's twin brother Conor Walton is also in this draft with Keiron being a minute older. Both Walton's are big body guys with Kerion being a left winger on the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL and Colton being a defenseman on the Windsor Spitfires OHL.
    
    
    
    Keiron Walton had 18 goals, 25 assists, and 43 points in 2023-2024. Keiron Walton had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 9 games during the 2024 OHL Playoffs. Walton did have an assist in one of his two OHL Playoff games during his rookie season in 2023.
    
    
    
    Keiron Walton is raw. He does have the size and ability to be a fourth line left winger on an NHL team down the road which is exactly what Montreal needs.
    
    
    
71. Utah Hockey Club: Kasper Pikkarainen, RW, TPS (SM Liiga)
    
    
    Utah gets a fourth line right winger here. Michael Carcone is in a contract year. Drafting Kasper Pikkarainen at this point in the third round allows Utah to reload at right winger.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 194 lb Kasper Pikkarainen had 12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points, and a +14 +/- ratio on the TPS Under 20 Team in 2023-2024. Kasper Pikkarainen did well enough to get promoted to the main TPS team in Liiga in Finland, but had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 5 Liiga games in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Kasper Pikkarainen has the floor of a first line right winger in the AHL and the ceiling of a third line right winger in the NHL. If you want a fourth line right winger to crash the boards and cause some chaos to take pressure off of your defense, this could be your guy as Kasper Pikkarainen has the ideal profile to be an eventual replacement to Michael Carcone behind Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, and Josh Doan learning under those established right wingers on Utah.
    
    
    
    
    
72. Chicago Blackhawks: Christian Humphreys, C, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    Chicago uses this third round pick from Ottawa to get a potential fourth line center. Chicago could keep Christian Humphreys in the AHL on the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL or bring him up to be a fourth line forward. A lot of it will depend on how Humphreys develops in college and whether Chicago has a top 7 pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft like I stated earlier.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 170 lb Christian Humphreys is versatile enough to play all thre forward spots at left winger, center and right winger. Chicago would love to have a player with the versatility Humphreys has at this point in the third round.
    
    
    
    Christian Humphreys had 57 goals, 37 assists, and 94 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Team in 2019-2020. Christan Humprheys had 45 goals, 66 assists, and 111 points with Bishop Kerney in 2020-2021. Christian Humphreys had 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points in 2022-2023. Christian Humphreys had 7 goals, 17 assists, and 24 points so far in 2023-2024. Christian Humphreys will go to Michigan State in the Fall of 2024 after this season.
    
    
    
    Christian Humphreys has the speed, 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. Christian Humphreys was a five star recruit just like Macklin Celebrini. Humprheys was a top 10 prospect at one point in 2023 for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, but he ends up dropping in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft thanks to losing the first line center job on the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL to James Hagans, the projected number one pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
73. Seattle Kraken: Sebastian Soini, D, Ilves (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The Seattle Kraken draft another defenseman here to add to their prospect pool with multiple first line defensemen on the Seattle Kraken roster set to be UFA's in 2025 after giving Seattle a defenseman with the eighth pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Sebastian Soini began his season on Ilves in Liiga once known as SM Liiga, but was loaned to Koovee a lower tier team in Finland this past season and will return to Ilves.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 194 lb Sebastian Soini had 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, and a +1 +/- ratio in 6 games with Ilves in 2023-2024. He will return to Ilves next year to continue his development after being loaned to Koovee last year where he will continue to develop. He's under contract with Ilves for one more year, but does have a plus 1 option on his contract that would keep him in Ilves until 2026 if an NHL team isn't ready to sign him or if Soini wants to go back to Finland for one more season which is kind of a bonus considering how raw Soini is despite his talent.
    
    
    
    Sebastian Soini has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Sebastian Soini has the size, two-way game, and skating that scouts covet. The big knock on him is he hasn't develop a slap shot or wrist shot that has a lot of power or accuracy. Soini will need to go to a team with a good shooting coach and develop his shot. Seattle's AHL team the Coachella Valley Firebirds made the 2023 Calder Cup and the 2024 Western Conference Finals in the AHL. Coachella Valley will develop Soini as a shooter once he gets to the AHL in 2025 or 2026.
    
    
    
    Sebastian Soini would eventually compete with guys like Ty Nelson Seattle's 2022 third round pick, Lukas Draigacevic their 2023 second round pick, and Caden Smith a 2023 third round pick that went 7/7 penalty killing last year if Seattle drafts him in the third round because if Seattle drafts a defenseman like Zeev Buiu at 8, there's a good chance that guy comes up to the NHL as soon as that defenseman is done developing next year since he led Denver to an NCAA Title as a true freshman this past season. Playing with those guys on Coachella Valley in a few years will give you a better idea of what you are getting.
    
    
    
    
    
74. Calgary Flames: Roope Vesterinen, RW, HPK (SM Liiga)
    The Calgary Flames draft a right winger here hoping to get a first line right winger. Roope Vesterinen is my top guy on the board.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 174 lb Roope Vesterinen is versatile enough to play left wing or right wing. He's got experience in SM Liiga, but most of his points came o the HPK Under 20 Team. He got promoted to HPK in Liiga, but only played 7 games and produced 0 points.
    
    
    
    Roope Vesterinen has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. He showcases all of these things against players his own age and adolescents slightly older than him.
    
    
    
    I want to see Roope Vesterinen dominated on the HPK Under 20 Team, but struggled against men. That was his big question mark heading into the year, but in his defense he only played 7 games against men, so I cannot really fault him too much to the point where I take him out of my top 100.
    
    
    
75. New Jersey Devils: Veeti Vaisanen, D, KooKoo (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The New Jersey Devils stash and draft another defenseman for the future. Veeti Vaisanen is my top defenseman on the board.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 163 lb Veeti Vaisanen played on KooKoo's Under 20 Team in 2022-2023 posting 3 goals, 19 assists, and 22 points. Veeti Vaisanen had 2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points, and a +1 +/- ratio on KoKoo in Liiga once known as SM Liiga in 2023-2024. New Jersey is getting amazing value with Veeti Vaisanen here.
    
    
    
    He's a competitive smooth skating, two-way defenseman. He's very sound defensively and continues to improve offensively.
    
    
    
    Veeti Vaisanen 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. Veeti Vaisanen has done well against men in Finland and could be a top 4 defenseman on a second line in the NHL. With all the depth New Jersey has on defense, he would probably continue in Finland before going to the AHL. He could get an opportunity to play in the NHL down the road if he does well in the AHL.
    
    
    
    
    
76. Buffalo Sabres: Alexander Zetterberg, C, Orebro HK (Elitserien)
    
    
    Buffalo gets a center for the future. I'm not sure this guy makes the NHL when you consider that Buffalo drafted three centers in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Alexander Zetterberg would likely develop in Sweden until his contract runs out before seeing what he can do on the Rochester Americans in the AHL.
    
    
    
    The 5-8 159 lb Alexander Zetterberg entered the year as the top prospect in Sweden. Alexander Zetterberg has dominated on Orebro HK's Under 20 Team to the point where DetroitBuffao gambles on him in the third round as Zetterberg had 11 goals, 23 assists, and 34 points in 2022-2023. Zetterberg had 27 goals, 31 assists, and 58 points in with the Orebro HK Under 20 Team in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Alexander Zetterberg is going to Boston University this Fall. He will be able to develop there for up to three years. He's good enough to go in the top 100, but Buffalo can stash him and sign him to a rookie contract in 2027. He wouldn't become an RFA until 2030 and would give Buffalo a fun long-term prospect at center who could become a third line center on Buffalo down the road at the start of the new decade.
    
    
    
77. Philadelphia Flyers: Carson Wetsch, RW, Cagary Hitmen (WHL)
    
    
    Philadelphia is stacked at most positions when looking at their contracts. I'm simply giving the Philadelphia Flyers the best overall player here and at this point in the third round that is Carson Wetsch who had a hat trick earlier this season.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 187 lb Carson Wetsch had 25 goals, 25 assists, and 50 points in 2023-2024. Carson Wetsch is a power forward, but his +/- ratio is in the negative. He has the floor of a third line right winger in the AHL as well as the ceiling of a third line right winger in the NHL. Right now that projects as a first line right winger in the AHL, but he's a guy who could get called up to the fourth line if he fixes his +/- ratio and Philadelphia has a serious injury at right winger. Carson Wetsch would probably finish out his WHL career and go to the AHL team that drafts him unless he goes to a team that desperately needs a fourth line right winger in two years. Philadelphia is a team that has the patience and resources to develop Wetsch without rushing him. Daniel Brierre and Keith Jones will be patient with Wetsch as those two did amazing things in year 1 with the Philadelphia Flyers last year after everyone excpeted a bottom 5 team as well as the worst team in the Eastern Conference.
    
    
    
    Carson Wetsch, 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. He's got to develop his defensive awareness and get his +/- ratio in order if he wants a shot at the NHL as right now he projects as a WHL guy until he's 20 before going to the AHL.
    
    
    
    
    
78. Montreal Canadiens: Jesse Pulkkinen, D, JYP (SM Liiga)
    
    
    Montreal uses this third round pick from the Minnesota Wild to draft the top defenseman on the board here. Jesse Pulkkinen is a top 40 prospect on some big boards, but because he's 19 instead of 18, that age could drop him to the third round.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 203 lb Jesse Pulkkinen had 2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points, and a -1 +/- ratio in 2023-2024. Jesse Pulkkinen is under contract with JYP until 2026-2027 as well. Montreal can let Pulkkinen develop in Finland and bring him up to the NHL in 2027 if Michael Matheson leaves Montreal after 2026. If Matheson sticks around, it is possible Jesse Pulkkinen goes to the Laval Rocket in the AHL to develop for a few more years until one of Montreal's young defensemen from the NHL draft becomes a UFA since Montreal has a lot of young defensemen like 2020 first round pick Kaiden Guhle, Colorado's 2020 first round pick Justin Barron, 2021 first round pick Logan Mailloux, 2022 second round pick Lane Hutson, and 2023 first round pick David Reinbacher. Pulkkinen could develop in Finland and sign his rookie deal by 2027 which means he would be on that rookie deal until 2030. Montreal could just keep him in Laval on a rookie deal until 2030 and then bring him up whenever one of their younger defensemen becomes a UFA whenever that happens.
    
    
    
    Jesse Pulkkinen has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Jesse Pulkkinen has improved as a hitter, enforcer, and checker after kind of goofing off going from JYP's third line to the second line in Finland. He's not a first line guy yet at 19, but his floor is a first line defenseman in the AHL and his ceiling is a second line defenseman in the NHL. He could be a number five or six defenseman on a third line of an NHL team down the road if you are patient. Montreal has the luxury to bet on Pulkkinen here given how stacked they are with young defensemen.
    
    
    
79. Anaheim Ducks: Dominik Badinka, D, Malmo Redhawks (Elitserien)
    
    
    Anaheim could take a goalie here, but with John Gibson, Lukas Dostal, and Calle Clang, I'm not sure there is a goalie who can supplant Clang in this draft. Also the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is much stronger at goalie compared to this one. That's why I'm giving Anaheim another defenseman to push Colton Roberts and Noah Warren for that number six defenseman job in Anaheim as early as 2025. You can also take a long-term approach with one of those defenseman if you choose to move on from Cam Fowler whose a UFA in 2026.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 183 lb Dominik Badinka had 1 goal, 3 assists, and 4 points in 33 games with the Malmo Redhawks in 2023-2024. Dominik Badinka is a good skater, and could be a bottom pairing guy in the NHL. Anaheim has a good foundation around him with guys like Pavel Minteyukov, Olen Zellwegger, Tristan Luneau, and perhaps Artyom Levshunov if Chicago takes Ivan Demidov over the Michigan State defenseman at 2.
    
    
    
    Dominik Badinka has the speed, 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. Dominik Badinka is raw, but there's enough there for him to be a bottom pairing guy on Anaheim. At the very worst, he will be a top line guy on the Springfield Gulls in the AHL if Anaheim drafts Dominik Badinka in the third round.
    
    
    
    
    
80. Detroit Red Wings: Justin Poirier, RW, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
    
    
    Detroit gets a third line right winger here. Justin Poirier is the second line right winger on Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the QMJHL.
    
    
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    The 5-7 185 lb Justin Poirier had 51 goals, 31 assists, 82 points, and a +40 +/- ratio in 2023-2024. Justin Poirier had 18 goals, 9 assists, and 27 points in 17 games during the 2024 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Justin Poirier has the speed, 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. Justin Poirier could be a third line right winger on the Detroit Red Wings down the road.
    
    
    
81. St. Louis Blues: Brody Ziemer, RW, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    The St. Louis Blues draft the best player on the board. St. Louis has Jordin Binnangton, Joel Hofer, and Colten Ellis their 2019 third round pick in the AHL on the Springfield Thunderbirds at goalie. St. Louis can go for the best player on their board over a goalie here.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 187 lb Brody Ziemer will be a long-term project. Brody Ziemer is going the NCAA route and is heading to Minnesota this Fall after having 8 goals, 16 assists, and 24 points on the USNTDP USHL team in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Brody Ziemer has the skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy, to succeed in the NHL. He's got to improve his decision making, but will have plenty of time to do that in at Minnesota.
    
    
    
    
    
82. Washington Capitals: Tomas Galvas, D, HC Bili Tygri Liberec (Extraliga)
    
    
    Washington has back-to-back third round picks. Washington will use these two picks to draft two third line defensemen for the future.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 148 lb Tomas Galvas had 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points, and a +8 +/- ratio in 2023-2024. Tomas Galvas had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 3 games for HC Bili Tygri Liberec during the 2024 Extraliga Playoffs in the Czech Republic. Washington will draft Tomas Galvas as a number five defenseman to anchor the third line down the road as the number five defenseman here.
    
    
    
    Tomas Galvas has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tomas Galvas has to add lots of muscle and develop his shot if he wants to crack a third line in the NHL though.
    
    
    
83. Washington Capitals: Will Skahan, D, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    Washington gets the final defenseman to round out their third line here in the third round. Will Skahan finally comes off the board here.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 211 lb Will Skahan had 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Will Skahan had 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points, and a +17 +/- ratio in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Will Skahan has the skating, foot speed, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Will Skahan is the prototypical defensive defenseman. He can develop offensively at Boston College and Washington can try some defenseman on the 2023 Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears as stop gaps while Skahan develops in College.
    
    
    
    
    
84. Vegas Golden Knights: Simon Zether, C, Rogle BK (Elitserien)
    
    
    Vegas gets a fourth line center for the future. I believe Jack Eichel will retire a Golden Knight, but William Karlsson is playing through a contract. Brendan Brisson might start out as a fourth line center this year and work his way up to the third line when Nicolas Roy is a UFA. David Edstrom, the Vegas Golden Knights 2023 first round pick could be a fourth line center down the road. Simon Zether will be a long-term project that will probably develop on the Henderson Silver Knights.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 183 lb Simon Zether had 0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points, and a +1 +/- ratio on Rogle BK in the SHL in 2023-2024. Simon Zether was a third line center on Rogle BK.
    
    
    
    Simon Zether has the floor of a first line center on an AHL team. Simon Zether also has the ceiling of a third line center in the NHL. Vegas gets a center they can develop as long as they would like to, who could be a fourth line center on the Vegas Golden Knights down the road if Vegas lets both Williams Karlsson and Nicolas Roy walk.
    
    
    
85. San Jose Sharks: Carter George, G, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
    
    
    San Jose can draft a right winger of the future for the back 6 with over 100 points or a goalie here. San Jose needs both a starting goalie and a backup goalie, so the San Jose Sharks take the first goalie off of the board, but this years goalie draft is lackluster compared to a 2025 NHL Draft with 7 goalies in the top 100 and six of those seven goalies already have a goals against average of below 3.00 and a save percentage of above .900. The only goalie that doesn't meet this criteria yet is Gabriel D'Aigle a 6-4 220 lb goalie that was once projected to go in the top 5 a year ago before moving down to the second round this past season. Also Gabriel D'Aigle is the top goalie in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft at the moment.
    
    
    
    There's also a massive divide on goalies among scouting services when it comes to the goalies in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The Hockey News has four goalies in the second round, Draft Prospect Hockey's simulator has two goalies in the third round, and Elite Prospects had 0 goalies in the top 96 on their final top 100 special that I watched on Youtube. That alone tells me that the 2025 NHL Draft is a superior class. After rewatching the tape on the goalies in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, four goalies checked every box for me. Those goalies are Carter George, Kim Saarinen, Jackson Parsons, and Ilya Nabokov.
    
    
    
    San Jose is getting Carter George here. Carter George is the consensus top goalie in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Carter George could go as early as the late second round and as late as the beginning of the third round, but with the strength of next years draft he falls to San Jose at 85. Carter George is a massive steal at this point in the third round.
    
    
    
    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. Carter George checks off everyone of those boxes when watching him on tape.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 182 lb Carter George had 7-3 record with a 2.41 goals against average and a .924 save percentage in 10 OHL starts as the backup goalie on the Owen Sound Attack in 2022-2023. Carter George went 23-21-9 in 53 starts with a 3.30 goals against average. a .907 save percentage, and 4 shutouts in 2023-2024. Carter George went 0-4 during the 2024 OHL Playoffs in his first season as the starting goalie on the Owen Sound Attack.
    
    
    
    San Jose can give Carter George next season to improve since George does need to do a better job keeping pucks from going past the five hole in between his pads on saves. If he doesn't, San Jose can draft another goalie in the second round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft with as many as 7 goalies being projected to go in the top 90 next year and then have those two goalies compete to be San Jose's starting goalie of the future with the other guy being the backup.
    
    
    
    
    
86. Columbus Blue Jackets: Kim Saarinen, G, HPK (SM Liiga)
    
    
    Columbus uses this 2024 third round pick to get a goalie of the future here. If this goalie is nothing, but a backup, then Columbus can just reload at goalie in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft like San Jose if Elvis Merzlikins has a third bad year in a row at goalie. Daniil Tarasov the backup goalie is a 2025 RFA. Columbus is in a spot where they can draft a goalie this year to develop for the future, and if that doesn't work out, Columbus can get another goalie in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft if Merzlikins and the goalie they draft don't improve next season.
    
    
    
    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. Kim Saarinen checks off everyone of those boxes when watching him on tape.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 169 lb Kim Saarinen posted a 2.46 goals against average and a .909 save percentage in 2 games with HPK in Liiga against men in 2023-2024. Kim Sarrinen is going back to HPK next season and is under contract until 2025-2026 with an option to stay there for one more season before signing with the team that drafts him. If the team that drafts Kim is unhappy with his development or if he's unhappy with the team that drafts him, that option to stay with HPK for another season could be exercised.
    
    
    
87. Nashville Predators: Jackson Parsons, G, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
    
    
    Nashville has addressed needs for every forward and defenseman that is under contract that's a UFA in the next five years. Jusse Saros enters a contract year and Yarsolav Askarov, Nashville's 2020 first round pick will be the backup goalie to Saros. Nashville can draft a goalie here to develop if they want a backup to Askarov down the road.
    
    
    
    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. Jackson Parsons checks off everyone of those boxes when watching him on tape.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 202 lb Jackson Parsons went 27-18-2 with a 2.99 goals against average, a.897 save percentage, and 4 shutouts in 2023-2024. Jackson Parsons went 4-6 with a 3.77 goals against average, and a .877 save percentage in 10 games during the 2024 OHL Playoffs. Jackson Parsons made a lot of plays that wowed me when watching him on tape.
    
    
    
    
    
88. Seattle Kraken: Tory Pitner, D, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
    
    
    Seattle goes with the best player on the board. Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Tory Pitner has a hockey scholarship to Denver, the defending NCAA Champions this Fall.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 183 lb Tory Pitner had 0 goals, 9 assists, 9 points, 39 penalty minutes, and a +17 +/- ratio as a third line defenseman in 2022-2023. Tory Pitner had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 9 games during the 2023 USHL Playoffs when the Youngstown Phantoms won the 2023 Clark Cup. Tory Pitner had 8 goals, 16 assists, 24 points, 56 penalty minutes, and a +10 +/- ratio after getting promoted to the second line in 2023-2024. Tory Pitner had 1 goal, 0 assists, and 1 point in 7 games during the 2024 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Seattle already has Ty Nelson, Lukas Draigacevic, and Caden Smith three high end defensemen with first round grades that the Kraken drafted in their prospect pool. I mocked Zeev Buium at 8 and another defensemen in the third round. With this being the best player on the board as well as the third defensemen I've mocked to Seattle, you can let Tory Pinter refine his game in College with so many promising defensemen in your system.
    
    
    
89. Utah Hockey Club: Anthony Romani, RW, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
    
    
    The 6-0 183 lb Anthony Romani had 23 goals, 20 assists, 43 points, 20 penalty minutes, and a +3 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Anthony Romani had 6 goals, 2 assists, and 8 points in 20 games through the 2023 OHL Playoffs. Anthony Romani had 58 goals, 53 assists, 111 points, 20 penalty minutes, and a +43 +/- ratio after going undrafted in last years NHL Draft in 2023-2024. Anthony Romani had 3 goals, 1 assist, and 4 points in 3 games during the 2023 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Anthony Romani 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. The only drawback is that he turns 19 in July right after the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Clayton Keller is under contract until 2028, but there were trade rumors about Arizona's 2016 first round pick Keller whose locked up for four more seasons. You can develop Romani whose got one more year of OHL eligibility next season before bringing him up to the AHL in 2025. He will be ready for the NHL finished with his rookie deal by the time Clayton Keller's contract is about to expire.
    
    
    
    
    
90. Washington Capitals: Ilya Nabokov, G, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)
    
    
    Washington goes with the best player on the board here. Ilya Nabokov is 21-years-old, but he was the final goalie to check off all 10 boxes for me in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Most players that go in the top 100 are 18-year-olds and an exceptional 20-year-old can sneak into the top 100 early in the fourth round. The fact that I have Ilya Nabokov this freaking high should tell you how special he could become down the road with the right development. Not only that, the Washington Capitals love drafting Russians, so logistically this doesn't look as crazy as it sounds.
    
    
    
    Ilya Nabokov was only 141 lbs when he began playing hockey professionally in Russia in 2018-2019. He's added 38 lbs of muscle over the past five years to get near 180 lbs.
    
    
    
    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. Ilya Nabokov checks off everyone of those boxes when watching him on tape.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 179 lb Ilya Nabokov had a goals against average of 0.00 and a save percentage of 1.000 in one start for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL in 2022-2023. Ilya Nabokov took over as the starting goalie on Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL the following year going 23-13-3 with 1,055 saves, 80 goals allowed, 7 shutouts, a 2.15 goals against average, and a .930 save percentage during 39 regular season starts for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2023-2024. Ilya Nabokov had a 16-6 record, 41 goals allowed, 661 saves, a 1.82 goals against average, and a .942 save percentage in the 2024 KHL Playoffs improving on his regular season numbers.
    
    
    
    Ilya Nabokov won the KHL Aleksei Cherepanov Rookie Of The Year Award, led Metallurg Magnitogorsk to the 2024 KHL Cup, and was the 2024 KHL Playoffs MVP. This is the first time in the history of the KHL that an NHL Draft eligible prospect went on to win KHL Playoffs MVP in their draft year. Not even Alexander Ovechkin has that distinction and he's arguably the greatest Washington Capital in Capitals history.
    
    
    
    Washington has Charlie Lindgren and Clay Stevenson one of their two goalies on the Hershey Bears AHL team that's the reigning Calder Cup Champions, that's the Capitals current third string goalie behind Charlie Lindgren, a 2025 UFA, under contract until 2027. I'm guessing Washington will renegotiate Lindgren's deal after trading Darcy Kuemper away after one season, but can still develop Charlie Lindgren here.
    
    
    
    I don't put most 21 year old players this high in my NHL Mock Drafts, but his 11 shutouts in one season are the most by a goalie since Martin Brodeur in 2005-2006 matching the 11 shutouts Brodeur posted in 2003-2004 after New Jersey won the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals over Anaheim. Ilya Nabokov's floor is Jacob Fowler, his ceiling is Martin Brodeur, but the most realistic comparison for him is probably Evgeni Nabokov the long-time goaltender from the San Jose Sharks who came from Russia too. No, Ilya Nabkov is not related to Evgeni Nabokov.
    
    
    
    If you let this guy fall to the seventh round, he's gonna become the biggest NHL Draft steal since Joe Pavelski fell to 203 back in 2003. Passing on him just because he's older than every goalie in this draft could come back to haunt you. If he's there when Dallas is picking in round 5, that's the guy I'm telling Jim Nill to pound the table for as a backup to Jake Oettinger. That should tell you how high Ilya Nabokov's ceiling is.
    
    
    
91. New Jersey Devils: Eemil Vinni, G, Helsingfors IFK (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The New Jersey Devils use this 2024 third round pick from Winnipeg to draft a goalie hoping it works out this time. Nico Daws their 2020 third round pick was rushed into the NHL early due to the starting goalie and backup goalie on New Jersey being injured in 2021-2022. Nico Daws saw more NHL action after a year off from the NHL developing in the AHL and did worse this year, so Daws looks like an AHL only goalie with New Jersey potentially trading Daws if he wants a one-way contract to the NHL. Tyler Brennan, New Jersey's 2022 fourth round pick and my top goalie in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has struggled in the ECHL. This means New Jersey drafts another goalie here hoping to fill that void since the New Jersey Devils biggest weakness is a long-term number one goalie.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 185 lb Eemil Vinni started two games for Helsingfors IFK in Finland's Liiga allowing a 6.43 goals against average and a .737 save percentage. He was so awful in those games he got loaned Kiekko-Pojat in Metsis where he posted a 2.72 save percentage and a .892 save percentage in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Eemil Vinni will get one more year of development on Helsingfors IFK in 2024-2025. He will be ready to go to the Utica Comets by 2025 checking off 9/10 boxes on tape. The one box he didn't check off was post integration. He's got the floor of a starting AHL goalie and the ceiling of a NHL starting goalie. Eemil Vinni might be nothing more than a backup goalie in the NHL, but New Jersey can try to develop Vinni after screwing up development with previous goalies.
    
    
    
    I'm not sure Eemil Vinni will pan out. New Jersey can try to make it work with him and we'll see what happens. He will be AHL ready before any goalie in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft outside of Ilya Nabkov which is probably why some have him as the top goalie in this crapshoot of a goalie draft.
    
    
    
    
    
92. Carolina Hurricanes: Leon Muggli, D, EV Zug (National League A)
    
    
    Carolina gets a third line defenseman here. Leon Muggli has the floor of a number six third line defenseman in the NHL and the ceiling of a number four second line defenseman in the NHL. He's a perfect fit for Carolina here.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 163 lb Leon Muggli had 3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points, 18 penalty minutes, and a +13 +/- ratio in 2023-2024. Leon Muggli had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 11 games during the 2024 National League A Playoffs in Switzerland.
    
    
    
    Leon Muggli 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. Leon Muggli does everything well, but he doesn't have a dominant trait to his game. He can be an effective number 6 to number 4 defenseman on an NHL team and did just as well in the playoffs defensively as he did in the regular season over in Switzerland's National League A.
    
    
    
93. Vancouver Canucks: Linus Eriksson, C, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien)
    
    
    The Vancouver Canucks have Ilya Mikheyev as their first line left winger, Elias Pettersson as their first line center, and J.T. Miller as their first line right winger with all of those first line players under contract until 2026. Dakota Joshua is the second line left winger which means Phillip di Guiseppe will remain the third line left winger after Vancouver gave Dakota Joshua a four year extension. Teddy Blueger, the third line center did get extended on a team friendly deal. Nils Aman the third line right winger is back. Nils Hoglander, Vancouver's fourth line left winger and 2019 second round pick could be Vancouver's third line left winger next year if you promoted him. Pius Suter is the only returning center if you keep both Petersson and Miller on your top line. Suter isn't a second line center. Vasily Podkolzin, Vancouver's 2019 first round pick is the fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The Vancouver Canucks have Quinn Hughes their 2018 first round pick and team captain as the number one defenseman that anchors the blue line. Filip Hronek is the number two defenseman on Vancouver's first line that compliments Quinn Hughes and he got re-signed. Tyler Myers will remain the number three defenseman on the second line. Carson Soucy, Vancouver's number four defenseman whose under contract for the next two years remains the number four defenseman. Tucker Poolman will remain the number five defenseman on the third line. Noah Juulsen can be Vancouver's number six defenseman on the third line. Mark Friedman will be Vancouver's substitute defenseman after agreeing to a one year extension giving Tom Willander a second year to be the number one defenseman at Boston University before Vancouver's 2023 first round pick signs his entry level contract. It is also possible Williander gets a third year to develop at Boston University if Vancouver can keep their core of defensemen together.
    
    
    
    The Vancouver Canucks have Thatcher Demko a 2014 second round pick as their starting goalie and Arturs Silovs, their 2019 sixth round pick started in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs when both Demko and UFA Casey DeSmith were injured as the backup goalie. Arturs Silovs did enough to earn a one-way contract as the Vancouver Canucks backup goalie. If he continues to improve, Vancouver might let Demko walk and turn the team over to Silovs when Demko is a 2026 UFA.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 183 lb Linus Eriksson has the floor of a fourth line center in the NHL and the ceiling of a second line center in the NHL. Linus Eriksson had 3 goals, 8 assists, and 11 points in 29 games in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Linus Eriksson is good at winning face offs. He doesn't have a dominant trait despite giving a great effort. He's physical and hits hard. Vancouver may have to get a center with their first round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft if Elias Lindholm leaves in Free Agency because without Lindholm this feels like a borderline playoff team even with a healthy Thatcher Demko.
    
    
    
    
    
94. Nashville Predators: Maxmilian Curran, C, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
    
    
    Nashville uses this third round pick they got from Dallas in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft when Dallas traded up for Brad Gardiner as well as the Dallas Stars 2024 sixth round pick. Nashville goes with the best player on the board after addressing all of their needs. Maxmilian Curran makes a lot of sense for Nashville here from a value standpoint with some having him in their top 70.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 179 lb Maximilian Curran had 5 goals, 27 assists, 32 points, 25 penalty minutes getting 11 penalties with 10 two minute penalties and 1 five minute penalty for fighting, and a -7 +/- ratio in 2023-2024. Maxmilian Curran is from the Czech Republic and joined the Tri-City Americans in the 2023 CHL Import Draft.
    
    
    
    Maximilian Curran 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. Maximilian Curran has the floor of a second line center in the AHL and the ceiling of a second line center in the NHL which averages out to a fourth line center in the NHL. Nashville can stash Curran on the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL until he's ready for the NHL.
    
    
    
95. St. Louis Blues: Aatos Koivu, C, TPS (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The St. Louis Blues go for value over need. Aatos Koivu is the son of Sakku Koivu.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 165 lb Aatos Koivu had 15 goals, 16 assists, and 31 points on the TPS Under 20 Team in 2023-2024. Aatos Koivu had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 4 games with TPS against men 2023-2024. Aatos Koivu has the floor of a second line center in the AHL and a fourth line center in the NHL. I see a top line center on an AHL team. St. Louis can draft him, keep him in Finland, and stash him on their AHL team.
    
    
    
    
    
96. Utah Hockey Club: Mikhail Yegorov, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL)
    
    
    Utah drafts another goalie. Mikhail Yegorov would be the insurance plan in case Michael Hrabel doesn't pan out. Michael Hrabel looked good as a freshman at Massachusetts with the UMass Minutemen, so Mikhail Yegorov would most likely be a backup to Hrabel once he finishes developing. Utah can also get another goalie in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft which is loaded with goalies with as many as 7 in the top 90 if either Hrabel or Yegorov regresses next season.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 187 lb Mikhail Yegorov had a 3.86 goals against average and a .892 save percentage in 43 starts on the worst USHL team in the league as well as a USHL team that traded their number one pick away to the USNTDP team in the 2024 USHL Draft. Mikhail Yegorov has one more USHL season before heading off to Boston University in 2025. New Jersey can draft Mikhail Yegorov for insurance while Nico Daws and Tyler Brennan continue to develop without having to sign him at this point. New Jersey wouldn't have to sign Yegorov until 2028 which is a relief since Yegorov checked off 9/10 boxes with post integration being his big weakness.
    
    
    
97. Florida Panthers: Ollie Josephson, C, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
    
    
    The Florida Panthers will have Carter Verhage as their first line left winger, Aleksander Barkov their 2013 first round pick drafted second overall as their first line center with the Florida Panthers team captain anchoring this top line, and Matthew Tkachuk, Florida's second line left winger moving back to his original position at right winger if Sam Reinhardt, Florida's leading point producer in the regular season leaves as a UFA because Florida has already said they are not paying anyone more than Barkov and Reinhardt wants $10-million to re-sign with Florida which is what Barkov is currently making until 2030. Sam Reinhardt should re-sign an 8 year contract worth 9 million which would allow Florida to keep their top six forwards for next season with Matthew Tkachuk at left wing, Sam Bennett at center, and Evan Rodrigues at right winger on the second line behind Florida's top line.
    
    
    
    Florida has Jonah Gadjovich their 2017 second round pick as the new third line left winger, Anton Lundell their 2020 first round pick at center, and Eetu Loustarinen, Florida's current third line left winger moves over to right winger to replace Vladimir Tarasenko. Josh Davies, Florida's 2022 sixth round pick has made so much progress, that he has a shot of cracking Florida's NHL roster as a fourth line left winger, Rasmus Asplund is Florida's fourth line center as an RFA,. Florida will probably promote Justin Sourdif their 2020 third round pick to the fourth line right winger job while keeping a good bulk of their forwards.
    
    
    
    The Florida Panthers will have Aaron Ekblad their number one defenseman back next year and Gustav Forsling whose complimenting Ekblad on Florida's first line of defense back next year. Niko Mikkola the number four defenseman complimenting UFA Brandon Montour on the second line takes over as the number three defenseman with Uvis Balinskis the top defenseman on Florida's AHL team likely getting promoted into a top 4 defenseman role next year if Florida doesn't do anything significant in Free Agency. Joshua Mahura and Santtu Kinnunen, Florida's 2018 seventh round pick would be the two third line defensemen if Florida used RFA tenders and gave those two defensemen one way contracts for dirt cheap.
    
    
    
    The Florida Panthers have Sergei Bobrovsky as their starting goalie and their 2019 first round pick Spencer Knight as the backup goalie with Florida's current backup goalie set to be a UFA this Summer. Knight is making $4.5-million per year over the next three years on a two-way contract which goes to both the NHL and AHL. That's more than what Jake Oettinger makes in Dallas and he's in the AHL which is ridiculous, so he's the backup. Mack Gudza whose an RFA could theoretically be the backup to Bobrovsky if he beats out Knight in training camp, but my guess is Knight ends up becoming the backup goalie to Bobrovsky.
    
    
    
    Florida drafts the best player on the board. Florida drafts a long-term project at center with Gracyn Sawchyn, Florida's 2023 second round pick becoming Florida's third line center taking over for both Eetu Loustarin whose a 2027 UFA and Rasmus Asplund, whose an RFA that will be promoted to fourth line center. Florida ends up using this pick on their fourth line center of the future while also locking up both Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell as their top two centers until 2030.
    
    
    
    Ollie Josephson is the best player on the board here. He's got the floor of a fourth line center in the NHL and the ceiling of a second line center in the NHL. With Barkov, Lundell, and Sawchyn set to be the top three at center by 2027, Josephson can develop at his own pace and potentially take over at fourth line center whenever Rasmus Asplund becomes a UFA.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 185 lb Ollie Josephson had 12 goals, 35 assists, and 47 points in 2023-2024. Ollie Josephson had 2 goals, 3 assists, and 5 points during 9 games in the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Ollie Josephson has the speed, 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. Ollie Josephson is known for being a shutdown center and quality penalty killer despite his +/- ratio being in the negative. Getting drafted by Florida allows Ollie Jossephson ample time to improve his +/- ratio while also potentially developing in the AHL depending on how Rasmus Asplund does.