By Scott Wheeler, Max Bultman and Corey Pronman
We experimented with a “if I were GM” mock draft last year for the first time, choosing each team on our own by exchanging predictions for actual outcomes. Due to popular demand, it is returning today with Max Bultman joining prospect writers Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman to provide a third viewpoint (and to prevent Pronman and Wheeler from reading off each other’s lists).
Pronman, Wheeler, and Bultman chose the order at random, placing them first, second, and third respectively, as they selected the first round for their designated teams. This is how it transpired.
Round 1
1. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Pronman): Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University
I have to at least think about other options if I am the manager in this position. Celebrini is fantastic and might be a very good NHL player, but there are a few defensemen that I really like and need to give some thought to. Thoughts are short-lived as we draft our probable first-line center for the ensuing ten or more years.
2. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Wheeler): Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg
Given that Levshunov actually spent more time at No. 2 than Demidov, I would seriously consider Artyom Levshunov in this situation and have switched the two on my board during the year. It makes sense to add a top-tier two-way first-pairing type to Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, and the rest of the group. However, Demidov is a game-changer who may develop into Connor Bedard’s future winger and a second player who can score points per game up front. Based on his ability, I would wager.
3. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Bultman): Artyom Levshunov, RHD, Michigan State University
This draft class presents Anaheim with the ideal chance to add a defensive difference-maker. Levshunov has a strong all-around effect and can contribute a lot of offensive production while playing demanding minutes in a large frame, so I would go with him here. He fits well in with the Ducks’ current forward-heavy pipeline.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets (Pick by Pronman): Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary Hitmen
Although I do not think Yakemchuk will perform this well on draft day, I still plan to choose him since I think he is a great talent. This season, he scored 30 goals in the WHL, is a 6-foot-3 defenseman with a ton of skill, is competitive, and has decent skating ability. If he hits, he has the ability to be the best defenseman in the league. In order to rebuild Columbus, he is exactly what is needed.
5. Montreal Canadiens (Pick by Wheeler): Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs
I am not sure if the difference between the available D and the best centers is sufficient for me to double down, but with David Reinbacher, Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, and Logan Mailloux, as well as a definite need down the middle, a pair of D are my BPA here. The Habs core may truly benefit from the additional skating and talent that Catton brings. I prefer him to Cayden Lindstrom, winger Tij Iginla, and the other forwards that are available. I would have made a different choice a year ago if the Habs had picked a forward. I am not in love with it as it is.
6. Utah (Pick by Bultman): Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
With four elite defensemen still available, this is a wonderful board for a squad that could use some elite skill on the back end. After selecting Dmitry Simashev last year, there is a case to be made for a more dynamic offensive type in Zeev Buium or Zayne Parekh, but Silayev and Sam Dickinson, two-way horses who are expected to play a ton of minutes in the NHL, were the players that won for me. Silayev’s uncommon size, skating combination, and even rarer U18 production in the KHL ultimately made it impossible for me to pass up.
7. Ottawa Senators (Pick by Pronman): Zeev Buium, LHD, University of Denver
Ottawa is thrilled to have Buium at position seven. He just finished one of the best college defenseman to be eligible for the draft ever, putting up points comparable to Cale Makar as a draft-plus-two. Although the two skate very differently, Ottawa is aiming to select a dynamic defenseman (PP1) who can possess the puck at even strength in the draft. He is the finest player here and exactly what this organization needs.
8. Seattle Kraken (Pick by Wheeler): Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw Spirit
Up until now, the Kraken had never selected a top-tier D prospect. They clearly need an attacking defenseman in their pool, and Parekh fills that need. He is this draft’s most gifted defenseman. Here, too, I gave Dickinson some thought, but I think Parekh will emerge as Seattle’s much-needed standout D.
9. Calgary Flames (Pick by Bultman): Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers
Lindstrom has the sort of toolbox that normally does not survive this long, so the Flames are thrilled to have him. His health, having missed only 32 games throughout the regular season due to hand and back problems, will be the main concern. But for a Flames team in need of a focal point for their farm system, the chance to get a large, smooth-skating forward who scored almost 1.5 points per game in the WHL this season—whether at center or wing—is enormous.
10. New Jersey Devils (Pick by Pronman): Sam Dickinson, LHD, London Knights
Right now, I can not decide between Dickinson and Beckett Sennecke. Sennecke has the high-end offensive potential to be an impact wing if he hits, in my opinion, and he may be a better pure player. However, I do not think selecting a top-six wing is really maximizing my value at No. 10 because New Jersey has a ton of skill on the wing, especially if Jack Hughes suddenly is not a sure thing to stay down the middle in the long run. Though we will go with Dickinson here, we would have loved to have had Lindstrom for this reason before those damn Flames grabbed him. Yes, we have made significant draft capital investments in Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes, both of whom are excellent players, but Dickinson might be the finest pure defender available.
11. Buffalo Sabres (Pick by Wheeler): Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP
The top players available right now in the draft are either smaller centers (Konsta Helenius) or wingers (Eiserman, Iginla, Sennecke). There is not a clear hole or position that the Sabres need to address because of their pool. I therefore enjoy playing from strength and going after Eiserman and his special one-shot scoring combination.
12. Philadelphia Flyers (Pick by Bultman): Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals
Sennecke’s selection by the Buffalo Bills worried the Flyers a little bit, but they are glad he ended up here at No. 12. They jump on a big, smooth-skating, extremely skillful winger who concluded his season with an impressive OHL playoff run. Two things more than make up for any hesitation they might have had to select a winger with their first choice for the second year in a row: 1. Sennecke, at whatever position, is my favorite player on the board; 2. In this range, the board begins to favor wingers, with diminutive center Helenius the best option.
13. Minnesota Wild (Pick by Pronman): Stian Solberg, LHD, Vålerenga
Though Minnesota is happy to have added Solberg, a defenseman who might rank in the top four and be difficult to play against, they were expecting to add a dynamic forward like Sennecke. We discussed Adam Jiricek here, but in addition to his stature, skating prowess, and reliable puck play, Solberg’s play at the end of the season was too compelling to ignore. His pure compete level is also among the finest in the draft.
14. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Wheeler): Tij Iginla, LW, Kelowna Rockets
A standout defensive prospect is sorely needed in the Sharks’ pool, but the difference between a guy like Iginla and the D-field is too great to overlook. I do not think I would feel totally comfortable going after Jiricek as high as No. 14 after his wasted time. For me, this was between Iginla and Helenius, but with Will Smith and Celebrini looming large in the midfield, along with potential additions like David Edstrom and Filip Bystedt, snagging a winger of Iginla’s skill who could play alongside them seemed more appealing.
15. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Bultman): Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW, Mora IK
Detroit was genuinely hoping to get Sennecke or Iginla in order to add a significant amount of wing quality. However, with both gone, it comes down to a difficult decision between Helenius, the top remaining center who had an outstanding season in Liiga, and Brandsegg-Nygård. In the end, despite producing less than Helenius in the Swedish Allsvenskan during the regular season, Brandsegg-Nygård has a lot of NHL-projectable qualities, such as a big-time shot and a complete two-way profile, which make him a perfect match for Detroit is top-six scoring wingers.
16. St. Louis Blues (Pick by Pronman): Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit
I am tempted to grab Jiricek and play defense for the Blues, but Helenius’ ability has me too captivated. He is a fierce competitor and extremely intelligent playmaker who makes me think of Blues center Robert Thomas. That is a massive center, Dalibor Dvorsky, and I do worry if you can develop a winning team around him. It is an issue they will eventually solve.
17. Washington Capitals (Pick by Wheeler): Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel
The draft begins to take shape at this point. The Caps’ pool might use some improvement at both C and D, but they are strong at wing. Hage has a premium position for them in this range over the available D, and I like his skating, length, skill level, and position. I really believe that he will go a little lower than this on draft day.
18. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Bultman): Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow
After trading for another talented Russian winger in late May, Chicago acquires him here. They acquire a skillful, big-game-ready winger in Chernyshov who can score goals and play a power game, which will help them complement some of their quick two-way centers and now Demidov. Jiricek would also be a good fit as a highly mobile defenseman, but Chernyshov adds a bit more bulk to their outstanding young forward group.
19. Vegas Golden Knights (Pick by Pronman): Adam Jiricek, RHD, HC Plzen
Jiricek is a 6-3 defenseman with good mobility who can stop shots and move the ball. If he does not get traded, he is the best player available at this position, plays a style that the Golden Knights want, and may be one of their top-four defensemen.
20. New York Islanders (Pick by Wheeler): Emil Hemming, RW, TPS
Although Aatu Raty, a controversial Finn, has the size the Islanders desire despite it not being used in their manner, Hemming does not necessarily suit the player type they have picked at forward. I believe their pool would benefit from having more talent or scoring punch up front. In this case, I think I would look at all of him, Liam Greentree, and Sacha Boisvert (who fits the closest stylistically). For me, Hemming’s late June birthday and superior ability level on his own were contributing reasons. Jiricek would have been my choice here if he had been available at a later pick. They could use a good D prospect, but they also have a weak forward pool; they just need to locate potential.
21. Los Angeles Kings (Pick by Bultman): Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph Storm
Since 2021, the Kings have not selected in the first round. They acquire a quick, aggressive center here who may eventually be able to play for them in every circumstance. Given L.A.’s recent investment in the position, I did hesitate a little bit when choosing a center, but Pierre-Luc Dubois might end up being the best fit on the wing and Anze Kopitar and Philip Danault are not going to be there forever. Although there is a case to be made for Trevor Connelly to be selected instead, I believe Luchanko has a lot of good qualities and should be selected.
22. Nashville Predators (Pick by Pronman): Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie Colts
I think Beaudoin’s game is fantastic. He is a big, fiercely aggressive center that I believe has some offensive upside in the professional ranks. Given this player’s character, I believe he has what it takes to be a quality third-line center in the NHL, and it would not surprise me if he could continue to improve.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs (Pick by Wheeler): Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor Spitfires
With this selection, the Leafs’ pool could definitely use a defensive end more than a forward. I considered individuals such as Leo Sahlin Wallenius, E.J. Emery, and even Aron Kiviharju and Henry Mews (who I believe would be most beneficial to their development team). It is not as though their forward group does not need more, even with Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, and company in place. In addition, there are a few forwards that I think are a little better here. The smarts of Terik Parascak would mesh well with the Leafs. I gave Boisvert a serious thought. Despite his poor U18s, I still think highly of Greentree in this bracket, and the Leafs’ pool could use a guy with his size and scoring ability.
24. Colorado Avalanche (Pick by Bultman): Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City Storm
Here I am going at Connelly the way I believe NHL general managers will. Naturally, a lot will rely on Connelly’s interview style and the teams’ individual due diligence procedures, but I believe that at this stage of the draft, his talent will be evidently better than the next best options. Colorado can only hope that, despite allocating a sizable amount of budget money to their stars, Connelly’s potentially dynamic skill allows them to continue maintaining a deep offensive attack.
25. Ottawa Senators (Pick by Pronman): Charlie Elick, RHD, Brandon Wheat Kings
Leo Sahlin Wallenius was a player I considered drafting here, but we just chose Buium, so I am not sure how I would feel about having two defensemen that are roughly six feet tall in the first round. Elick can be used along Jake Sanderson or Buium as a big, very mobile shutdown defense in the NHL.
26. Montreal Canadiens (Pick by Wheeler): Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks
The Habs are excited to add Boisvert to their pipeline down the middle after drafting Catton early. Boisvert’s stature, skill set, competitive nature, and intangibles make him an ideal third baseman behind Catton and Suzuki in the future.
27. Carolina Hurricanes (Pick by Bultman): Yegor Surin, C, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
The Hurricanes have added a competitive center in Surin, who is also a potent scorer; he finished third in MHL playoff scoring, behind only Demidov and 20-year-old Vladislav Romanov. The Hurricanes have selected a lot of quality in the draft in previous years. Being one of the younger players in this class, Surin made a strong case for himself at Carolina even though there was some pressure to select Emery in order to keep the Hurricanes’ blue line deep.
28. Calgary Flames (Pick by Pronman): Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD, Växjö Lakers HC
Among the top skaters in his age group is LSW. His leadership qualities among his Swedish age group stem from his exceptional footwork and puck-moving abilities. Even if he is not the largest defenseman ever, Calgary has to have someone in their system who can play in the NHL.
29. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Wheeler): Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars
Parascak is the kind of player who does best when surrounded by skillful, play-making teammates. He may one day succeed next to a shooter like Cutter Gauthier or beside Leo Carlsson or Mason McTavish.
30. Philadelphia Flyers (Pick by Bultman): EJ Emery, RHD, U.S. NTDP
The Flyers selected a large, tool-wielding blueliner here that could have easily gone earlier in the first round because they addressed the forward group early in the draft. They did get Jamie Drysdale earlier in the season, and while it is clearly ideal to add a top center, there are not any available at this stage of the draft, and Emery can provide the blue line pool more bulk and movement.
31. Dallas Stars (Pick by Pronman): Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s College
If I were Dallas, I would be thrilled with my company. While my farm system may not be the deepest, I do have some solid prospects coming up and some young players who will play significant roles in my postseason run. I also have outstanding veterans. In my opinion, this organization is better suited to take a risk on Letourneau than a more well-known player who is performing at a higher level, such as Julius Miettinen or Linus Eriksson. Riley Tufte was the final big forward Dallas gambled on, even though he was a low-level skater. Though every pick is a risk, that one did not pan out. If Letourneau can stay healthy, his potential and talent are quite alluring.
32. New York Rangers (Pick by Wheeler): Aron Kiviharju, LHD, HIFK
This year’s lineup, which included Adam Fox and Erik Gustafsson to balance the size and strength of Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, Jacob Trouba, and Braden Schneider, was the greatest Rangers blue line to date. It is widely accepted that the latter type has two roles: the first-pairing (PP1) role and the third-pairing (PP2) role. Gustafsson is 32 years old as well. They already gambled on Fox’s intelligence, and I would wager that Kiviharju will develop into their LHD3/PP2 man of the future and deftly counterbalance a more capable partner.
(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic. Photos: Dale Preston, Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images)
