NHL Mock Draft 1st Round: Aly’s Final Rankings

player. 30. Laine is an absolute beast, a goal scoring machine who is not afraid to throw around his 6’4′ frame around. He has done an excellent job of evening out the argument against Matthews, but is it enough to convince a GM to take someone who wasn’t on his 1st round board a year ago? That being said, Laine is a potential 50 goal scorer.. RW. Tappara (SM-Liiga). Patrik Laine. 2

4. player. 148. Tkachuk has been so good in the CHL Playoffs that there are reports the Oilers won’t trade the pick for a defender just so they can get their hands on him. Tkachuk is a tight checking winger who plays a pro style offensive game. He’ll be a good one.. LW. London (OHL). Matthew Tkachuk

Olli Juolevi. 5. player. 104. I think the Canucks will shock everyone and take a defender here. There are whispers the Canucks could take Logan Brown with this spot, but don’t they need another defender? Juolevi has all-world poise as well as elite decision-making and puck moving skills. D. London (OHL)

LW. C. Breton (QMJHL). Pierre-Luc Dubois. 6. player. 112. Dubois has talent and size that fits right in to Calgary’s lineup. He also can play centre, which CGY could use on the 2nd line. Has a bit of a nasty edge as well.

player. 121. <a href=. D. Windsor (OHL). Mikhail Sergachev. 7

player. 12. This is under the assumption the pick is traded, but GM Tim Murray could very well go and pick Jakob Chychrun here. Nylander has lots of talent and will be a future elite scorer at the NHL level.. LW/RW. Mississauga (OHL). Alexander Nylander. 8

Two things the Canadiens need; Size and a centre. Brown stands over 6 feet 6 inches and is a good playmaker. Also has NHL blood lines (father Jeff played for the Canucks). C. Windsor (OHL). Logan Brown. 9. player. 152

Sarnia (OHL). Jakob Chychrun. 10. player. 103. The Avalanche desperately need defensemen, and Chychrun fits the bill. He has been under unfair criticism after getting cut from Canada’s WJC team and an underwhelming season in Sarnia. Just 12 months ago the 18-year-old was being pegged as a generational talent. He still has some great qualities to him.. D

I know it’s an early spot for Gauthier, but the Devils are simply too stacked at centre (so they can’t take Tyson Jost or Clayton Keller) and too in need of pure goal scorers to not take the 6’4′ beast. Gauthier impressed at the NHL Draft Combine and scored 41 goals in 54 games with Val d’Or this year.. RW. Val d'Or (QMJHL). Julien Gauthier. 11. player. 85

Tyson Jost. 12. player. 91. Jost is a nice addition down the middle for the Senators. Ended of the year with a bang, leading the U18’s in scoring. The North Dakota commit lit up the BCHL with 104 points in 48 games.. C. Penticton (BCHL)

13. player. 109. Keller fits perfectly as the future top line centre in Carolina. He’ll need time to develop cause of his size (5’10’, 170 lbs.) but definitely has 1st line talent. He displayed that with 107 points in 62 USNTDP matches.. C. USA NTDP (USHL). Clayton Keller

Calgary (WHL). Jake Bean. 14. player. 70. The Bruins need a defender, Bean is the best one available. He’s solid in his own zone and put up some serious digits with WHL Calgary, putting up 64 points in 68 games.. D

Michael McLeod. 15. player. 98. McLeod and Mikael Granlund look good down the middle in the future. McLeod has great speed and is excellent on face-offs.. C. Mississauga (OHL)

Max Jones. 17. player. 151. Jones is a power forward that is a great addition to the Preds top 6. He has great hands complimented by a nasty edge.. LW. London (OHL)

18. player. 68. Kunin projects to be the Flyers 2nd line centre when he comes out of college, and he certainly has what it takes to fulfill that hope. Kunin is a great two-way presence and competitor who had an impressive 32 points in 34 games on a mediocre Wisconsin team. C/RW. Wisconsin (NCAA). Luke Kunin

Logan Stanley. 19. player. 106. Stanley is a big, shutdown defender that compliments offensive defenders in the Islanders pipe line, like <a href=. D. Windsor (OHL)

Blaine (USHSW). Riley Tufte . 20. player. 121. Tufte is a big winger at 6’5′, but has smooth skating and uses his size well. The 18-year-old tore up the high school ranks with 78 points in 25 games, winning the prestigious Mr. Hockey Award.. LW

Pu is going a little high at 21st overall, but it’s a worthy gamble. The London Knights forward was buried under multiple stars this year, but demonstrated a pro-level work ethic, and a strong two-way game. Pu stepped up is game in the CHL playoffs, scoring 8 points in 11 games while on the 2nd line and PP unit.. C/LW. London (OHL). Cliff Pu. 21. player. 109

Charlie McAvoy. 22. player. 30. McAvoy is a solidly built defender who displayed tremendous offensive skills with 25 points in points in 37 games. The Boston U. blue-liner is also hard to play against defensively.. D. Boston U (NCAA)

C. Jr. Rus.. German Rubtsov. 23. player. 87. GM <a href=

player. 105. Thompson can do everything well but nothing exceptionally. He has good hockey sense, talent, and skating, but doesn’t particularly stand out. That said, Thompson does stand at a eye-catching 6’5′ and managed to put up a more than solid 32 points in 36 games with the Huskies.. RW. Connecticut (NCAA). Tage Thompson. 24

Filip Gustavsson. 25. player. 119. This may be a little surprising, but it makes sense. Dallas can get themselves a future starter in Gustavsson, without worrying to lose one of their current goalies in the expansion draft or giving up assets for a current starter. When he’s on his game Gustavsson looks like a gem. He has great technical understanding of the position and excellent physical abilities.. G. Luleå (SWE-J20)

19. DeBrincat may be pint-sized at 5’7′, but when fully developed he should be a Johnny Gaudreau type player. And the Caps are in no rush for scoring help just yet, so this pick is perfect. DeBrincat had impressive back to back 51 goal seasons with OHL Erie.. C/RW. Erie (OHL). Alex DeBrincat. 26. player

player. 23. Fabbro projects a Top 4 defender in Tampa, and long-term relief as <a href=. D. Penticton (BCHL). Dante Fabbro. 27

99. Steel was projected as a top 10 player before the start of the year, but a somewhat underwhelming season in Regina and the fact players below him started to rise made Steel a borderline first round player. Steel raised his game to another level during the WHL playoffs, and if he continues to play that way, Steel may end up being a steal.. C. Regina (WHL). Sam Steel. 28. player

Hajek plays a no-nonsense, shutdown gem that will be effective at the pro level. Has solid decision-making skills as well.. D. Saskatoon (WHL). Libor Hajek . 29. player. 120

105. Laberge is a hard-working, tenacious forward who made a name for himself with an excellent performance at the CHL top prospects game. Needs to fill out.. C/RW. Victoriaville (QMJHL). Pascal Laberge. 30. player