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2018 NHL Mock Draft: Full First-Round Predictions

By Shepard Price

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 4: Rasmus Dahlin #8 of Sweden during the IIHF World Junior Championship against the United States at KeyBank Center on January 4, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 4: Rasmus Dahlin #8 of Sweden during the IIHF World Junior Championship against the United States at KeyBank Center on January 4, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images) /
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2018 NHL Mock Draft
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2. Carolina Hurricanes: Andrei Svechnikov, RW

The Carolina Hurricanes desperately need offensive weapons to go along with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Justin Williams is well into his thirties. There haven’t been that many Hurricanes to step up their game and become elite scorers. Jeff Skinner, who has been the Hurricanes’ best goal scorer for the past few years, could leave in free agency soon.

Which is why, despite the rumors of Carolina trading off this pick, they will keep it. They will take who is believed to be the second-best player in the draft. And they will get one of the elite goal scorers in this draft, a forward who can both finish and set up plays and fit within the European feel of the Hurricanes locker room.

Andrei Svechnikov has translated his game well to North American ice. In 44 OHL games this season, Svechnikov had 40-32–72. While it’s unlikely Svechnikov goes nearly a goal per game in the NHL, that offense will shine through. He’s likely already NHL ready, and with a Hurricanes team electing to spend money on the players rather than the front office, it won’t take a highly-paid GM to make this decision.

3. Montreal Canadiens: Filip Zadina, LW

Another wing might not be what this team needs, but teams in the lottery need the best player available. That’s Filip Zadina for the Montreal Canadiens. He’s a talented winger, a great scorer, and somebody who can create plays.

Despite the fact that Zadina was passed over for the Worlds this summer, he has done well at the international level so far in his young career. His 11 points in 10 games at the U18 World Juniors helped lead the Czech Republic to fourth place and he was on the U20 All-Star team.

Zadina also had 44 goals and 38 assists in 57 QMJHL games. He won the Mike Bossy trophy for best NHL prospect for the junior league, and was on the All-Rookie team, the First All-Star team, and got all three of most points, assists, and goals for a rookie in the QMJHL. He’s the best prospect from the league.

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