The Nashville Predators need help defensively as far as their prospects. They have no high-end blueline prospects and very few of them even project to be NHL defensemen. Jake Sanderson is a mobile defenseman who would be a great fit for the Predators. I think they’d probably take Jack Quinn if he’s available.
The Panthers could use a center here, but I can’t justify picking Jarvis over Dawson Mercer, who had one heck of a draft season. Had he not suffered an injury, he might have been a top 10 prospect. Mercer has hands as soft as a pillow and terrific offensive instincts. He looked very solid in a limited role at the 2020 World Juniors and if the 2021 World Juniors is held, Mercer should play a huge role on the team.
I’m usually against drafting goalies in the first round. History shows you can find extremely capable ones later in the draft. However, Yaroslav Askarov is absolutely worth drafting in the first round. He’s putting up eye-popping numbers in the KHL right now. Every time I’ve watched him play, I’ve been blown away by how great he is. The Hurricanes desperately need a top-notch goaltending prospect and Askarov certainly counts as one.
The Edmonton Oilers need more skilled wings. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are terrific and Kailer Yamamoto had a very encouraging 2019-20 season, but the Oilers have to give their two elite centers better wings. It’s that simple. Seth Jarvis had an excellent draft year and I’m a big fan of how he finds soft spots in the offensive zone. He’s also got a great shot and is a strong passer too.
Sure, the Toronto Maple Leafs need defensemen. But they also need effective forwards. Dylan Holloway projects to be a top-six forward, whether that be as a center or a wing. I’m a big fan of his two-way game. Don’t let his less than stellar numbers at Wisconsin fool you – Holloway’s going to be a very good player.