Winnipeg Jets #25: LW/C Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting – OHL)
Original Pick #25: C/RW Jack Roslovic (U.S. National U18 Team – USDP)
Inarguably one of the biggest blunders by the New Jersey Devils in their short time in the NHL was drafting Pavel Zacha No. 6 overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, however, he proves to be a suitable prospect on the back-end of this 1st-Round for the Winnipeg Jets.
Playing for Sarnia in a brief 37-game season in 2014-15 after relocating from Czechia, Pavel Zacha posted a 16 goal and 18 assist performance. He’s never shown elite scoring throughout his junior and major junior career that you’d expect from a Top 10 draft pick, but Zacha has proven to be a competent middle-six forward in the NHL, making him a worthy pick here for the Jets. Not to mention the fact that they love players who are 6’2″ and above.
Montréal Canadiens #26: RW/C Troy Terry (U.S. National U18 Team – USDP)
Original Pick #26: D Noah Juulsen (Everett Silvertips – WHL)
Yet another WHL blunder in this draft, Noah Juulsen failed to live up to the immense, almost ridiculous, expectations that all Canadiens prospects receive to be the next top player in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks spent an otherwise meaningless 5th-Round draft pick on a player from the U.S. national program. Remember when we said it’s the best development program in the world? Now you see why.
Troy Terry struggled in the early portion of his career establishing himself atop the Ducks’ prospect rankings. He led the University of Denver to a national championship and scored 115 points in 115 games in the NCAA in the meantime. Playing bottom-six minutes in the NHL, Terry has risen to All-Star level performance in the league this season, averaging nearly a point per game for Anaheim. For Montréal, a player off the streets in Granby could be more useful than what they have going for them right now.
Anaheim Ducks #27: D Brandon Carlo (Tri-City Americans – WHL)
Original Pick #27: D Jacob Larsson (Frölunda HC – SHL)
The Anaheim Ducks were a difference of ten draft picks off from getting a true top-four defenseman in the NHL, as they jumped the gun on Larsson, not seeing the potential in the mountainous blue-liner, Brandon Carlo who was taken No. 37 overall by the Boston Bruins.
Brandon Carlo has never really been a factor in the offensive zone, other than controlling the blue-line and eliminating breakout opportunities. Carlo is the definition of the kind of defensive defenseman you want on the back-end. He blocks shots and delivers bone-jarring hits at an extremely proficient rate, making him an obvious 1st-Round draft pick.