2015 NHL Re-Draft 1st Round: Boston Bruins Build Dynasty, Eichel to Toronto

The 2015 NHL Draft is the best draft class in the league’s history, as it’s supplied the NHL with most of the superstars who you see dominate on the ice today. As always, some teams draft a bust in the top five (Pavel Zacha), while another found an unpolished superstar in the 5th Round (Kirill Kaprizov).

Imagine having three consecutive selections in the first round of this historic class as the Boston Bruins (13th, 14th, 15th), only to combine for 79 goals and 89 assists (168 total points) in 358-games played. Meanwhile, Mathew Barzal has notched 88 goals and 200 assists himself in 333-games played and he was taken 16th by the Islanders.

Re-drafting the 1st Round of the historic 2015 NHL Draft class while taking a trip down memory lane and re-visiting who was originally selected.

As you can see, these moves completely change the NHL as we know it today. That being said, let’s jump into the 1st-Round re-draft of the 2015 NHL Draft class as the Edmonton Oilers hold the No. 1 overall selection. Edmonton, you’re on the clock.

Edmonton Oilers #1: C Connor McDavid (Erie Otters – OHL)

Original Pick #1: C Connor McDavid (Erie Otters – OHL)

It doesn’t matter what draft class it is, if Connor McDavid is in it, he’s going first overall without hesitation. McDavid is unquestionably the best hockey player to ever lace up the skates.

Headed into the 2015 NHL Draft, there was minor speculation as to whether the Edmonton Oilers would play it safe in drafting the consensus number one overall prospect in the class or taking a risk on Boston University phenom Jack Eichel. Looking back at it now, there couldn’t have been a greater no-brainer decision than to take this future hall of fame forward.

In his final year for Erie, the Otters’ captain tore up the stat sheet with 44 goals and 76 assists in just 47 games played… He followed up with this performance by notching 21 goals and 28 assists in 20 playoff games that season. Are 2.45 points per game in the playoffs any good?

Considering that in 457 career NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers McDavid has compiled 223 goals and 424 assists (1.42 ppg), his skills seem to have translated to the next level pretty well. The only goal he’s focused on now is winning the Stanley Cup, but since the Oilers have only made it to the postseason twice since drafting him, there’s no telling when this will happen.

Buffalo Sabres #2: C/RW Mitchell Marner (London Knights – OHL)

Original Pick #2: C Jack Eichel (Boston University – NCAA)

Considering that Jack Eichel is no longer a member of the Buffalo Sabres, it’s reasonable to doubt that they’d draft him again if given a second opportunity to do so. Make no mistake, he’s an unbelievable player, but with the number two overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, Mitch Marner proves to be an overqualified candidate.

A superstar for the London Knights in the OHL, Mitch Marner put together a rather impressive performance in his draft year, scoring 126 points in 63-games played for the team while tallying 9 goals and 7 assists in 7 playoff games.

Though Marner would take an extra year to mature for the NHL, he would return to London as their captain and would go on to net 39 goals and 77 assists in 57-games played. He would also score 44 points in just 18 playoff games and would win the Memorial Cup for the Knights in the 2015-16 season.

Today, Mitch Marner is one of the premier playmakers in the NHL and is often found generating highlight-reel dishes to linemate Auston Matthews and William Nylander on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first offensive unit.

While it’s fair to assume that the Buffalo Sabres would botch the development of Marner as well, similar to how they do with every prospect selected by the organization, the potential of this kid is limitless, and in his 6th season with Toronto, he continues to improve in all facets of his game. If we were to do it all over, Mitchell Marner would be a Buffalo Sabre today (barring they don’t chase him out of town).

Toronto Maple Leafs #4: C Jack Eichel (Boston University – NCAA)

Original Pick #4: C/RW Mitchell Marner (London Knights – OHL)

Jack Eichel, touted as one of the brightest prospects in recent memory, had a hard time finding a home with the Buffalo Sabres, to say the least. The front office couldn’t find a way to keep their disgruntled star happy, and ultimately reached a breaking point regarding a back injury the center suffered which eventually led to Eichel leaving Buffalo for the Vegas Golden Knights.

In his final season with Boston University, Jack Eichel played in 40 games for the Terriers, recording 26 goals and 45 assists which would prove to be sufficient enough to be championed as the Hobey Baker Award winner, given to the MVP of the NCAA DI season.

Now, in Year 7 of his NHL career, Jack Eichel has compiled 139 goals and 216 assists in 355-games played, averaging 0.95 points per game. While he’s been incredibly productive in the regular season, Eichel has yet to play a single Stanley Cup Playoff game, but at no fault of his own. In the six years he spent with the Buffalo Sabres, the team has gone 171-222-60, finishing last in the Atlantic Division three times.

Though enough about the Buffalo Sabres, we all know we could spend days talking about how pitiful of a franchise they have. Instead, let’s just imagine this: Jack Eichel playing with Auston Matthews…

Carolina Hurricanes #5: C/LW Sebastian Aho (Kärpät – Liiga)

Original Pick #5: D Noah Hanifin (Boston College – NCAA)

Sebastian Aho, same team, but drafted significantly higher than when he was taken #35 overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. This guy is an absolute stud, and simply watching him over All-Star weekend was enough to show that.

Drafted out of Finland’s top professional league, the Liiga, NHL teams were impressed with his stout 200-ft game accompanied by smooth skating and exceptional stick and shooting skills that used as he pleased. Considering that he scored 4 goals and helped 7 others in 27 games (as a 17-year old), it’s shocking that he slipped into the second round. That just goes to show how talented this draft class was.

After surpassing 413 career games in the NHL, Sebastian Aho has put up some astonishing numbers. In the regular season, Aho has combined 167 goals and 206 assists for a total of 373 points and has been averaging over a point per game since the 2018-19 season.

What’s even more telling to his prowess is 14 goals and 21 assists in 34 Stanley Cup playoff games. It’s one thing to average a point per game in the regular season, but to do it in the postseason as well, is something only future Hall of Famers can do.

Every time Aho lights the lamp, opposing teams can only hold their face in their palms as they rue the day they let him slip from their fingers. Sebastian Aho is the kind of player who will play exceptionally well anywhere in the league, whether it’s in Carolina or Arizona, Aho is a true All-Star in the NHL.

New Jersey Devils #6: D Zach Werenski (University of Michigan – NCAA)

Original Pick #6: LW/C Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting – OHL)

If there is anyone in the 2015 NHL Draft that was to be labeled as a “bust”, it’s Czech forward Pavel Zacha, who was taken sixth overall by the New Jersey Devils. Looking back at the names on the board, Zacha’s not even a 1st-Round player, never mind Top-10.

Now, had the Devs been given an opportunity to right the ship, they wouldn’t hesitate to draft a true number one defenseman in the NHL, Zach Werenski. This guy does it all, and he does it all in incredible fashion.

From stellar skating and playmaking abilities to lockdown defense, there’s nothing Zach Werenski can’t do on the back-end. He stands at the perfect frame of 6’2″ – 220 lbs. and uses it all to shut down top players in the NHL. If there’s one thing that truly solidifies himself as a marquise player in the ‘show, it’s his willingness to sacrifice his body to win games.

Werenski is a gamer, by all forms of definition. He’ll score tremendous goals, he’ll create incredible assists, he’ll smoke the toughest players on the opposing team, and he’ll use his face as a shield to protect the net from scoring opportunities.

The New Jersey Devils hope that Pavel Zacha can score more than 35 points in a season playing with the top six. Meanwhile, Zach Werenski did so the first four years of his NHL career, and he’s a defenseman. What else needs to be said?

Philadelphia Flyers #7: C/RW Mikko Rantanen (TPS – Liiga)

Original Pick #7: D Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings – WHL)

Though you can’t go wrong with either player at No. 7 overall, Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche superstar, is more favorable due to his high-end offensive production that’s matched by only a handful of players in the NHL.

Rantanen played the entire 2014-15 season in Finland’s top professional league, Liiga, for Turun Palloseura (TPS) as a 17-year old, after being called up for the club’s U20 development team. In 56 games he finished second on the team in scoring with 9 goals and 19 assists.

A forward who stands 6’4″ – 216 lbs, possessed elite playmaking abilities and smooth skating, and proved to be a potential star in the NHL even at a young age. Playing that entire season with the most talented players in Finland showed he’s destined for the ‘Show.

The Philadelphia Flyers are a team that has quality depth in their lineup but lacks stardom in their top lines on offense. Had the Flyers drafted Mikko Rantanen at 7th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, the Broad Street Bullies would be an entirely different team than we see today.

In his sixth year with the Colorado Avalanche, Rantanen proudly wears the “A” for the team while nearly averaging a point per game through 381 games with the NHL team. In the last two seasons, he’s scored 56 goals and 71 assists (127 points) in 100 games. At 25-years of age, Mikko Rantanen is quickly becoming a household name in the league. No wonder the Avs pay him nine and a quarter sheets per year.

Columbus Blue Jackets #8: LW Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms – USHL)

Original Pick #8: D Zach Werenski (University of Michigan – NCAA)

While Zach Werenski is obviously their first pick, Connor isn’t the worst consolation prize in the world. At 6’1″ – 185 lbs. this speed demon from Clinton Township, Michigan, is establishing himself as an elite forward in the NHL who fell into the lap of the Winnipeg Jets.

It’s not often an NHL team drafts a player from the USHL in the 1st-Round, but based on where he’s at now in his career, it’s a wonder how he wasn’t taken in the top ten of the 2015 Draft. In his final season with Youngstown, Kyle Conner led the team in points with 14 more than the second-most on the team. He notched 34 goals and 46 assists in 56-games played, showcasing elite offensive productivity and a sound two-way game.

After being drafted following that season, the Jets wanted him to take an extra year to mature and develop and so Kyle Connor took packed his bag as he was headed home to Michigan to play in Ann Arbor for the University of Michigan. Surprising to none, he dominated the NCAA in the 2015-16 season recording 35 goals and 36 assists in just 38 games. Not the worst stat line you could have.

Alas, despite spending half of his rookie season playing for Winnipeg’s farm team in Manitoba during 2016-17 and the first four matchups in 2017-18, Kyle Connor has since cemented himself in the Jet’s lineup and a top-line winger. Turns out Michigan is a hotbed for elite hockey players. Who knew?

San Jose Sharks #9: C Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds – WHL)

Original Pick #9:  LW/RW Timo Meier (Halifax Mooseheads – QMJHL)

Mathew Barzal is one of the most skilled players in the NHL today due to his incredible skating and skills with the puck. Highlight reel plays of jaw-dropping plays are kind of the norm for this British Columbian.

Drafting the players of the Western Hockey League, one of the three major junior sub-leagues that make up the Canadian Hockey League, can be a hit-or-miss swing as it is considered the weakest in the trio. Because the competition isn’t as high as the OHL or QMJHL, top players from the West tend to fall towards the middle of the lot, regardless of their production. Nolan Patrick, the second overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft was the latest bust to be taken from the WHL.

Mat Barzal, however, is the furthest thing from a bust. While he had to take an extra two years to develop, it proved to be fruitful as he burst onto the NHL scene with 22 goals and 63 assists in a full 82 game season for the New York Islanders.

Since then, Barzal has often found doing what he does best, as he cracks SportsCenter Top 10 lists on the regular. While Timo Meier is proving to be a valuable player taken at No. 9 overall for the San Jose Sharks, Mathew Barzal is by far superior.

Colorado Avalanche #10: D Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings – WHL)

Original Pick #10: C/RW Mikko Rantanen (TPS – Liiga)

Picture this as your top defensive pairing: Ivan Provorov and Cale Makar. The Yaroslavl, Russian native has taken his time, but he’s emerged as a true top-pair blue-liner in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Colorado Avalanche would’ve found an elite player at number ten regardless of who was taken beforehand. Though Rantanen isn’t available here in this re-draft, supporting Makar with Provorov is an outstanding move.

Ivan Provorov is the true definition of a two-way defenseman, someone who has the ability to shut down top threats on the rush and force a turnover to go the other way while leading the offensive zone entry. It’s said that the best defensemen are players who started out their careers as forwards so they can bring that skill set to the backend of the play. Provorov uses elite skating and finesse to make a fearsome impact on the offense.

The stout defender played most of his teenage years in North America, starting out with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights before gaining attention from the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, where he would play a lone season in 2013-14 before taking his talents to the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

In his draft year, Provorov played in 60 games for Brandon putting up 15 goals and 46 assists as a defenseman. Taking an extra year to round out his defensive game, he put on an even bigger show in 2015-16 with the Wheat Kings, scoring 21 goals and adding 52 assists in 62 games.

Provorov is already a stout defenseman and we’re not even seeing him at his best. He’s going to be in the NHL for a long time, and his game is only going to improve.

Florida Panthers #11: D Thomas Chabot (St. John Sea Dogs – QMJHL)

Original Pick #11: LW Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs – OHL)

Considering that Lawson Crouse didn’t play a single game for the Florida Panthers as he, along with Dave Bolland, was traded to the Arizona Coyotes for a 2017 3rd-Round pick (D Max Gildon) and a 2018 conditional 2nd-Round pick (RW Serron Noel), anyone taken here is an upgrade.

In the 2014-15 season with the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Chabot would finish fifth on the team in scoring with 41 points in 66 games. While he displayed tremendous potential in the CHL, the Sens thought it wise for him to spend as much time as possible in Saint John developing his two-way game.

While his offensive production could still certainly improve, the Senators have their prototypical shutdown d-man for the future. Every team in the NHL would be willing to give an incredible surplus in exchange for Chabot.

Dallas Stars #12: RW/LW Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s – OHL)

Original Pick #12: RW/LW Denis Gurianov (Ladia Togliatti – KHL)

The Dallas Stars have yet to reap the reward of drafting Denis Gurianov, expected to be another prolific goal scorer in the NHL, in this re-draft, they’re able to obtain high-level performance, production, and consistency by selecting Travis Konecny.

Though his struggles this year have left him to be overshadowed by most players, mainly due to the Philadelphia Flyers’ laughable performance this season, Travis Konecny is one of the best second-line forwards in the NHL today.

The London, Ontario-born skater was drafted out of the OHL after putting up 68 points in 60 games for the Ottawa 67’s wearing the “C” as the team’s captain. Since making his NHL debut in the 2017-18 season, Konecny has established himself as a rather good hockey player.

Boston Bruins #13: LW/RW Timo Meier (Halifax Mooseheads – QMJHL)

Original Pick #13: D Jakub Zboril

In a draft class so incredibly stacked with talent, it’s mindboggling to think that the Boston Bruins possessed the number 13, 14, and 15th pick in the 2015 Draft, and just one of them has found anything remotely close to success in the NHL.

Given that particular order of the next three don’t matter, let’s kick it off with the B’s first pick, the Switzerland-born forward, Timo Meier. The 6’0 – 216 lbs skater is finding tremendous success in the 2021-22 NHL season as he’s already reached the 50 point threshold playing in 43 matchups for the San Jose Sharks. He’s the latest player from this draft class emerging as an All-Star in the NHL.

Between the Boston Bruins and their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, defenseman Jakob Zboril has yet to find a role in the organization as he’s now 24-years old.

Boston Bruins #14: RW Brock Boeser (Waterloo Black Hawks – USHL)

Original Pick #14: LW Jake DeBrusk (Swift Current Broncos – WHL)

Yet another example of how players from the WHL struggle to transition to the NHL is Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk. If given another chance, the B’s would have to take Brock Boeser, current stud for the Vancouver Canucks.

Though Brock Boeser is playing his worst (statistical) season thus far in his NHL career, scoring just 15 goals and 13 assists in 43 games, he has the same amount of points this season with the Canucks as Jake DeBrusk has in the last two seasons with the Bruins. This just goes to show how troubling these draft picks were for the organization.

Boston Bruins #15: D Noah Hanifin (Boston College – NCAA)

Original Pick #15: C/RW Zach Senyshen (Soo Greyhounds – OHL)

Last but not least, to complete the trifecta, the Boston Bruins give Charlie McAvoy a true top-pair defenseman to partner with, Boston native, Noah Hanifin.

Apart from Brandon Carlo and Matt Gryzlek (every blue moon), the Bruins lack any serious threat from the blue-line to pair with McAvoy. Though Hanifin was originally taken 5th overall, in this re-draft, the 6’3″ – 215 lbs defenseman gets to stay right at home in Boston. Since signing on with the Calgary Flames in 2018, Noah Hanifin has quietly become an elite defender in the NHL.

In a perfect world, the Boston Bruins would select these three players and effectively build a dynasty that would still be leaving the fruit to be plucked.

New York Islanders #16: LW/C Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan Cataractes – QMJHL)

Original Pick #16: C Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds – WHL)

Obviously, Anthony Beauvillier is no Mat Barzal, however, he has proved to be a valuable top-six forward for the New York Islanders and has shown to be a playoff hero for the team in the past two seasons.

As skilled as he is though, Beau has yet to fully unleash his elite productivity in the NHL regular season as he’s compiled 89 goals and 84 assists in 374-games played. In a deep Islanders forward group, Beauvillier finds himself straddling the bar between the third and second line. If the team can find the perfect linemate for him, the speed demon could breakout in scoring.

Winnipeg Jets #17: RW/LW Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats – QMJHL)

Original Pick #17: LW Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms – USHL)

Surely Kyle Connor wouldn’t make it past the top 10, thus leaving the Winnipeg Jets to draft Conor Garland out of the QMJHL. Despite his rather small frame of just 5’10” – 165 lbs., he doesn’t let it stop him from lighting up the scoreboard.

In his draft year, Conor Garland absolutely smoked the competition as he scored 35 goals and added 94 assists in 67 games. To prove that this season wasn’t a fluke, he would put up 39 bingos and 84 apples the following year in 62-games played. Safe to say he caught the league’s attention.

Though his production has struggled to transfer to the NHL, playing for the Arizona Coyotes, the laughing stock of the NHL, certainly doesn’t help.

Ottawa Senators #18: C Anthony Cirelli (Oshawa Generals – OHL)

Original Pick #18: D Thomas Chabot (St. John Sea Dogs – QMJHL)

Taken in the third round, No. 72 overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 Draft, Anthony Cirelli has emerged as a true second-line center in the NHL. Though his offensive game has the most impact, he’s recognized for being a nuisance for opposing teams as he’s relentless when attacking the puck carrier.

Playing for Oshawa in the 2014-15 season, Anthony Cirelli was drafted after his rookie season in the OHL even after totaling some 36 points in 68 games for the Generals. The Lightning knew that from that season alone, Cirelli was destined for the NHL. Two back-to-back Stanley Cups are all that needs to be said on what he can bring to the table.

Detroit Red Wings #19: G Ilya Samsonov (Magnitogorsk – KHL)

Original Pick #19: RW/LW Yevgeni Svechnikov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles – QMJHL)

The Detroit Red Wings swap one Russian for another here at No. 19 overall by taking goaltender Ilya Samsonov. Yevgeni Svechnikov was one of the biggest busts in this draft class as many foresaw him becoming another Kuznetsov due to his incredible shot and sensational hands.

Steve Yzerman is a man among boys when it comes to building elite franchises in the NHL (ahem… the Tampa Bay Lightning) and what he’s doing with the Red Wings now goes to show his brilliance. The one thing that Detroit is missing is a franchise goaltender, which is where Ilya Samsonov comes in.

At just 25-years old, Samsonov is already showing tremendous potential for the Washington Capitals and when he hits his prime in three years, he’s going to be one of the best netminders in the NHL.

Minnesota Wild #20: C Joel Eriksson Ek (Färjestad – SHL)

Original Pick #20: C Joel Eriksson Ek (Färjestad – SHL)

Well when you’re right, you’re right. The Minnesota Wild struck gold when they drafted Joel Eriksson Ek 20th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft as they now have their franchise centerman.

Eriksson Ek is your prototypical two-way center who is as proficient in the defensive zone as he is in the offensive zone (very). The 6’2″ – 207 lbs. forward has the perfect NHL frame and has athleticism out the wazoo.

Marcus Foligno, a current teammate on the Wild, spoke about the young buck and said that he asks his favorite players for one of their sticks and will use them during practices without skipping a beat. This goes to show how talented this kid really is.

Ottawa Senators #21: LW/C Roope Hintz (Ilves – Liiga)

Original Pick #21: C/RW Colin White (U.S. National U18 Team – USDP)

The Ottawa Senators had the opportunity here at 21st overall to add a potential NHL All-Star to their lineup in Roope Hintz but ultimately decided to go with a player who comes from one of the most touted development programs in the world, Colin White.

Colin White isn’t a bad pick here for the Senators, but it’s not a good one either. In the last two seasons, the Tampere, Finland, native Roope Hintz has been tearing up the NHL, scoring 37 goals and netting 48 assists in a total of 88-games played for the Dallas Stars. In comparison, White has 33 goals and 55 assists in 200 career NHL games.

Washington Capitals #22: RW/LW Denis Gurianov (Ladia Togliatti – KHL)

Original Pick #22: G Ilya Samsonov (Magnitogorsk – KHL)

There are few things the Washington Capitals love more than Russian players on their team and in the 2015 NHL Re-Draft, they take Denis Gurianov who falls from 12th overall.

Playing a mere eight games for his hometown, Ladia Togliatti’s KHL team, was enough to see Gurianov had the potential to play in the NHL as he possessed great speed and hands. Headed into the draft, scouts recognized Denis Gurianov as having “one of the highest ceilings” (Curtis Joe – EP) among forwards in his class.

The Russian sniper is now 24-years old and apart from a solid playoff performance in the 2019-20 season, he has yet to uncork his potential. Worst case scenario, Gurianov is an elite goal scorer on the third-line and powerplay specialist or he becomes an average second-line winger.

Vancouver Canucks #23: C Dylan Strome (Erie Otters – OHL)

Original Pick #23: RW Brock Boeser (Waterloo Black Hawks – USHL)

Originally taken at number three overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Dylan Strome was considered one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory as he could never crack the lineup on the Arizona Coyotes. Unsurprisingly, when Strome was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, he found his game and has since proven to be a reliable second line forward.

Playing on the same team as Connor McDavid and Alex DeBrincat in the OHL is the easiest way to boost your draft stock. In the 2014-15 season with the Erie Otters, Dylan Strome tallied 129 total points in 68-games played.

Philadelphia Flyers #24: LW/C Andrew Mangiapane (Barrie Colts – OHL)

Original Pick #24: RW/LW Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s – OHL)

Andrew Mangiapane has emerged this season as an absolute buzz saw for the Calgary Flames, and these are the exact types of players the Philadelphia Flyers love. If they can’t draft Konecny here at No. 24 overall, they’ll take Mangiapane instead.

In his draft year season with the Barrie Colts, Andrew Mangiapane broke the triple-digit point mark scoring 43 goals and 61 assists in a full 68-game season. Two reasons that made him the perfect prospect are he was consistent and he was healthy, always having his foot on the gas. This chip on his shoulder has led him to be one of the biggest causes for success that Calgary is having this season.

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.

New York Islanders #28: D Erik Cernak (HC Kosice – Slovakia)

Original Pick #28: LW/C Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan Cataractes – QMJHL)

Much like Brandon Carlo as we just mentioned, Slovakian native Erik Cernak is another defenseman who makes his living by being a physical and dominating presence in his own end. Originally taken in the 2nd-Round (No. 43 overall) by the L.A. Kings, Cernak has earned his way into cracking the late portion of the 1st-Round in this re-draft. Two back-to-back Stanley Cups have a funny way of supporting this.

It’s rare that a player who stands 6’4″ – 235 lbs. can move with solid mobility and can move the puck as Erik Cernak can do. His destructive presence also comes at a discount, as typically players this big and this dominant along the boards typically catch the attention of the zebras around the frozen watering hole. Instead, he plays with a reliable sense of discipline that allows him to deliver eye-popping hits without the interference of a whistle. A physically imposing, shutdown defenseman? The Islanders are salivating at the thought of taking Cernak here at No. 28.

Columbus Blue Jackets #29: LW/RW Jordan Greenway (U.S. National U18 Team – USDP)

Original Pick #29: D Gabriel Carlsson (Linköping HC – SHL)

Unfortunately for defenseman Gabriel Carlsson, not only has he been unable to solidify a role on the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he’s also unable to continue this little hot streak of defensemen taken here late in the draft. Instead, Columbus is adding an incredibly physical player in Jordan Greenway, who is yet another player to come from the U.S. National team. What do they feed those guys?

After being one of the most important players in the United States gold medal runs in the U18 and U20 World Juniors, the Minnesota Wild determined that 92 points in 112 games for Boston University in the NCAA are enough to prove he’s ready for the NHL. He’s not yet found his scoring touch in the league, but he plays a vital role for Minnesota in creating an intimidating and physical threat in their top-six on offense.

Arizona Coyotes #30: D Vince Dunn (Niagra Ice Dogs – OHL)

Original Pick #30: RW/C Nick Merkley (Kelowna Rockets – WHL)

Our Mr. Irrelevant here in the 2015 Re-Draft of the 1st-Round is defenseman Vince Dunn, who currently stars on the blue line for the Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s most recent expansion franchise. While there are still plenty of players who could’ve squeaked their way here as the last pick of the 1st-Round, Vince Dunn earns the honors as The Arizona Coyotes need every bit of help they can get on defense.

In 2014-15, playing for Niagara in the OHL, Dunn displayed elite poise with the puck at the top of the offensive zone as he created top-tier-quality plays and generated scoring opportunities. Much like a Dimitri Orlov of the Washington Capitals, Vince Dunn serves as an extra forward on the rush. Although he’s slightly undersized as an NHL defenseman at 6’0″ – 203 lbs, he makes up for it with an up-tick in intensity in puck battles on the boards and scrums in front of the net.