Complete results from the 2017 NHL Draft are posted below. For instant analysis of every player picked, refresh Rotoworld's NHL Player News Page.
Round 1
1. New Jersey Devils-Nico Hischier-C-Halifax Mooseheads
Hischier isn’t as big as fellow top draft prospect Nolan Patrick, but he’s sure able to produce offensively. There was a little buzz surrounding Hischier coming into the 2016-17 junior season, but he wasn’t mentioned in the same breath as Patrick until he exploded onto the scene at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, where he was dynamic for Switzerland. The 18-year-old posted seven points in five games on a mediocre Swiss team. When he was growing up, Hischier’s favorite player was former Red Wings superstar Pavel Datsyuk, and you can certainly see the influence the Russian has had on the youngster. Hischier’s skill level, puck handling ability and vision are all great. In his first season in North America, he put up 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads. He has the potential to develop into a top point producer at the next level.
2. Philadelphia Flyers-Nolan Patrick-C-Brandon Wheat Kings
Patrick was a consensus top two pick leading up to the draft and it’s easy to see why. The WHL star is a 6-foot-2, 198 pound center with high-end offensive ability. He’s averaged more than a point-per-game in in each of his three seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings. The 18-year-old put up an outstanding 102 points in 72 games during the 2015-16 season (he was 17 at the time). The knock on Patrick coming into the draft, is that he missed so much time last year. He sat out 35 games because of an upper-body injury during Brandon’s regular season and all four games of the playoffs because of a lower-body ailment. In 33 games with Brandon, he scored 20 goals and 46 points. Even though he’s dealt with his fair share of injuries, his size, skill and vision make him an incredible young talent. Patrick has the potential to develop into a number one center in the near future.
3. Dallas Stars- Miro Heiskanen-D-HIFK
Many scouts believe Heiskanen is the best defenseman of the 2017 draft class and it’s easy to see why. Heiskanen excels at a lot of the things teams want from their top defenseman in today’s NHL. The 17-year-old is a very good skater, he’s fully capable of carrying the puck up the ice and he’s also smart enough to be an effective player in his own end. Playing in his first professional season in Finland, Heiskanen scored five goals and five assists, while averaging almost 19 minutes of ice time in 37 games, which is pretty impressive for a teenage blue liner. He was also incredible for Finland during their silver medal run at the 2017 under-18 World Hockey Championship, as he recorded two goals and 10 assists in seven games. He has the potential to be a number one defenseman in the NHL.
4. Colorado Avalanche- Cale Makar-D-Brooks Bandits
Makar is an incredibly skilled blue liner with plenty of offensive and skating ability. The 18-year-old had a superb year with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits, where he scored 24 goals and 75 points in 54 games. Obviously, the level of competition in the AJHL isn’t as high as it is in junior hockey, but those are tough stats to ignore. He’ll play for the University of UMass-Amherst in 2017-18. He’s a couple of years away from being a contributor at the NHL level.
5. Vancouver Canucks- Elias Petterson-C-Timra IK
Pettersson is a highly-gifted forward that racked up 19 goals and 40 points in 43 games in Sweden’s second division last season. He had a quiet World Junior Hockey Championship, as he posted just one assists in seven games, but that’s not uncommon for a player who was 17 years old at the time. Pettersson has some size (listed at 6-foot-2), but he’s also very light (165 pounds). As skilled as he might be, he’ll need to bulk up before becoming a full-time NHLer.
6. Vegas Golden Knights- Cody Glass-C-Portland Winterhawks
Glass had a fantastic year with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. After scoring 27 points in 65 games last season, the 18-year-old put up 32 goals and 94 points in 69 contests this year. He added nine points in 11 playoff games with the ‘Hawks and three points in three games with Canada at the 2017 under-18 World Hockey Championship. The 6-foot-2, 180 pounder is an incredible playmaker with great hands, terrific vision and sound hockey IQ. He’s likely a year or two away from being a full-time NHLer, but when he arrives, there’s a good chance he’ll be an impact player.
7. New York Rangers (from Arizona)- Lias Andersson-C-HV71
The 18-year-old had an impressive run in Sweden’s top league last season, as he posted nine goals and 19 points in 42 games while playing against older competition. Andersson added five points in 16 games during HV71’s championship run. He’s a very smart and capable two-way player that has good offensive instincts and the smarts to be a plus-player in his own end. Andersson doesn’t necessarily own the highest offensive ceiling, but scouts believe he has enough ability to become a second-liner. His father, Niklas, played 164 games in the NHL, while his uncle, Mikael, played 15 seasons.
8. Buffalo Sabres-Casey Mittelstadt-C-Green Bay Gamblers
Mittelstadt is an incredibly gifted offensive center that has all the tools to creative in the opponent’s zone. He’s fast, he’s skilled and his playmaking ability is off the charts. The 18-year-old had 23 goals and 30 points in 24 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. That was good enough to lead the league with 1.25 points-per-game. The one thing that’s concerning about his point total, is that 18 of the 30 points were scored on the power play, which is pretty high. Still, there’s no denying Mittelstadt’s ability. He is likely a couple of years away from reaching the NHL. He’ll spend next season in the NCAA with University of Minnesota.
9. Detroit Red Wings-Michael Rasmussen-C-Tri-City Americans
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 221 pounds, Rasmussen is clearly one of the biggest players available in the draft. Not only is he huge, but the 18-year-old can also play the game at a high level. In his second full WHL season with the Tri-City Americans, Rasmussen put up 32 goals, 55 points and 50 penalty minutes in 50 games. He also moves pretty well for a player of his size. As good as he is, Rasmussen needs to find a way to be a more consistent with his effort on a game-in, game-out basis. Like most players with his combination of age and size, Rasmussen will need some time to develop into an NHLer.
10. Florida Panthers- Owen Tippett-RW-Mississauga Steelheads
Many scouts have labelled Tippett as the best pure goal scorer in the 2017 draft class. After scoring 15 goals in 48 games during his first junior season with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads in 2015-16, he exploded for 44 goals in 60 contests last season. He added 10 goals and nine assists in 20 playoff games with the Steelheads this spring. On top of being a sniper, Tippett is also a very good skater, which will help him create even more offense at the next level. His play without the puck needs work, but he can develop that over time.
11. Los Angeles Kings- Gabriel Vilardi-C-Windsor Spitfires
Vilardi was valuable contributor for the Windsor Spitfires team that won the 2017 Memorial Cup. The 17-year-old picked up seven assists during the tournament. He also recorded 29 goals and 61 points in 49 games during the regular season and six points in seven contests during the OHL playoffs. Vilardi has the size and skill that all NHL teams crave. It’s incredible to think that at his age he’s already 6-foot-3, 201 pounds. Although he uses his size well, some believe he still needs to work on his skating before he can make a dent at the NHL level. If everything comes together, Vilardi has the potential to develop into one of those rare power centers at the next level.
12. Carolina Hurricanes- Martin Necas-C-Brno Kometa
The Czech forward is a great skater with solid vision and good offensive instincts. He racked up seven goals and eight assists in 41 games with Brno Kometa in the Czech League. That’s a respectable total considering he started the year as a 17-year-old in a league with a good level of competition. Necas added three points in five games at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship and three assists in five games at the Under-18 World Hockey Championship. He’ll either spend another year over in Europe or he’ll make his way to the CHL. Regardless of his decision, he’s still a couple of years away from becoming a regular in the NHL.
13. Vegas Golden Knights (from Winnipeg)- Nick Suzuki-C-Owen Sound Attack
Suzuki is one of the most gifted offensive players available in the entire draft. After scoring 20 goals in his rookie season with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, the 17-year-old put up with 45 goals and 51 assists in 65 games. The issue scouts have with his game is that he just doesn’t bring any kind of physical presence to the table. Suzuki has been able to get away with his lack of physicality at the OHL level, but he’ll need to find a way to initiate contact if he’s going to be successful at beyond that.
14. Tampa Bay Lightning-Cal Foote-D-Kelowna Rockets
Foote is the son of former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote, but their styles couldn’t be more different. Adam was more of a defense-first, bruising defenseman, while Cal is more of a puck-mover with plenty of offensive upside. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder has a very good shot and great hockey sense, but he could improve his skating and overall physical play. Foote is a solid two-way defenseman that may people have referred to as a “safe” pick. He should develop into a top-four defenseman at the next level. He’s likely a few years away from being a regular in the NHL.
15. Vegas Golden Knights (from Islanders)-Erik Brannstrom-D-HV71
Despite being on the small side (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) Brannstrom continues to turn heads with his ability to create offense from the blue line. Last season, he picked up an incredible nine goals and 23 points in 19 games with HV71’s junior team. The fact that he won’t turn 18 until September makes last year’s performance even more impressive. Brannstrom also picked up three assists in three games at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship and five points in seven games at the under-18 World Championship. He does lack the ideal size to compete with opposing forwards in his own end, but if he continues to contribute offensively like he has been, he’ll be just fine.
16. Calgary Flames-Juuso Valimaki-D-Tri-City Americans
Valimaki often draws comparisons to fellow Finnish blue liner Olli Juolevi, who was drafted fifth overall by the Canucks last year. The 18-year-old has very good offensive instincts, but he’s also a capable player in his own end. Valimaki is blessed with good size (6-foot-2, 201 pounds), which definitely doesn’t hurt. Valimaki put up some impressive numbers in his second season with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, as he had 19 goals and 61 points in 60 games. He also notched two goals and six penalty minutes in six games with Finland at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship.
17. Toronto Maple Leafs-Timothy Liljegren-D-Timra IK
Prior to the start of the 2016-17 season, many expected Liljegren to be a top five pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but his stock seemed to have dropped a bit after he missed the first two months of the Swedish Hockey League season because of mononucleosis. It’s impossible to ignore Liljegren’s offensive upside and skating ability, but the 18-year-old’s likely a few years away from contributing at the NHL level. He’s already confirmed that he’ll be spending at least one more season over in Sweden.
18. Boston Bruins-Urho Vaakanainen-D-JYP HT-Jyvaskyla
Vaakanainen spent the majority of last season in Finland’s top league with Jyp HT Jyvaskyla, where he put up two goals and four assists in six games. The 18-year-old then went to the under-18 World Hockey Championship. He was a big part of Finland’s silver-medal winning club, as he posted three goals and three assists in five tournament games. Vaakanainen is a solid all-around blue liner with a great shot and the ability to play in his own end. Turnovers are sometimes a problem with him, but it’s a part of his game he can iron out down the road.
19. San Jose Sharks- Josh Norris-C-USNDP
Norris flies under the radar because he suited up for the US National Development Program last season, but his two-way ability hasn’t gone unnoticed with scouts. His hockey smarts are off the charts and his offensive numbers aren’t too shabby either (27 goals and 60 points in 61 games). As good as he is at both ends of the ice, Norris probably doesn’t have the offensive potential to develop into a top-line center at the next level. Still, he should be able to put together a nice career in the NHL. He’ll play college hockey at the University of Michigan next season.
20. St. Louis Blues-Robert Thomas-C-London Knights
Thomas is the definition of a two-way center. The 17-year-old (he turns 18 on July 2nd) posted 16 goals and 50 assists in 66 games with the OHL’s London Knights last season, but there’s still some question marks surrounding his offensive upside. As his numbers would indicate, he’s a pass-first center with good hands and vision. Thomas is great in the faceoff circle and terrific in his own end, which is definitely the plus part of his game. As good as he is defensively, he’ll likely need some more time in the junior hockey ranks to develop his offensive game.
21. New York Rangers-Filip Chytil-C-Zlin ZPS HC
Chytil registered just four goals and four assists in 38 games in the Czech League last season, but it’s important to remember that he’ll only be turning 18 in September. If his Czech Junior League numbers are any indication (50 points in 30 games in 2015-16), Chytil should be able to develop the offensive portion of his game. As talented as he is, he only has one year of pro experience, which means he’s probably not that close to being NHL-ready for the time being. Chytil could benefit from coming over to the CHL, but he may alternatively blossom by playing against older competition in the Czech League next season. He also needs to add some weight to his 6-foot-2, 179-pound frame.
22. Edmonton Oilers- Kailer Yamamoto-RW-Spokane Chiefs
Yamamoto has been relatively productive in each of his first three junior seasons. In each year he’s seen his production increase by a good amount, as he went from 57 points to 71 points to 99 points last season. Yamamoto’s been pushed down the draft board because of his size. He’s listed at just 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, which obviously isn’t seen as ideal for the NHL. Even though he’s smaller, it’s impossible to ignore his offensive flare. On top of the success he had in junior, he also led the Americans to gold at the 2016 under-18 World Hockey Championship with his tournament-leading seven goals in seven games. He’ll very likely head back to the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs next season.
23. Arizona Coyotes (from Minnesota)-Pierre-Olivier Joseph-D-Charlottetown Islanders
The 17-year-old’s greatest strengths are his skating and his vision. He made huge strides in the Quebec League this season, as he scored six goals and 39 points in 62 games for Charlottetown after putting up just eight points in 48 contests during his rooking season. Although he still needs to fill out (he’s 6-foot-2 and just 165 pounds), he still managed to play with a physical edge. He’s still very raw, which means he’ll need a few more years of development before he can make the leap to the NHL. Joseph has the potential to turn into a top-four defenseman at the next level. He’s the younger brother of Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mathieu Joseph.
24. Winnipeg Jets (from Columbus via Vegas)-Kristian Vesalainen-C-Frolunda
Vesalainen split last season with Frolunda in the Swedish League and HPK in the Finnish League. His offensive totals were modest with both clubs (six points in 26 games in Sweden, one goal in nine games in Finland), but he opened everyone’s eyes with his performance at the 2017 Under-18 World Championship. The 18-year-old was named the MVP of the tournament, as he posted six goals and seven assists in 13 games. He’ll have to prove that he can contribute offensively against older competition, but he’s on the right track. The fact that he already has NHL-ready size (6-foot-3, 207 pounds) is a bonus.
25. Montreal Canadiens-Ryan Poehling-C-St. Cloud State
Poehling shows signs of having good offensive instincts, but that didn’t translate into points at the college level last season. He had seven points and six assists in 35 games at St. Cloud State in 2016-17, but scouts still believe he’s capable enough to develop into solid offensive option at the next level. On the plus side, he produced four goals and two assists in four games for Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. It’ll be interesting to see how his offensive game develops over the next few seasons. Look for him to go back to St. Cloud State next year.
26. Dallas Stars (from Chicago)-Jake Oettinger-G-Boston University
Oettinger had a fantastic freshman season at Boston University, as he had a 21-11-3 record with a 2.11 goals-against-average and a .927 save percentage. He has ideal size (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) and athleticism to be an NHL goalie down the road. Oettinger could stand to work on his puck skills a little, as he doesn’t seem comfortable handling the puck. He’ll head back to BU in the fall, but eventually he could end up being a number one goaltender at the next level. Oettinger is considered by many to be a top-three goalie prospect in the 2017 draft class.
27. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis via Washington)-Morgan Frost-C-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Frost is a pass-first center that took some serious offensive strides in the OHL this season. The 18-year-old went from having seven goals and 27 points in his first season to 20 goals and 62 points in 67 games in 2016-17. He has very good vision and high hockey IQ for a player of his age and his ability to dish the puck to his teammates is quite impressive. The knock on Frost is that he looks to pass too often and that makes him predictable to defend at times. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder is also capable of playing a sound game without the puck. If his development goes according to plan he could turn into a second-line center, but he’ll need more time in the lower levels to achieve that.
28. Ottawa Senators-Shane Bowers-C-Waterloo Black Hawks
Bowers is an intriguing prospect. He has great wheels, a high hockey IQ and plenty of potential, but his production just hasn’t been there during his time in the USHL. Last season, Bowers put up 22 goals and 29 assists in 60 games with Waterloo. On the surface, those aren’t bad numbers, but most top prospects tend to produce more while playing in the USHL. It’ll be interesting to see how his offensive game develops at Boston University next season. Even if he never turns into an incredible point-producer, he still has the tools to develop into a solid NHLer.
29. Chicago Blackhawks (from Dallas via Anaheim)-Henri Jokiharju-Portland Winterhawks
Jokiharju’s move to North America was a successful one as the Finnish defenseman posted nine goals and 39 points in 71 games with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks in 2016-17. The 18-year-old is a capable two-way defenseman with good hockey smarts. He’s fully capable of breaking out of his own zone with the puck. The fact that he’s a smooth skater doesn’t hurt his game either. Jokiharju will need more time in the junior ranks and minor leagues, but he could eventually turn into a reliable puck-mover at the next level.
30. Nashville Predators-Eeli Tolvanen-LW-Sioux City Musketeers
After growing up playing hockey in Finland, Tolvanen came to North America to play in the USHL in 2015-16. He put up a respectable 38 points in 49 games as a 16-year-old with the Sioux City Musketeers, but last season, he stepped up his production by collecting 54 points in 52 USHL contests. Tolvanen isn’t the biggest prospect in the draft (5-foot-10, 180 pounds), but he doesn’t necessarily play a small game. The 18-year-old has very good speed and a quality shot that he uses a lot (he averaged 4.73 shots-per-game last season, which was tops in the USHL). He’s heading to Boston College next season.
31. St. Louis Blues (from Pittsburgh)-Klim Kostin-C-Moscow Dynamo
Kostin is one of the riskier top prospects in this draft. The 18-year-old has good size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and skill, but he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury over in Russia last year and he hasn’t played since. On top of that, whenever he has played in the professional ranks in his country, he hasn’t really been productive. Kostin had just one goal in nine games in Russia’s second division in 2016-17 and no points and 27 penalty minutes in eight games in the KHL. Kostin wore the “C” for his country during the Ivan Hlinka tournament, where he posted seven points in five games. He may be a boom-or-bust prospect, but if he pans out, he could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Complete results from the 2017 NHL Draft are posted below. For instant analysis of every player picked, refresh Rotoworld's NHL Player News Page.
Round 1
1. New Jersey Devils-Nico Hischier-C-Halifax Mooseheads
Hischier isn’t as big as fellow top draft prospect Nolan Patrick, but he’s sure able to produce offensively. There was a little buzz surrounding Hischier coming into the 2016-17 junior season, but he wasn’t mentioned in the same breath as Patrick until he exploded onto the scene at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, where he was dynamic for Switzerland. The 18-year-old posted seven points in five games on a mediocre Swiss team. When he was growing up, Hischier’s favorite player was former Red Wings superstar Pavel Datsyuk, and you can certainly see the influence the Russian has had on the youngster. Hischier’s skill level, puck handling ability and vision are all great. In his first season in North America, he put up 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads. He has the potential to develop into a top point producer at the next level.
2. Philadelphia Flyers-Nolan Patrick-C-Brandon Wheat Kings
Patrick was a consensus top two pick leading up to the draft and it’s easy to see why. The WHL star is a 6-foot-2, 198 pound center with high-end offensive ability. He’s averaged more than a point-per-game in in each of his three seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings. The 18-year-old put up an outstanding 102 points in 72 games during the 2015-16 season (he was 17 at the time). The knock on Patrick coming into the draft, is that he missed so much time last year. He sat out 35 games because of an upper-body injury during Brandon’s regular season and all four games of the playoffs because of a lower-body ailment. In 33 games with Brandon, he scored 20 goals and 46 points. Even though he’s dealt with his fair share of injuries, his size, skill and vision make him an incredible young talent. Patrick has the potential to develop into a number one center in the near future.
3. Dallas Stars- Miro Heiskanen-D-HIFK
Many scouts believe Heiskanen is the best defenseman of the 2017 draft class and it’s easy to see why. Heiskanen excels at a lot of the things teams want from their top defenseman in today’s NHL. The 17-year-old is a very good skater, he’s fully capable of carrying the puck up the ice and he’s also smart enough to be an effective player in his own end. Playing in his first professional season in Finland, Heiskanen scored five goals and five assists, while averaging almost 19 minutes of ice time in 37 games, which is pretty impressive for a teenage blue liner. He was also incredible for Finland during their silver medal run at the 2017 under-18 World Hockey Championship, as he recorded two goals and 10 assists in seven games. He has the potential to be a number one defenseman in the NHL.
4. Colorado Avalanche- Cale Makar-D-Brooks Bandits
Makar is an incredibly skilled blue liner with plenty of offensive and skating ability. The 18-year-old had a superb year with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits, where he scored 24 goals and 75 points in 54 games. Obviously, the level of competition in the AJHL isn’t as high as it is in junior hockey, but those are tough stats to ignore. He’ll play for the University of UMass-Amherst in 2017-18. He’s a couple of years away from being a contributor at the NHL level.
5. Vancouver Canucks- Elias Petterson-C-Timra IK
Pettersson is a highly-gifted forward that racked up 19 goals and 40 points in 43 games in Sweden’s second division last season. He had a quiet World Junior Hockey Championship, as he posted just one assists in seven games, but that’s not uncommon for a player who was 17 years old at the time. Pettersson has some size (listed at 6-foot-2), but he’s also very light (165 pounds). As skilled as he might be, he’ll need to bulk up before becoming a full-time NHLer.
6. Vegas Golden Knights- Cody Glass-C-Portland Winterhawks
Glass had a fantastic year with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. After scoring 27 points in 65 games last season, the 18-year-old put up 32 goals and 94 points in 69 contests this year. He added nine points in 11 playoff games with the ‘Hawks and three points in three games with Canada at the 2017 under-18 World Hockey Championship. The 6-foot-2, 180 pounder is an incredible playmaker with great hands, terrific vision and sound hockey IQ. He’s likely a year or two away from being a full-time NHLer, but when he arrives, there’s a good chance he’ll be an impact player.
7. New York Rangers (from Arizona)- Lias Andersson-C-HV71
The 18-year-old had an impressive run in Sweden’s top league last season, as he posted nine goals and 19 points in 42 games while playing against older competition. Andersson added five points in 16 games during HV71’s championship run. He’s a very smart and capable two-way player that has good offensive instincts and the smarts to be a plus-player in his own end. Andersson doesn’t necessarily own the highest offensive ceiling, but scouts believe he has enough ability to become a second-liner. His father, Niklas, played 164 games in the NHL, while his uncle, Mikael, played 15 seasons.
8. Buffalo Sabres-Casey Mittelstadt-C-Green Bay Gamblers
Mittelstadt is an incredibly gifted offensive center that has all the tools to creative in the opponent’s zone. He’s fast, he’s skilled and his playmaking ability is off the charts. The 18-year-old had 23 goals and 30 points in 24 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. That was good enough to lead the league with 1.25 points-per-game. The one thing that’s concerning about his point total, is that 18 of the 30 points were scored on the power play, which is pretty high. Still, there’s no denying Mittelstadt’s ability. He is likely a couple of years away from reaching the NHL. He’ll spend next season in the NCAA with University of Minnesota.
9. Detroit Red Wings-Michael Rasmussen-C-Tri-City Americans
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 221 pounds, Rasmussen is clearly one of the biggest players available in the draft. Not only is he huge, but the 18-year-old can also play the game at a high level. In his second full WHL season with the Tri-City Americans, Rasmussen put up 32 goals, 55 points and 50 penalty minutes in 50 games. He also moves pretty well for a player of his size. As good as he is, Rasmussen needs to find a way to be a more consistent with his effort on a game-in, game-out basis. Like most players with his combination of age and size, Rasmussen will need some time to develop into an NHLer.
10. Florida Panthers- Owen Tippett-RW-Mississauga Steelheads
Many scouts have labelled Tippett as the best pure goal scorer in the 2017 draft class. After scoring 15 goals in 48 games during his first junior season with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads in 2015-16, he exploded for 44 goals in 60 contests last season. He added 10 goals and nine assists in 20 playoff games with the Steelheads this spring. On top of being a sniper, Tippett is also a very good skater, which will help him create even more offense at the next level. His play without the puck needs work, but he can develop that over time.
11. Los Angeles Kings- Gabriel Vilardi-C-Windsor Spitfires
Vilardi was valuable contributor for the Windsor Spitfires team that won the 2017 Memorial Cup. The 17-year-old picked up seven assists during the tournament. He also recorded 29 goals and 61 points in 49 games during the regular season and six points in seven contests during the OHL playoffs. Vilardi has the size and skill that all NHL teams crave. It’s incredible to think that at his age he’s already 6-foot-3, 201 pounds. Although he uses his size well, some believe he still needs to work on his skating before he can make a dent at the NHL level. If everything comes together, Vilardi has the potential to develop into one of those rare power centers at the next level.
12. Carolina Hurricanes- Martin Necas-C-Brno Kometa
The Czech forward is a great skater with solid vision and good offensive instincts. He racked up seven goals and eight assists in 41 games with Brno Kometa in the Czech League. That’s a respectable total considering he started the year as a 17-year-old in a league with a good level of competition. Necas added three points in five games at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship and three assists in five games at the Under-18 World Hockey Championship. He’ll either spend another year over in Europe or he’ll make his way to the CHL. Regardless of his decision, he’s still a couple of years away from becoming a regular in the NHL.
13. Vegas Golden Knights (from Winnipeg)- Nick Suzuki-C-Owen Sound Attack
Suzuki is one of the most gifted offensive players available in the entire draft. After scoring 20 goals in his rookie season with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, the 17-year-old put up with 45 goals and 51 assists in 65 games. The issue scouts have with his game is that he just doesn’t bring any kind of physical presence to the table. Suzuki has been able to get away with his lack of physicality at the OHL level, but he’ll need to find a way to initiate contact if he’s going to be successful at beyond that.
14. Tampa Bay Lightning-Cal Foote-D-Kelowna Rockets
Foote is the son of former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote, but their styles couldn’t be more different. Adam was more of a defense-first, bruising defenseman, while Cal is more of a puck-mover with plenty of offensive upside. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder has a very good shot and great hockey sense, but he could improve his skating and overall physical play. Foote is a solid two-way defenseman that may people have referred to as a “safe” pick. He should develop into a top-four defenseman at the next level. He’s likely a few years away from being a regular in the NHL.
15. Vegas Golden Knights (from Islanders)-Erik Brannstrom-D-HV71
Despite being on the small side (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) Brannstrom continues to turn heads with his ability to create offense from the blue line. Last season, he picked up an incredible nine goals and 23 points in 19 games with HV71’s junior team. The fact that he won’t turn 18 until September makes last year’s performance even more impressive. Brannstrom also picked up three assists in three games at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship and five points in seven games at the under-18 World Championship. He does lack the ideal size to compete with opposing forwards in his own end, but if he continues to contribute offensively like he has been, he’ll be just fine.
16. Calgary Flames-Juuso Valimaki-D-Tri-City Americans
Valimaki often draws comparisons to fellow Finnish blue liner Olli Juolevi, who was drafted fifth overall by the Canucks last year. The 18-year-old has very good offensive instincts, but he’s also a capable player in his own end. Valimaki is blessed with good size (6-foot-2, 201 pounds), which definitely doesn’t hurt. Valimaki put up some impressive numbers in his second season with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, as he had 19 goals and 61 points in 60 games. He also notched two goals and six penalty minutes in six games with Finland at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship.
17. Toronto Maple Leafs-Timothy Liljegren-D-Timra IK
Prior to the start of the 2016-17 season, many expected Liljegren to be a top five pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but his stock seemed to have dropped a bit after he missed the first two months of the Swedish Hockey League season because of mononucleosis. It’s impossible to ignore Liljegren’s offensive upside and skating ability, but the 18-year-old’s likely a few years away from contributing at the NHL level. He’s already confirmed that he’ll be spending at least one more season over in Sweden.
18. Boston Bruins-Urho Vaakanainen-D-JYP HT-Jyvaskyla
Vaakanainen spent the majority of last season in Finland’s top league with Jyp HT Jyvaskyla, where he put up two goals and four assists in six games. The 18-year-old then went to the under-18 World Hockey Championship. He was a big part of Finland’s silver-medal winning club, as he posted three goals and three assists in five tournament games. Vaakanainen is a solid all-around blue liner with a great shot and the ability to play in his own end. Turnovers are sometimes a problem with him, but it’s a part of his game he can iron out down the road.
19. San Jose Sharks- Josh Norris-C-USNDP
Norris flies under the radar because he suited up for the US National Development Program last season, but his two-way ability hasn’t gone unnoticed with scouts. His hockey smarts are off the charts and his offensive numbers aren’t too shabby either (27 goals and 60 points in 61 games). As good as he is at both ends of the ice, Norris probably doesn’t have the offensive potential to develop into a top-line center at the next level. Still, he should be able to put together a nice career in the NHL. He’ll play college hockey at the University of Michigan next season.
20. St. Louis Blues-Robert Thomas-C-London Knights
Thomas is the definition of a two-way center. The 17-year-old (he turns 18 on July 2nd) posted 16 goals and 50 assists in 66 games with the OHL’s London Knights last season, but there’s still some question marks surrounding his offensive upside. As his numbers would indicate, he’s a pass-first center with good hands and vision. Thomas is great in the faceoff circle and terrific in his own end, which is definitely the plus part of his game. As good as he is defensively, he’ll likely need some more time in the junior hockey ranks to develop his offensive game.
21. New York Rangers-Filip Chytil-C-Zlin ZPS HC
Chytil registered just four goals and four assists in 38 games in the Czech League last season, but it’s important to remember that he’ll only be turning 18 in September. If his Czech Junior League numbers are any indication (50 points in 30 games in 2015-16), Chytil should be able to develop the offensive portion of his game. As talented as he is, he only has one year of pro experience, which means he’s probably not that close to being NHL-ready for the time being. Chytil could benefit from coming over to the CHL, but he may alternatively blossom by playing against older competition in the Czech League next season. He also needs to add some weight to his 6-foot-2, 179-pound frame.
22. Edmonton Oilers- Kailer Yamamoto-RW-Spokane Chiefs
Yamamoto has been relatively productive in each of his first three junior seasons. In each year he’s seen his production increase by a good amount, as he went from 57 points to 71 points to 99 points last season. Yamamoto’s been pushed down the draft board because of his size. He’s listed at just 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, which obviously isn’t seen as ideal for the NHL. Even though he’s smaller, it’s impossible to ignore his offensive flare. On top of the success he had in junior, he also led the Americans to gold at the 2016 under-18 World Hockey Championship with his tournament-leading seven goals in seven games. He’ll very likely head back to the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs next season.
23. Arizona Coyotes (from Minnesota)-Pierre-Olivier Joseph-D-Charlottetown Islanders
The 17-year-old’s greatest strengths are his skating and his vision. He made huge strides in the Quebec League this season, as he scored six goals and 39 points in 62 games for Charlottetown after putting up just eight points in 48 contests during his rooking season. Although he still needs to fill out (he’s 6-foot-2 and just 165 pounds), he still managed to play with a physical edge. He’s still very raw, which means he’ll need a few more years of development before he can make the leap to the NHL. Joseph has the potential to turn into a top-four defenseman at the next level. He’s the younger brother of Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mathieu Joseph.
24. Winnipeg Jets (from Columbus via Vegas)-Kristian Vesalainen-C-Frolunda
Vesalainen split last season with Frolunda in the Swedish League and HPK in the Finnish League. His offensive totals were modest with both clubs (six points in 26 games in Sweden, one goal in nine games in Finland), but he opened everyone’s eyes with his performance at the 2017 Under-18 World Championship. The 18-year-old was named the MVP of the tournament, as he posted six goals and seven assists in 13 games. He’ll have to prove that he can contribute offensively against older competition, but he’s on the right track. The fact that he already has NHL-ready size (6-foot-3, 207 pounds) is a bonus.
25. Montreal Canadiens-Ryan Poehling-C-St. Cloud State
Poehling shows signs of having good offensive instincts, but that didn’t translate into points at the college level last season. He had seven points and six assists in 35 games at St. Cloud State in 2016-17, but scouts still believe he’s capable enough to develop into solid offensive option at the next level. On the plus side, he produced four goals and two assists in four games for Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. It’ll be interesting to see how his offensive game develops over the next few seasons. Look for him to go back to St. Cloud State next year.
26. Dallas Stars (from Chicago)-Jake Oettinger-G-Boston University
Oettinger had a fantastic freshman season at Boston University, as he had a 21-11-3 record with a 2.11 goals-against-average and a .927 save percentage. He has ideal size (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) and athleticism to be an NHL goalie down the road. Oettinger could stand to work on his puck skills a little, as he doesn’t seem comfortable handling the puck. He’ll head back to BU in the fall, but eventually he could end up being a number one goaltender at the next level. Oettinger is considered by many to be a top-three goalie prospect in the 2017 draft class.
27. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis via Washington)-Morgan Frost-C-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Frost is a pass-first center that took some serious offensive strides in the OHL this season. The 18-year-old went from having seven goals and 27 points in his first season to 20 goals and 62 points in 67 games in 2016-17. He has very good vision and high hockey IQ for a player of his age and his ability to dish the puck to his teammates is quite impressive. The knock on Frost is that he looks to pass too often and that makes him predictable to defend at times. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder is also capable of playing a sound game without the puck. If his development goes according to plan he could turn into a second-line center, but he’ll need more time in the lower levels to achieve that.
28. Ottawa Senators-Shane Bowers-C-Waterloo Black Hawks
Bowers is an intriguing prospect. He has great wheels, a high hockey IQ and plenty of potential, but his production just hasn’t been there during his time in the USHL. Last season, Bowers put up 22 goals and 29 assists in 60 games with Waterloo. On the surface, those aren’t bad numbers, but most top prospects tend to produce more while playing in the USHL. It’ll be interesting to see how his offensive game develops at Boston University next season. Even if he never turns into an incredible point-producer, he still has the tools to develop into a solid NHLer.
29. Chicago Blackhawks (from Dallas via Anaheim)-Henri Jokiharju-Portland Winterhawks
Jokiharju’s move to North America was a successful one as the Finnish defenseman posted nine goals and 39 points in 71 games with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks in 2016-17. The 18-year-old is a capable two-way defenseman with good hockey smarts. He’s fully capable of breaking out of his own zone with the puck. The fact that he’s a smooth skater doesn’t hurt his game either. Jokiharju will need more time in the junior ranks and minor leagues, but he could eventually turn into a reliable puck-mover at the next level.
30. Nashville Predators-Eeli Tolvanen-LW-Sioux City Musketeers
After growing up playing hockey in Finland, Tolvanen came to North America to play in the USHL in 2015-16. He put up a respectable 38 points in 49 games as a 16-year-old with the Sioux City Musketeers, but last season, he stepped up his production by collecting 54 points in 52 USHL contests. Tolvanen isn’t the biggest prospect in the draft (5-foot-10, 180 pounds), but he doesn’t necessarily play a small game. The 18-year-old has very good speed and a quality shot that he uses a lot (he averaged 4.73 shots-per-game last season, which was tops in the USHL). He’s heading to Boston College next season.
31. St. Louis Blues (from Pittsburgh)-Klim Kostin-C-Moscow Dynamo
Kostin is one of the riskier top prospects in this draft. The 18-year-old has good size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and skill, but he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury over in Russia last year and he hasn’t played since. On top of that, whenever he has played in the professional ranks in his country, he hasn’t really been productive. Kostin had just one goal in nine games in Russia’s second division in 2016-17 and no points and 27 penalty minutes in eight games in the KHL. Kostin wore the “C” for his country during the Ivan Hlinka tournament, where he posted seven points in five games. He may be a boom-or-bust prospect, but if he pans out, he could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.
ROUND 2
32. Colorado - Conor Timmins - D - Sault Ste. Marie
33. Vancouver - Kole Lind - RW - Kelowna
34. Vegas - Nicolas Hague - D - Mississauga
35. Philadelphia - Isaac Ratcliffe - LW - Guelph
36. New Jersey - Jesper Boqvist - C - Brynas
37. Buffalo - Marcus Davidsson - C - Djurgardens IF
38. Detroit - Gustav Lindstron - D Almtuna IS
39. Dallas - Jason Robertson -LW - Kingston
40. Florida - Aleksi Heponiemi - C - Swift Current
41. Los Angeles - Jaret Anderson-Dolan - C - Spokane
42. Carolina - Eetu Luostarinen - C - KalPa Kuopio
43. Winnipeg - Dylan Samberg - D - Hermantown
44. Arizona - Filip Westerlund - D - Frolunda HC
45. Columbus - Alexandre Texier - C - Grenoble France
46. New York Islanders - Robin Salo - D - Sport Vaasa
47. Ottawa - Alex Formenton - LW - London
48. Tampa Bay - Alexander Volkov - RW - St. Petersburg
49. San Jose - Mario Ferraro - D - Des Moines
50. Anaheim - Maxime Comtois - LW - Victoriaville
51. Pittsburgh - Zachary Lauzon - D - Rouyn-Noranda
52. Carolina - Luke Martin - D - University of Michigan
53. Boston - Jack Studnicka - C - Oshawa
54. Buffalo - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - G - HPK
55. Vancouver - Jonah Godjovich - LW - Owen Sound
56. Montreal - Josh Brook - D - Moose Jaw
57. Chicago - Ian Mitchell - D - Spruce Grove
58. Montreal - Joni Ikonen - C - Frolunda
59. Toronto - Eemeli Rasanen - D - Kingston
60. Anaheim - Antoine Morand - C - Acadie-Bathurst
61. Nashville - Grant Mismash - LW - U.S. Development Team
62. Vegas - Jake Leschyshyn - C - Regina
ROUND 3
63. New Jersey - Fabian Zetterlund - C - Farjestads
64. Vancouver - Michael DiPietro - G - Windsor
65. Vegas - Jonas Rondbjerg - RW - Vaxjo HC
66. Florida - Max Gildon - D - U.S. National Team
67. Carolina - Morgan Geekie - C - Tri-City
68. Montreal - Scott Walford - D - Victoria
69. Arizona - MacKenzie Entwistle - RW - Hamilton
70. Chicago - Andrei Antybarmakyan - RW - St. Petersburg
71. Detroit - Kasper Kotkansalo - D - Sioux Falls
72. Los Angeles - MAthew Villalta - G - Sault Ste. Marie
73. Carolina - Stelio Mattheous - RW - Brandon
74. Winnipeg - Jonathan Kovacevic - D- Merrimack College
75. Arizona - Nate Schnarr - C - Guelph
76. Tampa Bay - Alexei Lipanov - C - Balashika
77. New York Islanders - Ben Mirageas - D - Chicago Steel
78. Edmonton - Stuart Skinner - G - Lethbridge
79. Detroit - Lane Zablocki - RW - Red Deer
80. Philadelphia - Kirill Ustimenko - G - St. Petersburg
81. New Jersey - Reilly Walsh - D - Chicago Steel
82. Arizona - Cameron Crotty - D - Brockville
83. Detroit - Zachary Gallant - C - Peterborough
84. Edmonton - Dmitri Samorukov - D - Guelph
85. Minnesota - Ivan Lodnia - RW - Erie
86. Columbus - Daniil Tarasov - G - UFA Russia
87. Montreal - Cale Fleury - D - Kootenay
88. Detroit - Keith Petruzzelli - G - Muskegon
89. Buffalo - Oskari Laaksonen - D - Ilves
90. Chicago - Evan Barratt - C - U.S. Nationals
91. Anaheim - Jack Badini - F - Chicago Steel
92. Nashville - David Farrance - D - U.S. National Team
93. Pittsburgh - Clayton Phillips - D - Fargo
ROUND 4
94. Colorado - Nick Henry - RW - Regina
95. Vancouver - Jakc Rathbone - D - Dexter High School
96. Vegas - Maksim Zhukov - G - Green Bay
97. Minnesota - Mason Shaw - C - Medicine Hat
98. New Jersey - Nikita Popugaev - LW - Prince George
99. Buffalo - Jacob Bryson - D - Providence College
100. Detroit - Malte Setkov - D - Malmo
101. Dallas - Liam Hawel - C - Guelph
102. San Jose - Scott Reedy - C - U.S. National Team
103. Los Angeles - Michael Anderson - D - Waterloo
104. Carolina - Eetu Makiniemi - G - Jokerit
105. Winnipeg- Santeri Virtanen - C - TPS Finland
106. Philadelphia - Matthew Strome - Hamilton
107. Philadelphia - Maksim Sushko - RW - Owen Sound
108. Arizona - Noel Hoefenmayer - D - Ottawa
109. Calgary - Adam Ruzicka - C - Sarnia
110. Toronto - Ian Scott - G - Prince Albert
111. Boston - Jeremy Swayman - G - Sioux Falls
112. Chicago - Tim Soderlund - LW - Skelleftea AIK
113. St. Louis - Alexei Toropchenko - RW - Balashika
114. Colorado - Petr Kvaca - G -Budejovice
115. Edmonton - Ostap Safin - RW - Sparta
116. Minnesota - Bryce Misley - C - Oakville
117. Columbus - Emil Bemstrom - C - Leksand
118. Los Angeles - Markus Phillips - D - Owen Sound
119. Chicago - Roope Laavainen - D - Jokerit
120. Washington - Tobias Geisser - D - Zuq EV
121. Ottawa - Drake Batherson - C - Cape Breton
122. Anaheim - Kyle Olson - RW - Tri City
123. New York Rangers - Brandon Crawley - D - London
124. Toronto - Vladislav Kara - LW - Kazan
ROUND 5
125. Colorado - Igor Shvyrev - C - Magnitogorsk
126. Arizona - Michael Karow - D - Youngstown
127. Vegas - Lukas Elvenes - LW - Rogle
128. Arizona - Tyler Steenbergen - C - Swift Current
129. New Jersey - Gilles Senn - G - Davos
130. St. Louis - David Noel - D - Val d'Or
131. Detroit - Cole Fraser - D - Peterborough
132. Dallas - Jacob Peterson - C - Frolunda
133 - Florida - Tyler Inamoto - D - U.S. National Team
134. Los Angeles - Cole Hults - D - Madison
135. Vancouver - Kristoffer Gunnarsson - D - Frolunda
136. Winnipeg - Leon Gawanke - D - Cape Breton
137. Philadelphia - Noah Cates - LW - Stillwater
138. Los Angeles - Drake Rymsha - C - Sarnia
139. New York Islanders - Sebastian Aho - D - Skelleftea AIK
140. Calgary - Zach Fischer - RW - Medicine Hat
141. Toronto - Fedor Gordeev - D - Flint
142. Vegas - Jonathan Dugan - LW - Northwood HS
143. New Jersey - Marian Studenic - RW - Hamilton
144. Chicago - Parker Foo - LW - Brooks
145. New York Rangers - Calle Sjalin - D - Timra
146. Edmonton - Kirill Maksimov - RW - Niagara
147. Minnesota - Jacob Golden - D - London
148. Columbus - Kale Howarth - LW - Trail
149. Montreal - Jarret Tyszka - D - Seattle
150. Chicago - Jakub Glavas - D - Olomouc HC
151. Washington - Sebastian Walfridsson - D - MODO
152. Pittsburgh - Jan Drozg - LW - Leksand
153. Anaheim - Olle Eriksson-Ek - G - Farjestad
154. Nashville - Tomas Vomacka - G - Corpus Christi
155. Pittsburgh - Linus Olund - C - Brynas IF Galve
ROUND 6
156. Colorado - Denis Smirnov - RW - Penn State
157. New York Rangers - Diminik Lakatos - C - Liberec Bili Tygri HC
158. Vegas - Nick Campoli - C - North York
159. San Jose - Jacob McGrew - RW - Los Angeles Jr. Kings
160. New Jersey - Aarne Talvitte - C - Blues (Finland)
161. Vegas - Jiri Patera - G - Ceske Budejovice
162. Detroit - Jack Adams - C - Forgo
163. Dallas - Brett Davis - RW - Kootenay
164. Detriot - Riley Webb - D - Hamilton
165. New York Islanders - Arnaud Durandeau - LW - Halifax
166. Carolina - Brendan De Jong - D - Portland
167. Winnipeg - Arvid Holm - G - Karlskrona
168. Philadelphia - Olle Lycksell - RW - Likoping
169. Tampa Bay - Nicklaus Perbix - D - Elk River
170. Columbus - Jonathan Davidsson - RW - Djurgardens IF
171. Calgary - D'Artagnan Joly - RW - Baie-Comeau
172. Toronto - Ryan McGregor - C - Sarnia
173. Boston - Cedric Pare - C - Saint John
174. New York Rangers - Morgan Barron - C - St. Andrews
175. St. Louis - Trenton Bourque - D - Owen Sound
176. Nashville - Pavel Koltygin - C - Drummondville
177. Edmonton - Skyler Brind'Amour - C - U.S. National Team
178. Minnesota - Andrei Svetlakov - C - CSKA Moscow
179. Columbus - Carson Myer - RW - Miami of Ohio
180. Tampa Bay - Cole Guttman - C - Dubuque
181. Vancouver - Petrus Palmu - RW - Owen Sound
182. Washington - Benton Maass - D - Fairbanks
183. Ottawa - Jordan Hollett - G - Regina
184. Florida - Sebastian Repo - RW - Tappara Tampere
185. San Jose - Sasha Chmelevski - C - Sarnia
186. Pittsburgh - Antti Palojarvi - D - Lukko
ROUND 7
187. Colorado - Nick Leivermann - D - Eden Prairie
188. Vancouver - Matt Brassard - D - Oshawa
189. Vegas - Ben Jones - C - Niagara
190. Arizona - Erik Walli-Walterholm - R - Djurgarden
191. New Jersey - Jocktan Chainley - D - Halifax
192. Buffalo - Linus Weissbach - LW - Tri-City
193. Detroit - Brady Gilmour - C - Saginaw
194. Dallas - Dylan Ferguson - G - Kamloops
195. Boston - Victor Berglund - D - MODO
196. Philadelphia - Wyatt Kalynuk - D - Bloomington
197. Carolina - Ville Rasanen - D - Jokipojat
198. Winnipeg - Skyler McKenzie - LW - Portland
199. Montreal - Cayden Primeau - G - Lincoln
200. Tampa Bay - Samuel Walker - C - Edina
201. New York Islanders - Logan Cockerill - LW - U.S. National Team
202. Calgary - Filip Sveningsson - LW - HK 71
203. Toronto - Ryan O'Connell - D - St. Andrews
204. Boston - Daniel Bukac - D - Brandon
205. New Jersey - Yegor Zaitsev - D - Moscow Dynamo
206. St. Louis - Anton Andersson - D - Lulea
207. New York Rangers - Patrik Virta - LW - TPS Turku
208. Edmonton - Philip Kemp - D - U.S. National Team
209. Minnesota - Nick Swaney - RW - Waterloo
210. Columbus - Robbie Stucker - D - St. Thomas
211. Winnipeg - Croix Evingson - D - Shreveport
212. San Jose - Ivan Chekhovich - LW - Baie-Comeau
213. Washington - Kristia Roykas-Marthinsen - RW - Almtunas
214. New Jersey - Matthew Hellickson - D - Sioux City
215. Chicago - Josh Ess - D - Lakeville South
216. Nashville - Jacob Paquette - D - Kingston
217. Pittsburgh - Will Reilly - D - R.P.I