Going strictly off of current standings. Not factoring in games in hand. No point trying to figure that stuff out now, because a lot will change between now and season's end anyways. I did predict a winner for the East and the draft reflects that change.

 

1. Tampa Bay Lightning - Owen Power

Tampa Bay needs help everywhere, as most tankers do. There's definitely a need for a top tier defenseman and Power fits the bill. No need to get cute here, although this draft might be the craziest we've seen in years.

 

2. Winnipeg Jets - Mason McTavish

From the sounds of things, Doc really likes McTavish. He said he'd take him 1st overall, so I'm sure he'll grab him at #2.

 

3. Ottawa Senators - Matty Beniers

It wouldn't shock me at all to see Steph move this pick for an already proven talent, but if he keeps it, Beniers is probably his guy at #3.

 

4. Detroit Red Wings - Kent Johnson

Danny can't resist the Canadian skill in Johnson and scoops him up at #4 after a good WJC showing.

 

5. Arizona Coyotes - Dylan Guenther

Joel loves his western boys. Also loves his forwards. I think Guenther makes a lot of sense here.

 

6. Buffalo Sabres - Cole Sillinger

Sillinger would be the perfect fit for Jared at #6, and I think he'd be thrilled to grab him. Already a full time NHLer, he falls right in line with a lot of Jared's players progression wise.

 

7. Pittsburgh Penguins - Luke Hughes

Toby needs help everywhere, and goes BPA, grabbing the sliding Hughes at #7.

 

8. Vancouver Canucks - William Eklund

Eklund had a brief stint with the Sharks and showed pretty well. As a team starting to rise up a bit, it makes sense for Canucks to grab a close to NHL ready player here.

 

9. Florida Panthers - Simon Edvinsson

After making a splash and acquiring Grubauer and Laine from the Sharks, Ty goes ahead and selects Edvinsson as his BPA at #9.

 

10. New York Rangers - Brandt Clarke

PJ trades Matthews to Devon's Ducks. He then proceeds to add a skilled defenseman to his core of the future in Brandt "snubbed from WJC" Clarke.

 

11. Seattle Kraken (via Los Angeles) - Sebastian Cossa

Rexy simply can't resist grabbing another goalie to put on the trade block, especially one that plays for Canada at WJC and Oil Kings in WHL.

 

12. Vegas Golden Knights (via Philadelphia) - Brennan Othmann

Holy shit, who knew Joe had four 1sts? I sure didn't. The first one comes in at #12 and he scoops up the skilled finisher in Othmann.

 

13. Nashville Predators - Isak Rosen

Sheds loves his Euros and also loves his smaller, skilled players. Rosen fits both of those bills and that's who he grabs at 13.

 

14. Toronto Maple Leafs - Chaz Lucius

Garrett picks up Chaz Lucius after being impressed with his WJC showing. Had him top 12 on his board, so happy to grab him at 14.

 

15. Calgary Flames (via Montreal) - Matt Coronato

This pick makes too much sense. Kevin doesn't really have much of a need anywhere, but there's nothing wrong with Coronato and Kevin scoops up the slipping Flame at 15.

 

16. Seattle Kraken - Fabian Lysell

Rex grabs the Bruin prospect in Lysell at 16, so that he can hold him over Rumpy's head when Rumpy rejoins the BRHL in a year or two.

 

17. New Jersey Devils - Tyler Boucher

The Devils take a shot on the falling Tyler Boucher. He's had a bad year at Boston, but should rebound sooner than later.

 

18. Florida Panthers (via Colorado) - Jesper Wallstedt

The Panthers have a lot of goalies, but no goalie of the future. They do now, grabbing Wallstedt at 18.

 

19. Edmonton Oilers - Zachary Bolduc

Leon isn't one to shy away from the top drafted guy available (see Makar), and that doesn't change here, grabbing Bolduc at 19.

 

20. Columbus Blue Jackets - Oskar Olausson

Jesse picks up my favourite player in the class at 20. Could easily prove to be a steal. Time will tell.

 

21. Ottawa Senators (via Boston) - Fedor Svechkov

Steph's pissed that Boucher went, he can't believe he didn't fall to him. Rages and grabs Svechkov simply because his last name starts with Svech.

 

22. Vegas Golden Knights - Corson Ceulemans

Joe goes with a defenseman this time around, grabbing the skilled puck mover in Ceulemans.

 

23. Calgary Flames - Xavier Bourgault

Bourgault is having a monster year with Shawinigan and Kevin grabs him at 23.

 

24. Los Angeles Kings (via San Jose) - Wyatt Johnson

Rumpy's replacement goes with a safe pick in Johnson at 24.

 

25. Vegas Golden Knights (via Minnesota) - Aatu Raty

Joe goes a little off the board with the former consensus top pick in Aatu Raty.

 

26. Edmonton Oilers (via Carolina) - Carson Lambos

Leon sticks to his roots with this pick and goes with the WHL D-man in Lambos at 26.

 

27. Ottawa Senators - Chase Stillman

Steph didn't plan this far ahead. The only planning he did was to host a BRHL draft party at his Tiki bar. He goes local with Stillman at 27. He then says if he planned ahead he would have taken Stillman here anyways. And he's right.

 

28. Detroit Red Wings (via Washington) - Olen Zellweger

Danny is pissed that Stillman just went. To Steph, no less, who's sitting right across from him at his own laptop. Actually, Steph is getting another round of drinks for the boys, laughing as Danny struggles to settle on Zellweger (who's having a great year) at 28.

 

29. Tampa Bay Lightning (via Dallas) - Zachary L'Heureux

For some reason - I can just see Eric picking L'Heureux. I don't know why, but I'm going with it. L'Heureux at 29 to Tampa.

 

30. St. Louis Blues - Josh Doan

Eric buys into the Doan hype and picks him a little earlier than some would expect at 30.

 

31. New York Islanders - Matthew Samoskevich

Joe simply goes BPA at 31 with Samoskevich. Very impressive that a cup finalist in BRHL still owns their own 1st.

 

32. Vegas Golden Knights (via Anaheim) - Matthew Knies

Joe simply can't resist the Leaf at 32, having already drafted three other players in round 1. It's time to be a homer and grab Knies.