Figured I'd take my yearly stab at this - let's get right into it.

 

1. Tampa Bay Lightning - Owen Power

Unless Eric was throwing smokescreens, this pick is firmly locked in and will be Power.

 

2. Detroit Red Wings - Matty Beniers

There's only one guy Danny could have wanted to trade up for. I can't imagine this isn't Beniers.

 

3. Arizona Coyotes - Mason McTavish

It took everything in me not to put Guenther here, but I think it's simply too high for him, even with Joel picking. Yotes need a safe BPA and that's McTavish here.

 

4. Buffalo Sabres - Kent Johnson

Jared hasn't said anything about it, at least not that I've seen - but I think he has a target at 4 and I think that if McTavish goes 3, it's Johnson at 4 to Buffalo.

 

5. Winnipeg Jets - Luke Hughes

Doc can't ignore the Hughes pedigree - goes BPA here. Hughes did nothing to fall down any further than 5.

 

6. Pittsburgh Penguins - William Eklund

It's going to be tough for Toby to ignore Brandt Clarke here, but I think he can do it. We'll see though. If it's not Eklund, watch for Clarke at 6.

 

7. Seattle Kraken - Dylan Guenther

Rex can't stay away from the western Oil Kings boy, scoops up the skilled forward at 7.

 

8. New York Rangers - Simon Edvinsson

I know nothing about PJ or the way he drafts - I'm guessing he trusts Yzerman and goes BPA here.

 

9. Vancouver Canucks - Cole Sillinger

Sillinger did nothing but impress, going to the NHL right out of the draft and making a significant impact doing so. There's no way he falls much below 9.

 

10. Florida Panthers - Brandt Clarke

Ty goes with BPA here. Clarke is a super skilled, high upside D and the Panthers aren't gonna pass him up here.

 

11. Nashville Predators - Jesper Wallstedt

The first goalie off the board is Wallstedt, who has a clear path to Minnesota's starting job as soon as he's ready for it.

 

12. Ottawa Senators - Sebastian Cossa

Steph grabs his goalie of the future - and just like that, the big two are off the board.

 

13. New Jersey Devils - Zachary Bolduc

I don't know how Ken drafts, but maybe he likes guys coming off of 55 goal seasons, even if they are in QMJHL.

 

14. Toronto Maple Leafs - Wyatt Johnston

Johnston is coming off of a monsterous season with Windsor of the OHL, and something tells me Garrett has his eyes on him.

 

15. Seattle Kraken - Fabian Lysell

Rex scoops up Lysell at 15, hoping to hold him over a Bruins homer's head in a couple years.

 

16. Pittsburgh Penguins - Chaz Lucius

I don't know if Toby can stay away from being a homer here. I doubt it, especially if he passes on Clarke at 6.

 

17. Florida Panthers - Isak Rosen

The Sabres are eventually going to turn things around, right? If they ever do, you can expect Rosen to be a big part of that. Ty goes BPA at 17.

 

18. Vegas Golden Knights - Brennan Othmann

Othmann had a huge year in the OHL, and I'd be willing to bet Joe is more than well aware of that.

 

19. Vegas Golden Knights - Corson Ceulemans

The 2nd of back-to-back picks for Vegas, and this time they beef up the blue line.

 

20. Calgary Flames - Matt Coronato

This one makes too much sense. Coronato falls a bit and Kevin grabs his NHL Calgary Flames 1st rounder at 20.

 

21. San Jose Sharks - Fedor Svechkov

Something tells me that Sumit won't keep this pick, so I'm going BPA in Svechkov.

 

22. Vegas Golden Knights - Olen Zellweger

Yet another Vegas 1st round pick, this time using it on Zellweger, who is coming off a monster season.

 

23. Vegas Golden Knights - Matthew Knies

Oh, wow, look - another Vegas pick! Joe goes homer at 23 and takes the Leaf in Knies, who had a really good season at Minnesota.

 

24. San Jose Sharks - Xavier Bourgault

Maybe Sumit does keep this pick, and grabs an Oiler to hold over the head of one of the Oil fans in this league.

 

25. Vegas Golden Knights - J.J. Moser

Moser is one of very few rookies who played this year, and he played well. I think he has to go 1st round, and this feels like an appropriate spot.

 

26. Tampa Bay Lightning - Francesco Pinelli

Pinelli has a lot of skill, and had a pretty good year in Kitchener. I think he did enough to make himself a 1st rounder.

 

27. San Jose Sharks - Matthew Samoskevich

BPA here according to NHL draft results is Samoskevich, and I don't see a reason to pass on him at 27.

 

28. Calgary Flames - Aatu Raty

Raty had a really good year in Liiga, and had a lot of hype behind him the year before his draft eligibility. I think this is a good spot to take a shot on some of that potential.

 

29. San Jose Sharks - Carson Lambos

I think if the Sharks do keep these picks, they keep it safe with them. Next up for them is Lambos at 29.

 

30. Vegas Golden Knights - Oskar Olausson

After impressive with Avs in pre-season, Olausson really cooled off as the OHL season went on. Almost to the point where he may slide out of the 1st round in BRHL.

 

31. Vancouver Canucks - Zachary L'Heureux

L'Heureux had a pretty decent year, albeit a shortened season, playing only 46 games. Rob takes a shot on him here.

 

32. Calgary Flames - Tyler Boucher

Boucher had a horrendous year with Ottawa, especially for someone who went 10th overall in NHL. At 32 though, he might be worth a shot.