Why even bother go through the futile task of mock-draft creation? Given there is a complete season yet to be played, eligible players’ stocks will rise and fall, as will NHL teams’ placement in the standings. It is admittedly intriguing this far out to envision where teams may slot in for the 2017 draft and which prospects are potentially available when they are on the clock to select.
The Mock Draft Order
NHL Power Rankings
Consider this my offseason NHL Power Rankings (in reverse order).
This will mark the first time the new expansion Las Vegas franchise makes an entry draft selection. As per the NHL announced 2017 expansion rules, “The Las Vegas franchise will be given the same odds in the 2017 NHL Draft Lottery as the team finishing with the third-fewest points during the 2016-17 regular season.”
The Picks
As always, this is not my personal draft rankings (The Next Ones Preliminary Rankings published separately – here) – rather, this is a guesstimate (at this point a slap shot in the dark) at what might go down June 23–24 2017, at the United Center in Chicago.
| # | TEAM | PLAYER | POS | HT | WT | TEAM | Prospect Profiler Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VAN | PATRICK, NOLAN | RC | 6’02” | 193 | BRANDON (WHL) | Dominating #1 centre |
| 2 | ARI | LILJEGREN, TIMOTHY | RD | 6’00” | 190 | ROGLE J20 (SWE J20) | Dynamite skater; PMD |
| 3 | TOR | YAMAMOTO, KAILER | RW | 5’09” | 160 | SPOKANE (WHL) | Sublime skills, instincts |
| 4 | LV | VILARDI, GABRIEL | RC | 6’02” | 193 | WINDSOR (OHL) | Cornerstone centre |
| 5 | OTT | HISCHIER, NICO | LC | 6’00” | 172 | SC BERN (NLA) | Swiss Crosby? |
| 6 | CBJ | COMTOIS, MAXIME | LW | 6’01” | 192 | VICTORIAVILLE (QMJHL) | Powerful winger |
| 7 | CAR | TOLVANEN, EELI | LW | 5’10” | 172 | SIOUX CITY (USHL) | Skilled sharpshooter |
| 8 | COL | FOOTE, CALLAN | RD | 6’03” | 198 | KELOWNA (WHL) | Huge, mobile, skilled |
| 9 | CGY | TIPPETT, OWEN | RW | 6’01” | 181 | MISSISSAUGA (OHL) | Strong, scoring winger |
| 10 | EDM | HAGUE, NICOLAS | LD | 6’05” | 207 | MISSISSAUGA (OHL) | Size. Skill. Skating. |
| 11 | WPG | MITTLESTADT, CASEY | LC | 5’11” | 190 | EDEN PRAIRIE (HS-MN) | Smart, skilled 2-way C |
| 12 | BUF | VESALAINEN, KRISTIAN | LW | 6’03” | 203 | FROLUNDA HC (SEL) | Power winger, soft hands |
| 13 | BOS | REEDY, SCOTT | RC | 6’01” | 187 | USA NTDP U17 (USHL) | Powerful, skilled C |
| 14 | MTL | KOSTIN, KLIM | RW | 6’03” | 190 | HK MVD BALASHIKHA (MHL) | Power winger, goal scorer |
| 15 | NJD | STROME, MATTHEW | LW | 6’03” | 190 | HAMILTON (OHL) | Ryan & Dylan’s brother |
| 16 | NYR | POPUGAEV, NIKITA A. | RW | 6’04” | 204 | MOOSE JAW (WHL) | Size. Agility. Skill. |
| 17 | DET | PETTERSSON, ELIAS | LC | 6’01” | 152 | TIMRA IK (ALLSVENSKAN) | Speedy. Creative. Energetic. |
| 18 | PHI | RASMUSSEN, MICHAEL | LC | 6’05” | 200 | TRI-CITY (WHL) | Blend of power & skill |
| 19 | NYI | ANDERSSON, LIAS | LC | 5’11” | 198 | HV71 (SEL) | High hockey IQ; 2-way C |
| 20 | MIN | DAVIDSSON, MARCUS | LC | 6’00” | 185 | DJURGARDEN J20 (SWE) | All-around playmaking C |
| 21 | STL | VAAKANAINEN, URHO | LD | 6’01” | 187 | BLUES (SM LIIGA) | Poised, smart 2-way D |
| 22 | NSH | OKSANEN, EMIL | RW | 6’00” | ESPOO BLUES (SM LIIGA) | Agile, lethal scoring winger | |
| 23 | LAK | BOQVIST, JESPER | RC | 5’11” | 175 | BRYNAS JR20 (SUPERELIT) | Lightning fast, playmaker |
| 24 | SJS | LODNIA, VANYA | RC | 5’09” | 171 | ERIE (OHL) | Visionary, speedy forward |
| 25 | DAL | SKINNER, STUART | G | 6’04” | 197 | LETHBRIDGE (WHL) | Future money goalie |
| 26 | ANA | GILDON, MAX | LD | 6’02” | 179 | USA NTDP U17 (USHL) | All-situation 2-way D |
| 27 | FLA | MORAND, ANTOINE | LC | 5’09” | 170 | ACADIE-BATHURST (QMJHL) | Offensive catalyst |
| 28 | PIT | BOWERS, SHANE | LC | 6’01” | 170 | WATERLOO (USHL) | Versatile all-around C |
| 29 | CHI | KOTKANSALO, KASPER | LD | 6’02” | 190 | ESPOO BLUES (SM LIIGA) | 2-way D; potential! |
| 30 | TBL | VALIMAKI, JUUSO | LD | 6’02” | 200 | TRI-CITY (WHL) | Rock solid, 2-way D |
| 31 | WSH | SALO, ROBIN | LD | 6’00” | 181 | SPORT (SM LIIGA) | All-around D; big shot |