Since 2018, we’ve had a reasonably good indication of who can be chosen first general within the NHL Draft, no matter which crew received the draft lottery. Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Hughes, Alexis Lafreniere and Owen Energy had been all consensus No. 1 picks.

The one exception within the final seven years was the 2022 draft. Most of that yr, centre Shane Wright held the No. 1 place, however that thought slowly modified as we received nearer to the draft. Then, when it got here to draft day, the Montreal Canadiens bucked the development and took winger Juraj Slafkovsky. Wright didn’t find yourself going till the fourth general choose to Seattle.

The draft lottery held true to type a yr in the past, when the San Jose Sharks had the very best odds of choosing first general and certainly received the lottery, deciding on Macklin Celebrini. However this time, the New York Islanders surged up 10 spots to assert the No. 1 choose whereas Utah additionally moved up 10 spots, from 14 to 4, to essentially shake up the draft order.

Defenceman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL’s Erie Otters is a robust candidate to go first general regardless of accidents derailing his season. However he has some competitors on the prime of the category. Michael Misa scored 62 objectives and 134 factors for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit after shifting from wing to centre this season, so he can be within the combine. A yr in the past, it was James Hagens who was the projected prime choose. The Boston Faculty freshman stays in rivalry after he was a point-per-game scorer as one of many NCAA’s youngest gamers, however he’s barely undersized. I do imagine gamers like Anton Frondell and Caleb Desnoyers will garner some consideration, too, making this draft a multi-player race to No. 1.

Primarily based on tonight’s drawing, right here’s our first version of the post-lottery mock draft.  

No. 1: New York Islanders – Matthew Schaefer, D, 6-foot-2, 183 kilos, Erie Otters (OHL)

With Cal Ritchie and Danny Nelson down the center and scoring winger Cole Eiserman additionally within the fold, Matthew Schaefer is an ideal match so as to add to the blue line for the Islanders.

No. 2: San Jose Sharks – Michael Misa, C, 6-foot-1, 184 kilos, Saginaw Spirit (OHL) 

Misa transitioned again to centre after spending his first two years as a winger in Saginaw. He exploded for 62 objectives and 134 factors whereas captaining a youthful Spirit crew one yr faraway from profitable the Memorial Cup. Oh, and by the best way, he spent quite a lot of time taking part in with Ivan Chernyshov, one other Sharks prospect with the Spirit.

No. 3: Chicago Blackhawks – Caleb Desnoyers, C, 6-foot-2, 178 kilos, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

The Blackhawks may use extra up entrance, and Desnoyers brings a high-compete and high-skill sport to the desk. He initiatives to fill out his six-foot-two body and may play at 200 kilos or extra. 

No. 4: Utah Hockey Membership – Porter Martone, RW, 6-foot-3, 208 kilos, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

The wealthy get richer. Up 10 spots, the Hockey Membership truly received the second lottery however had been restricted of their climb. As soon as an OHLer, GM Invoice Armstrong goes again to that league to pick Brampton Steelheads proper winger Porter Martone. Armstrong is just not shy about his want for giant, bodily gamers and Martone matches that invoice to a tee.

The Predators have all the time accomplished an awesome job drafting defencemen, however it is a little too excessive to take the subsequent greatest D off the board, so Barry Trotz goes to Boston Faculty to get James Hagens, with extra information from prospect Teddy Stiga, who has spent the final three years with Hagens.

No. 6: Philadelphia Flyers – Anton Frondell, C, 6-foot-1, 198 kilos, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Frondell performs a low-key all-around sport. He’s additionally carried out at a excessive stage, taking part in second division professional in Sweden. Frondell does nearly every part nicely, and whereas he didn’t have an awesome U18, he has proven he can play efficiently with older, sooner gamers.

No. 7: Boston Bruins – Jackson Smith, D, 6-foot-3, 195 kilos, Tri-Metropolis Individuals (WHL)

This may be just a little aggressive for this spot, however when Boston’s pool, they do have an honest set of forwards on the best way. That depth of their system is just not evident on the blue line, so that they take a threat with Smith, who performs a two-way sport with nice skating means and the potential so as to add to his offensive profile.

No. 8: Seattle Kraken – Radim Mrtka, D, 6-foot-6, 207 kilos, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Needing assistance on D, new GM Jason Botterill can have seen the monstrous Mrtka play reside and in-person on a variety of events for the reason that defenceman relocated to WHL Seattle in January from the Czech professional ranks.

No. 9: Buffalo Sabres – Jake O’Brien, C, 6-foot-2, 172 kilos, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Former Sabres defenceman Jay McKee coaches O’Brien within the OHL and raves concerning the centre’s elite-level creativity in his sport. He has loads of room to pack on weight and muscle, however his playmaking will certainly assist these round him as soon as he arrives

No. 10: Anaheim Geese – Carter Bear, LW, 6-feet, 179 kilos, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

With the event of Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov on the blue line, and extra coming, the Geese return to including to their ahead group with the speedy and expert Bear. A mid-season damage left him out of the playoffs, however Bear did sufficient to show he belongs right here.

No. 11: Pittsburgh Penguins – Brady Martin, C, 6-feet, 178 kilos, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

The Sault Ste. Marie ties are nonetheless robust for Penguins GM Kyle Dubas and Martin is coming off an excellent U18 gold-medal efficiency. His common dimension additionally matches the profile of what Dubas and Co. have accomplished beforehand.

No. 12: New York Rangers – Logan Hensler, D, 6-foot-2, 192 kilos, Wisconsin (NCAA)

Hensler confirmed out within the second half of the season after a sluggish begin at Wisconsin as one of many youthful gamers in NCAA hockey. He has good dimension, attain and is extraordinarily cellular.

No. 13: Detroit Pink Wings – Victor Eklund, LW, 5-foot-11, 161 kilos, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

One other expert Swede in a protracted line of Detroit Pink Wings. Regardless of being on the smaller facet, Eklund is just not deterred. He’s nicely conscious of the place the very best ice is and makes use of deft talent and a good turning radius to create much more area for himself and teammates. 

Aitcheson had an unbelievable yr in Barrie, the place he exceeded all expectations on the offensive entrance, bettering from eight objectives and 39 factors final yr to 26 objectives and 59 factors in the identical quantity of video games. He brings old-school toughness and swagger that can endear him to teammates.

No. 15: Vancouver Canucks – Braeden Cootes, C, 6-foot, 183 kilos, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Cootes is coming contemporary off a tremendous U18 gold medal efficiency and has slowly and methodically risen within the ranks. He’s all the time within the battle and has confirmed his talent is on level as nicely. This might be a secure choose for a crew that’s had quite a lot of drama recently. 

No. 16: Montreal Canadiens – Jack Nesbitt, C, 6-foot-4, 185 kilos, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Decide acquired from Calgary Flames

The Canadiens need to add dimension, and with Kirby Dach’s problem to rebound from yet one more robust damage, Nesbitt will fill that void, though not instantly. Nesbitt performs with grit, dedication and has loads of particulars in his sport to serve each ends of the ice.