The NHL Entry Draft is always an exciting thing to watch as a hockey fan. The speculation on which teams will pick who is always fun to debate or speculate on, especially within the top five picks.
Without a doubt, the Buffalo Sabres will pick Rasmus Dahlin first overall. Everything after that could go anywhere depending on specific team’s needs. Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts, OHL), Brady Tkachuck (Boston University, Hockey East), Filip Zadina (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL) and Adam Boqvist (Brynas, Sweden) are likely to finish in the top five picks, it’s just a matter who picks them.
It is unlikely the Vancouver Canucks will be able to pick any of them unless they trade up but given the talent of this year’s draft pool, I think it’s highly unlikely the teams picking in those spots would give it up. If they did, the cost for Vancouver would be very high.
There is still a lot of young talent to choose from though.
Quinn Hughes, predicted by The Hockey News to be selected sixth overall is a talented puck-moving defenceman and one of the better skaters in the draft class. Born in Orlando, Fla., the 18-year-old Univ. of Michigan product is already a complete defenceman and would most likely end on an NHL roster fulltime in the 2019-20, if not this upcoming season. However, that depends on his willingness to leave one of the most competitive NCAA teams and leagues. Hughes’ development was probably aided by his father, Jim, who was the director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2009-2015.
Evan Bouchard of the London Knights is who The Hockey News thinks the Canucks will pick at seventh. He is also a defenceman and has a lot in common with Hughes but what sets them apart is Bouchard’s passing skills. He finished his third season with the Knights with 87 points, including 25 goals. He’s not as great as a skater as Hughes but he still has a lot of skill and has the smarts to transition into the NHL game easily. If anyone is to move into the top five, it’s Bouchard.
Next is Oliver Wahlstrom, an American right winger playing his trade with the U.S. National Team Development Program in the United States Hockey League, already has an NHL ready shot and a high level of confidence as he can rip apart defenders.
The high-energy player might end up being a lot like Alexander Ovechkin when he finally matures and hits the NHL, but fans will have to wait as he has committed to Boston University for the time being.
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