NHL Draft: Grading The Picks

The 2017 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone, and a new crop of young talent is on its way through the league's organizations. Let's review all 30 selections made in the first round Friday night in Chicago.

1. New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier, C, Halifax-QMJHL: In a draft that had two players above all others, Devils management deserves credit for taking the one with more upside. Hischier is the rare 18-year-old who makes plays in all three zones. He's shifty, has terrific vision, and works his tail off defensively. Even if he didn't improve one bit moving forward, he still would be an effective NHL player. He was my top available player, and while I don't expect him to be "special" in a Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews sense, I still see Hischier as a guy who scores 65-70 points per season and makes a half-dozen All-Star teams over the course of his career. He needs to bulk up, though, and for that reason I'm not entirely certain that Hischier ought to begin next season in the NHL, but it's rare that a first overall pick doesn't get at least a nine-game trial run in his first year. Armed with an elite sniper (Taylor Hall), a quality goaltender (Cory Schneider), an underrated coach (John Hynes), a savvy GM (Ray Shero) and a ton of cap space, New Jersey is a dark-horse candidate to make the playoffs next season. It's a safe bet they won't be picking this high in the 2018 draft.
GRADE: A

2. Philadelphia Flyers: Nolan Patrick, C, Brandon-WHL: Philadelphia's scouting staff has had the easiest job in the league over the past two months. All they had to do was sit back and take whichever of Patrick or Hischier fell to them. As a strong center who has the frame to dominate down low, Patrick seems like a better fit for the Flyers than Devils. Long term, Patrick should make for a perfect No. 1 option behind Claude Giroux. The Flyers certainly aren't the second-worst team in the NHL, and while they might not have a goaltender at the moment, they do have plenty of offensive weapons (Giroux, Jake Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Travis Konecny) and two quality young defensemen (Ivan Provorov, Shayne Gostisbehere), with more on the way. That is to say, Patrick could be an immediate asset for the Flyers without having to be the focal point of the offense. It should be a great situation for his development.
GRADE: A

3. Dallas Stars: Miro Heiskanen, D, HIFK-Finland: This was a smart selection -- knowing that they have virtually no quality defensive prospects in their system, the Stars nabbed the kid I ranked as the top available rearguard in the entire draft. Heiskanen plays a calm, simple game, makes excellent decisions with the puck, and has more offensive ability than he gets credit for. I would be shocked if Heiskanen didn't give the Stars at least a decade of solid work. His upside might not be quite as high as some of the other defensemen available, but this was an intelligent choice for a Stars team that needs defenders who can play in their own zone and move the puck effectively.
GRADE: A-

4. Colorado Avalanche: Cale Makar, D, Brooks-AJHL: This is a risky, risky pick by Colorado GM Joe Sakic. To be clear, Makar had a terrific season, and he has elite offensive instincts that have drawn comparisons to Erik Karlsson. However, he spent the entire year playing against subpar competition. Would he have been as effective if he had been playing major junior hockey? I have my doubts. Colorado was the worst team in the NHL last season, and the Avs' prospect pool is amongst the worst in the league. Although Makar has one of the highest ceilings in the entire draft, I don't think a team with so many holes should have taken such a risk. Makar is off to U-Mass Amherst this fall.
GRADE: C

5. Vancouver Canucks: Elias Pettersson, C, Timra-Sweden: I had Pettersson ranked No. 7 on my big board, so this isn't much of a reach. The Canucks were reportedly high on Pettersson throughout the draft process. The Swede is a lanky kid at 6-foot-2, and he has a long reach and elite vision. The downside is that Pettersson is very weak physically. He is easily pushed off the puck by bigger defensemen. I imagine that issue will work itself out over the next few years. As long as Pettersson adds a good 15-20 pounds of muscle to his frame, there's no reason he can't be a top-six forward at the NHL level.
GRADE: B

6. Vegas Golden Knights: Cody Glass, C, Portland-WHL: The NHL's newest team's first-ever pick is an all-around asset with room for growth. Glass has the ability to impact a game in a bunch of different ways, but he has struggled with consistency. Still, his decent set of hands and willingness to go to the tough areas of the ice to make plays. He scored 94 points for Portland this past season and a 100-point season in 2017-18 isn't out of the question. As an expansion team, Vegas is certainly in position to let Glass develop for as long as needed. He's several years away from NHL duty.
GRADE: B

7. New York Rangers: Lias Andersson, C, HV71-Sweden: The Rangers acquired this pick from Arizona earlier day in the Derek Stepan/Antti Raanta trade, and in my opinion, they blew it, Andersson is a solid all-around player who has an outside chance of turning into a second-liner at the NHL level. He competes hard and is a coach's dream. Still, I almost always advocate drafting for upside, and I had Andersson ranked as the No. 21 overall prospect. Again, I like Andersson's chances of developing into a useful NHL player, but this was way too high.
GRADE: C-

8. Buffalo Sabres: Casey Mittelstadt, C, Green Bay-USHL: Another skilled forward for the Buffalo system, Mittelstadt has top-flight hockey sense and vision. He can make all kinds of different plays with the puck, and he while he needs to improve defensively, he is a willing learner. The downside with Mittelstadt is his lack of strength. Some of the tests he underwent at the NHL Draft Combine were particularly concerning. That will most likely sort itself out moving forward, but don't be surprised if Mittelstadt struggles early in his freshman season at the University of Minnesota even though he has a high ceiling.
GRADE: B

9. Detroit Red Wings: Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City-WHL: Another player that I'm not as high on as others may be. Rasmussen has elite size (6-foot-5) and great hands in front of the net, but he struggled mightily to score at even strength and isn't a high-end talent. All NHL clubs are looking for big centers with a nice set of hands, but Rasmussen's game screams "role player" or "power-play specialist" to me. Perhaps there's more production in there, but I didn't like this pick at all.
GRADE: C-

10. Florida Panthers: Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga-OHL: Tippett scored 44 goals for Mississauga this past season, and he's the best pure finisher in the draft. The issues are his desire and defensive intensity. He's 100 percent committed when the puck is on his stick in a scoring area, but Tippett isn't a great passer and can look lost at times in his own zone. He does have one elite trait, however – his ability to put the puck in the net. I wouldn't have taken Tippett with a top-five pick, but he makes some sense at this point in the draft.
GRADE: B

11. Los Angeles Kings: Gabe Vilardi, C, Windsor-OHL: Vilardi, who was ranked No. 3 overall on my board, dropped because there are serious issues regarding his skating. He struggles to get around the ice at times, but his hockey IQ is through the roof and he finished his season with a terrific performance in the Memorial Cup. Vilardi is the kind of player who's easy to love, as he's seemingly always in the right spot to make a play. This is a steal for the Kings, who very well may have been the only team in the NHL without a top-100 prospect before this selection. They certainly do now.
GRADE: A

12. Carolina Hurricanes: Martin Necas, RW, Brno-Czech: As a top-flight skater who can make plays at high speed, Necas is a real talent. He had a strong season in his native Czech Republic and a solid performance at the World Juniors. He has the same issues as many young kids – chiefly, lack of upper-body strength and lack of defensive awareness – but you can't teach his speed. I like the pick. We all know Carolina has a ton of young defensemen in the system, but they need talented forwards, and Necas fits the bill.
GRADE: B

13. Vegas Golden Knights: Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound-OHL: With Glass and now Suzuki, Vegas GM George McPhee has nabbed a pair of players who have few weaknesses. Suzuki isn't a dynamic scorer (despite the fact that he posted 45 goals and 96 points this past season for Owen Sound), but he works his tail off every shift and is the type of player a coach can send over the boards to protect a lead with a minute left in the game. He's another useful, all-around player for the expansion Golden Knights.
GRADE: B+

14. Tampa Bay Lightning: Cal Foote, D, Kelowna-WHL: Foote is a hard-hitting, in-your-face defenseman who has skating issues. He gets beat wide far too often for my liking, but other than that, he's a pretty good player. Foote will stand up for his teammates and has a good shot from the point. Don't expect Foote to put up many points at the NHL level, but he's smart enough to play within his limitations. There's nothing wrong with this selection, but I almost always prefer drafting for upside, and Foote doesn't seem to have a ton of it.
GRADE: C

15. Vegas Golden Knights: Erik Brannstrom, D, HV71-Sweden: If Glass and Suzuki are "safe" picks, Vegas is trying to hit a home run with Brannstrom, and I love the idea. I had Brannstrom No. 14 on my board, and that might be too low. His positioning is elite, he's one of the best passers in the entire draft, and he never puts his teammates in a bad spot. Brannstrom's lack of size (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) is the only concern here. The Golden Knights can afford to be patient with Brannstrom, and I expect them to be rewarded handsomely.
GRADE: B+

16. Calgary Flames: Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City-WHL: A shrewd selection by Calgary in the middle of Round 1, Valimaki is a two-way defender who has some offensive ability and works hard in his own end. He forces things a bit much for my liking, but that's a correctable mistake. The Finn is also a big kid (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) who could possibly be ready for NHL duty in 2018-19.
GRADE: B

17. Toronto Maple Leafs: Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle-Sweden: It was not a good season for Liljegren. Many scouts thought he had an outside chance of being the No. 1 overall selection when the year began, so this is quite a fall. It's a worthwhile risk for the Leafs at this point in the draft. Liljegren has all kinds of offensive ability, but his hockey sense has been questioned and he doesn't use his teammates enough at times. He has all the physical gifts in the world, but it is anyone's guess if he will ever be able to put it all together. Even so, I had Liljegren ranked No. 6 on my board. Everyone knows the Leafs need a couple of high-quality defenders, and they were in a position to take a chance on the talented Swede.
GRADE: B+

18. Boston Bruins: Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP-Finland: There are legitimate questions as to how much Vaakanainen will be able to contribute at the NHL level, but he is a strong skater who competes hard, his shot is underrated, and he didn't get many opportunities to showcase his puck skills for his club team in Finland. Even without further improvement in his offensive game, I like Vaakanainen's chances of developing into a useful NHL defender for the Bruins.
GRADE: B-

19. San Jose Sharks: Josh Norris, C, US National Development Program: Widely considered a safe selection with a lack of upside, Norris wasn't in my top 40, but his draft stock jumped after an extremely strong showing at the NHL Draft Combine. Norris is a consistent player who can do a bunch of different things to help his team win hockey games. All he does is suit up and go about his business every single night. It's not a sexy pick, but Norris is a useful player.
GRADE: C

20. St. Louis Blues: Robert Thomas, C, London-OHL: Thomas' game is all about being defensively responsible. He's terrific on faceoffs and highly aware of what's going on in his own end. The 6-foot pivot's offensive opportunities were limited while playing for a strong London team, but he isn't going to make his living in the NHL by putting up points. I had Thomas ranked No. 26 on my board, so while this isn't a huge reach, I thought there were several players available who I would have taken instead. There just isn't enough upside for me here.
GRADE: C

21. New York Rangers: Filip Chytil, C, Zlin-Czech: One of the youngest players in the entire draft, Chytil's stock has risen considerably over the past 12 months. He's a very strong skater who puts himself in position to finish plays. I didn't have him ranked in my top 40, but he would have been among the next four or five names. This is a long-term upside play for the Rangers. My biggest complaint regarding the Rangers' top two picks is the fact that they could have traded down and still gotten both players.
GRADE: B-

22. Edmonton Oilers: Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane-WHL: One of the premier offensive talents available in the draft, Yamamoto 99 points for Spokane this past season, and his only issue is a lack of size. He doesn't get hit much because he's so shifty with the puck, but there are questions regarding his ability to handle the physicality of bigger, stronger NHL defensemen. It'll be several years down the line, but seeing Yamamoto playing alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl would be an absolute treat.
GRADE: B+

23. Arizona Coyotes: Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown-QMJHL: I like Joseph more than most, and by that I mean that I had him ranked No. 31 on my big board. Joseph makes the game look easy. While he doesn't project as a true power-play quarterback, he's very mobile and you will rarely see him make mistakes with the puck. Joseph was my top-rated available defenseman at the time of the pick. I thought it was a bit of a reach in terms of value, but I understand Arizona's thinking.
GRADE: C+

24. Winnipeg Jets: Kristian Vesalainen, LW, Frolunda-Sweden: Bouncing between Sweden and his native Finland this past season, Vesalainen had a terrible campaign. He'll show flashes of brilliance at times, but he's never been able to put it all together consistently. The positives with Vesalainen are that he has a big shot and can control play in the offensive zone for long stretches of time. He's a major risk, but he has the upside of a goal-scoring top-six winger.
GRADE: B

25. Montreal Canadiens: Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State-NCAA: There are plenty of people who think Poehling is going to take a monumental step forward next season, but I'm not one of them. As one of the youngest players in college hockey this past year, Poehling posted 13 points in 35 games for St. Cloud State. The production wasn't there, but Poehling showed an ability to handle himself at both ends of the rink, so while I don't see a high-end player here, he has a decent chance to develop into a useful NHL regular.
GRADE: C

26. Dallas Stars: Jake Oettinger, G, Boston University-NCAA: Oettinger was the only goaltender in the draft that I had a first-round grade on. He showed calmness and poise during a freshman season at Boston University in which his teammates struggled at times. Oettinger also has the size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) that NHL clubs are looking for. The Stars' goaltending situation is a mess, and they went a long way toward fixing that for the long run with this selection.
GRADE: A

27. Philadelphia Flyers: Morgan Frost, C, Sault Ste. Marie-OHL: While I loved the Flyers' move to add another first-round pick, I didn't understand this selection at all. Frost has a good skill set, but he isn't elite in any one area and averaged less than a point per game (62 in 67) for the Greyhounds this past season. It feels as though Philly blew this pick with so many high-end talents still on the board.
GRADE: D

28. Ottawa Senators: Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo-USHL: This is right about where most thought Bowers would go; I had him ranked 27th. For a player who competes hard and has decent puck skills, he hasn't managed enough production at times. Like many other players who have been taken late in Round 1, the issue with Bowers is lack of apparent upside. However, he's mature enough to carve out an immediate role at Boston University this fall.
GRADE: C+

29. Chicago Blackhawks: Henri Jokiharju, D, Portland-WHL: The Blackhawks added depth to their defense on a day that saw them deal Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona. There isn't a dynamic element to Jokiharju's game, but he's a smart puck mover who skates very well. While Jokiharju doesn't project as a traditional power-play quarterback, I think he could be an asset on a second unit. This isn't a sexy pick, but it was a smart one by Chicago.
GRADE: B

30. Nashville Predators: Eeli Tolvanen, LW, Sioux City-USHL: The draft is all about finding value whenever you select. I had Tolvanen ranked No. 5 on my big board, and he plummeted all the way to the 30th pick. Fortunately for Nashville, Tolvanen has the highest offensive ceiling of any player in the draft. A true game-breaker, the Finn is a threat every single time he touches the puck. His weakness is a complete lack of defensive awareness; that will have to change if he wants to be successful at Boston College this fall, but you cannot teach his offensive abilities. This was the best pick of Round 1.
GRADE: A+

31. St. Louis Blues: Klim Kostin, RW, Dynamo Moscow-Russia: This was the second-best pick of Round 1. Kostin is a top-five talent who fell due in part to the fact that he played little hockey this season. Instead of coming over to play in the WHL, he stayed in Russia and was plastered to the bench most nights. His upside is a top-six, physically dominant goal scorer. The odds are worse than 50/50 that he ever gets there, but it's a risk worth taking this late. Kostin has stated that he plans to play in North America this season.
GRADE: A