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These reviews are not meant to be in-depth player profiles, for those you can find my player reports here. I generally spend time during the year gathering info on players I consider top three round talents or those I think will go in the top three rounds, therefore I do not go in-depth into later round picks.
Anaheim Ducks
Player Position Selected (HP Rank)
Hampus Lindholm Defense 6 (16)
Nicolas Kerdiles Left Wing 36 (27)
Frederik Andersen Goaltender 87
Kevin Roy Left Wing 97 (71)
Andrew O'Brien Defense 108
Brian Cooper Defense 128 (98)
Kenton Helgesen Defense 187
Jaycob Megna Defense 210
Day 1: I had heard going into the draft some scouts liked Lindholm a lot. I just never imagined anyone liked him THAT much to go sixth overall. He's a high-end skater who moves the puck well and really came alive in the second half, performing very well in the February and April international tournaments. I don't buy high-end upside, but I know his transition and puck-moving game could look very appealing to some.
Day 2: Kerdiles was the USNTDP's top scorer this season, and while he's not a dynamic offensive player, he has solid puck skills to combine with very good skating ability and an aggressive mentality. Andersen was unranked because he was still owned by Carolina when I published my rankings, only to re-enter the draft after not getting a deal done. He's a giant in the net who moves very well for a 6'4", 250-pound goalie. He's still somewhat raw in terms of his positioning and reads and needs to improve his conditioning, but he was one of the best goalies in Europe this past season, if not the best. Roy is a little guy with high-end puck skills who is a bit of a project but has upside. He simply torched the USHL this season and even got an invite to Canada's next U-20 camp. Cooper is a small defender but despite that he's effective defensively and is pretty physical. He skates well and has decent offensive ability.
Summary: The Lindholm pick at #6 was a reach, but after that, the Ducks did a fine job acquiring talent on Day 2. There's a chance this draft class could produce multiple pros and potentially quality pros, but despite Lindholm's high draft slot, I don't expect him to be a top-end NHLer.
Dallas Stars
Player Position Selected (HP Rank)
Radek Faksa Center 13 (10)
Ludvig Bystrom Defense 43 (20)
Mike Winther Center 54 (45)
Devin Shore Center 61
Esa Lindell Defense 74 (74)
Gemel Smith Center 104 (47)
Branden Troock Right Wing 134
Henri Kiviaho Goaltender 144
Dmitri Sinitsyn Defense 183
Day 1: Faksa is a good do-it-all type of prospect who won't wow anyone with high-end dazzle, but he can skate, handle the puck, pass, hit, has a good frame, and plays excellent defense. He's also the kind of player advanced stats guys will love as he'll log tough defensive minutes and still score at a good level.
Day 2: Bystrom has been a top-two defender for Sweden all year at the U18 level and at times outshone Hampus Lindholm who was selected sixth overall. He's a very smart, mobile puck-moving defender whose weakness is the physical game. Winther is fast, skilled player who works hard as well. I never saw Devin Shore but I've heard good things about his work ethic and creativity. Lindell isn't flashy, but is a smart player who always makes the right decisions. Smith and Troock are players I got split reports on from scouts on if they had scoring talent or were pure bottom-six guys. I leaned to the former with Smith, the latter with Troock.
Summary: Dallas was able to walk away with a top center prospect on Day 1, and several skilled players on Day 2 to mix with some good depth players. Overall, I really like this haul and it helps establish Dallas' system as an above-average NHL pipeline.
Los Angeles Kings
Player Position Selected (HP Rank)
Tanner Pearson Right Wing 30 (40)
Nikolai Prokhorkin Center 121 (22)
Colin Miller Defense 151
Tomas Hyka Right Wing 171 (59)
Paul Ladue Defense 181
Nick Ebert Defense 211 (84)
Day 1: Pearson was a good story after going undrafted twice and just exploding onto the OHL scoring scene this year and getting WJC time with Canada. He has great sense/vision, solid skills, but is a below-average skater. I thought this was slightly high to take him, but I still have him 40 so I don't have a huge problem with this pick.
Day 2: After going several rounds without a pick, the Kings may have gotten one of the best value picks in the draft in Prokhorkin at 121. He's playing overseas in Russia, which clearly led to his descent. He's a skilled forward with size, vision, and toughness. Hyka was the player who the Flyers tried to sign last summer, but couldn't due to some CBA issues. He's a very good skater with skill but his physical game is concerning. Miller is a good skater with a little offensive ability, but isn't all that effective in the physical game. Ebert was seen as a potential top-10, if not a top-five pick coming into the season but his stock fell off the planet to becoming Mr. Irrelevant. He's a plus skater with puck skills and a booming shot but he just looked brutal way too often this year. His talent level was worth a risk higher than the seventh round, but I understand why he fell so far.
Summary: The Kings made a safe first pick in Pearson, but even with few picks they took gambles right after that and made quite a few risk/reward picks that could reap significant value if they pan out.
Phoenix Coyotes
Player Position Selected (HP Rank)
Henrik Samuelsson Right Wing 29 (39)
Jordan Martinook Left Wing 59
James Melindy Defense 88
Rhett Holland Defense 102
Nikas Tikkinen Defense 148 (91)
Hunter Fejes Left Wing 178
Marek Langhamer Goaltender 184
Justin Hache Defense 208
Day 1: I liked Henrik Samuelsson a lot when he played for the US U17 team last season. He had a rough first half playing in Sweden, but came alive when he went to the WHL in the second half. He's very developed physically already and projects as a high-end physical player with a solid but not great offensive skill level.
Day 2: Melindy is a player I've heard a lot of good things about, but only got to see a little of him. He has decent size, good mobility, and shows solid hockey sense in both ends. Tikkinen was recently converted from forward to defense and stood out in international play for his push rushing and passing abilities but understandably needs work in his own end. Despite his low counting numbers, Hache has some puck-moving skills although his hands are pretty rigid.
Summary: Phoenix went with a safe top pick in Samuelsson and I wouldn't say they rolled the dice afterwards, but they took a decent mix of safe and talented players in Day 2. I could see this draft produce one or two pros.
San Jose Sharks
Player Position Selected (HP Rank)
Tomas Hertl Center 17 (18)
Chris Tierney Center 55 (116)
Christophe Lalancette Center 109
Danny O'Regan Center 138 (103)
Cliff Watson Defense 168
Joakim Ryan Defense 198 (123)
Day 1: Hertl is an intriguing prospect based on how much he produced in a men's league at his age. If he can overcome his skating deficiencies, he's a very good puck possessor who has pretty desirable upside. He went 17th and I had him 18th so clearly I wouldn't argue much with this selection.
Day 2: Tierney came on well in the second half. He's a good if not high-end skater who has an undeveloped offensive game. O'Regan joined the USNTDP late in the season and quickly became the top-line center and one of their better forwards. He's a little guy, but he has a fair amount of puck possession skill. Watson came into the year with some hype but mostly disappointed. He has good size, is a decent skater, but he has fringe offensive skills and I'm not a fan of his hockey sense. Ryan went undrafted last year but liked the few viewings I saw of him. He's a fluid skater with decent offensive skills and is pretty physical for a smaller player. His reads are on and off, but he has good offensive instincts.
Summary: Hertl immediately becomes San Jose's top prospect and they got a decent amount of talent on Day 2. I thought the Tierney pick was a little too high, but overall I have no quibbles with their Day 2 selections and could see one or two NHLers come from this class.
Corey Pronman is an author of Hockey Prospectus.
You can contact Corey by clicking here or click here to see Corey's other articles.
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