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Chicago Blackhawks
Player Position Selection # HP Rank (1-100)
Mark McNeill Center 18 9
Philip Danault Left Wing 26 28
Adam Clendening Defense 36 60
Brandon Saad Left Wing 43 22
Michael Paliotta Defense 70 67
Klas Dahlbeck Defense 79 59
Maxim Shalunov Right Wing 109 79
Andrew Shaw Center 139 N/A
Sam Jardine Defense 169 N/A
Alex Broadhurst Center 199 N/A
Johan Mattson Goaltender 211 N/A
Day 1: I had Mark McNeill as a top ten prospect so I obviously think Chicago did well here. McNeill isn't a world-killer offensive threat, but he's a great do-everything player. He can project to start a lot in the defensive zone against top competition, drive the play the other way and put up good Corsi numbers and score at an above-average level for a second line center. Philip Danault went around where I had him ranked. His intangibles are commonly touted, but I think his offensive skills are decent, and I wouldn't classify them as below-average. I think it's plausible that he can be a decent scorer at the next level. I would have preferred a little more risk with the second pick as the organization has way too much prospect depth, but the Hawks still came away pretty well in the first.
The Rest: Adam Clendening is one of the most talent puck-movers in the class with possible elite potential in that area, but has a ton of areas of his game he needs to work on. Brandon Saad came into the season as a potential top 10 pick but after a sub-par OHL campaign his stock fell hard. He's an above-average skating power forward with a decent skill set who's very projectable into the league. I thought I was out on an island with liking Michael Paliotta but the Hawks apparently felt similarly. He's got good physical tools and he's a decent puck-mover with fine hockey IQ but he's a fringe skater. I also expected when I ranked Klas Dahlbeck at #59 that he would go in the late rounds but Chicago really liked his above-average skating and his defensive awareness. Maxim Shalunov was the first Russian out of Russia that has Chicago has taken in five years. He actually fell off a fair amount this year after possibly being a top 30-40 pick earlier this season, but the skill set is without question a good one, however there are several holes to Shalunov's profile.
Summary: I love what the Hawks did in this draft. They took risks, they got talent, but they still managed to get depth and projection at both skater positions. They did great, and one of the NHL's best systems just got a major talent influx.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Player Position Selection # HP Rank (1-100)
Boone Jenner Center 37 32
T.J. Tynan Center 67 39
Mike Reilly Defense 98 N/A
Seth Ambroz Right Wing 128 56
Lukas Sedlak Center 158 N/A
Anton Forsberg Goaltender 188 N/A
Day 1: No pick.
The Rest: Boone Jenner is a highly projectable two-way center with decent skills but is more of an in your face forward who works his tail off every shift. To be honest, I was somewhat surprised at T.J. Tynan going at #67. He's an extremely talented little guy and this is a home run pick that could pay huge dividends. Seth Ambroz came into the season as a possible top 15 pick but after a just decent season in the USHL and some issues not related to his on-ice play, his stock fell a ways from where some thought he would get picked months ago. He's a big body forward who plays a power game and is an above-average finisher, but his skating is very poor and a lot needs to change for him to retain his prior prospect value.
Summary: Considering they didn't pick until #37, Columbus did fine and got some talent in Tynan, Reilly and Ambroz, but taking account that there's a good chance for each of them that they don't play, the Blue Jackets also made a smart decision by going safe with Jenner.
Detroit Red Wings
Player Position Selection # HP Rank (1-100)
Tomas Jurco Right Wing 35 35
Xaiver Ouellet Defense 48 65
Ryan Sproul Defense 55 82
Alan Quine Center 85 81
Marek Tvrdon Left Wing 115 N/A
Philippe Hudon Right Wing 145 N/A
Mattias Backman Defense 146 N/A
Richard Nedomel Defense 175 N/A
Alexei Marchenko Defense 205 34
Day 1: No pick.
The Rest: Tomas Jurco is one of the top-10 players in the entire draft in terms of raw skills and while there are a couple of concerns with his game, I heard enough positives on him since the rankings originally went up that in a rerank I would bump him up a number of spots. This is the kind of pick where you can get a legit top producer for your big club, but there is a decent amount of risk to the pick too. I heard Xavier Ouellet was going to fall out of the top 100 and thought when I ranked him 65 that it was partially off the board, but then Detroit goes and takes him at 48. He's a great puck-mover and thinks the game well, but his below-average skating and physical game have caused worries. Ryan Sproul came on really late and has above-average raw tools, but he's a long ways away and is the prototypical model of a project. Alan Quine is a good skater with a fine skill set, but was somewhat underwhelming this year. Marek Tvrdon is a major sleeper pick as a big-body skilled forward whose season was quickly derailed by injury. Philippe Hudon is a good power forward with fine hockey sense, but he's a very poor skater and doesn't have much offensive skill. I loved, loved the Alexei Marchenko pick and based on what Detroit has said, they believe he'll be coming to North America soon. I have yet to hear one negative report about Marchenko's play in Russia and while he doesn't bleed top-end tools, he has an above-average skill set and in my opinion is a projectable player into the league and not into a depth role either.
Summary: They didn't have a first round pick, but Detroit walked away with a boatload of talent by tasking risks left and right. Most of their risks will likely fall flat but if only a few hit they will be significant contributors. Keep your eye out on Alexei Marchenko, because he has the potential to get people saying "Detroit did it again".
Nashville Predators
Player Position Selection # HP Rank (1-100)
Magnus Hellberg Goaltender 38 N/A
Miikka Salomaki Center 52 74
Josh Shalla Left Wing 94 N/A
Garrett Noonan Defense 112 N/A
Simon Karlsson Defense 142 N/A
Chase Balisy Center 170 N/A
Brent Andrews Left Wing 202 N/A
Day 1: No pick.
The Rest: Magnus Hellberg played very well in the Allsvenskan league, posting a .936 save percentage and while he isn't the most advanced goalie available at #38, he has off the chart physical tools and isn't exactly a project goalie either. Miikka Salomaki is a low ceiling two-way prospect who can play center and the wing and can somewhat project onto a bottom-six if development goes right. Chase Balisy looked very impressive in his freshman season and contributed a high level of offense in his second draft eligible season. He's a solid distributor with fine hockey sense and a good two-way game, but no stand out offensive tool and a below-average frame make him a low-tier projection. Andrews is a hard-working power forward, but there's not much upside to him.
Summary: This was a somewhat safe draft for Nashville, but with no first rounder and only two picks in the top 60, you didn't expect them to come away with much and I don't think they did. They could turn one of these picks into a regular or maybe two, if they get lucky but it's hard to see significant contribution coming from this class.
St. Louis Blues
Player Position Selection # HP Rank (1-100)
Ty Rattie Right Wing 32 21
Dmitrij Jaskin Right Wing 41 20
Joel Edmunson Defense 46 43
Jordan Binnington Goaltender 88 N/A
Yannick Veilleux Left Wing 102 N/A
Niklad Lundstrom Goaltender 132 N/A
Ryan Tesink Center 162 N/A
Teemu Eronen Defense 192 N/A
Day 1: No pick.
The Rest: The Blues didn't have a first rounder but on day two they picked up two first round talents in Ty Rattie and Dmitrij Jaskin. Rattie is a dynamic puck-handler while Jaskin is a hard-nosed power forward who's good defensively with decent offensive skills. Joel Edmunson made a steady rise throughout the draft season and has the looks of a fine, towering defensive defender who can move the puck at a decent level. Jordan Binnington was a goalie I heard good things about, but I don't see true pro potential there. Yannick Veilleux has a decent frame and an okay skill set, but I wouldn't classify him as a below-average offensive player as he can be a decent scorer with his shot. Ryan Tesink is a decent skater with a real high-level work ethic but a below-average skill level. It's hard to see a player with his poor size and skill making it despite the intangibles.
Summary: Despite not having a pick until #32, the Blues were still able to take a fair amount of talent and got a projectable top six forward in Jaskin and a big upside/risk pick in Rattie. Edmunson still has a bit to go, but seeing him in the league at the least in a depth role is reasonable but he has the tools to go beyond that. I'm not crazy about anyone after that, but those three picks alone make this a good class for the Blues.
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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Plugging Holes (06/26)
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