1. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University 2. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Corey Pronman): Artyom Levshunov, RHD, Michigan State 3. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Wheeler): Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo 4. Columbus Blue Jackets (Pick by Pronman): Sam Dickinson, LHD, London 5. Montreal Canadiens (Pick by Wheeler): Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg 6. Utah (Pick by Pronman): Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat 7. Ottawa Senators (Pick by Wheeler): Zeev Buium, LHD, University of Denver 8. Seattle Kraken (Pick by Pronman): Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw 9. Calgary Flames (Pick by Wheeler): Tij Iginla, C/LW, Kelowna 10. New Jersey Devils (Pick by Pronman): Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa 11. Buffalo Sabres (Pick by Wheeler): Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary Hitmen The Sabres have drafted a lot of smaller, skilled forwards like Catton and Helenius, and while they’d surely still consider both here and their NHL roster has a strong (and young) nucleus with Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Bowen Byram, their pool does lack a premium D prospect and they go get it with Yakemchuk. Sennecke would make some sense and offer something a little different here as well. 12. Philadelphia Flyers (Pick by Pronman): Berkly Catton, C, Spokane 13. Minnesota Wild (Pick by Wheeler): Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP 14. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Pronman): Stian Solberg, LHD, Valerenga 15. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Wheeler): Konsta Helenius, C, Tappara 16. St. Louis Blues (Pick by Pronman): Adam Jiricek, RHD, Plzen
43rd. Buffalo Sabres (Pick by Wheeler): Aron Kiviharju, LHD, HIFK
Once viewed as one of the top D prospects in the class, Kiviharju’s lost draft year to a knee injury, smaller stature and fine-but-unspectacular U18 worlds push him into the second round. With the Sabres blue line well-positioned, they can afford to play the long game with him and make sure he gets lots of game action before coming over.
BabyBottoms23
Catton, Yakemchuk, or Helenius would be great.
Just hoping it’s not Eiserman or Parekh.
phatsystem
I really like Yakemchuk – I think a different kind of D man than what we have today. I just don’t understand how he would fit. We backed ourselves into a corner with adding Byram, which is totally fine if we really are that bullish on him and I think he’ll be good. Of course we could always trade one of our top 4 D (Dahlin, Byram, Power, and Sammy) but that seems really unlikely. Catton would be a good consolation prize in this scenario, though. He’ll fill out and probably grow an inch or two.
Kiviharju seems like a great 2nd pick. I’d be surprised if he’s there.
3 Comments
1. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University
2. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Corey Pronman): Artyom Levshunov, RHD, Michigan State
3. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Wheeler): Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo
4. Columbus Blue Jackets (Pick by Pronman): Sam Dickinson, LHD, London
5. Montreal Canadiens (Pick by Wheeler): Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg
6. Utah (Pick by Pronman): Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat
7. Ottawa Senators (Pick by Wheeler): Zeev Buium, LHD, University of Denver
8. Seattle Kraken (Pick by Pronman): Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw
9. Calgary Flames (Pick by Wheeler): Tij Iginla, C/LW, Kelowna
10. New Jersey Devils (Pick by Pronman): Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa
11. Buffalo Sabres (Pick by Wheeler): Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary Hitmen
The Sabres have drafted a lot of smaller, skilled forwards like Catton and Helenius, and while they’d surely still consider both here and their NHL roster has a strong (and young) nucleus with Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Bowen Byram, their pool does lack a premium D prospect and they go get it with Yakemchuk. Sennecke would make some sense and offer something a little different here as well.
12. Philadelphia Flyers (Pick by Pronman): Berkly Catton, C, Spokane
13. Minnesota Wild (Pick by Wheeler): Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP
14. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Pronman): Stian Solberg, LHD, Valerenga
15. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Wheeler): Konsta Helenius, C, Tappara
16. St. Louis Blues (Pick by Pronman): Adam Jiricek, RHD, Plzen
43rd. Buffalo Sabres (Pick by Wheeler): Aron Kiviharju, LHD, HIFK
Once viewed as one of the top D prospects in the class, Kiviharju’s lost draft year to a knee injury, smaller stature and fine-but-unspectacular U18 worlds push him into the second round. With the Sabres blue line well-positioned, they can afford to play the long game with him and make sure he gets lots of game action before coming over.
Catton, Yakemchuk, or Helenius would be great.
Just hoping it’s not Eiserman or Parekh.
I really like Yakemchuk – I think a different kind of D man than what we have today. I just don’t understand how he would fit. We backed ourselves into a corner with adding Byram, which is totally fine if we really are that bullish on him and I think he’ll be good. Of course we could always trade one of our top 4 D (Dahlin, Byram, Power, and Sammy) but that seems really unlikely. Catton would be a good consolation prize in this scenario, though. He’ll fill out and probably grow an inch or two.
Kiviharju seems like a great 2nd pick. I’d be surprised if he’s there.