There won’t be much suspense with the first two picks, but after Edmonton and Buffalo are finished, things could get interesting. Arizona has the third selection and could go defense or a scoring center. The Coyotes hold the cards and could change the entire first round selection process with the player they select.
The latest mocks have the front office leaning toward a defender and if that’s the case, Noah Hanifin of Boston College will be the pick, but if they decide to go with a scorer, Dylan Strome or Matthew Barzal are the likely candidates.
Toronto has the fourth pick and this could be interesting. With the recent hiring of Mike Babcock as coach, many NHL experts now believe the Maple Leafs will become a more physical hockey team and that would mean management will look for a prospect with good size.
Strome fits the criteria and could begin his career with the Leafs if available. Another option is Mikko Rantanen. At 6’4″ and nearly 200 pounds, this youngster has the physical presence the team may need if they want to escape the bottom half of the Eastern Conference and become a regular in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Mitch Marner is a coveted winger and should be among the top-6 picks and despite his diminutive size, Toronto could take a chance and add the high scoring youngster. Carolina is another option for the young man as the Hurricanes own the fifth overall pick and could use the help on the offensive end of the ice.
These young men are all among the top-10 prospects in the latest player rankings and each bring something special to the table and with a bit of luck and some hard work, they could become the next generation of stars in hockey.
