Edmonton has struggled for the last decade and having another early pick in the first round is nothing new for the organization, but this year has a bit of a different twist with Auston Mathews as the prize at the end of another miserable season.
Mathews has everything scouts and coaches love in a player. With the ability to score, defend, and make team members better with his play on the ice, this youngster is being compared to some of the great players of today, despite no experience at this level of play.
Toronto is going through a major rebuild project with the team having salary cap problems and a lack of depth on the current roster. The Maple Leafs are looking to add some size and scoring this off season and adding Mathews would be a great start and possibly the piece of the puzzle that gets this franchise back into a regular contender come playoff time.
While Mathews is the big prize, whoever picks second won’t have to look hard as Patrik Laine is just a step behind in the latest player rankings. The 6’4″ youngster has played some great hockey over the last 12 months and could make the immediate jump to the NHL with his size and overall skill set.
A mid-season surge from Columbus might cost the Blue Jackets a shot at these two young prospects, but winger Jesse Puljujärvi is not a bad consolation selection with the third overall pick.
All three of these young men will get their chance to make a splash at the profession they love and with some hard work and a bit of luck, this could be the next generation of stars that takes hockey to the next level.
