Draft Coverage (LIVE)

 With the draft, I will be doing updates after every couple of picks as they come in, as well as periodically throughout Day 2! I'm busy tomorrow so things will be spread out.

Pre-Draft Notes:

Check out my mock! 

Bedard a lock at 1, obviously

Ducks rumored not to take Fantilli at 2?

CBJ heavily considering Will Smith over Leo Carlsson?

CBJ now favored to take Smith over Carlsson or Fantilli.

Trades:

Reilly Smith traded to Pittsburgh for a 3rd Round Pick. Really solid acquisition for the Penguins, and the VGK get this cap space to sign Barbashev to an extension, which he just did. 

Josh Bailey headed to Chicago in a cap dump

Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin headed to Detroit from Edmonton

Draft:

1. Chicago Blackhawks - Connor Bedard (C)

The obvious #1 Pick, who will turn this franchise around. No surprise. 

2. Anaheim Ducks - Leo Carlsson (C)

The Ducks take Carlsson instead of Fantilli. This imo is a good pick, as I personally love Carlsson. This is very intriguing for future picks now.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets - Adam Fantilli (C)

Adam Fantilli is a fantastic pick. In any other draft, he would be a #1 pick. As a Blue Jackets fan myself, I am very relieved we didn't mess this up. 

4. San Jose Sharks - Will Smith (C)

This pick is a big decision. Go Michkov, or Smith? The Sharks elected to take Smith, who is an incredible offensive dynamo. Michkov may be the better play, but Smith will get to the NHL faster. Solid pick. 

5. Montreal Canadiens - David Reinbacher (D)

Reinbacher is the top d man in this draft, though it's strange that they elected to not trade down if they were planning on grabbing Reinbacher.

6. Arizona Coyotes - Dmitri Simashev (D)

What. The Yotes have absolutely no reason to make this pick now. Michkov was on the board!!!! 

7. Philadelphia Flyers - Matvei Michkov (RW)

The Flyers get Michkov! An incredible pick for them, and this could go down as one of the best picks in franchise history. 

8. Washington Capitals - Ryan Leonard (RW)

Ryan Leonard is a very good pick. Washington was probably frustrated they didn't get Michkov, but Leonard is a great consolation prize.

9. Detroit Red Wings - Nate Danielson (C) 

This is a bit off the cuff, but a classic Yzerman pick. He could've gone later, but if they like him, they take him. And I think this is a good pick. 

10. St. Louis Blues - Dalibor Dvorsky (C)

Dvorsky is a really good value pick at 10. The Blues will enjoy him.

11. Vancouver Canucks - Tom Willander (D)

ASP continues to fall. This is a solid pick, but Axel Sandin Pelikka would've been better in my opinion. 

12. Arizona Coyotes - Daniil But (LW)

Daniil But is a good pick, but it begs the question, why didn't they take ASP at pick 6?

13. Buffalo Sabres - Zach Benson (LW)

Really solid pick, though with ASP still free, it begs the question: would he have been better than Benson? Can't complain about getting Benson at 13 though. 

14. Pittsburgh Penguins - Brayden Yager (C)

This is a solid pick, though I think there were better picks available.

15. Nashville Predators - Matthew Wood (RW)

Solid pick. ASP continues to fall. 

16. Calgary Flames - Samuel Honzek (LW)

This is yet another reach, but a solid player. 

17. Detroit Red Wings - Axel Sandin Pelikka (D)

This is really, really good for the Red Wings!

18. Winnipeg Jets - Colby Barlow (LW)

Colby Barlow is a pretty solid pick at this stage in the draft, and he's a good fit for Winnipeg. 

19. Chicago Blackhawks - Oliver Moore (C)

Oliver Moore is a great skater, and solid prospect. Potential 2C in a few years for these Hawks. 

20. Seattle Kraken - Eduard Sale (LW)

Sale is a really, really good offensive player that helps their winger depth. 

21. Minnesota Wild - Charlie Stramel (C)

This is an incredibly weird pick, and a reach that makes Steve Yzerman look like a normal GM. He has decent upside, but a horrible floor. Bad pick. 

22. Philadelphia Flyers - Oliver Bonk (D)

This is another odd pick, though if Briere likes this guy, I understand it. He has some really good flashes of offense and is solid defensively. I'm curious to see how this works out. 

23. New York Rangers - Gabe Perreault (RW) 

This is a really, really good pick for the Rangers. Perrault fell hard, and now he's gonna be the new look prospect for this Rags team. 

24. Nashville Predators - Tanner Molendyk (D)

A bit of a reach, but the d men at this point are all around the same level. 

25. St. Louis Blues - Otto Stenburg (C)

This is a good pick, I like it. I am confused as to why they aren't bolstering their defense though...

26. San Jose Sharks - Quentin Musty (LW)

I really like Musty, and so, I really like this pick. 

27. Colorado Avalanche - Calum Ritchie (C)

This is a really solid late first pick from Colorado.

28. Toronto Maple Leafs - Easton Cowan (RW)

Pretty solid pick, though a bit of a reach. Won't complain though. He should've gone in the 2nd round in my opinion. 

29. St. Louis Blues - Theo Lindstein (D)

I don't actually mind this pick. Good for the D future. 

30. Carolina Hurricanes - Bradly Nadeau (LW)

Good pick. Not letting him fall any further.

31. Colorado Avalanche - Mikhail Gulyayev (D)

I really like this pick. Gulyayev is a really solid, albeit undersized prospect.

32. Vegas Golden Knights - David Edstrom (C)

This is a solid pick, I do indeed like it. That marks the end of the first round!!!! Thanks for reading, and see you guys tomorrow!

SECOND ROUND (will only be covering first few picks) 

33. Anaheim Ducks - Niko Myatovic (LW)

This is confusing to me based on who's currently available. Could've waited till the third round for this one. 

34. Columbus Blue Jackets - Gavin Brindley (C)

With them taking Fantilli last night, this pick is great. They take another Michigan boy.

35. Chicago Blackhawks - Adam Gajan (G) 

Not the best goalie of the draft in my opinion but it's okay. 

From now on, I will only be doing notable picks. 

37. Tampa Bay Lightning - Ethan Gauthier (RW)

Really good value pick at 37 for Tampa

38. Arizona Coyotes - Michael Hrabal (G)

Really good pick here for AZ. I love Hrabal.

40. Washington Capitals - Andrew Cristall (LW)

I personally am not the biggest fan of Cristall.

52. Seattle Kraken - Oskar Fisker Molgaard

A really good pick. I love this guy. 

Now that we're in the third round, I am not going to make comments on any more picks. Any more actual draft coverage will be in draft grades. 

For now, the rest of my draft coverage will be focused on trades/rumors. Maybe I will make a comment when a player I really like gets taken,.