From the Blues perspective it's a much less exciting Night One, at least as things stand, which could always change with the help of the two Second and Third round picks they're sitting with as of now.
Here's the Blues' range from a Mock Draft by the Athletic's two prospect writers that released today.
9. Calgary Flames (Pick by Wheeler): Tij Iginla, C/LW, Kelowna
The Flames strongly consider Carter Yakemchuk from their backyard with the Hitmen, as well as centers Berkly Catton and Konsta Helenius, but take Iginla, not because it’s a feel-good story but because he belongs in the range and fits with the player type they’ve targeted in the past.
10. New Jersey Devils (Pick by Pronman): Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa
Sennecke is a dynamic 6-2 wing who has vaulted up lists in the second half. He is an ideal wing to play alongside Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier and has major offensive upside as a pro.
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
The Flyers take a swing on the dynamic playmaking center in Catton. Ideally they’d add a bit more size after picking Matvei Michkov last year but like with Michkov, Catton’s talent is too much to pass up at 12.
13. Minnesota Wild (Pick by Wheeler): Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP
The Wild would likely strongly consider the natural center in Konsta Helenius here, but they already have a similar player in Marco Rossi and elect to swing on Eiserman’s one-shot scoring talent instead.
14. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Pronman): Stian Solberg, LHD, Valerenga
Sharks step up to take the 6-2, mobile defenseman who had a great World Championships for Norway and is a killer with his physical play, adding some much-needed talent to their upcoming blue line.
15. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Wheeler): Konsta Helenius, C, Tappara
There are others available who they could and should consider in this range (a forward like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard fits their mold, and defenders like Adam Jiricek and EJ Emery would be appealing). But with Helenius available, they grab one of the draft’s top centers yet again (of a slightly higher grade at this stage than Nate Danielson and Marco Kasper, probably, too).
16. St. Louis Blues (Pick by Pronman): Adam Jiricek, RHD, Plzen
Jiricek’s lost season lowers him a bit from where he would have gone if the draft were in January, but he will still be highly sought after. He’s a big right-shot who can skate and displayed excellent two-way play at the Hlinka Gretzky last summer.
17. Washington Capitals (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora IK
The Capitals took one of the most competitive, pro-built, projectable forwards in the draft a year ago when they drafted Ryan Leonard and they double down here with Brandsegg-Nygard. They consider the available centers and defensemen here but MBN’s type, fit and availability aren’t worth passing up on.
18. New York Islanders (Pick by Pronman): Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph
Luchanko’s stock is on the rise especially after a great U18s for Canada. The Islanders have very little coming up the middle, and Luchanko’s speed, compete and hockey sense would make him a potential second or third-line center for them one day.
