2017 EHE Mock Draft: Draft Lottery Edition

Editor's Note: I did these rankings for fun, because watching my minor-league caliber Kings get ragdolled by Travis's Canucks is the complete opposite of that. These writeups are based on my personal viewings of these prospects and are my views only, so please go easy and enjoy.  

Mock Draft, Draft Lottery Edition 

1.   Arizona – C Nico Hischier, Halifax (QMJHL)

If all goes according to plan, the Coyotes should stay the course and select the same player they did in WSS scout Doug Waite’s March mock draft – only this time at the number one spot. Hischier is a complete center whose dynamic skillset, work rate, and world-class intelligence sets him apart as the cream of this year’s draft crop.  He’ll be a welcome addition to an Arizona team that needs his elite talent.

2.    Chicago – C Nolan Patrick, Brandon (WHL)

The Blackhawks should be thrilled to select Wheat Kings center Nolan Patrick second, but not without some reservations. Though he began the 2016-17 campaign as the presumptive top prospect, Patrick’s stock fell throughout the season due to injuries -- most notably a high ankle sprain -- and somewhat disengaged performances, by his admittedly lofty standards. Still, Patrick has all the tools required to be a foundational player for Chicago for years to come, and his topsy-turvy draft year may well have been a mere blip on Patrick's road to NHL stardom.  

3.   Buffalo – D Miro Heiskanen, HIFK (SM-Liiga, FIN)

GM Roberto Martucci’s Sabres endured a challenging 2016-17 season, but got exactly the lucky break they needed by winning the third overall selection in the draft lottery. Good timing, too, because Finnish rearguard Miro Heiskanen is the perfect fit for a team that desperately needs an impact player on the back end to complement centers Auston Matthews and Pierre-Luc Dubois. An agile, confident puckmover who excels in transition and is defensively reliable, Heiskanen followed up a historically superb season -- his statline was the best by a U18 Finnish Elite League defenseman since 1981 -- with a dominant performance at the World U18s.  He’ll need to adapt to the more physical North American game, but he’ll be the crown jewel of Buffalo’s blueline in short order.

4. Vegas – C Casey Mittelstadt, Eden Prairie / Green Bay (MN-HS/USHL)

The GM-less Vegas Golden Knights are starting their franchise with a completely blank slate, so what better way to kick off their roster than by selecting a potential cornerstone center in Minnesota native Casey Mittelstadt?  Mittelstadt, who was named Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey as the best high school player in the state this season, may just be the best offensive player available in this draft with his combination of terrific puck skills, a deceptively quick shot and release, and excellent hockey sense. He elected to stay in Minnesota to chase a championship with state powerhouse Eden Prairie, but had no trouble adjusting to the USHL in the second half of the season, as he led Green Bay in scoring during his stint there. That being said, he scored more points on the man advantage than at even strength, and looked disinterested at times throughout the year.  Mittelstadt is off to college hockey next season, as he’s committed to the Minnesota Golden Gophers for 2017-18.

5. Dallas – RW/C Gabriel Vilardi, Windsor (OHL)

The Dallas Stars were nowhere close to repeating their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins this year, but did get some respite in the form of the fifth overall selection. With GM Bob McGugan’s team being relatively well-stocked down the middle and on defense, Windsor Spitfires right winger Gabe Vilardi would be a natural fit in an organization that’s bereft of scoring wingers. He’s a big, versatile forward who is capable of driving the offense, is equally adept at north-south and east-west hockey, is excellent along the boards, and can also play as a natural center. Skating is his biggest issue, as he lacks the top-end speed to be an elite skater at the NHL level, but he possesses the work ethic to improve that over time.

6. Calgary – D Cale Makar, Brooks (AJHL)

Brooks Bandits defenseman Cale Makar took the AJHL by storm this season, and to those who’ve watched him play, his #6 ranking comes as no surprise.  It’s no stretch to suggest that Makar is the best draft-eligible player ever to emerge from the second-tier AJHL, a league which boasts Blues defenseman Colton Parayko among its NHL exports. Makar’s an electric offensive defenseman with explosive skating ability, puck control, and quarterbacking capabilities who also has the rare ability to draw multiple markers in and still create chances by himself.  Scouts have expressed concerns about the quality of opposition that he’s faced and his smallish 5’10 stature, but the UMass-Amherst commit has been the best player in several outings with Canada’s U18s this year. He’s exactly what the offense-starved Calgary Flames are looking for on their blueline.

7.   Tampa Bay – C Cody Glass, Portland (WHL)

Another player who has risen up the draft rankings this season is Portland’s Cody Glass, a well-rounded, tenacious centerman whose playing style screams pro potential. Glass is an intelligent, gritty competitor whose exceptional hockey sense allows him to consistently make the right play on both sides of the ice. Though he’s not the most naturally gifted offensive player, he’s always in the right position to generate chances and capitalize on opposition mistakes, which bodes well for his chances at the NHL level. The Lightning don’t have any pressing needs in either skating position, so they’re in a good position to take a player who should become an essential all-around asset in the very near future.

8. Philadelphia – D Timothy Liljegren, Rögle BK (SHL / Allsvenskan)

Initially projected to be a top two pick at the outset of this season, Swedish defenseman Timothy Liljegren struggled with mononucleosis for a significant portion of the year and never truly recaptured his top form during the 2016-17 campaign. Still, Liljegren’s combination of puck-moving ability, excellent skating, and offensive vision make for an upside that’s too high to pass up on at the #8 spot. The Flyers already boast a wealth of forward depth in their prospect pool and could use a defenseman of Liljegren’s caliber to offset Nikita Tryamkin’s unexpected departure.

9. Detroit (via San Jose) – C Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound (OHL)

 Owen Sound Attack center Nick Suzuki was one of the OHL’s biggest surprises of 2016-17. One of the youngest players eligible for this year’s draft, Suzuki is an excellent creative forward who can generate offensive opportunities from everywhere and never stops buzzing around the ice. He’s most comfortable as the setup man for his linemates (which included fellow draft-eligibles Jonah Gadjovich and overager Kevin Hancock), but is no slouch at scoring goals himself, as proven by his 45 tallies this season. He’s not the biggest player, nor is he the most dynamic skater, but his upside is as high as anyone’s in this draft.  Many pundits expect Red Wings GM Cisco Valle to look for a defenseman with his top pick, but given Troy Stecher’s surprise emergence and Julius Honka’s progression, Detroit could elect to select Suzuki to add more offensive talent instead.

10. Winnipeg – W Eeli Tolvanen, Sioux City (USHL)

Sioux City winger Eeli Tolvanen was one of the USHL’s most lethal shooters this season, as he led all draft-eligible players with thirty goals, an impressive feat in the notoriously defensive and low-scoring USHL. Indeed, Tolvanen combines a hard, accurate shot with a lightning-quick release to rip the puck past opposition goaltenders, and the team that drafts him will be hoping that he can carry that scoring touch over to the NHL level. He’s also a speedster who excels at finding open spaces. Although he’s a smaller forward at 5’10, and isn’t the most consistent defensive player, his natural knack for scoring should appeal to Jets GM Jonathan Tremblay, whose team is in need of reliable scoring wingers both at the pro level and in the system. Tolvanen will join Boston College for 2017-18.   

11. Calgary (via Columbus) – LW Elias Pettersson, Timra (SWE, Allsvenskan)

Flames GM Stephen Gough strikes me as the type of manager who’s willing to take a risk with his second first-round pick. If that’s true, don’t be surprised to see shifty Swedish winger Elias Petterson go to Calgary at the #11 spot. Petterson oozes offensive potential and boasts tremendous confidence with the puck on his stick, and at 6’2, he has the frame to become an impact player in Calgary. However, he’s had some very subpar showings in international play -- particularly on smaller North American ice during the World Juniors, where he was virtually invisible -- which has led some scouts to question how well he’ll adapt to the physical and more constrictive nature of NHL hockey. He’s got the skillset, but can he put it all together? We’ll have to wait and see.

12. Florida – RW Owen Tippett, Mississauga (OHL)

The Panthers should be elated to see Steelheads winger Owen Tippett still on the board, since he’s one of the best pure scorers available in this draft. Tippett plays a power game and is willing to drive through opponents and do the dirty work on the boards to reach high-danger scoring areas. Add to that excellent top-end speed for his size, and Florida might have a real gem of a power forward in their hands. As with most power forwards at the junior level, however, Tippett primarily plays a north-south game and hasn’t yet learned to slow down his stride to add some unpredictability to his offensive repertoire. Having said that, he has all the tools to become a tough, scoring winger in the NHL.

13. Toronto – C Martin Necas, Brno (CZE)

Necas is one of the more enigmatic and polarizing players available in the top half of this draft, as he’s been ranked anywhere from third to twenty-something throughout the season, but Toronto will be glad to scoop up the talented Czech center thirteenth overall. Necas boasts a wide array of abilities, as he’s a great skater, has deceptively quick hands and keen vision. On top of all that, he also plays a responsible defensive game. Given that Toronto doesn’t have any pressing needs in a specific position, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to add a versatile center with top-six potential to the Leafs’ stable.

14. Detroit – D Erik Brännström, HV71 (SHL, SWE).

The last few times that a team went off the board to select a rising Swedish defenseman, some of the names picked included little-known players like Hampus Lindholm and Erik Karlsson. Detroit will be hoping for similar dividends from compatriot Erik Brännström, a small, but smooth-skating two-way defenseman who finished the year in the Swedish Elite League. Brännström's offensive talents lean more towards puck distribution than scoring, but he’s got an eye for springing forwards with intelligent outlet passes and is a natural fit for a transition-based system. Of course, his smaller size comes with the obvious caveats, but his upside is worth the risk of taking him this high on the board.

15. New Jersey – W Filip Chytil, Zlin (Extraliga, CZE)

To cap off the lottery portion of the draft, look for the Devils to go way off the board to select speedy offensive winger Filip Chytil at fifteen. The Czech-born Chytil showcased his immense talent at the recent World U18s, where he was one of the most impressive players of the tournament. He eluded opposition markers all over the ice, never quit moving his feet, and displayed a remarkable knack for creating dangerous chances in tight space. In terms of skillset,  Chytil can turn on a dime, has superb top-end speed, and also uses his defensive intelligence to pick pucks off opponents’ sticks and turn the play the other way. It’s a gutsy pick, but Chytil has the offensive chops to become a premier offensive talent in the NHL.