By Scott Wheeler, Max Bultman and Corey Pronman
Last year, for the first time, we tested out an “if I were GM” mock draft, swapping out what we predict will happen to make our own selections for each team. Today, it’s back by popular demand, with Max Bultman joining prospect writers Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler to add a third perspective (and to limit Pronman and Wheeler’s ability to read off of each other’s lists).
The order was drawn at random, with Pronman going first, Wheeler second and Bultman third as they picked the first round for their assigned teams. Here’s how it played out.
1. (Pick by Pronman): Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University
If I’m a manager in this spot, I have to at least consider other options. Celebrini is a stud, a potential elite player, but there are some defensemen I like a ton that I have to at least ponder. The pondering doesn’t last long, though, and we draft our potential first-line center for the next decade or longer.
2. (Pick by Wheeler): Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg
I’d strongly consider Artyom Levshunov here and have flipped the two on my board throughout the year (Levshunov actually spent more time at No. 2 than Demidov). The draw of adding a stud two-way first-pairing type to , , Sam Rinzel and company is real. But Demidov’s a game-breaker who could be ’s winger of the future and a second potential point-per-game producer up front. I’d bet on his skill level.
3. (Pick by Bultman): Artyom Levshunov, RHD, Michigan State University
If I’m Anaheim, this draft class offers the perfect opportunity to add a difference-maker on defense. I’d go with Levshunov here because of his all-around impact, with the ability to bring substantial offense and take tough minutes in a big frame. He’s a perfect fit in a Ducks pipeline that skews forward-heavy right now.
4. (Pick by Pronman): Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary Hitmen
I don’t expect Yakemchuk to go this high on actual draft day, but it doesn’t deter me as I’m a big fan of this player. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who has a ton of skill, scored 30 goals in the WHL this season, is competitive and skates well enough. He has the potential to be a No. 1 defenseman if he hits. He’s exactly what Columbus needs in its rebuild.
5. (Pick by Wheeler): Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs
A couple of D are my BPA here, but with David Reinbacher, , and Logan Mailloux and a clear need down the middle, I’m not sure the gap between the available D and the top centers is enough for me to double down. Catton gives a dimension of skating and skill that the Habs core could really use. I lean him over Cayden Lindstrom, Tij Iginla (a winger) and the other available forwards. Had the Habs taken a forward a year ago, this decision would have been more straightforward for me. As it stands, I don’t love it.
6. Utah (Pick by Bultman): Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
This is a great board for a team that could use some high-end talent on the back end, with four premium defensemen still available. There’s an argument to go for a more dynamic offensive type in Zeev Buium or Zayne Parekh after picking Dmitry Simashev last year, but for me, this one came down to Silayev and Sam Dickinson, two-way horses who project to play massive minutes as NHLers. In the end, I couldn’t pass up Silayev’s rare size and skating combo, and even rarer U18 production in the KHL.
7. (Pick by Pronman): Zeev Buium, LHD, University of Denver
Ottawa is ecstatic to get Buium at No. 7. He just had one of the best draft-eligible seasons ever by a college defenseman, posting similar points to as a draft-plus-two. The skating between the two is far apart, but Ottawa is hoping to draft a dynamic, PP1 type of defenseman who can own the puck at even strength. He is exactly what the organization needs and is the best player available here.
8. (Pick by Wheeler): Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw Spirit
The Kraken have never drafted a premium D prospect … until now. They have an obvious need in their pool for an offensive defenseman and Parekh addresses it. He’s the most talented defenseman in this draft. I considered Dickinson here as well, but I’d bet Parekh is going to become the star D that Seattle needs.
9. (Pick by Bultman): Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers
The Flames are elated to land Lindstrom, who has the kind of toolkit that usually doesn’t last this long. The big question will be his health, after playing only 32 regular-season games with injuries to his hand and back. But to get a big, smooth-skating forward — whether at center or wing — who put up nearly 1.5 points per game in the WHL this season is a huge opportunity for a Flames team in need of a centerpiece for their farm system.
10. (Pick by Pronman): Sam Dickinson, LHD, London Knights
I’m torn between Dickinson and Beckett Sennecke right here. I think as a pure player, Sennecke may be better and has the high-end offensive upside to be an impact wing if he hits. But New Jersey has a lot of talent on the wing, especially if suddenly is not a sure thing to stay down the middle long-term, and I don’t think picking a top-six wing is really maximizing my asset at No. 10. We would have loved to have gotten Lindstrom for this reason before those darn Flames snatched him, but we’ll go with Dickinson here. Yes, we have invested major draft capital in and , who are both great players, but Dickinson could be the best pure defender between the three of them and with all our defense talent he doesn’t need to be a go-to puck-mover. I love his role as a matchup defenseman who you can pair with Hughes or Nemec and let them run around making plays.
11. (Pick by Wheeler): Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP
We’re now in the range in the draft where the best players available are wingers (Eiserman, Iginla, Sennecke) or a smaller center (Konsta Helenius). The Sabres’ pool is such that they don’t have any clear hole or position they need to target. So I like operating from a position of strength, taking a swing on Eiserman and his unique one-shot scoring package.
12. (Pick by Bultman): Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals
The Flyers were sweating the Buffalo pick a bit, hoping Sennecke would make it to No. 12, and are quite happy to get him here. They pounce on a highly skilled winger with size and smooth skating, who finished his season with quite the crescendo in the OHL playoffs. Any pause that may have come with taking a winger with their top pick for the second consecutive year is offset by two factors: 1. Sennecke would be my top player on the board, regardless of position; and 2. The board starts to skew toward wingers in this range, with undersized center Helenius the top alternative consideration.
13. (Pick by Pronman): Stian Solberg, LHD, Vålerenga
Minnesota was hoping to add a dynamic forward like Sennecke but is pleased to add a potential top-four hard-to-play-against type of defenseman in Solberg. We debated Adam Jiricek here, but Solberg’s end-of-season play was too convincing, and his pure compete level is among the best in the draft to go with his size, skating and solid puck play.
14. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Wheeler): Tij Iginla, LW, Kelowna Rockets
The Sharks’ pool desperately needs a stud D prospect, but the gap between a player like Iginla and the field of D is too pronounced to ignore. After Jiricek’s lost time, I don’t think I’d feel fully comfortable targeting him as high as No. 14. This came down to Iginla and Helenius for me, but with Celebrini and coming down the middle (plus possibilities like Filip Bystedt and David Edstrom on the way), grabbing a winger of Iginla’s caliber who could play with them had a stronger pull.
15. (Pick by Bultman): Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW, Mora IK
Detroit was really hoping to come away with Sennecke or Iginla for a big injection of talent on the wing. But with both gone, it’s left with a tough choice between Brandsegg-Nygård and Helenius, the top remaining center who had a tremendous season in Liiga. Ultimately, while Brandsegg-Nygård had less production than Helenius while playing in the Swedish Allsvenskan during the regular season, he offers many projectable NHL traits, including a big-time shot and a complete two-way profile that makes him an ideal complement to Detroit’s scoring wingers in the top six.
16. (Pick by Pronman): Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit
I’m tempted to go defenseman here for the Blues and take Jiricek but I’m too intrigued by Helenius’ skill. He’s a super smart playmaker who competes and reminds me a lot of Blues center . I do wonder if you can build a winner around top-two-line centers of that size, but they also have Dalibor Dvorsky, who is bigger, and it’s a problem they can figure out later.
17. (Pick by Wheeler): Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel
This is where things start to open up in the draft. The Caps’ pool is strong at wing but could use a boost at both C and Dofficial boston bruins website. I like Hage’s skating, length, skill level and premium position for them in this range over the available D. He’s probably going to go a little lower than this on draft day but I’m a big believer.
18. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Bultman): Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow
Chicago lands another skilled Russian winger here after their late-May trade-up with the Islanders. In Chernyshov, they get a winger with skill, scoring ability and the size to play a power game that will complement some of their speedy two-way centers and now Demidov as well. Jiricek could make sense, too, as a defenseman with great mobility, but Chernyshov gives them a little more size to an impressive young forward pool.edmonton oilers hockeydb
19. (Pick by Pronman): Adam Jiricek, RHD, HC Plzen
Jiricek is a mobile 6-3 defenseman who can move the puck and make stops. He is the best player available at this slot, plays a style the Golden Knights covet and is a potential top-four defenseman for them, presuming they don’t trade him away.
20. (Pick by Wheeler): Emil Hemming, RW, TPS
Hemming doesn’t necessarily fit the player type the Islanders have drafted at forward but they took a polarizing Finn when they drafted , he’s got the size they covet even if it’s not deployed in their style, and I think their pool could benefit from more talent/scoring punch up front. I’d probably consider all of him, Liam Greentree and Sacha Boisvert (Boisvert is the closest stylistic fit) in this scenario. Hemming’s higher individual skill level and late June birthday were factors for me. Had Jiricek been available one pick later, he would have been my pick here because they could use a strong D prospect, but their pool is weak at forward, too, and they just need to find talent.
21. (Pick by Bultman): Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph Storm
The Kings haven’t made a first-round pick since 2021. Here they get a speedy, competitive center who could potentially play in all situations for them down the line. I did have some hesitancy picking a center considering L.A.’s investment in the position in recent years, but and Philip Danault won’t be around forever, and may end up best cast on the wing. There’s a case to be made for a swing on Trevor Connelly’s upside instead, but I think Luchanko has a lot of winning traits and is worthy of the pick.
22. (Pick by Pronman): Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie Colts
I’m a huge fan of Beaudoin’s game. He’s a hyper-competitive center with size who I think has some offensive potential as a pro, too. I think he could be a great third-line center in the NHL and given this player’s character, it wouldn’t surprise me if he found a way to keep getting better.
23. (Pick by Wheeler): Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor Spitfires
The Leafs’ pool could probably use a D more than a forward with this pick. I thought about guys like E.J. Emery, Leo Sahlin Wallenius and even Aron Kiviharju and Henry Mews (who I think their development team could get the most out of). But it’s not as though having Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten and company means their forward group doesn’t need more, either. And there are a number of forwards I like a little more here. Terik Parascak’s smarts would fit with the Leafs. I considered Boisvert long and hard. But I still believe in Greentree in this range even after a disappointing U18s and the Leafs’ pool could use a player of his profile with his size and scoring.
24. (Pick by Bultman): Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City Storm
I’m approaching Connelly here the way I think NHL GMs will. A lot will of course depend on how Connelly interviews and teams’ respective due diligence processes, but I think this is around the point in the draft where his talent will be clearly higher than the next best alternatives. Colorado can hope Connelly’s potentially dynamic skill helps them maintain a deep offensive attack even while devoting significant cap space to their stars.
25. Ottawa Senators (Pick by Pronman): Charlie Elick, RHD, Brandon Wheat Kings
I debated taking Leo Sahlin Wallenius here, but we’ve drafted Buium already and I don’t know how I’d feel about leaving the first round with two 6-foot-ish defensemen. Elick is a big, highly mobile projected shutdown defender in the NHL who we can play next to Buium or .
26. Montreal Canadiens (Pick by Wheeler): Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks
After taking Catton early, the Habs are thrilled to continue to build their pipeline down the middle with the addition of Boisvert, whose size, developing power game, skill, competitiveness and intangibles make him a natural fit as a potential 3C of the future behind Catton and Suzuki.
27. (Pick by Bultman): Yegor Surin, C, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
The Hurricanes have drafted a lot of skill in recent years, and here they complement those picks by adding a competitive center in Surin, who is no slouch offensively, either — he finished third in MHL playoff scoring, trailing only Demidov and 20-year-old Vladislav Romanov. Surin is also one of the youngest players in this class, and while there was some temptation to pick Emery here to keep the Hurricanes’ blue line cupboard stocked, Surin stood out as a great fit in Carolina.
28. Calgary Flames (Pick by Pronman): Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD, Växjö Lakers HC
LSW is one of the best skaters in his age group. He’s been a leader for his Swedish age group due to how good his feet are and the fact he can move pucks, too. He’s not the biggest defenseman ever, but he still looks like a potential NHL defenseman and Calgary needs those in their system.
29. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Wheeler): Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars
Parascak’s the type of forward who thrives playing with talented, play-driving linemates and could someday excel alongside a or , or opposite a shooter like .
30. Philadelphia Flyers (Pick by Bultman): EJ Emery, RHD, U.S. NTDP
The Flyers addressed the forward group early in the draft, so here they pick up a big toolsy blueliner who could have easily gone earlier in the first round. They did add earlier this year, and obviously you’d love to add a top center, but at this point in the draft, that kind of center isn’t available and Emery can add size and mobility to the blue line pool.
31. (Pick by Pronman): Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s College
If I’m Dallas, I’m feeling great about my organization. I have excellent veterans, I have young players playing big roles on my playoff run, and while I don’t have the deepest farm system, there are very good prospects coming. I feel like this organization is positioned to take the moonshot on Letourneau as opposed to a more known commodity playing at a higher level like Linus Eriksson or Julius Miettinen. The last time Dallas bet on a huge forward who could skate and played at a low level, it was . That one didn’t work, but every pick is a gamble. Letourneau’s talent and upside are quite appealing if he hits.
32. (Pick by Wheeler): Aron Kiviharju, LHD, HIFK
The best version of the Rangers’ blue line to date was this year’s, with the size and strength of , , and complemented by and . The common belief is there are two roles for that latter type: the first-pairing/PP1 one and the third-pairing/PP2 one. And Gustafsson’s 32 years old. They bet on Fox’s smarts before and I’d bet on Kiviharju to become their LHD3/PP2 guy of the future and balance off a bigger partner nicely.
(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic. Photos: Dale Preston, Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images)
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