Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2018 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here.
Last month, we released our NHL Draft Lottery editionof our 208 NHL Mock Draft. With the Stanley Cup Final now underway, we release the rest of the first round.
For those who haven’t read the LWOH mock before here are the rules.
1) No trades except for those that have already been made by NHL teams.
2) A two-round Mock draft will be done in four parts. The second part comes out today. More parts will be added in time.
3) Clicking the Player’s name will bring you to a full scouting report.
4) For Picks 30 and 31, we will assume that the team with the home-ice advantage will win each of the three series. Mocks will be updated as each series end if that changes the draft order.
The first 15 picks of our mock draft are found here.
The next 16 picks of our mock draft are found here.
2018 NHL Mock Draft – 2nd Round Lottery Picks
32.) Buffalo Sabres – Jett Woo, Right Defence, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
Previous Pick: Rasmus Dahlin
The Sabres made a great addition to their defence with their first-round pick. They continue to do that with their second-round pick. Woo could end up being the perfect compliment to Dahlin. Woo projects as a potential shut down defenseman, who can also provide a little offence. He will likely never be the biggest offensive threat on his team’s blueline, but he can be a support piece. His defensive game is very strong though, and if he can continue to develop this over the next couple of years, he should have a big impact and play big minutes for his NHL team.
Even as a 16-year-old rookie, he was a key penalty killer and playing against top lines in the second half of last season. That continued this year. He battles hard in the corners and wins physical battles in front of the net. He also maintains good gap control at the defensive end, funnelling attackers to the outside and keeping himself between the puck and the front of the net. Woo’s positioning and instincts are already high-end. Woo throws big hits from time-to-time, but this is another area where he really picks his spots. He does not get himself out of position looking for that hit.
33.) Detroit Red Wings (from Ottawa via New York Rangers) – Jake Wise, Centre, US NTDP, USHL
Previous picks: Noah Dobson, Mattias Samuelsson
The Red Wings addressed their defence with two picks in the first round. With this pick they stay close to home, taking another player from the US NTDP in Ann Arbor, while also getting depth up the middle.
Wise has outstanding hands. His stickhandling and puck control are both excellent. He can beat defenders one-on-one. Wise protects the puck well in the cycle game and buys time for teammates to get open in the offensive zone. His passing skills and vision are also very good, and he can make a tape-to-tape pass once a linemate does find some space. He is a very smart player, who moves the puck efficiently finds the open man. Wise pairs his playmaking ability with some scoring skills. His wrist shot and snapshot feature quick releases. They are also accurate. He gets good, but not great, power on his shots, but it is the release that is his best weapon.
34.) Florida Panthers (from Arizona) – Jesse Ylonen, Right Wing/Left Wing, Espoo United, Mestis
Previous pick: Ryan Merkley,
The Panthers add scoring depth in the second round. Ylonen couples his strong skating with good stickhandling skills. He protects the puck well and can make moves while at top speed. He combines his quick cuts, with strong dangles and toe-drags. This makes him dangerous off the rush. While he works to protect the puck down low and does a decent job in the cycle game, he could be even better with added muscle mass. Ylonen can be knocked off the puck a little too easily right now. He has strong passing skills and decent vision. Ylonen has the patience and poise to wait for an opportunity to make a play and then hit a teammate with a tape-to-tape pass. Ylonen has a good wrist shot and release. It features both power and accuracy. His release is quick and deceptive and can fool goaltenders.
35.) Montreal Canadiens – Ty Dellandrea, Centre, Flint Firebirds, OHL
Previous Pick: Filip Zadina
The Habs desperately need to address their centre depth. While Filip Zadina was too much to pass up in the first round, Dellandrea fits the bill in round two. Dellandrea scores goals with an excellent wrist and snapshot. He has the hockey IQ to find soft spots in the opposing defence and gets his shot off from the high slot. His shots are powerful and accurate. He also has a good backhand. Dellandrea gets to the dirty areas of the ice, where he has the hand-eye coordination to get deflections and pounce on rebounds. He could be even more effective there with a bit more strength, as this would help him to establish a position in front of the net. He goes there often without the puck and provides a good screen in front of the goalie.
As a playmaker, Dellandrea plays a very straightforward, north-south game. He makes quick smart, passes to teammates. Dellandrea is not the type of player to make a number of fancy moves or stickhandling with the play or to try to thread the needle on a dangerous pass. Instead, he makes the smart play, keeps the puck moving, and looks to maintain possession down low. This is another area where he needs a bit more lower-body strength to dominate down low.
36.) Detroit Red Wings – Jack McBain, Centre, Toronto Jr. Canadiens, OJHL
Previous picks: Noah Dobson, Mattias Samuelsson, Jake Wise
The Wings go for additional forward depth with their fourth pick in the top 40. McBain has excellent size and reach. He uses his frame effectively to win battles in the corners and to get to the front of the net, where he screens goalies and gets tip-ins and rebounds. McBain looks to extend plays in the cycle and finding teammates with a pass in front of the net. His big frame helps him to protect the puck, but he can work on being stronger on the puck. He has very good vision and passing skills. His strong hockey IQ allows him to anticipate plays, and find open teammates for a scoring pass. He can make tape-to-tape passes through traffic, as well as land a saucer pass right on his teammates’ stick.
McBain also has the smarts to get open without the puck. He finds soft spots in the defence and gets open for a pass. McBain has an excellent wrist shot and release. He also has a good one-timer. He needs to shoot more often though. McBain can sometimes pass up a good shot, holding onto the puck too long, and waiting for a better opportunity that does not come.
37.) Vancouver Canucks – Calen Addison, Left Defence, Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL
Previous Pick: Brady Tkachuk
The Canucks go for the best player on the board, who happens to be a defenceman and addresses a big need for the team. Addison is an outstanding skater. This helps him to play a two-way game, and be effective at both ends of the ice. He is one of the fastest skaters in this draft class, and shows this both forwards and backwards.
His edgework, agility and pivots are also elite. Addison covers a ton of ice. He can transition quickly from offence to defence and vice-versa. Addison can join the rush or pinch in at the blue line and still get back defensively. When a turnover is created, he transitions to offence extremely quickly. There are some issues with power and balance though, as he can sometimes be knocked off the puck, or have trouble winning battles in the corners or in front of the net. Addison could use some more core muscle.
38.) Montreal Canadiens (from Chicago) – Jay O’Brien, Centre, Thayer Academy, USHS
Previous Picks: Filip Zadina, Ty Dellandrea,
With four second-round picks, the Habs can afford to go for a boom or bust selection. O’Brien has been playing High School competition with Thayer Academy and so he will need to adjust to playing better competition, and it remains to be seen how well his skills will translate to those higher levels. There is little doubt though that there is some real skill here. O’Brien is an excellent skater. He has very good top-end speed and reaches it in just a few strides. His first step is very quick and allows him to gain separation from his opponents. He can create odd-man rushes and breakaways with that speed.
O’Brien marries his excellent skating ability with very good stickhandling. He is able to handle the puck at top speed and make moves on defenders. He has the skill to get by a defender, cut to the net, and the soft hands to beat the goaltender. O’Brien also has an excellent wrist shot. He can score from the top of the circles. His release is quick and is also deceptive for goaltenders. O’Brien has a knack for getting open and finding the soft spots in the defence. This allows him to get off a quick wrist shot or one-timer. O’Brien is much more of a goal scorer than a playmaker at this point. However, he does have some decent playmaking ability.
39.) New York Rangers – Nils Lundkvist, Right Defence, Lulea HF, SHL
Previous Picks: Oliver Wahlstrom, K’Andre Miller, Serron Noel
Lundkvist is skilled with the puck on his stick. He can skate the puck out of danger as well as lead the rush in the transition game. Lundkvist has poise at the point on the power play. He controls the play and can move laterally to create passing and shooting lanes. He sees the ice well and has the passing skill to make plays from the point, to make the first pass in transition, as well as to make the long breakaway passes.
Lundkvist is much more comfortable as a playmaker than as a shooter. When he does get a shot, its often by sneaking in from the point and taking a shot from the top of the faceoff circles. He has a good wrist shot with a quick release. However, Lundkvist lacks power on his slap shot and one-timer. He will need to work on these. Some added upper body strength can help, but he is likely to always be more of a playmaker than a shooter on the point.
40.) Edmonton Oilers – Jonatan Berggren, Centre/Right Wing, Skelleftea AIK, SHL
Previous Pick: Ty Smith
The Oilers add defence with their first pick. Here they add a skilled forward with the versatility to play centre and wing. The Oilers need speed and Berggren is an outstanding skater. He is very fast and reaches top speed in just a few strides. This creates breakaways and odd-man rushes. He is dangerous taking a defender wide on the rush and also gets in quickly on the forecheck. Berggren has a low centre of gravity and is difficult to move off the puck. His agility and edgework are also strong.
Berggren may be small, but he plays a heavy game. He is a torpedo on the forecheck, getting in quickly on opposing defenders. He also battles hard on the boards. Berggren is not afraid to take a hit to make a play, or to take abuse in front of the net. He scores most of his goals in tight. He has the soft hands to finish on breakaways. Berggren also has the hand-eye coordination and quickness to pounce on rebounds. However, Berggren needs to work on his shot. From further out, his wrist shot lacks power and needs a quicker release.
Berggren is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. When he creates turnovers on the forecheck, he is quick to move the puck to an open linemate. He is also good at finding open players on the rush. Berggren has good vision. He anticipates the play and makes smart passes with the puck.
41.) New York Islanders – Jonny Tychonick, Left Defence, Penticton Vees, BCHL
Previous Picks: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Joel Farabee
The Islanders addressed their forward group in the first round. With their third pick of the draft, they take the best defenceman still on the board. Tychonick is a little undersized but makes up for it with elite skating ability. He has outstanding speed in both directions. It becomes a real weapon when he is on the rush. It also allows him to get deep on the attack, or pinch at the line, and still get back defensively. He reaches his top speed in just a few strides. Tychonick also has outstanding agility and edgework. He can change directions on a dime. Strong pivots allow him to transition from offence to defence and vice-versa. Tychonick could use a bit more muscle, which would help his balance in battles along the boards, as well as help him to be stronger on the puck.
Tychonick’s game is based on his playmaking ability. He can start the transition game by making strong passes, including the long, home-run pass if he catches a teammate streaking. He pairs his excellent skating with good puck handling skills. Tychonick can skate the puck out of danger in his own end. He can also continue up the ice, with the skill to lead the rush. His speed backs off defenders, and they must respect it. This opens up passing and shooting lanes. With his good vision and anticipation, he can take advantage of them.
42.) Carolina Hurricanes – Liam Foudy, Centre/Left Wing, London Knights, OHL
Previous Pick: Andrei Svechnikov,
The Hurricanes got a dynamic goal-scoring winger in the first round. Here they add centre depth and address an organizational need. Foudy is an elite skater, amongst the best in this draft class. He is incredibly fast, and reaches top speed quickly, with very good acceleration. Foudy’s ability to change speeds is a weapon in one-on-one situations. He can beat defenders to the outside and cut to the net. As they back off to defend him, it opens up passing and shooting lanes. Foudy also has excellent edge work and agility. He can change directions on a dime. His stride is powerful, and Foudy has good balance. He is strong on the puck and wins battles along the boards and in front of the net.
Foudy has a decent arsenal of shots. His wrist shot is good and has a decent release. It has improved this season and should continue to get better as he adds more upper body strength. His snapshot is also effective. Foudy scores most of his goals in tight to the net. He has the speed to generate breakaways, and the soft hands to beat goaltenders in that situation. He could stand to get to the net more without the puck though. While he is willing to take the puck to the net, he needs to be willing to get there without the puck and take the physical pounding to create offence.
43.) New York Islanders (from Calgary) – Filip Johansson, Right Defence, Leksands IF, Allsvenskan
Previous Picks: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Joel Farabee, Johnny Tychonick
Johansson shows poise and patience with the puck. He is effective at skating it out of his own end and starting the rush. Johansson can lead the rush, or join it as a trailer. He makes a good first pass, and is able to throw long breakaway passes if a forward gets behind the opponent’s defence. He is also skilled at controlling the play from the point on the power play. Johansson can make tape-to-tape passes through tight areas and set up teammates for good scoring opportunities. Johansson’s slapshot is decent, but not overpowering. He uses his good lateral movement to open up shooting lanes and gets his shot on net.
Johansson is a smart defensive player. He has good positioning, cutting down passing and shooting lanes. He also maintains good gap control. If an opportunity to hit presents itself, he can be effective physically. However, Johansson plays a disciplined game and does not run around looking for hits and getting caught out of position. He uses his size well in the corners and in front of the net. Johansson can stand to bulk up though. If he was stronger, he would be even more effective. There are times when particularly big and physical forwards can cause Johansson issues.
44.) Dallas Stars – Adam Ginning, Left Defence, Linkoping HC, SHL
First Pick: Joe Veleno
Ginning is more known for his defensive game than his offensive one. He has excellent size and uses it to his advantage. If a forward comes down his side of the ice with his head down, he can through a big body check. He reads the play well and uses a long, active stick to cut down on passing lanes. Ginning is not afraid to get his body in front of a shot either. He is especially effective on the penalty kill, with strong positioning.
In the offensive end, what you see is what you get. Ginning has a powerful slap shot, but his long wind-up that lessens its effectiveness. He also could stand to work on his one-timer. Ginning is not a fluid shooter, and thus often stops the pass before shooting. He has a decent wrist shot that he uses more than his slap shot. This is another area where he would do better with a quicker release. When he does get a shot off, he often keeps it low. This helps to get it on net through traffic and allows teammates to get rebounds and tip-ins.
45.) St. Louis Blues – David Gustafsson, Centre, HV 71, SHL
Previous Pick: Martin Kaut
Gustafsson is a goal scorer. He gets to the front of the net and uses his size to screen goalies and create havoc in front of the net. While there, he has the hand-eye coordination to get deflections as well as the quickness to pounce on rebounds. He also has a quick one-timer in tight. Gustafsson has a strong and accurate wrist shot and snapshot. Both shots feature an extremely quick release that fools goaltenders.
Gustafsson is strong in puck possession and works well in the cycle. He controls the puck down low and keeps the play moving. However, he is not a creative playmaker. Gustafsson makes the simple pass to an open teammate. Off the rush, he also plays a very north-south style of game, looking to create opportunities by getting the puck to the front of the net. He is also strong on the forecheck, pressuring opposing defenders, and creating offence out of the turnovers that are created.
46.) Washington Capitals (from Florida via New Jersey Devils) – Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Centre/Left Wing, Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL
Previous Pick: Alexander Alexeyev
Groulx is a pure sniper. He has the soft hands to finish plays in tight to the net. He can get the puck up quickly on both his forehand and backhand. His slap shot is an absolute bomb, but he does not use it that often. The wrist shot is so strong and has such a quick release that it has become Groulx’s weapon of choice. It is legitimately one of the best wrist shots in the draft. Groulx gets to the tough areas of the ice, and battles for position when there. He can also score with deflections. Groulx is an excellent stick handler and can make plays off the rush as well as on the cycle. He can also play the role of playmaker, with good vision and passing skills.
Groulx has the potential to be an effective second line centre, playing against top lines and providing offence at the NHL level. However, he must improve his skating. If he does not, then the offensive upside becomes more limited and he will top out as a third or fourth liner. It also has an effect on his position. Groulx, a natural centre, has spent most of this season playing wing for Halifax, mainly due to the skating concern. The skill set to do more is there, its a matter of developing the weakest aspect of his game.
