The NHL Combine represents the final major event of the scouting season. Some teams will have invited players to their cities for a deeper look under the hood. Agencies will hold pre-draft camps to provide additional opportunities for on-ice looks. Finally, NHL teams will also use the time in Vegas to get final meetings with players to double and triple check their previous due diligence. This time frame also offers teams a chance to regroup after in-person meetings and generate test results from any professionals that may have been in those meetings. Lastly the exercise and sport science departments will extrapolate the physical testing results and put them in an easy-to-understand format to allow draft decision-makers a chance to see if there’s anything that pops from an off-ice perspective.
Some teams will have met during the Combine, others will meet directly after while the event is still fresh in their minds. And other clubs will take a little time to get away from the grind and reconvene when the dust has settled.
Team lists will really start to take shape — and while lists won’t be finalized right away, the time between the Combine and the draft will generate plenty of fodder before those lists are closed.
Unlike years past, where I would produce a post-lottery mock draft of the first 16 teams and a complete mock draft right before the event, I’ve worked with our team at Sportsnet to create a post Combine mock draft. This is our first edition, and there will be final edition mock drafts released by both Jason Bukala and myself leading up to our first-round coverage on June 28 and 29 on Sportsnet.
Keep in mind, mock drafts are different than rankings. Where I might have a player ranked may not be where I think a team will select that player. As usual, there are a number of factors that enter into that equation, such as: GM/team biases; need versus best player available, etc.
Here is Mock Draft 1.0:
1. San Jose Sharks — Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 190 pounds
The worst kept secret in hockey. Not only did Sharks GM Mike Grier make mention of it on Draft Lottery night, he doubled down in this recent interview
2. Chicago Blackhawks — Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 181 pounds
Chicago’s prospect pool is fairly balanced (including goalies), so that allows GM Kyle Davidson to lean towards the next best player, and that’s Demidov. There’s still one year left on his deal in the KHL, but that timing is fine as this rebuild has just started to take shape.
3. Anaheim Ducks — Artyom Levshunov, RD, Michigan State University (NCAA)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 208 pounds
You can never have enough defencemen and the Ducks have a few on the horizon. Having said that, Levshunov will be too hard to pass up with the number of things he can do. Add in the size factor, and he’s a perfect fit for GM Pat Verbeek.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 210 pounds
If centre doesn’t work out, he can bring his power-forward game to the wing to complement a young and talented group up front.
5. Montreal Canadiens — Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 175 pounds
While Tij Iginla would be enticing, the Habs could go a little rogue here by getting the size they need up front, albeit on the wing instead of at centre.
6. Utah Hockey Club — Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL)
Height: Six-foot-seven Weight: 211 pounds
With two Russian players picked at Nos. 6 and 12 last year, the Utes seem to be undeterred by the risk. This player fits the Bill Armstrong mold to a T. When all is said and done, “Yeti” will be the most appropriate nickname for a team that will be scary, big on the back end.
7. Ottawa Senators — Zeev Buium, D, University of Denver (NCAA)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 183 pounds
Jake Sanderson has provided precedence with his path through the USNTDP and into the NCAA. Buium excels in all areas of the game and will adapt to anything thrown at him.
8. Seattle Kraken — Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 204 pounds
The type of player you draft and think about having in your organization for years to come. For the past two seasons, he’s munched minutes, produced offensively and has skated circles around the competition.
9. Calgary Flames — Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 186 pounds
Somehow, some-way this all falls into place and Flames fans will get to see Iginla 2.0. This version is a high-octane offensive producer whose calling card is a lot like dad’s — the ability to put the puck in the net.
10. New Jersey Devils — Cole Eiserman, LW, USNTDP
Height: Six-foot Weight: 197 pounds
There’s no forward prospect in the Devils’ organization that is elite in any one area. This player is an elite goal-scorer. It may take some time to round out the rest of his game, but once he figures it out, the goal-scoring piece will translate.
11. Buffalo Sabres — Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs, (WHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 170 pounds
This will look like a do-over from 2023 when the Sabres selected Zach Benson with pick No. 13. This player is similar in size, stature, skating, smarts and compete, only he may score more than Benson once he arrives.
12. Philadelphia Flyers — Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 178 pounds
The Flyers have been teased with the likes of Shayne Gostisbehere, Cam York and Ivan Provorov. They haven’t had a dynamic defenceman like this one in recent memory. And they won’t believe he’s available at this spot.
13. Minnesota Wild — Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 190 pounds
This player fits the profile of GM Bill Guerin in that he can play a rugged game with big offensive upside and a shot that will work on a PP1.
14. San Jose Sharks — Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 180 pounds
Wth Celebrini and 2023 fourth-overall pick Will Smith in the mix, there’s some depth at centre, but that shouldn’t stop Grier from adding another one.
15. Detroit Red Wings — Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW, Mora (Allsvenskan)
Height: Six-foot-one Weight: 194 pounds
The Swedish leagues has always been a place where the Red Wings have had success in drafting from. Norwegian born, this player was highly effective playing at the appropriate pro level in the second-tier Allsvenskan. Brandsegg-Nygård plays a heavy game, enjoys hunting pucks and can produce offence once he has it.
16. St. Louis Blues — Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 185 pounds
Took yet another step forward after the NHL Combine thanks to some testing results that were off the charts. No doubt his calm, confident demeanour will have also played a part.
17. Washington Capitals — Adam Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Extraliiga)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 178 pounds
The Caps have shown great trust in their medical assessments of prospects in the past, such as Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko. There would seem to be some value in taking this player here based on his underaged performances previous to the knee injury suffered at the World Juniors.
18. Chicago Blackhawks — Stian Solberg, D, Valerenga (Norway)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 194 pounds
The latest of the fast risers, Solberg goes off the board earlier than anyone else expected. Plays a mature, physical game where offence is present. The Hawks selected a forward with pick No. 2 and now address defence with this selection.
19. Vegas Golden Knights — Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Height: Six-foot-one Weight: 190 pounds
Hage had an impressive second half and would’ve been a great add to Canada’s U18 team, but politics got in the way. With no first-round picks in each of the next two drafts, there’s a likelihood this pick is moved to add another before the sixth round, which is when their next pick is in this draft.
20. N.Y. Islanders — Aron Kiviharju, D, Jokerit (Liiga)
Height: Five-foot-nine Weight: 170 pounds
Spend five minutes with this impressive young man, and you get it. He is the consensus best NHL Draft Combine interview by our crew at Sportsnet. While sub-six foot defenceman are a rarity as regulars in NHL top-four alignments, this player is talented and smart enough to handle the challenge.
21. L.A. Kings — Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 211 pounds
The Kings have deep roots scouting in Ontario. Greentree is a power-forward type with skill. He’s adept at working the corners, protecting the puck and getting to the net front. He would be a good fit in the Western Conference.
22. Nashville Predators — Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Heigh: Six-foot-two Weight: 176 pounds
If he can find consistency, Boisvert can impact the game in a number of ways. He’s long and lean, and tough as nails. His skill set includes a shot that’s heavy and hard and hands to make plays in tight.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs — Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight 184 pounds
This pick will look a lot like picks from years past, being a smallish, skilled forward. Basha is highly motivated to prove size doesn’t matter. He gets after it out on the ice and his character is infectious.
24. Colorado Avalanche — Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 175 pounds
A resurgence in the playoffs and especially at the U18’s helped eradicate a 21-game regular-season injury absence. Ritchie is a playmaker with creativity and vision.
25. Ottawa Senators — Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 175 pounds
GM Steve Staios drafted him as a junior in Hamilton/Brantford. He will go back to the well with a player he knows better than anyone, and is definitely deserving of this spot. He plays with speed, skill and a farmer’s work ethic.
26. Montreal Canadiens — Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s College (High school, Ontario)
Height: Six-foot-six Weight 210 pounds
There’s some risk with this pick in that he put-up gaudy numbers against high school competition. But with a team than can use size up front, why not take a bit of a flyer on a player who will need extended developmental time?
27. Carolina Hurricanes — Nikita Artamonov, LW, (Nizhny Novgorod-KHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 187 pounds
A late addition to the first-round party, this pick will have interim GM Eric Tulsky’s name directly attached to it. While Tulsky has essentially run the draft for owner Tom Dundon, never has his name been so forward in the conversation.
28. Calgary Flames — Igor Chernyshov, LW, Moscow Dynamo (MHL)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 192 pounds
Like Columbus, the Flames, under GM Craig Conroy, have taken a liking to Russian players. There’s a lot to like about this one. This decision may be influenced by a pre-draft looksie and meeting at some point next week.
29. Dallas Stars — Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 174 pounds
The Stars prioritize hockey IQ and while this player doesn’t excel in any one area, his success is driven by how well he thinks the game and how quickly he processes it. Is this Wyatt Johnston light?
30. N.Y. Rangers — EJ Emery, RD, (USNTDP)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 185 pounds
A freak of an athlete, he will play at least 15 pounds heavier and will be wiry strong. He hasn’t provided much in the way of offence, but there’s some upside there with increased opportunity.
31. Anaheim Ducks (by way of Edmonton) — Maxim Massé, RW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 190
With Levshunov already in the mix, the Ducks add a right winger who has ridden the first-round roller-coaster all season. Along with his NHL Combine results and with AGM Martin Madden a big proponent of QMJHL talent, Massé is always around the puck. He brings size to the table and and shoots it a ton.
32. Philadelphia Flyers (by way of Florida) — Julius Miettenen, C, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 205 pounds
Was leaned on in Everett to play centre, but if that doesn’t work out, the Flyers will get a player who will play hard and heavy, and with enough skill to play in the middle six. He also provides a safety net for the risk present with Parekh at pick No. 12.
