John Beiser's Picks:

1. Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews, C, Zurich (Switzerland): The Leafs get a franchise number one center that they’ve been coveting for years. He’ll become the face of their franchise.

2. Winnipeg Jets

Patrik Laine, RW, Tappara Tampere (Finland): Laine would go #1 in several other drafts. He has the best release in the draft, and could go on to score 50 goals per season in the future.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets:

Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat (Finland): If the Blue Jackets keep this pick, Puljujarvi has to be the pick. Many scouts argue his upside is higher than Laine’s.

4. Edmonton Oilers:

Olli Juolevi, D, London Knights (OHL): The Oilers pick Juolevi with the belief that he can become a future number one defenseman. He has all the tools to develop into one, including elite hockey sense which has been compared by scouts, to Nicklas Lidstrom’s.

5. Vancouver Canucks:

Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London Knights (OHL): The Canucks are thrilled that Tkachuk falls. The player with the most upside left on the board, he gives the Canucks a building block for the future.

6. Calgary Flames:

Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW/C, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL): The Flames take Dubois here and walk away with the best power-forward in the draft. He’s strong, versatile and would be a good fit alongside Calgary’s young core.

7. Arizona Coyotes:

Mikhail Sergachev , D, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): The  Coyotes are thrilled Sergachyov falls. Sergachev addresses a need and could be NHL ready. This gives the Coyotes a core of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Sergachev, and Alex Goligoski.

8. Buffalo Sabres:

Alexander Nylander, LW, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL): Drafting Nylander gives the Sabres a goal scoring forward to develop alongside their young core. It would allow them to potentially trade away a forward for a defenseman.

9. Montreal Canadiens:

Logan Brown, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): The Canadiens add a huge center who could end up being dominant in the NHL. His size and skill set leaves is too good to pass on.

10. Colorado Avalanche:

Clayton Keller, C,  US NTDP (USHL): Keller could very well go higher with the skill that he has, but it’s size holding him back. It would not be surprising to see him go higher. The Avs take Keller here because he can flat out score.  

Mac Bass' Picks:

1. Toronto Maple Leafs:

Auston Matthews, C, Zurich (Switzerland): Matthews being a center gives him the edge over Laine. The Leafs have already tried reviving their franchise with a star winger (Phil Kessel) so the next move is with a star center in Matthews.

2. Winnipeg Jets:

Patrik Laine, RW, Tappara Tampere (Finland): Laine is the real deal. He could be the next Alexander Ovechkin and the franchise player that the Jets have badly needed. There is no better pure scorer in this year’s draft.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets:

Logan Brown, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): The Jackets need a top flight center after trading away Ryan Johansen. They’ll get that in the hulking Logan Brown. He’s another player that goes a little higher in the draft because of his ability at center.

4. Edmonton Oilers:

Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat (Finland): Puljujarvi slips to number four and the Oilers will take the best player available. As badly as they need defense, they can’t pass Puljujarvi up. They can always trade away another winger to fill their defensive hole.

5. Vancouver Canucks:

Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London Knights (OHL): The son of Keith Tkachuk is fresh off of a Memorial Cup championship and he’ll be a great fit for the rugged Pacific Division. He’ll be the best player available if he falls to this spot in the draft.

6. Calgary Flames:

Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW/C, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL): He’s a power forward and has the ability to play center. This could leave the flames with a very good one-two punch with Dubois and Sean Monahan. They could also play together with Johnny Gaudreau which could be one of the deadliest lines in the NHL.

7. Arizona Coyotes:

Mikhail Sergachev , D, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): The Coyote defense is one of the worst in the NHL, despite having Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The addition of Alex Goligoski will be huge, but they’ll need more. Sergachev, with his great two-way game, will make a great addition to the hurting Coyotes’ defense.

8. Buffalo Sabres:

Olli Juolevi, D, London Knights (OHL): The Sabres are another team that have a terrible blue line. The offensive-minded Juolevi led the Knights defense to a Memorial Cup championship. Hopefully, he can do the same for the Sabres with a Stanley Cup playoff run.

9. Montreal Canadiens:

Alexander Nylander, LW, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL): Nylander will immediately become the best prospect for the Habs and will soon join in on a nice rivalry with his brother, William, who will almost certainly make the Maples Leafs’ roster.

10. Colorado Avalanche:

Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia Sting (OHL): Chychrun was thought to push Matthews for the top spot in this draft class before the season started, but his stock fell a bit. He still has tremendous upside as a two-way defenseman and will probably be the Avs number one defenseman in a few seasons.

Bill Grigsby's Picks:

1. Toronto Maple Leafs:

 Auston Matthews, C, Zurich (Switzerland): Even with rumors that the Arizona Coyotes may try to trade up to draft their hometown boy, the Leafs have a chance to draft a “generational” player. Don’t see them passing on that.

2. Winnipeg Jets:

Patrik Laine, RW, Tappara Tampere (Finland): Laine feels he could be the first overall pick, and Winnipeg gets an excellent player here who can help this franchise be in the running for the playoffs again.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets:

Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat (Finland): The Blue Jackets have been vocal that they could trade this pick if the right conditions present themselves. If they keep their pick, Puljujarvi is a big, talented winger who can help the faltering Blue Jackets. Will his knee injury affect the Blue Jackets decision?

4. Edmonton Oilers:

Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London Knights (OHL): The Oilers may draft Tkachuk with the intention of trading him, or move down in the draft if another team wants to deal a first line defenseman to them.

5. Vancouver Canucks:

Logan Brown, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): The Canucks can’t resist this forward’s size (6’ 6”, 220) and the fact he could step right in and play at the NHL level in a short period of time. He’s being compared to Joe Thornton, not a bad thing.

6. Calgary Flames:

Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW/C, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL): The Flames like that Dubois is a strong forechecker, which fits into their style of play, and an excellent skater. His birthday is on draft day, so he may receive a nice gift of going to a young team where he can add his talents and skills to help them succeed.

7. Arizona Coyotes:

Olli Juolevi, D, London Knights (OHL): It’s no secret that the Coyotes need to strengthen their blue-line, and Juolevi will do exactly that.The team already knows that with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who is from Sweden, they have an elite defenseman who is getting better every year. Adding another from neighboring Finland can’t be a bad idea. Juolevi being from the London Knights helps also.

8. Buffalo Sabres:

Mikhail Sergachyov, D, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): The Sabres are needing to upgrade their defense, and Sergachyov is a big (6’ 2”, 220) skilled skater (he’s Russian) who can get the job done. Buffalo’s rebuild could use his presence and tenacity.

9. Montreal Canadiens:

Alexander Nylander, LW,  Mississauga (OHL):  The Canadians need a slick forward, and Nylander has the goods.

10. Colorado Avalanche:

Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia Sting (OHL): The Av’s are overjoyed that Chychurn falls to them at #10. He’s a two-way defender, and will fit in nicely with the Av’s blue-line. He’s a physical defenseman and has decent size and puck-moving ability.  

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About the author
Mac Bass, John Beiser, and Bill Grigsby
Born and raised on the San Jose Sharks with a passion for hockey and sports journalism. Former hockey player through juniors and current collegiate lacrosse player.