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We are now within a week of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. What we know right now is that Ramus Dahlin is going to go first overall, Andrei Svechnikov is going to follow him, and after that, it’s anyone’s guess. With a massive jumble of prospects from three to 31, it has become impossible to come up with a consensus opinion beyond the agreement that Friday night could get wacky. It’s going to be impossible to predict who will round out the top-5 let alone try to guess which prospects will be available to the Colorado Avalanche at pick 16.
Reports out of Montreal is that the Canadiens are locked in on Swedish Forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi at No. 3. If that’s the case, things could get really wacky really quickly. Should Filip Zadina still be on the board when Ottawa is on the clock at No. 4, there is no doubt that their phone will be ringing off the hook with teams trying to move up to select the sniping winger. The Senators could move down. They could pick Zadina. They could take someone else. Heck, the Sens could still decide to relinquish the pick to the Avalanche to complete the Matt Duchene trade.
Where will Brady Tkachuk get drafted? How far will Zadina slip? Who will be the guy expected to go in the top-10 that is going to fall to the second half of the first round? There are so many unanswerable questions. Add to that the fact that one of the best defensemen in the NHL might get traded, and you’ve got must-watch TV for just about every fanbase in the NHL.
The first round of this year’s draft stands to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With that said, here is a look at my final Top-50 prospects for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft:
2018 NHL Entry Draft Top-50
Rank | Name | Position | Team | Previous Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Name | Position | Team | Previous Rank |
1 | Rasmus Dahlin | LD | Frolunda HC (SHL) | 1 |
2 | Andrei Svechnikov | RW | Barrie Colts (OHL) | 2 |
3 | Filip Zadina | LW | Halifax Mooheads (QMJHL) | 3 |
4 | Oliver Wahlstrom | C/RW | USNTDP U18 | 4 |
5 | Quinton Hughes | LD | University of Michigan (NCAA) | 5 |
6 | Joseph Veleno | C | Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) | 10 |
7 | Brady Tkachuk | C/LW | Boston University (NCAA) | 7 |
8 | Jesperi Kotkaniemi | C | Ässät U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) | 9 |
9 | Adam Boqvist | RD | Brynas IF J20 (SuperElit) | 6 |
10 | Noah Dobson | RD | Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL) | 12 |
11 | Joel Farabee | LW | USNTDP U18 | 11 |
12 | Ty Smith | LD | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) | 15 |
13 | Evan Bouchard | RD | London Knights (OHL) | 8 |
14 | Barrett Hayton | C | Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (OHL) | 14 |
15 | Vitali Kravtsov | RW | Chelyabinsk (KHL) | 24 |
16 | Rasmus Kupari | C | Karpat U20 (Jr Liiga) | 16 |
17 | Dominik Bokk | W | Vaxjo Lakers (SHL) | 22 |
18 | Jonatan Berggren | C/RW | Skellefteå AIK (SHL) | 21 |
19 | K'Andre Miller | LD | USNTDP Juniors (USHL) | 30 |
20 | Ty Dellandrea | C | Flint Firebirds (OHL) | 23 |
21 | Ryan McLeod | C | Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) | 25 |
22 | Serron Noel | RW | Oshawa Generals (OHL) | 26 |
23 | Bode Wilde | RD | USNTDP U18 | 13 |
24 | Isac Lundestrom | C/LW | Lulea HF (SHL) | 17 |
25 | Martin Kaut | RW | HC Dynamo Pardubice | 49 |
26 | Grigori Denisenko | LW | Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) | 36 |
27 | Calen Addison | RD | Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) | 18 |
28 | Ryan Merkley | RD | Guelph Storm (OHL) | 20 |
29 | Rasmus Sandin | LD | Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (OHL) | 19 |
30 | Allan McShane | C | Oshawa Generals (OHL) | 27 |
31 | Jett Woo | RD | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) | 28 |
32 | Nils Lundqvist | RD | Luleå HF | 34 |
33 | Jared McIsaac | LD | Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) | 31 |
34 | Jack McBain | C | Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) | 32 |
35 | Alexander Alexeyev | LD | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) | 39 |
36 | Cameron Hillis | C | Guelph Storm (OHL) | 38 |
37 | Akil Thomas | C | Niagara Icedogs (OHL) | 29 |
38 | Mattias Samuelsson | LD | USNTDP Juniors (USHL) | 35 |
39 | Cole Fonstad | F | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) | 43 |
40 | Nicolas Beaudin | LD | Drumondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) | NR |
41 | Oliver Okuliar | LW | HK Dukla Trencin U20 | 37 |
42 | Jakub Lauko | C | Pirati Chomutov (Czech) | 42 |
43 | Liam Foudy | C | London Knights (OHL) | 45 |
44 | Filip Hallander | F | Timra IK (Allsvenskan) | 33 |
45 | Jonathan Tychonick | LD | Penticton Vees (BCHL) | 47 |
46 | Adam Ginning | LD | Linköping HC (SHL) | 50 |
47 | Yesse Ylonen | RW | Espoo Finland | 48 |
48 | Jakub Skarek | G | HC Dukla Jihlava | 44 |
49 | Jake Wise | C | USNTDP U18 | NR |
50 | Jacob Olofsson | C | Timra IK (Allsvenskan) | 46 |