I really think what will determine the top four will be the draft order. For example I can definitely see Schaefer going first if San Jose drafts first overall since they really dont need the center depth and could use another top Defensive prospect to go with Dickenson. But teams like Chicago and Nashville could really use a game changing Center. Chicago may have Bedard, but they have horrid center depth and already have solid D prospects so I think it would be idiotic of them the take a defenseman in general. And Nashville desperately needs more youth and creativity up front and has a good blue line already.
I think this drafts top 1-5 are really up to teams preference I do wonder if Schaefers stock will drop due to injury fears also eklund I feel is a safe pick that could move pretty far up for a team needing a middle 6 wing bet on the bloodline considering William is developing nicely for the Sharks
Mrtka, I can bet you he'll end up going much higher than that. Good right handed Ds are the hardest to find, good right handed Ds who are taller than 6"3 those are rare gems, good right handed Ds who are much taller than 6"3 with immediate impact, dominance even, for their very first time on northern american ice, not even needing 10 games of adjustment, after having played defensive roles on a pretty decent european top league against seasoned pros AND having a canon of a shot to boot those, i believe, are called top 5 picks.
Also, speaking of RHDs I'm wondering where a Hallquisth would end up, he's playing on the 3rd pair for sweden at the WJC, will be interesting to see how he does in this tourno.
I doubt Hensler will remain top10 with so little offence in his game. Mrta might instead, because of his size, be the first rd defenseman possibly drafted top10. However, in the last month prior the draft, things will likely change since several players may become late risers because of their playoff performances !!!
Danny Briere stocked 6 top 40-ish picks to move up into that top 4. It's a tall task. Imagine Misa centering Michkov's line. Beg, borrow, or steal time, Danny.
1. Micheal Misa 2. James Hagens 3. Matt Schafer 4. Viktor Eklund 5. Porter Mortone 6. Carter Bear 7. Jackson Smith 8. Radim Mrtka 9. Caleb Desnoyers 10. Braeden Cootes 11. Benjamin Kindel 12. Anton Frondell
I know WJC can change someones rankings a ton but I really don’t think there’s a shot that Portone become #1. Schaefer and Hagens got top potential, Misa as well but just not as likely to become a #1 center. Portone got #1 potential as well but since he’s a winger he shouldn’t be able to compete with the other three. It’s a three way race right now imo.
Yeah I think it will also depend on how the lottery plays out. If a team who is set down the middle gets 1st overall, do they go with a winger - Martone or a D - Schaefer. Gonna be interesting how things play out the rest of the season and how the lottery ends up. Gonna be a fun draft to pay attention to!
Not good away from the puck. Tries to do a lot when he does have the puck. Will need to learn how to play more without handling the puck so frequently as he won't get away with his current style at the NHL. Very common problem for junior players so it is heavily a mental transition for him.
Not exactly my top 10 but here's my top 10 mock draft right now per the current standings. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS PORTER MARTONE SAN JOSE SHARKS MATTHEW SCHAEFER BUFFALO SABRES JAMES HAGENS NASHVILLE PREDATORS ANTON FRONDELL DETROIT REDWINGS MICHAEL MISA SEATTLE KRAKEN ROGER MCQUEEN AMAHEIM DUCKS VICTOR EKLUND MONTREAL CANADIENS CALEB DESNOYERS NEW YORK ISLANDERS RADIM MRTKA NEW YORK RANGERS MALCOM SPENCE
@@ryanbowlby859I agree. This wasn’t my top ten just a guess at who these teams would draft. Nash likes Swedish players with a strong 200 ft game and Frondell fits the bill.
@nhldraftpros got a feeling they will go big so power forward. But you think Schafer can be that good? The Hawks D prospects are a bit disappointing. I know defenseman take time. The tournament and playoff are were decisions are made The Hawks in my mind muffed the second pick by not going Demedov . I watched alot of Levshunov college tape and was underwhelmed. Being right handed was the big factor in drafting him. Will see. The free agents they signed are mostly atrocious. Were in dead last as of now. Are you a scout,?
I still like Frondell and I thought he played really well at the U19 Challenge. McQueen has dropped a bit in my rankings, but the size and skill is something that bods well for a draft eligible prospect.
@nhldraftpros it'll be interesting what might change with mortone doing nothing in WJs, Schaefer now being out until OHL playoffs and ekland and hagans both looking good
@@ryanbowlby859 Yeah the world juniors always affects how draft eligible players will be ranked and this year is no exception. Hagens going up and Martone going down.
I don't believe McQueen is a top 10 pick anymore. Not with his back injury. We saw the same problem as Lindstrom. How many team also have a 6ft6 center in the league? Huge chance he end up in the wing or become a injury prone player.
Lindstrom still ended up as top 5 pick in better draft... considering this is weaker one...teams can easily take a gamble with McQueen(especially beyond top 5)...maybe he will not be center long term but you simply cant ignore his size/skill combination.
@@titasjaneika2309 He still ranked him in the top 7. Honestly, he will be drafted outside of the top 10. Lindstrom injury should scare off some GM. Lindstrom also played 30+ games. We don,t know if McQueen will be back this season.
@@rahad5 if he will miss whole season...then maybe...but even if he will get 15-20 games at the end without dropping in production/quality...he will be top 10 pick.
I don’t understand why Julius Sumpf isn’t on here. At 18 you have Justin Carbonneau with 45 points in 31 games. Sumpf has 37 points in 29. Maybe not a top 20 or even first rounder but the kid can skate, shoot, handle, 200 foot player. Would easily take him 2nd round or 3rd round. Hes now 20. Teams are missing out on that player
It’s probably because you don’t see them play much and have trouble getting over here because of everything going on sucks not having them in the wjc and and World Cup
@nathantaillon1183 if i was the habs id be trading my 1sts for a top center under contract , and every player i move out before the trade deadline id be asking for 2026 picks
Let me know your Top-10 in the comment section!
Eventhough Ivan Ryabkin is stuggling, I'd still like to see The Flyers draft him. Great value pick below Top-20 and a potential linemate for Michkov!
I really think what will determine the top four will be the draft order. For example I can definitely see Schaefer going first if San Jose drafts first overall since they really dont need the center depth and could use another top Defensive prospect to go with Dickenson. But teams like Chicago and Nashville could really use a game changing Center. Chicago may have Bedard, but they have horrid center depth and already have solid D prospects so I think it would be idiotic of them the take a defenseman in general. And Nashville desperately needs more youth and creativity up front and has a good blue line already.
I think this drafts top 1-5 are really up to teams preference I do wonder if Schaefers stock will drop due to injury fears also eklund I feel is a safe pick that could move pretty far up for a team needing a middle 6 wing bet on the bloodline considering William is developing nicely for the Sharks
Nice ranking man
1-schaefer
2-misa
3-hagens
4-martone
5-mcqueen
6-desnoyers
7-frondell
8-eklund
9-bear
10-smith
As a Habs fan I would love to have a Misa or Desnoyers on my team
Would be great pick ups for sure!
Good work!
I'll give you my top 10 as of today
1, Hagens
2, Schaefer
3, Misa
4, Martone
5, Eklund
6, Smith
7, Frondell
8, Carbonneau
9, Desnoyer
10, Hensler
1.james.hagens.with.blackhawks.big.deal.
Mrtka, I can bet you he'll end up going much higher than that.
Good right handed Ds are the hardest to find, good right handed Ds who are taller than 6"3 those are rare gems, good right handed Ds who are much taller than 6"3 with immediate impact, dominance even, for their very first time on northern american ice, not even needing 10 games of adjustment, after having played defensive roles on a pretty decent european top league against seasoned pros AND having a canon of a shot to boot those, i believe, are called top 5 picks.
Also, speaking of RHDs I'm wondering where a Hallquisth would end up, he's playing on the 3rd pair for sweden at the WJC, will be interesting to see how he does in this tourno.
The top four won't change so he'll be competing with a lot get drafted #5.
I doubt Hensler will remain top10 with so little offence in his game. Mrta might instead, because of his size, be the first rd defenseman possibly drafted top10. However, in the last month prior the draft, things will likely change since several players may become late risers because of their playoff performances !!!
Danny Briere stocked 6 top 40-ish picks to move up into that top 4. It's a tall task. Imagine Misa centering Michkov's line. Beg, borrow, or steal time, Danny.
Top5 picks very seldom get traded especially in good/decent draft years...keep on dreaming !!!
@@powers1500 Pretty sure I said it was a tall task.
@yossarian1385 impossible task; as I said: keep on dreaming !!!
@@powers1500 Winning the lottery is not an impossible task. That's another way into the top 4.
@yossarian1385 indeed, as a matter of fact, a team has likely more chance to win a lottery pick than trading up to top4 !!!
Schaefer likely slides to 3 or 4 now with the long term injury.
1. Micheal Misa
2. James Hagens
3. Matt Schafer
4. Viktor Eklund
5. Porter Mortone
6. Carter Bear
7. Jackson Smith
8. Radim Mrtka
9. Caleb Desnoyers
10. Braeden Cootes
11. Benjamin Kindel
12. Anton Frondell
I know WJC can change someones rankings a ton but I really don’t think there’s a shot that Portone become #1. Schaefer and Hagens got top potential, Misa as well but just not as likely to become a #1 center. Portone got #1 potential as well but since he’s a winger he shouldn’t be able to compete with the other three. It’s a three way race right now imo.
Yeah I think it will also depend on how the lottery plays out. If a team who is set down the middle gets 1st overall, do they go with a winger - Martone or a D - Schaefer. Gonna be interesting how things play out the rest of the season and how the lottery ends up. Gonna be a fun draft to pay attention to!
I’ve heard tons of positives from Carbonneau but what is it that makes him not go higher in the list? What’s his downsides?
Not good away from the puck. Tries to do a lot when he does have the puck. Will need to learn how to play more without handling the puck so frequently as he won't get away with his current style at the NHL. Very common problem for junior players so it is heavily a mental transition for him.
Not exactly my top 10 but here's my top 10 mock draft right now per the current standings.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS PORTER MARTONE
SAN JOSE SHARKS MATTHEW SCHAEFER
BUFFALO SABRES JAMES HAGENS
NASHVILLE PREDATORS ANTON FRONDELL
DETROIT REDWINGS MICHAEL MISA
SEATTLE KRAKEN ROGER MCQUEEN
AMAHEIM DUCKS VICTOR EKLUND
MONTREAL CANADIENS CALEB DESNOYERS
NEW YORK ISLANDERS RADIM MRTKA
NEW YORK RANGERS MALCOM SPENCE
Like it! Thanks for sharing!
@@crashthenethockey6115 frondell over misa is nuts
@@ryanbowlby859I agree. This wasn’t my top ten just a guess at who these teams would draft. Nash likes Swedish players with a strong 200 ft game and Frondell fits the bill.
Who should the HAWKS take? Given they have alot of D prospects
Any forward! Top 4 are real good (one D in there) but that should be the goal.
@nhldraftpros got a feeling they will go big so power forward. But you think Schafer can be that good? The Hawks D prospects are a bit disappointing. I know defenseman take time. The tournament and playoff are were decisions are made
The Hawks in my mind muffed the second pick by not going Demedov .
I watched alot of Levshunov college tape and was underwhelmed. Being right handed was the big factor in drafting him. Will see. The free agents they signed are mostly atrocious. Were in dead last as of now. Are you a scout,?
Ouch Schafer broke his coulor bone. Out 3 to 4 months.
It's early but I want Hagen. Hawks are dead last to.
Olivers Murnieks?
Most rankings have frondell and mqueen in the teens now. Interesting you still have them high
I still like Frondell and I thought he played really well at the U19 Challenge. McQueen has dropped a bit in my rankings, but the size and skill is something that bods well for a draft eligible prospect.
@nhldraftpros it'll be interesting what might change with mortone doing nothing in WJs, Schaefer now being out until OHL playoffs and ekland and hagans both looking good
@@ryanbowlby859 Yeah the world juniors always affects how draft eligible players will be ranked and this year is no exception. Hagens going up and Martone going down.
I get Logan brown vibes from mcqeen
I’m surprised you have William Moore 32nd.
He hasn't impressed me the past few live viewings...I had him high on my lists for so long and hopefully he can pick things up to finish strong tho!
I could bet my house on Utah not picking C. Schmidt
Hahaha....yeah that's a pretty solid assessment!
I don't believe McQueen is a top 10 pick anymore. Not with his back injury. We saw the same problem as Lindstrom. How many team also have a 6ft6 center in the league? Huge chance he end up in the wing or become a injury prone player.
Lindstrom still ended up as top 5 pick in better draft... considering this is weaker one...teams can easily take a gamble with McQueen(especially beyond top 5)...maybe he will not be center long term but you simply cant ignore his size/skill combination.
@@titasjaneika2309 He still ranked him in the top 7. Honestly, he will be drafted outside of the top 10. Lindstrom injury should scare off some GM. Lindstrom also played 30+ games. We don,t know if McQueen will be back this season.
@@rahad5 if he will miss whole season...then maybe...but even if he will get 15-20 games at the end without dropping in production/quality...he will be top 10 pick.
I hope wherever Detroit picks they take a big North American center/Forward. This Detroit team had been soft for over a decade.
Hahaha...there's a few players in this draft that fit that bill!
misa no. one. the only player on this list averaging gpg 2 pts. pg and lead ohl in g's pts.
and not better than hagens
@@pellegebing9805 better check again because hagens is no savior
I don’t understand why Julius Sumpf isn’t on here. At 18 you have Justin Carbonneau with 45 points in 31 games. Sumpf has 37 points in 29. Maybe not a top 20 or even first rounder but the kid can skate, shoot, handle, 200 foot player. Would easily take him 2nd round or 3rd round. Hes now 20. Teams are missing out on that player
Oh, I dont know, maybe its because he has a lower ppg avg while also having almost two whole years of development on Carbonneau. Lmfao get real dude
Blackhawks are getting one of these top forward prospects
1st overall.pick.goes.chicago.blackhawks.
He must have wanted to leave Russia and when things changed, maybe it effected him negatively.
It’s probably because you don’t see them play much and have trouble getting over here because of everything going on sucks not having them in the wjc and and World Cup
This draft is garbage
So lottery teams finna sell hard asf for a top 4 pick
@nathantaillon1183 if i was the habs id be trading my 1sts for a top center under contract , and every player i move out before the trade deadline id be asking for 2026 picks
McQueen is a top 8 pick.
@thebigbucktheory5488 he can barely do cross overs , reminds me of nolan patrick
@@CanadianBiPolarBear he reminds me of Mark scheifle. Nolan was pretty good before all the head trauama