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**Josh** · 04-29-2018, 01:10 PM

1st Round:

1. Buffalo Sabres
2. Carolina Hurricanes
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. Ottawa Senators
5. Arizona Coyotes
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Vancouver Canucks
8. Chicago Blackhawks
9. New York Rangers
10. Edmonton Oilers
11. New York Islanders
12. New York Islanders (via Flames)
13. Dallas Stars
14. Philadelphia Flyers (via Blues)
15. Florida Panthers

**Josh** · 04-29-2018, 01:11 PM

My top-7 draft prospects are set:

1 - Rasmus Dahlin, D
2 - Andrei Svechnikov, RW
3 - Filip Zadina, LW
4 - Oliver Wahlstrom, C/RW
5 - Evan Bouchard, D
6 - Brady Tkachuk, C/LW
7 - Quinton Hughes, D

I'd be happy with any of these players from Ottawa's 4th overall selection, and I'd be upset if Ottawa went any further off the board. However, if it becomes clear that Karlsson won't be staying with the team, I'd put a higher priority on Bouchard and Hughes. With that in mind, I'd look to see what Vancouver might be willing to add to the 7th in order to move up to the 4th.

**Jasmine** · 04-29-2018, 02:38 PM

Read on twitter this am that Mtl is willing to listen in order to maybe trade their pick. Not sure how much of this is valid and I'm trying to find the post that shared said information.

**Jasmine** · 04-29-2018, 02:45 PM

Found it:

#Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin won't rule out the possibility of trading the No. 3 pick in the #NHLDraft. "Anything's possible."

NHL Draft 2018: Marc Bergevin says he'd consider trading Canadiens' No. 3 overall pick

http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/news/marc-bergevin-says-hes-open-to-trading-montreals-no-3-nhl-draft-pick-canadiens-2018/10rmenpjky0o51sfpmwcu2nai9

The Canadiens GM said a great offer could make him consider trading the team's No. 3 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

**Josh** · 04-29-2018, 04:09 PM

I feel like that's almost always said though.

**matchesmalone** · 04-29-2018, 05:37 PM

Haha yeah, there is always one high pick that is supposedly available. Seems like they never move anymore.

... So Dahlin would have been nice for the Sens.

Anyhow, I like your list Josh, but I would have some small changes. I think the part you definitely got right is the big seven, but I might take Adam Boqvist over Evan Bouchard. Bearing in mind that I haven't seen a lot of these players play much, so I'm basing most of my opinions off the very small sample size of the World Juniors, which at least I did watch most of. I would go:

1. Rasmus Dahlin
2. Filip Zadina
3. Andrei Svechnikov
4. Brady Tkachuk
5. Quinn Hughes
6. Oliver Wahlstrom
7. Boqvist / Bouchard (I can't decide)

Not really sure what the experts have been saying about this year's class, but to me that looks like about as good of a big five as I've seen in years. Dahlin, Zadina and Tkachuk were all dominant at the World Juniors, which, it is easy to forget as we've been spoiled with some elite talent in the past few years, is still pretty rare. The other two were pretty solid too. Zadina was an absolute monster on a mediocre team, scoring huge clutch goals against superior opponents. I'm really hoping he somehow falls to 4th, but I can't really see it happening. I would expect the Sens end up with Brady Tkachuk, although perhaps the spread is close enough between him and Hughes that they'll go with the defenseman.

All of the top five are pretty damn close to NHL-ready. The top 3 will certainly play next year, and Tkachuk and Hughes could, but the team that drafts them might be wise to wait a year, especially considering they'll be AHL-eligible.

**Josh** · 04-29-2018, 09:30 PM

Wow, kind of surprised to see you have Zadina over Svechnikov. Svechnikov is just such a beast, and not with the typical Russian risk factor in that he's been in North America for over two years now and is extremely dedicated to playing in the NHL.

You have Tkachuk ahead of Wahlstrom. I'd debated that one a lot. In the end, I just thought Wahlstrom's upside trumped Tkachuk's physicality. Similarly, you have Hughes ahead of Bouchard. I couldn't decide between them, so went with Bouchard because of size. Kind of forgot about Boqvist, I'd have him 8th for sure and wouldn't be upset if Ottawa ended up with him. With Boqvist though, I'd want to see Ottawa trade down and get something out of it, not take him 4th overall.

**Dean Ambrose** · 04-30-2018, 12:23 AM

give me Zadina, Svechnikov or Kotkaniemi (only if we trade down -- don't take him in 3rd spot) and I'm happy as a Habs fan

**Josh** · 04-30-2018, 12:55 AM

**Dean Ambrose** · 04-30-2018, 01:10 AM

I'd take Kotkaniemi anywhere from 7 on tbh but that's probably just because centre is such a big need for the Habs.

DO NOT take anyone but Zadina or Svechnikov, whichever one is remaining, at #3 though.

Galchenyuk - xxx (Tavares pls lol) - Gallagher
Pacioretty - Drouin - Zadina
Lehkonen - Danault - Byron

I can dig it. Even better if we can also get Stastny for 2C, shift Drouin to wing, unload Pacioretty for a LHD. Then look forward to Poehling in 2019-2020.

EDIT: HOW DID I FORGET ABOUT SCHERBEAST, WOW.

**Josh** · 06-04-2018, 12:45 AM

Updated post #10.

**Alfie11** · 06-05-2018, 10:06 AM

Im seeing tons of speculation that Zadina probably falls to #4. Even from his mouth, he said Montreal is looking for a C or D

**Dean Ambrose** · 06-05-2018, 10:30 AM

I think we're taking Zadina regardless, but I'd say there's also a 15% chance that we take Kotkaniemi.

**Josh** · 06-05-2018, 11:16 AM

Originally posted by Dean Ambrose

I think we're taking Zadina regardless, but I'd say there's also a 15% chance that we take Kotkaniemi.

I think Kotkaniemi would be a big mistake at #3. If Zadina falls thatÂ’s a no-brainer for Ottawa.

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