Colorado Avalanche Style 2017 NHL Draft Round 1 Mock, Complete With Trades

Nico Hischier or Nolan Patrick?

No. 1 New Jersey Devils Select Nico Hischier

This is going to be a tough decision for the New Jersey Devils; however, Nico Hischier’s stock has been rising recently, and if I were in their shoes I’d take him above Nolan Patrick. It’s definitely not an easy decision, but Patrick’s injuries leading into the draft, coupled with Hischier’s amazing showing in his first year of junior hockey, could make this an easier decision for the Devils.

No. 2 Philadelphia Flyers Select Nolan Patrick

The Devils make the decision for the Flyers, and they know they’re going to pick whoever New Jersey doesn’t because one and two in this draft are clear cut. Nonetheless, they should be extremely pleased with Nolan Patrick, who should be a nice complement to Claude Giroux down the middle, possibly even as soon as this coming season. He can also be a future No. 1 pivot for the Flyers, as Giroux is approaching thirty, and might need to pass the torch soon enough.

No. 3 Dallas Stars Select Miro Heiskanen

This pick will also determine who the Avs select, to my estimation. It really depends on whether the Stars are going to select for need, or select the likely best player available at this point. I believe they’ll go with Miro Heiskanen because they need defensemen like people in hell need ice water. Heiskanen is also an extremely talented defenseman, and has the potential to develop into a future No. 1 blueliner for the team that selects him. The Stars will be banking on just that.

No. 4 Colorado Avalanche Select Gabe Vilardi

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still real high on Nick Suzuki, and I think the Avs should seriously consider going off the board. However, Vilardi is extremely talented, and an amazing two-way player, something the Avs are clearly lacking. Furthermore, he’s also a right-hand shot, and would easily become the Avs best right-handed forward prospect. The Avs need right wings as badly as they need defense, so this pick makes absolute sense, as Vilardi is versatile enough to play all positions.

No. 5 Vancouver Canucks Select Casey Mittelstadt

The Canucks need just about everything right now, and if you feel for the Avalanche, then you might not know what it’s like to be a Canucks fan. Jim Benning can’t make the right decisions, and their prospect ranks are pretty depleted right now. So, taking the best available forward makes sense for them. Mittelstadt is an extremely skilled player, who’s also a big body, and will make an impact in the NHL. Unfortunately, the Canucks will have to wait, as they did recently with Brock Boeser because Mittelstadt is going to the University of Minnesota for at least one year.

No. 6 Las Vegas Golden Knights Select Cody Glass

This is a no-brainer for the Golden Knights. When you’re building a new franchise, you either build it through a player on the blueline, or a No. 1 center. Seeing as Miro Heiskanen is already off the board, the Knights will go with the center option. Cody Glass is the perfect future No. 1 pivot in this league, with high-end skill, and a well refined two-way game to boot.

No. 7 Arizona Coyotes Select Owen Tippett

The Coyotes selected at the same position last summer and found themselves a special player in Clayton Keller. However, he’s a little undersized as not as much as a finisher as Owen Tippett at forward. But, there is one thing the two have in common, and that is their elite skating ability. Watching the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back Cups has teams wanting speed, and the Coyotes, as well as the Avs, are headed in that direction. Tippett makes sense as a scorer for them, and a speedster.

No. 8 Buffalo Sabres Select Timothy Liljegren

The Sabres need defensive help. Sure, they have Rasmus Ristolainen and Zach Bogosian, but beyond those two they don’t have clear-cut top-four defensemen. Liljegren was once considered a No. 1 overall pick not long ago, but his draft stock has fallen much like Jacob Chyrchrun’s did a year ago. The Sabres will be happy to see him come to them at No. 8, and they’ll select him to fill some blueline holes in just a few short years.

No. 9 Detroit Red Wings Select Michael Rasmussen

Beyond Dylan Larkin, the Wings are sorely lacking center depth, and they’ll jump at the opportunity to select Michael Rasmussen. He’s a hulking beast on the ice, and he’s also got a ton of skill. The Red Wings are starting to phase into the rebuild, and they need to restock their prospect cupboard. Michael Rasmussen will instantly become their top prospect, and a great addition to the team somewhere down the line.

No. 10 Florida Panthers Select Cale Makar

Cale Makar is a dynamic defenseman with the potential to become an offensive dynamo in the NHL. However, he is a bit undersized and he leaves much to be desired in his own end. He also played in a league (AJHL) many don’t consider to be as competitive as other junior leagues. However, Tyson Jost was the same way during last year’s draft, and he was also selected at No. 10 by the Avs. Makar will be a great addition on the blueline for the Panthers after a season or two in college at UMass.

No. 11 Los Angeles Kings Select Eeli Tolvanen

The Kings will be happy with this pick just past the top ten because Tolvanen has some serious finishing ability as a forward. His shot is finely tuned, and he can snap it off from almost anywhere on the ice. He’ll be a great complement to Anze Kopitar somewhere down the line, as he will at least spend one season in the NCAA at Boston College.

No. 12 Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes Trade; Avs Select Cal Foote

I’m not sure when this trade will be announced, but it’s something that Joe Sakic needs to find a way to pull off. The trade will be as follows:

It may seem like a lot to give the ‘Canes, but to my estimation that is the only way this trade is fair. As far as I’m concerned, the Avs would be lucky to convince the Hurricanes that Matt Duchene for Jaccob Slavin straight-up is fair.

So, they convince them to do the deal and get their pick by throwing in Grigs and Bigras. It’s a lot to give up, considering they’re also giving up Duchene, but this is how you get a top-tier defenseman in this league, and Jaccob Slavin shows all the signs of being a top-tier defenseman.

Finally, the Avalanche also get to stock their defensive cupboard by picking up Cal Foote, something I have proposed as a necessity for quite some time. Cal Foote has all the makings of a premiere blueliner, and the Avs need to get as many of those types of defensemen as possible.

No. 13 Winnipeg Jets Select Martin Necas

The Winnipeg Jets are close to becoming a contender once more, and they draft a versatile forward in Martin Necas. He’s a right-hand shot who can play both center and right wing, and he adds some depth to an already deep forward group. The Jets will wait a bit for his development, but he’s already been playing against men in Czech’s pro league, so he’s not far off.

No. 14 Tampa Bay Lightning and Avalanche Trade; Avs Select Nick Suzuki

The Avalanche are in full rebuild, and Joe Sakic promises on his desire for a lot of turnover by making another trade for a first round pick. Here’s what the trade looks like:

Let me be clear. This is 1) wishful thinking, and 2) a huge sacrifice for the present. The Avalanche will suddenly be without one of their current top four defensemen, and will have to wait a bit until another one is ready.

However, I strongly believe that Nicolas Meloche is going to be a solid top-four blueliner soon, and fully capable of filling Barrie’s shoes. And, let’s not forget Cal Foote if they pull that trade off with the ‘Canes. Furthermore, by sacrificing the present, they set themselves up for the future.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the Lightning will be into this trade just because they lose a solid forward and their first round pick. However, they also get one of the premiere offensive defenseman in the league, the Avs’ second round pick and the rights to Will Butcher.

The Lightning aren’t far off from a Cup, and Barrie could put them over the cusp.

Finally, the Avs get to draft Nick Suzuki, which is something I am all about. He’s another right-hand shot, and will be a great addition to the Colorado Avalanche forward group in just a few year’s time. He’s skilled, he possesses great top-end speed and his shot is underrated.

No. 15 New York Islanders Select Elias Pettersson

Thanks to the Avs making some moves and selecting players that fit their need a bit more than Pettersson, the Islanders are gifted with a possible top-ten pick at No. 15 overall. Pettersson is a playmaker through and through, and one of the best passers available in the 2017 NHL Draft. He’s a bit light on muscle for his stature, but he’ll bulk up and be a great winger or center for the Islanders somewhere down the line.

No. 16 Calgary Flames Select Jake Oettinger

The Flames are another team on the cusp of becoming a contender, and even though this may seem like an off-the-board selection, the Flames need goalies. Oettinger won’t be ready for the NHL next season, but he’s not far from being there. They’ll pass on the some of the other players that may be better for the sake of need here.

No. 17 Toronto Maple Leafs Select Klim Kostin

Klim Kostin is the No.1 ranked international skater, and he probably shouldn’t have fallen this far in the draft. The Maple Leafs will consider themselves lucky that he did, and take the big off-wing shooter here. The Leafs already sport a nice set of forwards, and probably need defense more, but with Klostin still available, they’ll find it hard to pass on his services.

No. 18 Boston Bruins Select Kristian Vesalainen

The Boston Bruins are in need of a left winger to play with their top guns. They struggled all year to find a complimentary piece for both of their centers, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, and will be happy to select another forward who fits the mold of their playing style. Vesalainen is a pure two-way forward who also has the skill necessary to playing in the top six. He’ll need some time to develop, but should still fit their window of playoff contention.

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No. 19 San Jose Sharks Select Kole Lind

This is a player that I’d also love to see the Avs select, but they’ve already made enough moves in the first round and found players they like, so he goes to the Sharks. Lind is a fun player with a lot of potential, but like most picks this late in the first round, he’ll need a couple years of development. However, when you’re a team like the Sharks, you have time for development. Plus, he’s going to get there sooner than other players at this point.

No. 20 St. Louis Blues Select Jason Robertson

I am baffled that most mock drafts don’t even have Robertson going in the first round. Sure, his skating needs some work, but he is clearly a top player in the making. He was the motor that made the Kingston Frontenacs work this season. He’s also still only 17 years old, and has an extremely high ceiling. The Blues will feel blessed to get another prospect this late in the first round who has the same type of ceiling Vladimir Tarasenko had in 2010 at No. 16 overall.

No. 21 New York Rangers Select Shane Bowers

We’re starting to get into the realm where the picks teams make are really anybody’s guess. However, the Rangers are starting to age and they need to start building up their prospect ranks. Bowers is a great option for them, another center with some serious two-way skill. The Rangers sorely need some defensive forwards on their roster, and will take the Boston University commit.

No. 22 Edmonton Oilers Select Nicolas Hague

The Oilers are in need of defense to take the next step. They really need a puck-moving defenseman, but Oscar Klefbom still has a lot to give in that area. Nic Hague is a great addition for the Oilers on the blueline and he’s already physically ready to play in the NHL, at 6 foot 6 and 214 pounds. So, he should be contributing to the NHL sooner rather than later.

No. 23 Arizona Coyotes Select Pierre-Olivier Joseph

After taking another skilled and speedy forward with their No. 7 pick in Owen Tippett, the Coyotes will take a defenseman here. Oliver-Ekman Larsson still has a lot left to give, but Joseph is on a nice upward trend coming into the draft. He’s got some height at 6 foot 2, and will fill into his current 160 pound frame to become a nice two-way add with some offensive upside.

No. 24 Columbus Blue Jackets Select Nikita Popugaev

The Columbus Blue Jackets had an incredible season, but they ran into the Pittsburgh Penguins early. With their great group of defensemen already locked down for the future, the Blue Jackets will be looking at forward help. Popugaev is a high-risk, high-reward type of prospect and makes sense this late in the first round. He’s got the size at 6 foot 6 and 203 pounds, and he has the skill as well. He still has some issues with effort and consistency the Blue Jackets will look to develop.

No. 25 Montreal Canadiens Select Lias Andersson

The Montreal Canadiens had yet another disappointing run in the playoffs, and it was mostly due to a lack of offense. So, drafting a forward makes sense for them. Lias Andersson is a great option too. He still has top six potential at this point in the draft, and would add to a strong Canadiens team sorely needing forwards.

No. 26 Chicago Blackhawks Select Kailer Yamamoto

The Blackhawks took a chance on a diminutive forward in Alex Debrincat in last year’s draft, and they’ll do it again this year. Kailer Yamamoto is just simply too skilled to pass up on at this point. He is small at 5 foot 8 and 160 pounds, but he makes up for it with elite passing and hands.

No. 27 St. Louis Blues Select Conor Timmins

With their second pick in the entry draft, the Blues will try to make up for the loss of Kevin Shattenkirk by selecting Timmins, another defenseman with a lot of offensive skill. He’s on the rise too, as he upped his point total by 48 points since last year in the OHL. He’ll definitely need some development time, but he has the potential to become a solid offensive blueliner.

No. 28 Ottawa Senators Select Michael DiPietro

The Senators were not expecting the Flames to go after Jake Oettinger. So, in order to mitigate the loss they’ll go off the board and look at a future replacement for Craig Anderson. DiPietro is a good goalie who makes up for his lack of normal goalie size — 6 foot — with elite movement. Anderson probably has at least two years left in him, and DiPietro should be a back-up by then.

No. 29 Dallas Stars Select Jesper Boqvist

The Stars look for a forward at this pick, having gone for defense with their No. 3 pick. Boqvist is an exciting player who showed well at International Juniors this year for Sweden with four goals and eight points in four games. He also played at the pro level in Sweden and put up six assists in 16 games. The kid has a high a ceiling, and the Stars will take a chance.

No. 30 Nashville Predators Select Ryan Poehling

The Nashville Predators were close, oh so close to winning the Cup. They lost their No. 1 center though and weren’t able to make up for the hole. They’ll look for a center who can be that solid No. 2 pivot in a few years with Ryan Poehling. Poehling doesn’t do any one thing particularly well, but he’s a solid all-around player, and should be able to contribute in the top six within a few years.

No. 31 Pittsburgh Penguins Select Juuso Valimaki

The Stanley Cup champions likely still have a pretty large window of time to win more Cups. They’ll look to extend that window by selecting a defenseman who has no business falling this far down the draft boards. Valimaki is on his way to becoming a steady two-way blueliner, and the Pens will happily let him fall in their laps at No. 31 overall, while probably still celebrating their Cup victory.

Conclusion

Thanks for coming along on this ride with me folks. I know it was a long one, but I hope it was informative.

I think it’s a long shot for the Avs to pull off two trades in the first round, but I think the Matt Duchene trade will happen. Whether it happens with the Carolina Hurricanes or not is yet to be determined. However, that’s the trade they should target.

Hopefully they can pull it off without giving up Grigorenko, but I think Chris Bigras is a necessary inclusion. That trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning is definitely wishful thinking, but man would it be awesome to see them make that kind of trade for the future.

Next: Are the Avalanche Shopping Defenseman Tyson Barrie?

Next: Top Five Round Two Forwards for Avs to Consider

The future is the name of the game right now for the Avalanche, and a first round draft like the one I just detailed will help them get their sooner.

Joe Sakic should probably not kid himself about the present right now. Furthermore, if he does pull of these moves, he can still look for a stop-gap at defense in free agency.

The entry draft is coming up, and it’s going to be exciting to watch what the Avalanche do on the draft floor.

What are your thoughts fans? Do you think this kind of first round drafting and trading makes sense for the Avalanche?